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Trade and player movement rumours tend to be popular in the final stages of the home-and-away season, and of course during the designated periods themselves.
Already we have heard some ridiculous news from around the leagues, and it’s difficult to know what to believe and what not to.
Given players will likely take advantage of the elevated salaries in the current market, clubs need to be smarter about their recruiting and only get players that will help them.
The below list offers a number of players who can certainly benefit a range of clubs at a cheaper price than those $700k+ figures that often get thrown around.
Granted, it may seem unlikely that Ellis-Yolmen would move away from the Crows after finally cementing himself in the club’s best 22, but he is out of contract at the end of the season and has shown some consistent footy, particularly pre-injury.
Averaging 20 disposals, five tackles and five clearances a game, Ellis-Yolmen is an absolute bull on the inside who can immediately add toughness to a team. The return of Brad Crouch next year may be slight cause for concern.
Essendon could certainly use a player of Ellis-Yolmen’s ilk to help feed the ball to the likes of Merrett and Heppell, while allowing Parish to develop as a clearance machine without having all the pressure on him.
Hawthorn too, could be interested in having a genuine extractor to allow Mitchell to do what he wants. GWS may be an option.
This isn’t a new one and it has been rumoured already, but Horlin-Smith deserves a crack at AFL level elsewhere and Gold Coast seems to be the place for it. The 25-year-old has suffered from injuries throughout his career, but every time he plays in the VFL, he is a star performer.
2018 is no different, with Horlin-Smith averaging 24 disposals, four tackles, four inside 50s and kicking 7.8 in ten matches.
Is George Horlin-Smith destined for greener pastures? (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Perhaps the most encouraging performance we’ve seen from him recently was the Round 5 AFL game against Port Adelaide. Horlin-Smith had 26 disposals, eight tackles, six clearances and kicked two goals in 73 per cent game-time in a very encouraging performance in the guts.
Of course, Horlin-Smith may still be an unknown, but a club like Gold Coast or Carlton can afford him a chance in a low-risk move.
Newman is way too good for the NEAFL but can’t cement a spot in the AFL. His past fortnight in the seniors has been encouraging, averaging 23 disposals, 12 marks and four rebounds, with his opportunities to have a bigger influence coming due to injuries.
At senior level, it’s clear that he is suited to the rebounding role out of defence, where his good ball use and aggressive kicking can be maximised. The wing role in the NEAFL doesn’t suit him as much in the seniors, due to his lack of explosiveness.
Once again, the Suns are the clear option for Newman, where he’d get the opportunity to play every game and likely put up some elite numbers.
Geelong could be another club that could provide a mutually beneficial home. Zach Tuohy is their only true rebounding defender and they could definitely use some more skill out of defence.
Perhaps it’s too late, but an established club could rookie-list Paparone if the Lions decide to part ways with the 23-year-old. After showing some really promising signs in 2015, when he played every game for the season, a mixture of injuries and lack of progression has seen him play just ten games since.
At 195cm, his ability to a half-back role and on the wing makes him an appealing option. Over the past 18 NEAFL games, Paparone has averaged 22 disposals, six marks and four rebounds a game, although the stop-start nature of his career has affected his consistency.
Hawthorn is certainly a team that would be able to give Paparone a chance. One of the best coaches of all-time, Alastair Clarkson is the best person for a struggling player with potential.
A best-case scenario would see him be a part of the team’s 22 in Ryan Burton’s current role. A strong team with good culture and development would be able to take a punt here, although it is seemingly unlikely.
Lloyd has transformed himself into a versatile player, going through the midfield in the VFL and finding himself across the defensive part of the square. Despite being in-and-out of the senior team, his performance at AFL level haven’t been bad at all.
Playing for the reigning premiers as a 28-year-old without standing out will always be tough and, although he averages 26 disposals, six tackles and 1.5 goals a game in the VFL, Lloyd can’t cement his spot.
Teams that are building towards a finals appearance are the ones that would look at Lloyd, who could provide a strong ten-game spell to start the season as a new recruit before a team can re-assess their positions.
Lloyd mightn’t be the most obvious player to bring into a club, however his versatility can be important.
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It mightn’t surprise many to have Laverde on this list, as it’s becoming clear that the 22-year-old needs a change of scenery.
Injuries are again an issue here and a key reason as to why he simply hasn’t developed as expected. Inconsistency stems from the frustration of not playing regularly, but his first AFL game of the season was excellent and his VFL form has seen him average 22 disposals, five marks and two scoring shots a game.
He is out of contract at the end of 2018 and it’ll be particularly interesting to see what happens with Laverde. There’s no one club that should chase the young forward, although the aforementioned few for previous players are adequate homes.
Once again, Alastair Clarkson is a person that works well with players like these, so that connection could be interesting.
There are a host of other players that could be classified as “diamonds in the rough”, and many more will be covered by October.
These six currently listed players have potential to improve their new homes, despite not being particularly well-known names.
The current state of the competition suggests mature-age recruits and smart trading are the ways to quickly improve, so expect more of it from now.