AFL Trades 2017 report card: How did your club fare?
ESSENDON landed its three big trade targets, Collingwood snared an unknown rookie from Sydney and Richmond hardly did anything. EVERY DEAL, EVERY CLUB RATED
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ESSENDON has completed a stunning trade period, nailing all three of its targets to rocket into premiership contention.
Carlton also scored some stunning wins while Geelong rescued its trade period with a late deal for champion Gary Ablett.
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Port Adelaide was by far the most active club, with an astonishing nine players going through the doors — three in and six out.
Some teams had to relent on their initial demands and others, including Sydney, West Coast, St Kilda and premier Richmond, didn’t seem to do much at all.
Collingwood did just one trade — and still copped a pasting for it.
Review all your club’s moves below and see the verdict from the Herald Sun trade experts.
2017 DRAFT ORDER: WHERE DOES YOUR CLUB SIT?
HOW DID YOUR CLUB FARE?
ADELAIDE
GAINED: Bryce Gibbs, Sam Gibson
LOST: Jake Lever, Harrison Wigg, Charlie Cameron
DRAFT PICKS: 12, 39, 77, 109
MICHAEL WARNER SAYS: Lost Jake Lever and sold a chunk of the farm for Bryce Gibbs, but got stacks back for the contracted Charlie Cameron. Signing discarded Kangaroos veteran Sam Gibson a smart late play. Premiership window still wide open.
GRADE: Solid progress
BRISBANE LIONS
GAINED: Charlie Cameron, Luke Hodge
LOST: Josh Schache, Tom Rockliff
DRAFT PICKS: 1, 15, 18, 40, 44, 52, 93
SAM LANDSBERGER SAYS: A No. 1 pick in (Luke Hodge) and a No. 2 pick out (Josh Schache). That’ll grab the headlines, but to attract Queenslander Charlie Cameron and exit with picks 1, 15, 18, 40 and 44 is impressive. Schache’s trade helped secure No. 15 and while No. 12 is a high price for Cameron, the Lions envisage him evolving into a damaging midfielder. Who do they crown No. 1? In a tough year it’s out of Cameron Rayner, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Paddy Dow.
GRADE: Solid progress
CARLTON
GAINED: Matt Kennedy, Darcy Lang, Matthew Lobbe
LOST: Bryce Gibbs
DRAFT PICKS: 3, 10, 30, 73
SAM EDMUND SAYS: Got most of Adelaide’s farm for Bryce Gibbs and used a pick from that deal to land Giants inside midfielder Matt Kennedy. Secured Darcy Lang for a song, ruck back-up Matt Lobbe for a packet of chips and will hit the draft with prized picks 3 and 10. Take a bow, Stephen Silvagni.
Grade: Big winner
COLLINGWOOD
GAINED: Sam Murray
LOST: —
DRAFT PICKS: 6, 38, 56, 61, 70, 80, 98
MICHAEL WARNER SAYS: Finished 13th but was barely a trade player. The Magpies deny they have a tight salary cap, but all they could muster was little-known rookie defender Sam Murray from Sydney. Said to have already identified their target at pick 6 in next month’s draft. Will go all out for Gold Coast restricted free agent Tom Lynch next year.
Grade: Would not be happy
ESSENDON
GAINED: Devon Smith, Adam Saad, Jake Stringer
LOST: —
DRAFT PICKS: 48, 67, 85, 103
SAM LANDSBERGER SAYS: Adrian Dodoro should hit the Crown Casino poker tables because nobody played their cards better. The Bombers basically gave up pick 11 and 30 for Jake Stringer, Adam Saad and Devon Smith. They will power up all parts of the ground with Stringer set to build his fitness levels enough to be deployed as a devastating midfielder. Beating rival clubs to the signatures of Saad and Smith signal this club is through the mire and has wrenched open the premiership window.
