The results are in! Roarers, on Friday I asked you to grade the performance of every AFL club in this year’s free agency and trade period – and now we’ve totalled up your votes, and bring you the final judgements.
For each team we’ve got the grade that you gave them, the grade that I gave them, and a few short comments from me on why I think what I do. Sometimes we agree, sometimes we definitely do not!
Have a read and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Adelaide Crows
In: Picks 43, 67
Out: Jarryd Lyons, pick 71
2016 draft picks: 13, 43, 53, 67, 89
Unlike many, I don’t think the Crows need a Bryce Gibbs to become premiership contenders. They’re a youngish side and aren’t going to see too many big retirements over the next few years, so can afford to build more patiently.
That said, to go after Gibbs and fail to land him – and not come out looking too good in the media stakes – makes it hard to give them any kind of positive grade. They gave up Jarryd Lyons too cheaply as well.
Voters’ grade: D (41.6 per cent)
My grade: D
Brisbane Lions
In: Jack Frost, picks 3, 16, 22, 76, 2017 first-round pick (Port Adelaide), 2017 third-round pick (Collingwood)
Out: Pearce Hanley, picks 2, 19, 31, 51, 60, 2017 third-round pick, and 2017 fourth-round pick
2016 draft picks: 3, 16, 21, 22, 76, 78, 96
A pretty canny set of moves from the Lions really, acquiring two additional first-round picks – one this year, and one next – at fairly low cost. Jack Frost could be handy too.
Voters’ grade: B (48.3 per cent)
My grade: B
Carlton Blues
In: Billie Smedts (Geelong), Caleb Marchbank (GWS), Jarrod Pickett (GWS), Rhys Palmer (GWS), picks 48, 63, 66, 70
Out: Zach Tuohy, picks 45, 58, 135, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 5, 25, 48, 63, 81, 99
Carlton missed a great chance to get another high draft pick by trading Gibbs, and continue to clog their list as Stephen Silvagni goes back in for his own sloppy seconds… Marchbank and Pickett could be something if they get out of the rehab group. Colour me unconvinced.
Voters’ grade: B (45.7 per cent)
My grade: F
Collingwood Magpies
In: Daniel Wells (North Melbourne, unrestricted free agent), Chris Mayne (Fremantle, unrestricted free agent), Lynden Dunn (Melbourne), Will Hoskin-Elliott (GWS), picks 44, 51, 62, 105, 2017 third-round selection (Brisbane Lions)
Out: Nathan Brown (unrestricted free agent), Travis Cloke, Marley Williams, Jarrod Witts, Jack Frost, pick 47, 2017 second-round selection, 2017 third-round selection
2016 draft picks: 28, 44, 51, 62, 65, 83, 101, 105
Every now and then I look at this and think I’ve made sense of it, but really, no, I’m very confused as to exactly what Collingwood are trying to do or trying to be. Whatever it is, it feels high-risk, low-reward. Hoskin-Elliott I like, and Wells is all class.
Voters’ grade: C (38.3 per cent)
My grade: D
Essendon Bombers
In: James Stewart, picks 29 and 68
Out: Michael Hibberd, picks 59 and 77
2016 draft picks: 1, 20, 29, 41, 68, 95
They didn’t do much, but they didn’t need to do much. Held firm on what they wanted for Michael Hibberd and got it.
Voters’ grade: C (43.9 per cent)
My grade: B
Fremantle Dockers
In: Cam McCarthy (GWS), Bradley Hill (Hawthorn), Joel Hamling (Western Bulldogs), Shane Kersten (Geelong), picks 7, 35, 40 and 71
Out: Chris Mayne (unrestricted free agent), picks 3, 43, 61, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 7, 35, 40, 71, 79, 97
Four recruits could all turn out to be long term players for the club, but I fell like they’re all guys who’ve only shown a little of their potential and need to lift to be real successes. Not enough of a ‘sure thing’ factor on any of those players for me to give them top marks.
