AFL Trade Period 2016: which unwanted players could turn into AFL stars
JOSH Kennedy was a fringe player at Hawthorn before becoming a star at Sydney. We look at some unwanted players that could become trade gems this year.
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WHEN Sydney recruited for Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn little did they know they’d pulled off one of the all-time great trade heists.
Hawthorn received picks 39, 46 and 70 for the pair, who were strugging for a regular game at the Hawks but would go on to become stars for the Swans.
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Jay Schulz (Richmond to Port Adelaide) and Shane Mumford (Geelong to Sydney) also found new homes that year and flourished.
Those sorts of finds are few and far between but the success of Tim Membrey (who played one game at Sydney before moving to St Kilda) and Sam Kerridge (a star in the SANFL last season who was picked once for the Crows) shows there is value to be found at the bottom of opposition club lists.
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Carlton had mixed results with its four GWS acquisitions while Richmond nailed one former Giant in Anthony Miles (rookie draft) but this year’s punt on Jacob Townsend didn’t work out so well.
Who could be this year’s JPK?
JACK STEELE (GWS)
The second-year GWS midfielder has shown glimpses at AFL level but always finds himself back in the NEAFL. After seven games in his debut season, Steele has managed 10 this year. The average 15 touches per game doesn’t shout superstar but the average five tackles a game does, and we know the Giants have plenty of ballwinners.
NATHAN HROVAT (Western Bulldogs)
The tough onballer has struggled to get a look-in in recent years, due to a combination of injury and selection. The former first-round draft pick played seven games in 2015 and four so far this year (the Bulldogs play an elimination final on Thursday night). Hrovat has shown he can win the ball and get forward to kick goals. Just needs a chance.
BEN LENNON (Richmond)
The former first-round draft pick has asked to be traded out of Richmond after being dropped several times over the past two years. Injuries have limited the forward to 19 games in three seasons but at his best he can be a dangerous mid-sized forward with a raking right boot. Any club looking to add some firepower to the forward line would be interested.
JACK GRIMES (Melbourne)
The former Demons captain played just two games this year, in Rounds 16 and 17. The 27-year-old hasn’t been offered a contract for next year but still has plenty to give despite a rough couple of years with injury and form. The midfielder-defender has got leather poisoning in the VFL this season, helping Casey march into a preliminary final after being named in the Scorpions best in 10 of 11 games.
NATHAN VARDY (Geelong)
Injuries have cruelled the big Cat’s career. Knee and hip injuries, specifically. However, there’s no doubting Vardy’s talent despite falling behind Zac Smith and Rhys Stanley in the pecking order at the Cattery. He’s shown he can perform as a ruckman or as a permanent forward. There are clubs lining up for a 199cm big man who can move. It’s just a matter of his body holding up.
WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT (GWS)
The talented forward taken at No.4 in the 2011 draft has battled injuries but the rise of Greater Western Sydney this year has made the Giants’ line-up a tough one to break into. After 20 games in 2014, Hoskin-Elliott played 11 in 2015 and just two this year. Collingwood is reportedly in the box seat but any club needing some forward line X-factor will be sniffing around come trade time.
MITCH HONEYCHURCH (Western Bulldogs)
The midfielder-small forward has played 14 games at VFL level this year and been named in Footscray’s best a staggering 12 times. There’s a reason he’s among the favourites to win the JJ Liston Trophy as the league best-and-fairest. Honeychurch has played just two AFL games this year, stuck behind the likes of Luke Dahlhaus and Caleb Daniel.
ERIC MACKENZIE (West Coast)
Before you jump down our throats, we know Eric is hardly a diamond in the rough. In fact, he’s a best-and-fairest winner and twice been nominated in the 40-man All-Australian squad. But all of a sudden he’s on the outer at West Coast after struggling in his first year back from a knee injury. Any team with backline deficiencies would love to have him.
JARROD WITTS (Collingwood)
Brodie Grundy has cemented himself as Collingwood’s No.1 ruckman, which puts Witts’ spot in question. Like most big men, he doesn’t necessarily work well with others and at 209cm, he’s shown he can hold down the No.1 big man mantle. After 57 games, Witts could explode if given the game time. Former Hawthorn recruiter Gary Buckenara says he should be at the top of Richmond’s shopping list.
DYLAN BUCKLEY (Carlton)
The pacy Blue has been in and out of the team for the past couple of years (for season totals of eight, 18 and 11 games since 2014) and just hasn’t been able to nail down a permanent spot — or position, for that matter. Clubs are also on the lookout for outside run and carry and that is certainly something Buckley has in spades.
Originally published as AFL Trade Period 2016: which unwanted players could turn into AFL stars
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