It’s all done! The 2017 AFL trade and free agency period is over after a flurry of deals were done on deadline day.
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Here’s what I thought of every deal that got done on Deadline Day, in the order they happened.
Bryce Gibbs, pick 77, Carlton Blues’ 2018 second-round pick and Carlton Blues’ 2018 third-round pick traded from Carlton Blues to Adelaide Crows for pick 10, pick 16, pick 73, Adelaide Crows’ 2018 second-round pick.
A deal more than twelve months in the making to kick off the final day of the trade period, and it set in motion more than a few of the other deals that got done on deadline day.
Carlton have gotten a great return in exchange for a 28-year-old player no matter how you slice it – that much is inescapable.
However, the Crows regained anything lost here by the fact they landed pick 12 for Cameron and have two first-rounders next year plus Carlton’s second-rounder, likely an early pick again.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
Pick 50, West Coast Eagles’ 2018 first-round pick traded from West Coast Eagles to Gold Coast Suns for picks 21, 26, 37, Gold Coast Suns’ 2016 second-round pick.
A bit of an odd deal with the Suns sending a slew of middling picks to the Eagles for a first-rounder next year that we don’t yet know the value of.
The onus on West Coast is now to have a solid 2018 so they haven’t given away too valuable of a pick in this deal – I do feel like there’s the potential for this one to turn very sour if they have an average season.
Aaron Young traded from Port Adelaide Power to Gold Coast Suns for Adelaide Crows’ 2018 fourth-round draft pick.
A fairly small piece of business. Young has some good attributes and could be a handy player at the Suns, but not likely a star.
Logan Austin and Port Adelaide Power’s 2018 fourth-round pick traded from Port Adelaide Power to St Kilda Saints for St Kilda Saints’ 2018 third-round pick.
St Kilda bolster their key defender depth in exchange for a minor swap of late picks.
Sam Murray, pick 70 and Sydney Swans’ 2018 third-round pick traded from Sydney Swans to Collingwood Magpies for Collingwood Magpies’ 2018 second-round pick.
Collingwood gave up their second-round pick for an untried rookie and some loose change back the other way… and that was their only deal of the trade period. Absolutely baffling.
Sam Gibson traded from North Melbourne Kangaroos to Adelaide Crows for pick 91.
Ripping news to see Gibson get another chance, and at a club where his contributions will be highly valued. Best of luck, Gibbo, you’ll always be a Shinboner.
Nathan Wilson and pick 71 traded from GWS Giants to Fremantle Dockers for pick 57 and Fremantle Dockers’ 2018 second-round pick.
All things considered a roughly fair deal for both clubs, depending on how well Fremantle go next year.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Matthew Lobbe traded from Port Adelaide Power to Carlton Blues for pick 95.
Rhys Palmer two-point-oh.
Jake Stringer traded from Western Bulldogs to Essendon Bombers for picks 25 and 30.
Potentially a really great get for the Bombers if he can turn around his form both on the field and off of it.
As for the Bulldogs, this kind of return is enough to make you want to throw up. At least until you see what they do next…
Carlton Blues traded picks 16 and 40 to Western Bulldogs for picks 28 and 30 and Western Bulldogs’ 2018 second-round pick.
This is pretty nifty from the Dogs – they get the first rounder they wanted for Stringer, but had to give up their second next year for it.
It’s not Carlton’s greatest move ever but could help them match some father-son players next year and of course helps them in another deal to come…
Pick 53 traded from Geelong Cats to Richmond Tigers for Richmond Tigers’ 2018 third-round pick.
Yawn.
Matthew Kennedy traded from GWS Giants to Carlton Blues for pick 28.
This makes Carlton’s pick swap make a lot more sense, and is probably a more fair price for Kennedy than it was speculated the Giants might get.
Still unders for someone who was a high pick two years ago, but not the worst unders the Giants have ever received for a talented kid.