Voters’ grade: A (46.3 per cent)
My grade: B
Geelong Cats
In: Zach Tuohy, Aaron Black, picks 24, 64, 72, 2017 second-round pick (Carlton)
Out: Shane Kersten, Josh Caddy, Billie Smedts, Nathan Vardy, picks 56, 92, 2017 first-round pick
2016 draft picks: 24, 38, 42, 64, 72 and 74
The Cats’ eyes were too big for their stomach with Brett Deledio, they gave up Caddy way too cheaply, and dealt themselves out of the first-round of the draft until 2018 at the earliest – for little return. Time will tell but at first glance, they botched this one pretty badly.
Voters’ grade: C (38.2 per cent)
My grade: F
Gold Coast Suns
In: Pearce Hanley (Brisbane Lions), Jarrod Witts (Collingwood), Jarryd Lyons (Adelaide), picks 6, 10, 73, 2017 second-round pick (Richmond), 2017 second-round pick (Hawthorn), 2017 second-round pick (Fremantle)
Out: Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia, picks 22, 24, 26, 30, 44, 62 and 80
2016 draft picks: 4, 6, 8, 10 and 73
Carried on like pork chops over Jaeger, not convinced that’s doing them any favours especially when they still ultimately caved on the offer. I like Pearce Hanley but is he really the right choice to lead cultural change?
They gained a strong hand at the draft by trading their wantaway players, but they’re basically just back to square one, and I don’t have any faith that we won’t be back here again in 4-5 years time.
Voters’ grade: B (33.9 per cent)
My grade: D
GWS Giants
In: Brett Deledio (Richmond), picks 2, 39, 45, 52, 57, 58, 59, 60, 77, 2017 second-round pick (St Kilda), 2017 second-round pick (Geelong)
Out: Cam McCarthy, Jack Steele, Paul Ahern, James Stewart, Pat McKenna, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Caleb Marchbank, Jarrod Pickett, Rhys Palmer, picks 7, 16, 35, 73, 2017 second-round pick, 2017 third-round pick
2016 draft picks: 2, 15, 37, 39, 45, 52, 55, 57, 58, 59, 60, 77, 109
Swooping on Brett Deledio was the killer move of the trade period. Mature and professional in all their dealings.
Voters’ grade: A (41.6 per cent)
My grade: A+
Hawthorn Hawks
In: Ty Vickery (Richmond, restricted free agent), Jaeger O’Meara (Gold Coast), Tom Mitchell (Sydney Swans), pick 88, 2017 second-round pick (Carlton)
Out: Bradley Hill, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, picks 14, 36, 54, 72, 2017 first-round pick and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 88, 90, 108
Went after their three big targets and got it done, but didn’t play it smart. Reckon they could easily have kept a few of those picks – and one of Sam Mitchell or Jordan Lewis – had they thought their way through things a bit more.
If any other club in the league recruited Tyrone Vickery, they’d be a laughing stock.
Voters’ grade: B (32.6 per cent)
My grade: B
Melbourne Demons
In: Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn), Michael Hibberd (Essendon), Pat McKenna (GWS), picks 47 and 69
Out: Lynden Dunn, picks 29, 48 and 66
2016 draft picks: 47, 69, 84, 102
Brought in two great recruits in Lewis and Hibberd at low cost, though we’ll be seeing little of them in this year’s draft. Regardless, I believe they’ve primed themselves to make the finals.
Voters’ grade: A (42.1 per cent)
My grade: A
North Melbourne Kangaroos
In: Paul Ahern (GWS), Nathan Hrovat (Western Bulldogs), Marley Williams (Collingwood), picks 33 and 92, 2017 third-round pick (Western Bulldogs), 2017 fourth-round pick (Western Bulldogs)
Out: Daniel Wells, Aaron Black, picks 69 and 105
2016 draft picks: 11, 32, 33, 87, 92
Didn’t make a big splash, but picked up the right kind of players at the right kind of price. If one or more of them pans out, great, if not, well, they didn’t cost much.
Voters’ grade: C (43.6 per cent)
My grade: C
Port Adelaide Power
In: Picks 14, 17, 30 and 31
Out: Picks 19, 49, 67, and 2017 first-round pick
2016 draft picks: 14, 17, 30, 31, 85 and 103
Traded into a strongish hand at this year’s draft but potentially gave up two top ten picks in the process, so I’m not convinced they’ve won out with what they’ve got here. Their larger list management strategy does not seem to be going well.