GRADE: Big winners
FREMANTLE
GAINED: Nathan Wilson, Brandon Matera
L OST: Harley Balic, Lachie Weller, Hayden Crozier
DRAFT PICKS: 2, 5, 42, 60, 66, 71, 79, 83, 97
C HRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: Didn’t get much in exchange for Hayden Crozier or Harley Balic early in the trade period but finished with a bang on the final day. Nathan Wilson is a quality addition from GWS and was effectively secured for a second-round pick. Lachie Weller wanted out and the Dockers, remarkably, were able to secure pick 2 from the Suns for him. Then they landed Gold Coast small forward Brandon Matera for a second-rounder. Freo’s best trade period in years — possibly ever.
Grade: Big winner
I'd like to thank both the GC Suns and the GFC for their support this week and for getting me back home. Head to @exinsight for more info pic.twitter.com/TKAa7EIV6P
— Gary Ablett Jnr (@GaryAblettJnr) October 19, 2017
GEELONG
GAINED: Gary Ablett
LOST: Steven Motlop, Darcy Lang
DRAFT PICKS: 22, 24, 35, 58, 72, 90, 108
SAM EDMUND SAYS: Is Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett the best midfield trio since Chris Judd, Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr? The Cats admit they “gave up a bit” for Gazza and waved goodbye to Steven Motlop and Darcy Lang, but the premiership window has to be open now.
Grade: Solid progress
GOLD COAST
GAINED: Harrison Wigg, Aaron Young, Lachie Weller
LOST: Adam Saad, Gary Ablett, Brandon Matera
DRAFT PICKS: 19, 41, 50, 54, 76, 94
SAM EDMUND SAYS: On face value, the Suns performed the biggest backflip of the trade period in giving up pick 2 for Lachie Weller after initially scoffing at the Dockers’ demands. But they spun it by saying the acquisition of future first-round and second-round picks in separate deals made it possible. Relented on Ablett but were well compensated with pick 19 and a future second-rounder. Happy to let Brandon Matera leave and got Aaron Young in.
Grade: Solid progress
GWS GIANTS
GAINED: —
LOST: Devon Smith, Matt Kennedy, Nathan Wilson
DRAFT PICKS: 11, 27, 28, 57, 65, 89, 107
MICHAEL WARNER SAYS: Bagged pick 11 for Devon Smith and some second-rounders for Nathan Wilson and Matthew Kennedy. Refused to budge on St Kilda’s pursuit of Adam Tomlinson. If Dogs don’t offer Mitch Honeychurch a new contract they are keen to nab him as a delisted free agent. Giants are confident their young list can improve on back-to-back prelims.
Grade: Nothing to see
HAWTHORN
GAINED: Jarman Impey
LOST: Luke Hodge
DRAFT PICKS: 43, 68, 75, 81, 99
SAM EDMUND SAYS: Compared to last year’s fireworks, it was a bit of a snoozefest on the Hawks’ trade table. Snagged Port Adelaide’s Jarman Impey for pick 33 and a swap of later picks before granting Luke Hodge’s shock passage to the Brisbane Lions. The Hawks sent the club legend and pick 44 to the Gabba for picks 43 and 75.
Grade: Nothing to see
MELBOURNE
GAINED: Jake Lever, Harley Balic
LOST: Jack Watts
DRAFT PICKS: 29, 31, 36, 47, 84, 102
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: The Demons hope Jake Lever’s progress towards becoming a premier defender continues, having invested two first-round picks and a hefty four-year contract in the ex-Adelaide star. Jack Watts was given to Port Adelaide for peanuts at pick 31. Coach Simon Goodwin clearly wanted to make a statement there. Harley Balic could prove a handy addition through the midfield and across half-forward.
Grade: Solid progress
NORTH MELBOURNE
GAINED: —
LOST: Sam Gibson
DRAFT PICKS: 4, 23, 64, 78, 91, 96
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: The Kangaroos spent most of the year chasing big fish Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly. When they both fell through, the strategy clearly changed tack towards rebuilding through the draft. All the talk that one of their three ruckmen — Todd Goldstein, Braydon Preuss and Majak Daw — could be on the move proved to be hot air with the trio retained. Midfielder Sam Gibson found a new home at Adelaide after originally being announced as a delisting.
