The trade period is fast approaching. Here’s what your club needs to do.
Stay up to date with the latest AFL trade rumours here.
Hawthorn
Rumoured players to arrive
Tom McDonald
Who and what they need
Hawthorn have struggled over the last three seasons to make the top eight, but this was bound to happen with experienced players like Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead and Luke Hodge leaving the club and a rebuilding phase beginning. Or so we thought.
With Alastair Clarkson’s reluctance to get the draft and putting the ‘r-word’ in to practice the Hawks are always busy around this time of the year. One player that has been rumoured to be going to the once-successful club is Tom McDonald. A big-bodied tall forward who has a great set of hands and a beautiful kick (on his day) could be a great acquisition for the Hawks.
Tom McDonald of the Demons celebrates a goal. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)
A player who Hawthorn must go after is Ollie Wines. Wines is a prolific ball winner and has plenty of size about him. This size will help the likes of James Worpel and Tom Mitchell inside to spread the load.
How they get it done
Port Adelaide: Pick 21
Hawthorn: Ollie Wines
Melbourne: Future third-round pick
Hawthorn: Tom McDonald
Melbourne
Rumoured players to arrive
Jared Polec
Who and what they need
Melbourne’s resurgence in 2018 was only temporary, as the Demons languished in 17th position in 2019. The Demons’ one-win-away-from-finals season was highlighted with Max Gawn dominating and Christian Petracca standing up in big moments.
When looking at the list, there are not many holes. You’ve got solid defenders in Steven May and Jake Lever, a midfield group that includes Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver, arguably the best ruck in the game in Max Gawn, and a forward line with the up-and-coming Sam Weideman, Christian Petracca and young star Kysaiah Pickett.
One thing the Demons may and should acquire in trade is running half-back or winger who is a good user. Jared Polec who is out of favor at Arden Street and struggled to keep his spot in a struggling North Melbourne side. The Demons could use his speed and ball use as they struggled with this part of the game and tried to manufacture players like Adam Tomlinson in this role.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
How they get it done
North Melbourne: Pick 62, 63 and Oscar McDonald
Melbourne: Jared Polec and Pick 57
North Melbourne
Rumoured players to arrive
Aidan Corr
Who and what they need
What more can you say? As we speak, the Kangaroos have delisted eleven players including Jaspar Pittard and Majak Daw. Ben Brown, Jared Polec, Shaun Higgins all look set to be out the door and the senior coach has taken stress leave for personal reasons.
The club is an absolute shamble and the plan outside looking in looks like they want to blow the club up and start afresh. The Kangas currently hold picks 2, 9, 25, 57, 65, 75. The Roos have to use the two top ten picks wisely and could use pick 2 on players such as Logan McDonald from Perth, who could be a perfect replacement for Ben Brown as he is a tall forward with imposing frame.
The near future is looking bleak at North but, with a good trade period and the draft they could return to the days of Wayne Carey and John Longmire.
How they get it done
Pick 2: Logan McDonald
Pick 9: Oliver Henry
Port Adelaide
Rumoured players to arrive
Orazio Fantasia
Who and what they need
The Power were one kick away from a grand final, but I believe they are further from a flag than what it seems.
For Port to win a flag next year they seriously need another key forward and another key back. The key forward the Power should go after is ‘two-metre’ Peter Wright who has been virtually discarded the Gold Coast Suns, not being able to find a place in the side.
Peter Wright. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
This would be a great, cheap acquisition for Port, while giving a helping hand to Charlie Dixon in the big games and having a presence in the forward line.
The key back they should go after is Joel Hamling, who has been injured for a while and hasn’t been able to back up his herculean feats in the 2016 premiership with Western Bulldogs. The Dockers and Hamling aren’t seeing eye to eye – he hasn’t been able to get on the park since 2019.
How they get it done
Gold Coast Suns: Pick 53
Port Adelaide: Peter Wright
Fremantle: Pick 39
Port Adelaide: Joel Hamling
Essendon: Pick 31 and a future third-round pick
Port Adelaide: Orazio Fantasia
Richmond
Rumoured players to arrive
N/A
Who and what they need
Who would have thought five years ago that Richmond were on the brink of three flags in four years and would require absolutely nothing in the trade period?
The Tigers’ success has been based around trade, but they will have a fight on their hands to keep the fringe players like Jack Higgins, Sydney Stack, Josh Caddy, Mabior Chol.
The Tigers would also like to keep their current draft picks (where possible) if not bundle the picks up to get higher up the pecking order. They currently hold picks 19, 32, 55, 73, 91.
How they get it done
Fremantle: picks 19 and 32
Richmond: pick 10
St Kilda
Rumoured players to arrive
Brad Crouch
Who and what they need
St Kilda’s rise up the ladder was significantly down the recruiting strategy of Simon Lethlean and David Rath. But the Saints still require a better list to be thereabouts once again. One important objective is to sign a big-bodied midfielder and, with Brad Crouch declaring the Saints his preferred destination, they’ve got their man.
Crouch could help midfielders such as Jack Steele and Zak Jones. The Saints are set on every line, forward, midfield and back, but they must get another midfielder.
How they get it done
Sign Brad Crouch
Sydney Swans
Rumoured players to arrive
Jesse Hogan
Who and what they need
The Sydney Swans will be back in the finals next year. Mark my words. With the likes of Josh Kennedy, Lance Franklin, Dane Rampe, Luke Parker, and Isaac Heeney the Swans have a solid list and could be bolstered with a few signings this trade period.