Voters’ grade: D (39.4 per cent)
My grade: D
Richmond Tigers
In: Dion Prestia, Toby Nankervis, Josh Caddy, picks 27, 56, 2017 first-round pick (Geelong), 2017 third-round pick (GWS)
Out: Brett Deledio, Ty Vickery, picks 6, 46, 64, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 27, 56, 82 and 100
Took them a while to get involved but when they did they were excellent. Paid a fair price for Prestia, got Caddy incredibly cheap, and secured an excellent return for Deledio. Top of the class.
Voters’ grade: B (33.5 per cent)
My grade: A+
St Kilda Saints
In: Jack Steele (GWS), Nathan Brown (Collingwood), Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs), picks 23, 36, and 2017 first-round pick (Hawthorn)
Out: Picks 10, 68, and 2017 second-round pick
2016 draft picks: 23, 36, 50, 86, 104
I’m not as blown away as some others here – Steele I like, and the picks swap with the Hawks was canny, but not sure Brown or Stevens add anything worth having.
Voters’ grade: A (45.1 per cent)
My grade: B
Sydney Swans
In: Picks 9, 19, 46 and 49
Out: Tom Mitchell, Toby Nankervis, picks 17, 39 and 57
2016 draft picks: 9, 19, 46, 49, 93, 111
Got unders for Tom Mitchell but a nifty little swap into the top ten of the draft has them coming out as winners in my book, albeit minor ones.
Voters’ grade: C (43.9 per cent)
My grade: B
West Coast Eagles
In: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Nathan Vardy (Geelong) and pick 54
Out: Picks 52, 70 and 88
2016 draft picks: 12, 34, 54, 106
Sam Mitchell for pick No.88. ‘Nuff said.
Voters’ grade: B (40.5 per cent)
My grade: A
Western Bulldogs
In: Travis Cloke, picks 26, 50, 80, 2017 third-round pick (North Melbourne), 2017 fourth-round pick (North Melbourne), 2017 round-five selection (St Kilda)
Out: Joel Hamling, Nathan Hrovat, Koby Stevens, picks 40, 63, 76, 2017 third-round pick, 2017 fourth-round pick
2016 draft picks: 18, 26, 50, 75, 80, 94, 112
Couldn’t decide if they were in or out on Brett Deledio and as a result, they were out. Unlike most, I reckon Cloke could be a masterstroke. Mature in their dealings to trade away fringe players.
Voters’ grade: C (50.9 per cent)
My grade: C
chris dyson
Guest
lids is gone because he is not captain material, nore able to play every week! He wont amount to much at GWS but xtended his pay. His grade is A for jumping ship and F for his future! Lucky if they get 10 games from 3 seasons. Wont play in a grand final at GWS!!!
Macca
Guest
Buzz - I wouldn't be surprised to see Viojo-Rainbow rookie listed either. As for the direction I completely agree with you - last year the blues brought in Kerridge and Wright - now both those players will more than likely be pushed out as the more talented players mature and get given more opportunity but in the mean time they a good enough to make the young blokes earn their spot and more importantly are very professional that they set the standard for these younger players. I see Smedts and Palmer (and possibly Barlow) filling the same role - not long term solutions but add depth and set a standard which means when the young players come through they are better players than they otherwise would have been.
Macca
Guest
X
The Original Buzz
Guest
No I didn't Macca, I will check it out though. Pelchen would know how they perform.
The Original Buzz
Guest
I can see Barlow going to the Bombers or Dees, personally, I think he would be a good fit for them as much as the Blues. I would bet that the Blues are talking to a lot of DFA's right now. 13 Players is a huge hole to fill and they have so far covered 8 of those so my guess is there might be 2 DFA's coming to the Blues and 3 from the rookie draft (including Gallucci and Gowers). Smedts will provide some leadership and mentoring to the younger players over the next year ot two regardless of how he goes on field. Without those type of Players, you are essentially going nowhere. The more I look at this, I can see more of where the Blues are headed and what they are trying to achieve. It is all about strategy to build a good solid core of players that can get them to the finals and keep them there long term, much like the Hawks, Swans and Cats. They aren't aiming for a one off Grand Final, they are aiming to get there and stay there as long as possible and that will take time and patience.
