The Melbourne Demons appear to have wrapped up all the most important business of their 2019 AFL Trade Period after making two deals on Friday.
Having already signed GWS’ Adam Tomlinson earlier this week, Melbourne made two trades as the first week of the trade period drew to a close.
The first saw Sam Frost, himself a former Giant, traded to Hawthorn in an exchange that netted Melbourne a second-round pick in next year’s draft.
The full trade was Frost as well as picks 42 and 61 in this year’s draft and Melbourne’s 2020 fourth-round selection for pick 50 this year and Hawthorn’s second-rounder next year.
Hawthorn’s end of the deal sees them gain a mature and durable body to provide depth in their backline and probably allow more freedom for a dynamic player like James Sicily.
The Hawks also gain an extra 257 DVI points in this year’s draft, which could come in handy for them when they look to match a bid for father-son prospect Finn Maginness.
Maginness is a big-bodied midfielder who showed off his speed and endurance at the AFL draft combine last week.
He appears likely to attract a bid in the first round of the draft, and Hawthorn will be sweating on whether it comes before or after their first-round selection, currently pick 11.
Melbourne’s second deal of the day saw them land Fremantle’s Ed Langdon, completing their initiative to bring two wings to the club this trade period and leaving them one thigh short of a three-piece combo.
The Dees have stated their intent to use Tomlinson – who has played in all areas of the ground during his time at GWS – on a wing, and will of course keep Landgon in his natural position.
This appears to be a direct response to the widely held perception that Melbourne’s midfield lacked balance in 2019, dominated by inside midfielders and lacking the ability to move the ball despite their prolific capacity for winning it.
“We just didn’t have any natural wingers on our list,” said Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney.
“It’s such an important role. We tried over 15 guys in that positions this year and no one really nailed it. To be able to bring in two players who play that role will really add to the mix that we’ve got.”
The criticism leveled at both Tomlinson and Langdon, of course, is that neither is an elite kick, something Melbourne are seen to be sorely lacking.
Time will tell just how big of an impact this pair is capable of having on the field for the Dees, but certainly their midfield appears better balanced now than it did a week ago.
The Dees traded picks 22, 79 and their 2020 future second-round pick to Fremantle for Langdon, but got back pick 26 and Fremantle’s 2020 future fourth-round selection as well.
For Fremantle, the deal may make it easier to match what’s expected to be an early bid for NGA prospect Liam Henry, and gives them an extra pick in next year’s second round.
Broadly speaking, the net result for Melbourne is they’ve brought Langdon into the club for the price of Sam Frost and a few small downgrades this year, making some future swaps that could go either way.
Especially when you factor in being able to sign Tomlinson as a free agent, it’s good business from the Dees.
Adam Tomlinson (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
What’s next for Melbourne? This just about brings to a close all the deals they’ve been linked to in terms of players coming in or out.
They were linked to Collingwood delistee Sam Murray but would be more likely to sign him as a delisted free agent than trade for him, if they do pursue him.
And of course there was brief speculation about Angus Brayshaw potentially departing the club, but that one has been thoroughly knocked on the head.
That being the case, any further player trades for the Dees would come as something of a surprise, and the club does appear content with what they’ve achieved.
A small forward is another need Melbourne has identified, but Mahoney said it wasn’t one they’d like look to address during the trade period, after making a three-year offer that was turned down by Jamie Elliott.
“It’s an area we want to address, there might be some players on our list that can fill that role. We think we have enough power to kick winning scores.”
If the Dees did renege on this stance then Richmond’s Dan Butler would potentially be a good fit for the club. He managed only seven games for the Tigers this year but performed well in a premiership VFL side.
Pick swaps would be the other thing on Melbourne’s mind. The club now holds picks 3, 26 and 50 in the first three rounds of the draft.
They were rumoured to be considering dealing out pick 3 in a swap with GWS, but this seems unlikely now that the Giants have made a pick-trade deal to move up to pick 6 with St Kilda yesterday.
Instead there’s a good chance the Dees will hold that pick and if they do, Hayden Young, one of the classiest kicks in the draft, would appear at this early stage to be the most appealing prospect for them there.
While the trade period comes to an end next Wednesday night, clubs will be able to make pick-only trades up until shortly before the draft, and then of course also live during the draft itself.