Luke Hodge and pick 44 traded from Hawthorn Hawks to Brisbane Lions for picks 43 and 75.
This deal apparently took two weeks of negotiation if you can believe it. Try not to think about the kind of salaries that get paid to people nuttering this out, it’ll make you sad.
(Photo by Justine Walker/AFL Media)
Darcy Lang and Geelong Cats’ 2018 fourth-round pick traded from Geelong Cats to Carlton Blues for pick 58, Carlton Blues’ 2018 fourth-round pick.
Potentially a bargain for the Blues if Lang’s career can be given some life support and revitalised there. They’ve ventured little so don’t need to gain much to justify the deal.
Gary Ablett, pick 24 and Gold Coast Suns’ 2018 fourth-round pick traded from Gold Coast Suns to Geelong Cats for pick 19 and Geelong Cats’ 2018 second-round pick.
The Son of God enjoys his Second Coming to complete The Holy Trinity, just as the ancient books foretold.
Pick 19 given to the Cats as free agency compensation for a serial underperformer in Steven Motlop winds up in the hands of the AFL’s lovechild club… do you smell something fishy? Because I smell something fishy.
Charlie Cameron traded from Adelaide Crows to Brisbane Lions for pick 12.
Having traded themselves out of the first round the Crows finally relent and accept what is very much an overpayment for Charlie Cameron. Brisbane blinked on this one, don’t think it was the right move.
Pick 34, Adelaide Crows’ 2018 fourth-round pick traded from Port Adelaide to St Kilda for pick 59, pick 63 and St Kilda Saints’ 2018 second-round pick.
Not this year’s most fascinating swap.
Lachie Weller and pick 41 traded from Fremantle Dockers to Gold Coast Suns for pick 2.
If Brisbane blinked, Gold Coast went blind. This is an absolute shocker, giving up pick 2 and paying $4 million over five years for a player who, yeah, he’s alright, but he’s not worth this, not by any stretch of the imagination.
What a deal for Fremantle though – they have two top five picks without giving up their 2018 first-rounder and still landed Nathan Wilson. Incredible.
(AAP Image/Tony McDonough)
Josh Schache traded from Brisbane Lions to Western Bulldogs for picks 25 and 40.
Brisbane must have been mightily desperate to offload Schache to accept an offer like this, that’s genuinely horrendous.
An excellent turnaround from the Bulldogs though – effectively traded Stringer and their 2018 second-rounder for pick 16 and Josh Schache.
Personally, I’d be quite pleased with that as a Dogs fan, and it’s much better than what I expected they’d achieve this morning.
Brandon Matera traded from Gold Coast Suns to Fremantle Dockers for Fremantle Dockers’ 2018 third-round pick.
Minor deal, if either club gets a useful player out of it then good for them.
Brisbane Lions traded picks 20 and 25 to Richmond Tigers for picks 15 and 52.
Seems to largely be positioning for the expected draft bids for Connor Ballenden (Brisbane academy) and Patrick Naish (Richmond father-son).
North Melbourne Kangaroos traded pick 46 and North Melbourne Kangaroos’ 2018 third-round pick for West Coast Eagles’ 2018 third-rounder and St Kilda Saints’ 2018 third-rounder.
I waited all trade period for North Melbourne to do something, literally anything, and this is what I got.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
yep Chris, rumour is the Cats new strategy is to draft Boomer Harvey back next year at 39 and Dustin Fletcher to make a comeback at 42. But hey Bartel, Chapman, Stevie J....you;re too old see ya later thanks for nothing!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The new Brown boy will be a beauty. That’s part of the reason Chris we swapped picks with the Swans to get more points. Plus take a look at the new bloke from the swans highlights on pies website. He could be the next Dusty Martin.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Schache is Jesse White mark II ....I wouldn't get carried away.
I ate pies
Guest
Who's in the beige eight Harry?
Nev
Guest
Well said HTH...
