Review Winners and losers of Trade week.

[Blue By Blood]

Brisbane's haul was impressive.. but they lucked into it to a certain extent. Particularly, Christensen came out of the blue and caught most people off-guard.
I though Port did extremely well to fill a clear need and could have set themselves up for a sustained run of success. Once again, that was an unusual circumstance with the Bombers.
Hawthorn added nicely once again - not hard to attract free agents to a successful club though but kudos.
St Kilda did well to sell Stanley for pick 21.
Carlton targeted needs and hot them whilst keeping a round 1 and 2 pick.
Gold Coast added nicely.
Collingwood made the best of a bad situation. Although Varcoe? Not sold on that one.

 

[brett_warne]

Point is where were Sydney when they made those trades, fourth I think, ax I said worth it. It takes serious difference to make a side go from bottom to top, look at port, two years ago they were at their lowest point. Appoint a new prez and new coach, wow, that's what makes a difference. Think Richmond and hawthorn 2004, Richmond takes the easy route, wallace , Jason dunstal takes the hard road. Alister clarkson, the rest is all him. Same as port, get rid of primus and appoint ken, freo, get rid of Harvey and appoint Lyon. Get a good coach and you are fine, average coach tred water.

 

[yaco55]

On the W/L column for the trade period...

Despite the best efforts of the #1 Flog in the Media (D Barrett), this has turned from a disaster to a potential positive for the Dogs. Last week was rough, but to get the #1 KPF from last year to the Kennel is huge. Not just for profile (it's good there too), but for structure. We now have the #1 and #2 players from last years draft - in terms of potential impact in the long term

It frees up Crameri and Stringer to get the #2 and #3 defenders. Stringer finished with 22 goals in 9 games up forward to end the year (not exact - don't shoot me). Getting the #2 or #3 defender may see this number increase further, or see him move into the middle for short bursts. If we can get 25 goals (a goal a game) from Boyd (double Jones' output for the year) and 30+ from Stringer and Crameri - we'll be a 30 goal per season better side than this year.

While we have clearly paid overs now, it's a long term investment. Other pieces of the Dogs puzzle can hopefully be picked up through this and subsequent Draft/Trade periods.

Obviously it's not all positive, as I'd loved Pick #6 for a KPD as well - and to lose Griffen was heartbreaking.....

Crameri will continue to get the number one defender for at least one more year,possibly even two.

 

[grouse mate]

Lost some 2nds players. Gained an A grade mid and have 3 more top 10 picks coming in. Not too shabby.

 

[yaco55]

I would have thought Freo (and to a lesser extent, Richmond) would have been trading/acquiring players with unreserved aggression. Do Freo believe they have enough oomph in their squad to go that extra step and win a flag? Do Richmond think they are good enough to reach the top 4? Based on their respective trade periods, they'd seemingly think so. Not sure I agree.

You are missing the point about the WA teams - They cant trade in the gun players,and have trouble attracting fringe players - WA clubs need to draft,develop and retain their draft picks.

I actually think this inability to attract players will become an AFL issue.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

My top 3 is

Port
Hawks
Lions.

 

[grouse mate]

I heard a Richmond supporter ring SEN and say the club claimed prior to trade period they had a mil spare in cap space and were going to be big players. Not sure if this is true or not, if it is what the hell happened?

 

[halfback dasher]

1) Bris
2) Hawks
3) Port

This

 

[yeewww]

You are missing the point about the WA teams - They cant trade in the gun players,and have trouble attracting fringe players - WA clubs need to draft,develop and retain their draft picks.

I actually think this inability to attract players will become an AFL issue.

totally agree with you, even though its a traditional footy state, lived in sydney for a while and yes its expensive, but WA wow sydney has nothing on perth prices, i know cola is getting fazed out but if it wasn't both WA teams would have a fair argument to try and claim, especially as it cant recruit from within not allowed to have an academy, getting players to go is near impossible, to far to travel home and lose out even though making good cash.

 

[dlanod]

You are missing the point about the WA teams - They cant trade in the gun players,and have trouble attracting fringe players - WA clubs need to draft,develop and retain their draft picks.