Macca
Guest
Buzz - did you see the Fox sports article yesterday with Chris Pelchen discussing the GWS recruits for the blues? Marchbank was described as the "perfect partner" for Weitering, on Pickett he said "pundits don't understand just how quick this kid is" who's first season in the NEAFL was "impressive" and he said Palmer was the perfect fit to add more grunt around the midfield.
The Original Buzz
Guest
The A+ for Richmond is as baffling as the F for the Blues.
Macca
Guest
Josh - That would give us 5 and 13 this year - but not Gibbs so I can't see we are any further advanced from 5 and Gibbs. It would give us 2 first round picks next year - but only we would miss a second round pick this year and given it is Geelongs pick again we aren't that much further advanced and you have to ask which draft has greater depth? As for the DFA options the blues have removed 13 players off their list and traded in 4 and will use a maximum of 4 draft picks - so they already need to find at least 5 more players through the DFA or the rookie draft - not taking Smedts and Palmer would bring that number to 7 maybe 8 - do you really think the 6th and 7th players we are taking are better than Smedts and Palmer? On Barlow - I wouldn't mind betting that the blues are already talking to him. But even if what you would do is correct - I assume if the blues had have done it you would have given them an A - I don't see the differences being so great to drop the grade from an A to an F.
Milo
Roar Rookie
And of course McCartney's last game was against the Tigers at Etihad when we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the dying minutes when McCartney himself found Harding for the match winning goal. But I do take solace from the 1974 GF where the majority of the crowd was against us and we won going away. A classic Sheedy fake with a joe the goose handball over the top to Mike Green in the goal square a personal favourite.
Josh
Expert
No, I would have taken exactly the same deal for Tuohy (well, maybe leave Smedts - that's no real loss), trade Gibbs for 13, and trade 25 for Marchbank and Pickett (and maybe Palmer, if desperate to fill the list). That'd give you: 5 and 13 this year Two first round picks next year Marchbank and Pickett as wanted No headaches from having Gibbs around when he doesn't want to be If you're worried about filling the list out there'd be plenty of great DFA options. Heck, toss Michael Barlow a deal, that'd be a great move for the Blues if they don't want to take a crummy pick late in the piece.
Josh
Expert
I've not at any point said that I see O'Meara as a sure thing. Rather, I've said quite the opposite on numerous occasions.
Josh
Expert
He had a decent patch in the first half of the year. A decent run of eight or so games does not an A-grader make.
Josh
Expert
Without getting into specifics of which clubs I do and do not have a soft spot for, I will say that beating the Tigers in last year's elimination final was pretty much the best day of my football fan life (excepting '96, '99 and Jason McCartney).
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
And still do, with their academy zones.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
You'd also have to look at how cheaply a lot of those top picks went out the door. Surely those top 10 picks would attract more interest and competition amongst all other clubs that don't have SoS on board.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Flicked you through an email, Paul.
hal
Guest
I have to agree about Geelong getting an F. Woeful trade period. Richmond, Melbourne, Freo, WCE, and GWS were all winners. I would give both Adelaide teams an F.
hal
Guest
I don't know many North fans who are closet Richmond fans. Mario's anti Norf (sic) rhetoric has turned any North fans, who might have had a soft spot for Richmond, off the Tigers. Just listen to the war of words between North fans and Richmond fans on the soap box on SEN....it is great for a laugh. Carlton axing Everitt is a big mistake.
Macca
Guest
Mattybs - "You blokes have had your fun,insulting my club year in year" well at least we can see why you are so bitter, did some one pick on you at school for being a bulldog? But as for the accusation - show me where, Col, Buss, or I or any other Carlton supporter have insulted your club? The only comments I can remember have been very positive about what the bulldogs have achieved and the way they play the game. There may have been some concerns around the time when you sacked the coach and lost the captain but I don't recall any insults just concern.
Macca
Guest
SO you think focusing on just the top 30 recruits rather than the entire list is the more complete way to view a recruiters performance? Seems strange.