Adelaide has taken a step back this trade period and must get creative, writes Chris McDermott
ADELAIDE has taken a step back this trade period and must get creative and aggressive if it is to return to finals action while Port Adelaide’s relationship with Chad Wingard has come to an end, writes Chris McDermott.
WEDNESDAY, October 17, at 4.30pm, the AFL trade period for 2018 will come to an end.
The clock is ticking, and for some of the game’s big names, the window of opportunity is quickly closing.
The Crows have been surprisingly dormant once again during the trade period.
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Mitch McGovern is gone, and was always going to be, but there has been little else of significance to speak of.
They are still in desperate need of a back-up ruckman for Sam Jacobs but have failed to land one.
Shane McAdam is a welcome inclusion to the club, but he must be given 12 months to find his feet.
The Crows have three first-round draft picks, currently at No.8, 13 and 16, but none of them will guarantee them one of the South Australian youngsters they want.
They must get active. Creative. Aggressive.
West Coast did and it finished top. It miraculously retained Andrew Gaff and replaced ruckman Scott Lycett seamlessly with Tom Hickey, which is a big win for the reigning premier.
Collingwood is juggling a few, but retained Darcy Moore and is on the hook for Steven May from Gold Coast.
Richmond got better with the inclusion of Tom Lynch and other clubs have followed suit.
The Crows have not. With just 72 hours to go they have taken a small step backwards in terms of personnel.
It is not the time for them to stay stagnant.
Daniel Menzel was available and so was Jordan Roughead, but both were ignored.
The football community is watching. A massive year for this football club awaits and anything but a return to September action cannot be tolerated.
The same can be said for the Power, but unlike the Crows, it has not been from lack of trying.
They were the most active club this time last year and they are back at it again 12 months later. Lycett’s signature is a win but there must be more. At least one, if not two.
The deliberation over Chad Wingard must be kept to a minimum and if Ryan Burton passes his medical, the deal to exchange the duo must be done immediately.
It is in the best interests of both parties.
Sometimes you just fall out of love and the Power and Wingard appear to have reached that point.
It cannot be resolved.
It is time to shake hands, say thanks and move on.
Burton will be a more than worthy replacement and fill a vacancy in defence the Power is crying out for.
Like Wayne Milera has done at the Crows, Burton can do likewise at the Power and exit the ball from defence with speed and penetration that will allow the scoreboard to tick over at a much better rate.
He will allow Darcy Byrne-Jones and Dan Houston more time to grow and with Wingard gone, Robbie Gray can own the role as a forward-mid.
A front six of Gray, Charlie Dixon, Paddy Ryder, Steven Motlop, Todd Marshall and Sam Gray looks pretty good and if harmony can be found, success will surely follow.