Melbourne’s biggest trade bargains and busts
Melbourne doesn’t make as much noise as some clubs around the trade period, but the Dees have pulled off some spectacular moves — not all of which they would like to be reminded of.
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Melbourne has historically kept its powder pretty dry when it comes to trades.
Remember Vic Michie, Cam Pederson, Jordan Gysberts and John Meesen? They all came and went to and/or from the Dees without much fanfare.
They have got more adventurous in recent times, and if Steven May, Jake Lever and Ben Brown help Melbourne win the 2021 flag, watch for the revised version of this article. For now, here are the Demons’ biggest exchange period hits and misses.
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BARGAINS
JEFF FARMER FOR PHIL GILBERT
The player known as “The Wiz” for his freakish talent was eventually traded back to Fremantle but the deal that secured the rights to Farmer back in 1994 still stands as Melbourne’s greatest trade steal. Farmer played 118 game for the Demons, winning the club goalkicking three times, making the All-Australian team in 2000 and winning goal of the year in 1998. In a stunning 2000 season he booted 76 goals including nine in a half against Collingwood and eight in a preliminary final. In total he played 118 games and kicked 259 goals in red and blue, while Gilbert was delisted after 39 games (25 for Melbourne and 14 for the Dockers). In 2001 Farmer moved back to Fremantle in a complicated three-club deal that sent Clint Bizzell and Craig Ellis to the Dees.
JACK WATTS FOR PICK 31 (BAYLEY FRITSCH)
Let’s be honest, Watts needed a fresh start after being suffocated with the burden of being a No.1 draft pick in 152 games at Melbourne. The Dees accepted pick 31 and smartly used it on mature-age forward Bayley Fritsch, who won the club goalkicking in 2020. Watts retired after adding just 21 games for the Power.
JEFF GARLETT FOR PICKS 61 and 79
The goalkicker was delisted at the end of 2019 but he kicked 138 goals for the Dees over five seasons at the cost of picks 61 and 79 (effectively nothing since the Blues passed on both). Garlett won the club goalkicking in 2017 with 42 majors.
BUSTS
THE JOSH KELLY DEAL
The Demons controversially handed picks 2, 22 and 79 to GWS in 2013 in exchange for Dom Tyson and pick 9, which became Christian Salem, plus pick 57 (Jayden Hunt). As expected, the Giants used pick 2 on boom youngster Josh Kelly, who has lived up to the hype. They sent pick 22 to Brisbane (Darcy Gardiner) for more draft picks and passed on pick 79. While Salem and Hunt have played plenty of good games, they haven’t matched the Giants midfielder’s impact. Tyson, meanwhile, is now at North Melbourne. Melbourne got Braydon Preuss from the Roos in that deal and he is now off to play alongside Kelly at the Giants. The trade merry-go-round in full swing.
MITCH CLARK FOR PICK 12
The Demons dropped the bombshell of the 2011 trade period when they outbid Fremantle to secure the services of the exciting ruck-forward, who had originally declared his desire to return to WA after six seasons at Brisbane. He made a promising start to his Melbourne career, booting 29 goals in the first 13 games of 2012 before being struck down by a foot injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season. After managing just four games the next season he was sent to Geelong in a three-way trade that delivered Magpie Heritier Lumumba to the Demons. Lumumba played 24 games at Melbourne, Clark managed nine as a Cat and the pick 12 originally traded to Brisbane was used on Sam Docherty — now Carlton co-captain.
SCOTT THOMPSON FOR PICK 12
The price seemed about right for the classy midfielder after a promising 39 games in red and blue but he made the Demons pay in 269 games for the Crows, winning two best-and-fairests. The Dees used the pick in a deal with Geelong to acquire Brent Moloney, who to be fair won a B&F himself in his 122 games for Melbourne. Pick 12, meanwhile, continued on the trade merry-go-round, passed from Geelong to Richmond as part of the deal for Brad Ottens. The Tigers used it on Danny Meyer (26 games).
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