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

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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INS AND OUTS: EVERY CLUB’S LIST CHANGES

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

Matt Kennedy will step into the midfield vacancy created by Bryce Gibbs.

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

Jake Stringer in his new Essendon colours.

Devon Smith will also line up for the Bombers next year.

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

Gold Coast relented on Fremantle’s demand for pick 2 for Lachie Weller.

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

Melbourne picked up intercepting defender Jake Lever. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Demons traded Jack Watts to Port Adelaide.

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

Hayden Crozier has joined the Bulldogs. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

Jackson Trengove was the first player to move in the free agency period. Picture: Nathan Lay

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?