Grade: Nothing to see
PORT ADELAIDE
GAINED: Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Jack Watts
LOST: Jackson Trengove, Jarman Impey, Brendon Ah Chee, Logan Austin, Aaron Young, Matthew Lobbe
DRAFT PICKS: 46, 49, 59, 62, 63, 86, 95, 104
SAM LANDSBERGER SAYS: The 2018 premiership is in Ken Hinkley’s sights. They basically snared Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop and Jack Watts for Jarman Impey before most clubs had fired a shot. Rockliff kicked about 100 goals in the TAC Cup and will interchange with Robbie Gray between forward and midfield. Motlop and Watts are the cream, and they added two gun first-round picks in a better draft last year — Sam Powell-Pepper and Todd Marshall. Depth took a hit but this mob is October premier.
GRADE: Big winners
BUCKY’S CALL: GARY BUCKENARA’S TRADE RATINGS
RICHMOND
GAINED: —
LOST: —
DRAFT PICKS: 17, 20, 25, 53, 55, 74, 92, 110
MICHAEL WARNER SAYS: The premier laid low but got involved in some savvy pick swaps with Geelong and the Brisbane Lions aimed at building draft points and securing father-son prospect Patrick Naish. Eyeing a tall forward at pick 17 to develop under Jack Riewoldt, who turns 29 this month. Sam Lloyd and Anthony Miles staying put at Punt Rd.
Grade: Nothing to see.
ST KILDA
GAINED: Logan Austin
L OST: —
DRAFT PICKS: 7, 8, 34, 45, 100
SAM LANDSBERGER SAYS: Missed out on GWS pair Devon Smith and Adam Tomlinson, but bolstered the back half with little-known Port Adelaide defender Logan Austin — Sean Dempster’s cousin. The Saints enter the draft with two top-10 picks — 7 and 8 — for the first time in 16 years and four selections inside 45. Another year rolls by without a big fish so they need sharp improvement from within to make finals. Jaidyn Stephenson is high on the draft wish list.
Grade: Nothing to see
Can't wait to play against Geelongs midfield 😩🤒 #saidnooneever
— David Armitage (@armo_20) October 19, 2017
SYDNEY
GAINED: —
LOST: Sam Murray
DRAFT PICKS: 14, 33, 51, 88, 106
SAM EDMUND SAYS: Happy to let little-known and yet-to-debut rookie Sam Murray leave for Collingwood in exchange for next year’s second-round pick. Clearly backing its star-studded list to make a better start next season and cement a top-four position for another flag tilt.
Grade: Nothing to see
WEST COAST
GAINED: Brendon Ah Chee
LOST: —
DRAFT PICKS: 13, 21, 26, 32, 37, 69, 87, 105
CHRIS CAVANAGH SAYS: Given where they are at, Eagles fans probably would have liked to see a bit more shuffling of the deckchairs this trade period. West Coast picked up Port Adelaide midfielder Brendon Ah Chee cheaply on a one-year deal. He is seeking more senior opportunity after playing just four games for the Power this year. Aside from that it was just pick swaps and from that perspective West Coast clearly rates the depth of this year’s draft more than most.
Grade: Nothing to see
WESTERN BULLDOGS
GAINED: Jackson Trengove, Hayden Crozier, Josh Schache
LOST: Jake Stringer
DRAFT PICKS: 9, 16, 82, 101
SAM LANDSBERGER SAYS: Rattled to the finish line like the great gelding Chautauqua. Coach Luke Beveridge has told spring-heeled goalkicker Hayden Crozier he will slot on to a half-back flank and the Dogs love free agent Jackson Trengove’s versatility and competitiveness. As for Josh Schache? The No. 2 draft pick from two years ago makes the Stringer trade palatable. Securing pick No. 16 in the final hour and Schache in the final minute converts the period from a C- to a B+.
Grade: Solid progress
Originally published as AFL Trades 2017 report card: How did your club fare?
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