Mattician6x6
Guest
If he came back it would be a marketing dream
George
Guest
Lachie's manager mentioned it.
Chris
Guest
As for recruiting Ablett and going for golden oldies...I think it's nothing short of shortsighted when you see the pace and aggression shown in modern Aussie rules. These guys on your webpage are wasting our time talking about has-beens. You had all better get a life!
Chris
Guest
The Tigers did very well last year in the trade period and picked up what they needed to make their great charge this year. I wonder whether the others who followed their example will actually achieve what they hope to or simply end up with deadwood. It is easy to try and copy another's blueprint but how often does it end up in just wishful thinking? I want to see the second Brown boy in the black and white and a couple of decent promising lads together with some pick ups that will startle.....Doggies, Dees, Dons and Port.....If you don't get into the top four it's been a real flop! The next six weeks will be really worth noting! Then, we'll talk! Common Maggies.....The quiet achievers.....That's what I have been crying out for all year! No more noise.....Action and real improvement not just words!
Mattician6x6
Guest
Called in favours from CSI and ncis. Lucky for me my self worth isn't tied up with my opinions.
Cat
Roar Guru
Felix, Again Geelong lacked any small forward last season, they are the ones that apply forward pressure, not the big guys. Lack of leg speed is also tied to lack of smalls being fit. If Cockatoo can get his hammies to stay in one piece he has blistering pace AND loves nothing more than laying bone crunching tackles every chance he gets. Also two of our slowest defenders have retired. Time will tell but don't be surprised if Geelong drafts some smalls and speed. If they do Geelong won't be afraid to debut them quickly if needed. Eight debutantes last year for Geelong which was equal highest in the AFL.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
You've made a fair few assertions there! Firstly, why would I be jealous of your comments? You've also said that GWS will win next year. Why do you think that? You also think Freo are five years away from challenging. Again, why do you think that? You're trumpeting all these short, opinionated assertions, but you're not backing them up. I'm more than happy to have some dialogue with you if you wanna talk footy in more depth! :)
Paul D
Roar Guru
His main gripe was with Guy McKenna. Lot has changed since then. New facilities, two new coaches - it'd be a different story now, particularly given his brother is there. He may say no, but they'd be mad not to ask
Paul D
Roar Guru
I guess time will tell. He's not clogging my club's list anymore so I don't particularly care, but I bear him no ill will and hope he goes ok
Harsh Truth Harry
Guest
Right, that's a worthwhile comment Mattician, hope you used voice recognition to get that beauty out.
Harsh Truth Harry
Guest
If you're jealous my comments are getting attention AD it's because in this politically correct world some of us don't need to sugar coat what we say. You got offended because I gave you my thoughts on your team. I'll elaborate for you. GWS will get a flag next which leaves just you and that tragic pretend fairytale club Gold Coast as the only non vic teams without a flag. At this moment you are 5 years away from even challenging so the fantasy fairytale Suns may well even beat you there.
Harsh Truth Harry
Guest
Schache is another Jesse White, a list clogger and back up, nothing more. That's why Richmond and Collingwood walked away from their interest this year.
Harsh Truth Harry
Guest
AD do I need to put it in capitals "dude"? I simply do not care if you take me seriously or not as you do not run this site. Talk about a high opinion of yourself. Get back to your gaming console sonny!
Harsh Truth Harry
Guest
That time is past. They genuinely have the worst young player list in the competition and history will prove post 2011 they went down the wrong path. Junior is back just in time for the real pain. 9-12 is where they will finish.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
"I suggest you all go to s Facebook group where you can all agree with each other and then say “Well said AD!” Oh please do, my ego would love a Facebook group where people spend all day agreeing with me. But honestly, many of us in the "beige 8" (lol) disagree with each other fairly regularly. A lot of us say stupid stuff all the time, including me. Its just most of us can comment on footy without exaggerated opinions, recycled stereotypes and "look at me" attitudes.