I actually think this inability to attract players will become an AFL issue.

Excellent, some other teams to count on in the battle against "Go Homers".

 

[citizen-erased]

Winners
1) Giants. Picks 4, 6 & 7 in a draft that could rival the super draft. will be interesting how they use them.
2) Hawks. Gave up nothing really. Gained a quality defender & a kid that I imagine they will turn into a star
3) Lions. Beams & Christensen are great pickups.

Losers
1) Dons. Cooney, Gwilt & Giles are good additions for experience. Though typical signings of a club in a window looking to address specific needs. No new forwards is disappointing. Losing Ryder for 17 and Cooney when 4 was on the table and a 3rd rd pick from GWS probably could have been sorted with the Giles deal as well is a missed opportunity. And after it all, will still be painted with the hard to deal with brush.
2) Swans. Mail was that Ryder was done. No idea what was coming in return, but the inability to pad their team out while in a premiership window is a blow. Maybe the AFL are the real losers here though. Smacks of fining Melbourne for not tanking
3) Dogs. Griffen & 6 for Boyd (and the contract he is on) is a risk. Happy to wear the egg on my face should this flip, but given how top pick talls have fared over the years (Fraser, Gumbleton, Kruezer, Watts, Patton), it can be a poisoned chalice. Cooney and Higgins (along with Gia) is a lot of experience to rip out of a side. Last club that did this was Melbourne and it set them back another 5 years.

 

[eastfreo75]

totally agree with you, even though its a traditional footy state, lived in sydney for a while and yes its expensive, but WA wow sydney has nothing on perth prices, i know cola is getting fazed out but if it wasn't both WA teams would have a fair argument to try and claim, especially as it cant recruit from within not allowed to have an academy, getting players to go is near impossible, to far to travel home and lose out even though making good cash.

COL is over rated. If you are living off say $2000 a week 10% is only $200 which is only $10,000 per year. For someone on $500,000 that's peanuts.

 

[MC_9]

My top 3 is

Port
Hawks
Lions.

Would add Gold Coast. Got a AA running back. Also picked up a quality young mid for peanuts.

 

[Slick]

Lost some 2nds players. Gained an A grade mid and have 3 more top 10 picks coming in. Not too shabby.

Hmmm.. I'm not sure I would call Boyd, O'Rourke and Jacksh seconds players. Maybe only because they are young but that is some serious talent that left the club! In saying that, you're winners in that you've picked up Griffen AND have 3 picks in the top 10!

 

[Taylor]

COL is over rated. If you are living off say $2000 a week 10% is only $200 which is only $10,000 per year. For someone on $500,000 that's peanuts.

Do you want to move to Perth on a $600,000 deal? By the way it will cost you at least that to buy a house for your family while you're here. Sign here!

 

[eastfreo75]

Do you want to move to Perth on a $600,000 deal? By the way it will cost you at least that to buy a house for your family while you're here. Sign here!

If you buy a house, then its an asset. Is Buddy buying a place Bondi going to lose out?

 

[Taylor]

Still have to find that money, don't you?

I think the WA clubs should build an apartment building with single, double and family units that interstate families could "rent".

 

[le dominateur]

Adelaide:

Interesting. Got Lowden and Cheney for not a lot - just a few pick upgrades and downgrades here and there. Lowden was the right move - they need ruck depth really badly - but I'm not convinced about Cheney, he's just NQR for AFL footy. The other, perhaps bigger move was a pick swap with Geelong. Obviously they have their reasons to do a pick swap, but #35 is a very good chance of busting, and the players they need may not be available at #14. C+

Brisbane:

Nailed it, basically. Got Christensen and Beams for Crisp, Patfull, #5 and #25. While Patfull is a quality player, Crisp is fringe and the picks are a lottery. Have one of the best midfields in the game now - should no longer mire towards the bottom of the ladder. A+

Carlton:

Exchanged their first-rounder for Hawthorn's first rounder, Kristian Jaksch and Mark Whiley. I like the move - Whiley and Jaksch have both shown good signs in their careers so far, and #7 in this draft doesn't mean #7 in most drafts, and in honesty isn't that dissimilar to #19. The other trade was Jones for their third-rounder. I think he'll be better off as the #2 tall in contrast to what he was at the Dogs, and that was good value. Let Garlett go for little, but he was probably getting delisted anyway. Failed to nab Tutt during the trade period, but he'll probably join for free through the PSD. The annoying thing for them was that Waite didn't net them any compensation, but he only had a couple of years left in him and was never that good anyway. B+

Collingwood:

Was always on the back foot once Beams requested a trade. The compo they netted isn't awful, but it isn't ideal, either. #25 worked out for them by picking up Greenwood, who based on this year is worth a higher pick, but he was a fringe player before this year and it's hard to know whether this year was a deviation from the norm or massive improvement. Varcoe is an interesting one. Think he's a downgrade from Lumumba, but he doesn't have the off-field baggage. Still though he hasn't been the same since 2011. C-

Essendon:

Not their best work. Netting #17 and #37 wasn't ideal for Ryder, but they probably did the best they could out of it. Netting Giles for a nine-pick downgrade was a pretty good piece of work, but Cooney and Gwilt both feel like wastes. Gwilt isn't good enough these days and doesn't really fit any of their needs given Fletcher's playing on, and Cooney's shot and may not be best 22 for Essendon. D+

Fremantle:

No trades this year. I think they probably could've done with a top-up with their list fading from premiership contention, but you'd understand why they'd be skeptical given that Sylvia and Gumbleton were busts. Also it's possible they think they're in a good place as it stands and don't want to rock the boat. C+

Geelong:

While trading in Clark for Varcoe is a bit of a risk, I think it's a good move for the Cats. Their ruck stocks are questionable with McIntosh getting on and Simpson struggling with injury and they need a #2 guy for Hawkins, so if he's properly fit he should be able to fill both roles very comfortably. What went wrong was what happened next week. Christensen went for unders, but you could understand them folding given he requested a trade to a specific club. The big no-no was trading that pick for Rhys Stanley. Given Clark had just joined he didn't really fit any needs, and his performances have been horribly inconsistent throughout his career - a similar player in Liam Jones got to his club for #46. C-

Gold Coast:

Malceski is a quality addition to the Suns. If they lack anything, it's experience, and he offers a big cool head down back. The other move was bringing Hallahan from the Hawks in. While due to Hawthorn's depth he hasn't got games (so could be seen as a bit of a punt, albeit a very cheap one), he is highly regarded and adds something the Suns lack in an hard in-and-under mid. Good work. A-

Greater Western Sydney:

Perhaps the most surprising deal of trade week was Tom Boyd being traded to the Dogs for Ryan Griffen and their first-rounder. While the optics of losing the #1 pick so early isn't great, Griffen will add some key experience to their side and they get another high draft pick. They arguably overpaid for Patfull and the Jaksch upgrade but it would suit them, I guess. Got reasonable deals out of Frost and O'Rourke, but they lost out on Giles. Overall they did fairly well and this could be the draft that takes them far, but it could bite them on the ass if they struggle next season. B

Hawthorn:

Frawley is a big in, no doubt about it, with perhaps their only area of weakness being covered. O'Rourke is also a good in, while he may bust you'd like picking up a former #2 for #19. Letting Hallahan, Cheney and Lowden go cheaply isn't great, but they weren't best 22 anyway, and it is good optics to let players go cheaper than you'd like if they weren't completely necessary and wanted to leave. Overall did very well. A-

Melbourne:

Garlett and Lumumba are off-field risks but on the field add to the Demons quite a bit - Garlett adds some strike power up front, Lumumba good ball skills down back. More importantly they paid little for Garlett and gave up a player who hasn't played for nearly 2 years in Clark for the Prince. Frost was possibly overs, but he still has time and adds some depth down back. Also they got quite generous compensation for James Frawley. On the downside, Jack Trengove's career looks in doubt now. Not the big 'OMG wow' draft that eventuated at other clubs, but it's a reasonably solid one and potentially could be a very smart one. B

North Melbourne:

