Adrian Dodoro completes perfect trade period for Essendon

IN a trade period big on hot air, Essendon shrugged its controversy-plagued years to become the main story. JON RALPH on all the big moves. Vote: Who was your trade period winner?

ADRIAN Dodoro was once the AFL’s trade grinch.

On Thursday he made all of John Worsfold’s Christmas wishes come true.

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He wandered into the trade period as the hardest list manager in AFL circles to trade with.

Not only did Dodoro shed that reputation, his club might have finally moved on from four years of ASADA-based issues in one trade period.

The symbolism was impossible to escape.

Not only have they amassed a seriously talented list, a club that had players fleeing years ago is now a destination club.

Adrian Dodoro is thrilled players wanted to join the Bombers. Picture: Getty Images

Jake Stringer will don the sash.

As Dodoro said as he walked out of the trade negotiations: “It’s just a great day for the club.

“It just caps off a marvellous trade period for the club. It’s great players wanted to come to our club.”

Not only did Essendon secure all of Devon Smith, Adam Saad and Jake Stringer, it got them while retaining a first and second-round pick in next year’s draft.

On other words, it didn’t sell the farm for any of them.

It got the hard-running defender, it got the goalkicking midfielder, it got the second forward in Stringer who can release Cale Hooker into defence.

Hooker was part of the hard sell for Stringer, along with Tom Bellchambers meeting him to convince him to come to the club.

Let’s be honest, it was an 11-day trade period big on hot air and short on surprises and left-field names.

Perhaps the last dramatic hour made up for long days of little movement.

Gary Ablett will join Patrick Dangerfield at the Cats. Picture: Colleen Petch

Two of the AFL’s greatest players in Gary Ablett and Luke Hodge were traded to play out the last years of their careers at their preferred homes.

Then came the bombshells.

First Charlie Cameron found his way to Brisbane for pick 12, with Adelaide relenting after first securing Bryce Gibbs.

Then Gold Coast realised it too had to pay overs for Lachie Weller, the first player to spend time on the Gold Coast who wanted to go back there in seven years.

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They had to give up pick two to secure him, but Gold Coast has used high draft picks like they were Monopoly money.

There comes a time when you need to go and get a star kid who you think can help set up your clubs.

Ross Lyon had been happy to play a game of chicken — adamant the Suns would fold — and that’s eventually exactly what happened.

Then at the death Josh Schache found his way to the Bulldogs, the Dogs saving a trade period that had seen them at times fighting a losing battle.

Josh Schache returns to his native Victoria. Picture: AFL Media

Luke Hodge will direct the young Lions. Picture: Mark Stewart

If you are a Dogs fan worried about losing X factor talent in Jake Stringer, at least the club can sell the vision of Schache and Tim English as the ruck-forward combo for the next decade.

Through it all Carlton was the sleeper, with Steve Silvagni admitting the Gibbs trade was nearly scuttled over a “misunderstanding” on Wednesday.

Not only did the Blues get two first-round picks for Gibbs (but shuffling back their second and third-rounders), they brought in cover at a good price.

GWS midfielder Matt Kennedy was a value selection at only pick 28 and they secured Darcy Lang for the AFL’s version of offcuts rather than the pick 30 that was speculated.

All they needed to give up was pick 58 and swap fourth-rounders for a former first-rounder who played an excellent final for the Cats just weeks ago.

Charlie Cameron joins Luke Hodge at Brisbane. Picture: Sarah Reed

Matthew Lobbe is a Blue. Picture: Getty Images

They also secured Port Adelaide ruckman Matt Lobbe for pick 95 as ruck insurance, with the Power a chance to cover some of his $500,000 salary.

The losers?

You can’t really lose if you don’t give up good picks for bad players, but North Melbourne, St Kilda and Collingwood basically did nothing.

The Pies’ decision to hand over a future second-round pick as part of a deal to secure little -known NEAFL player Sam Murray was poorly received by the fanbase.

So now it’s up to clubs like Collingwood and the Saints to nail the draft and ensure the picks they have stockpiled turn into elite prospect for 2018.

Originally published as Adrian Dodoro completes perfect trade period for Essendon