DemonDog
Guest
550k per year for Tomlinson is a joke right? 16 touches per game? He is not a wingman but fools like Goodwin and Mahoney know best. Better get B.Hill and Pick 22 for pick 3 or Vandenberg/Hunt/Brayshaw/Harmes and all the rest will be bouncing around on the wing next season. How long before Goodwin and Mahoney are FIRED?
Macca
Roar Rookie
The Cats are trying to find a way to turn a couple of those picks into a top 10. If I was the bombers I would take 5 & 9 for Daniher and then turn one of them into a couple more first rounders (or more) from the Cats. If they could walk away with 9, 14, 17 and 24 for Daniher that is much more than they would get if he leaves as a free agent and would compliment the likes of McGrath nicely for the next generation.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Geelong have offered to swap Menagola for Hill. Not good enough of course. Throw in Clarke as well. Will test to see if Brad really wants to go. The cats wont pay $900,000 a year i bet?
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Won't go into it much, revolves around players girl friends, enough said. Has healed a lot apparently, the reason why the club said he was trade able despite contracted. Great kid, everyone does silly things, no major drama though and i hope he stays. Freo need him in the middle, not where Ross had him.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Cheers mate, heading down tomorrow to house hunt, should have that sorted by end of week and move in late October when dardanup removals can fit us in. Heard some interesting things about Blakely having fallen out with certain very senior Freo players and he wants out because of it, does that sound similar to what you've heard? Possibly the captain and him mainly is what a acquaintance said.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Matti, my nephew works at the mine, in Greenbushes he and others are leaving in December due to company not paying for there board and tucker anymore. Get in quick they are targeting the locals.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
And Tim Kelly is worth more to Geelong and wce as they are both in a window, Stephen Wells still didn't want to lose Kelly so that says the draft picks dont actually equal his worth considering next two drafts are both ok at best.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
How long is this weekend without trading? It seems longer than the pre-finals bye week. Surely the weekend is peak-sporting time. Thank goodness for Shield cricket.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Maybe, but giving Geelong a massive free kick when they are a close rival is a mistake. Geelong now have 5 picks inside 40. I understand the need to value players but he's taken three list spots to get in, of which two are first rounders, hefty price, overs by a long way, at the very least they could have got him for two first rounders, Freo wouldn't have taken him anyway.
Vicboy
Roar Rookie
Clubs that are attracting players recently seem to pay “overs” early in the trade period and value the incoming player. Kelly would not be happy with a ruthless approach that puts him in the draft and recruited to Gold Coast.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
GWS list manager, Jason McCartney, is talking that Aiden Bonar is still looking to go home and GWS are willing to trade him. I think it's feasible that they could send Bonar and pick 6 to Melbourne for pick 3. GWS would look to get some change in the deal, but pick 26 looks to much and pick 50 too little. A pick swap, Melbourne picks 26 & 50, for GWS picks 40 & 59 could work. This would give GWS 403 points towards paying for Tom Greene, when the bid came.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
West coast just needed to stick fat, they would have got him for nothing. I hope my club is more ruthless than that if need be.
damo
Roar Rookie
Think of it as a bit like "intellectual property" in that the player has become "better" whilst at the 'selling' club & therefore the "trade" value is determined by how good a. the selling/losing club has gone recently & b. how much the "gaining club" is wiling to pay which is an accurate market determination of the IP of the player in question.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
They might even do the dead cat bounce 2020
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
If a club recruits players through the draft and they disappear in two years to whoever they want and there is no compensation, how can that work? The weak clubs would just become recruiters and trainers for the strong.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Can't see Melbourne going for it. Brayshaw is better than Hill and 3 is better than 7.
R.
Guest
Id be willing to bet salary cap... not sure Melbourne have $900,000 up their sleeve without giving up a Brayshaw for example to free up space and theres still time to develop Langdon further so id say that had a bit to do with it although i wouldnt have had any issues if the Dees chased and won him.
R.
Guest
And you support??? Im guessing a team just as irrelevant to Melbourne supporters as their team is to you - except for the invention of the sport you follow thing... yeah Melbourne did that. Irrelevant? Hardly.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Melbourne need a small forward to go with their trades and they should keep their early draft pick 3 and go get the best kid they can find. I rate the Demons list and believe it was a injury/fitness/game plan that let them down this year. If they could get a Dan Butler and a Brad Hill in the next 4 days and still keep their pick 3, that would be huge for the list management team.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Langdon frustrates me as a wce supporter for his kicking mate, hill is way smoother