Wow. Talk about going all out. Now, gaining Waite and Higgins isn't a problem as they didn't give up anything, but both have failed to live up to their potential in their careers and it's unclear what they add to North. Worse, it's cost them Greenwood, who had a great year last year, and the optics of these deals seem way too similar to Freo 06 and Lions 09 - history might not look kindly on this week. C

Port Adelaide:

Only one deal - nabbing Patty Ryder. He is probably the one player in the AFL that suited their needs perfectly, and it could be the signing that takes them to a premiership. No picks this year until about 60, but given how solid their list is, it probably wasn't necessary. B+

Richmond:

No trades this year. Tried to nab Trengove but he failed a medical, were looking at Winderlich but he backed out. Their list is in an OK place, and unlike the Western Australian clubs they at least tried to get some good players. C+

St Kilda:

Managed to pass off Stanley for a fairly high pick, one which is bigger than he deserves. Will get Tim Membrey for free. Not a hell lot to talk about but they did well in their few deals this week. B

Sydney:

Oh dear. Lost Membrey for nothing, only got #39 for Malceski, and Biggs left for very little. And they couldn't trade anyone in due to the trade ban. A lot of it wasn't their fault, but I can't give them much of a rating here. D

West Coast:

No trades this year. I guess who they wanted wasn't on the market, but why didn't they try to do a Bulldogs and offer a gun young mid huge money to return home? Perhaps the salary cap prevented that. You aren't gonna win flags through complacency, and I feel they needed to think outside of the box this draft period with the club stalling. 2015 will say a lot. C

Western Bulldogs:

Does fortune favour the brave? Boyd is a massive, massive risk, but he does seemingly have the goods, and the Dogs haven't had a young gun KPF for about 20 years so it's easy to see why they did it. Losing 3 of their last remaining players of their 3-peat in Griffen, Cooney and Higgins hurts them in the short-term, but it could be beneficial in the long run. Losing Jones and Tutt though is slightly more concerning, but they aren't that good anyway. Biggs is a low-risk proposition, and I've liked him a bit in the few games he's played for the Swans, so he was worth the punt. Will have to wait a few years for the smoke to fully clear, but Boyd could be the player that breaks the 60+ year drought. B-

So best: Hawthorn, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, worst: Sydney, Essendon, Collingwood and Geelong.

Great post! A for effort.

 

[dlanod]

Hmmm.. I'm not sure I would call Boyd, O'Rourke and Jacksh seconds players. Maybe only because they are young but that is some serious talent that left the club! In saying that, you're winners in that you've picked up Griffen AND have 3 picks in the top 10!

Boyd not so much, but given their form to date it was hard to see who Jaksch and/or JOR was going to push out of the seniors - hence why they departed.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

North Melbourne:

Wow. Talk about going all out. Now, gaining Waite and Higgins isn't a problem as they didn't give up anything, but both have failed to live up to their potential in their careers and it's unclear what they add to North. Worse, it's cost them Greenwood, who had a great year last year, and the optics of these deals seem way too similar to Freo 06 and Lions 09 - history might not look kindly on this week. C

We gave up nothing for Waite and Higgins. We retained 3 picks in the top 36 and Greenwood leaving had nothing to do with getting Higgins. We were offering Cooney a fair salary AFTER Greenwood had gone.

 

[terboz123]

Christensen isn't really an outside runner. Collingwood win or lose depending on how Levi Greenwood performs. Greenwood is a much better player defensively so if he racks up similar numbers to Dayne Beams we win.

Dogs also I'f put them as a win as they turned a bad situation into getting a key forward they are crying out for. Depends on how Boyd performs but until otherwise I'd say its a win.

no you dont...beams is that more damaging then greenwood is.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Beaten you at your own home ground 2 years running, but yeah, you guys are better.

You lost to Melbourne...you can't base who's better on one game

 

[terboz123]

Better than Cale Morton is doing for you.
We all get trades wrong from time to time, champ.

pretty sure cale morton was picked up as a de listed player....not trade. next

 

[Beutbrute]

I'm not that unhappy with our trade period. I don't think our squad is as bad as some people are making out. We had no players requesting to leave, which is a good sign of the team spirit. Team stability can be a good thing

 

[Iva Bigun]

Malcheski for zip, Hallahan for 47 and 49