A player who has been rumoured to join the club is out-of-favour Docker Jesse Hogan. Hogan could provide the Swans with a whole different dynamic with him playing a sweeper role at half-forward which will provide even more space for superstar Buddy Franklin.
Jesse Hogan. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
How they get it done
Fremantle: Future second-round pick
Sydney: Jesse Hogan
West Coast Eagles
Rumoured players to arrive
Zac Langdon
Who and what they need
The Eagles have a very set list, but their age demographic is worrying. The Eagles have the second-oldest list in the AFL and, after selling the farm to Geelong, don’t have a first-round selection at this year’s draft. The Eagles need to get back into the draft and they could do this by bundling future picks as well this year’s picks to get a stronger hand in the draft.
How they get it done
West Coast: Pick 30, 45, Future first-round pick
Hawthorn: Pick 20, Future second-round pick
Western Bulldogs
Rumoured players to arrive
Mitch Hannan
Who and what they need
There is no secret that Tim English isn’t up to AFL standard yet. The Bulldogs are in desperate need of a mature-aged ruckman. The Bulldogs should look no further than Todd Goldstein and Stefan Martin, who are older, experienced ruckmen who will be great assets for the Bulldogs and English’s development.
» Stay up to date with all the latest AFL trade rumours here
The Bulldogs have an outstanding midfield, but the forward line did not click in 2020. They should target a fringe small to medium forward such as a Jack Higgins at Richmond who complements a forward line with Josh Bruce and Aaron Naughton.
How they get it done
North Melbourne: Pick 36
Western Bulldogs: Todd Goldstein
Richmond: Future second-round pick
Western Bulldogs: Jack Higgins
Power
Guest
Port - Pick 7 Carl - C.Oliver Melb - O.Wines + T.Williamson
Stephen Treloar
Roar Rookie
We'll be in trouble if we play Breust as a midfielder.
Steve
Guest
With respect, I think you're looking at things misty optically! :P
Maxy
Roar Rookie
pick 21 for wines :laughing: :laughing: thats funny
Maxy
Roar Rookie
If we got Alir Alir and Jones is coming [draft]by all reports they are a lock for round 1 in our backline.Bergmann being our first round pick last year should also be playing if he is any good,he is by all reports starting his career down back,who would your back 6 be round 1 next year...have some decent depth down back,might loose someone
Eagles 18
Roar Rookie
The AFL has already told West Coast they cannot trade their 1st round pick because they have traded that pick 3 years in a row. (Unless we get one back from another club)
Footyguy
Guest
Sydney will improve but their midfield needs more experienced players, like an Isaac Smith, Luke Breust, Jared Polec
Blitz
Guest
Eagles don’t need to move up the draft by trading a future 1st rounder. They nailed the 2017 draft by giving their 1st rounder to the Suns in exchange for multiple later picks that they used to get Allen, Ryan, Rioli, Brander, Petrucelle etc - that saw them leapfrog at least one year ahead of where they should have been and this was strategic on their part. They didn’t pay the farm for Kelly either - it’s far too early to tell. He has 6-7 years ahead of him.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
I reckon/hope Hogan is worth more than a future 2nd rounder. Optimistically pick 10 and Hogan for pick 3.
Hawks12
Guest
Dreaming if you think wines going to hawks. Why would he come to us where we currently are as football club. We are going to have to rebuild. Besides Hartigan I feel hawks will grab no one else. All draft for us. May use next years first rounder to get two inside first round this year. Use our second rounder on academy downie
DEESNUTSRBIG
Guest
Teams can trade 1st round picks they just need approval from the AFL. 'The exception to that is where a club has applied for and received special permission, with the AFL weighing up the age of the players brought in and other draft picks used in that time.'
DEESNUTSRBIG
Guest
Richmond still too good for everyone unfortunately and Geelong adding Cameron and Higgins plus Port and Brisbane on the rise means the other teams are coming from a long way back. Tom McDonald is a difference maker when fit, played overweight this season (bulked up and lost his mobility) and had injuries too. Contracted for 2 more years can play both ends Melbourne need to keep him and get him fit. Melbourne at CHB has been a struggle - May is a gun FB, Lever is ok as a 3rd defender and between O.McDonald/Smith/Tomlinson it doesn't look good. Polec is a better option for Melbourne than Isaac Smith who is past his best - they obviously haven't learnt their lesson from Jordan Lewis. :thumbdown: Isaac Smith (32 YO in December) 6 free kicks and 27 against in his last 35 games. Less shots on goals, giving away more free kicks, tackles have gone down the last couple of years, has really slown down and Melbourne offer 3 years SMH
2dogz
Roar Rookie
I thought he was older for some reason. He is in his prime.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
26
2dogz
Roar Rookie
How old is wines ?
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Yep. 12 is closer to the mark :thumbup:
Luke
Guest
I agree that pick 21 is not going to get it done for wines. But maybe if Hawthorn give doggies picks 21 and 41 for their pick 12 and use that.
Scott
Guest
I’d pay more then pick 7 for wines easily
Davo
Guest
Respect your opinion Macca but I below is one of the most one sided trades I have ever seen...it won't happen. North Melbourne: Pick 62, 63 and Oscar McDonald Melbourne: Jared Polec and Pick 57
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
He went at pick 7 in the draft, has had a good year, and you think he’s not worth that now while he’s in his prime? I’d be unhappy with anything less than that. I have a Melbourne mate that says McDonald has refused to play back, not sure I’d want him as a forward, would definitely take him down back though