AFL admits to making a mistake in the massive trade which sent Jaeger O’Meara to Hawthorn

IT has been called the dodgiest trade period in AFL history and now the league has admitted to making a blunder in the biggest deal of the off-season.

Jaeger O'Meara is finally a Hawk. Picture: Getty Images

THE AFL has admitted to making a blunder in this year’s biggest trade — Jaeger O’Meara to Hawthorn.

Confusion surrounded the blockbuster deal until the AFL clarified on Tuesday that the Hawks had been allowed to part with their first two selections in next year’s draft.

AFL rules state that once a club trades its future first-round pick, it cannot trade any additional future picks.

The week before the O’Meara trade, Hawthorn sent its future first-round selection to St Kilda in a deal that also raised eyebrows.

But the league told the Herald Sun it had “interpreted” its own rule to mean the O’Meara deal was legal.

The AFL said Hawthorn was permitted to trade its future second-round selection, so long as it first acquired another club’s future second-rounder.

Jaeger O'Meara had a long wait to get to Hawthorn. Picture: Getty Images

Moments before the O’Meara deal was lodged, Hawthorn secured Greater Western Sydney’s future second-round pick, courtesy of a trade with Carlton.

Under the league’s interpretation, that allowed Hawthorn to trade its own future second-rounder to the Suns as long as it held onto the Giants’.

The AFL’s interpretation allowed he Hawks to pull an ace when they appeared snookered on O’Meara entering the final day of trade period.

Compounding the mess, the official paperwork distributed by the AFL after Thursday’s deadline incorrectly stated that the Hawks had on-traded the Giants’ future second-rounder and kept their own.

EVERY CLUB: AFL TRADES 2016 REPORT CARD

O’MEARA DEAL: HAWKS FINALLY GET THEIR MAN

That outcome would have fitted neatly with the wording of the AFL rule.

But the Suns and Hawks both believed that Hawthorn’s future second-rounder was part of the O’Meara trade — and the AFL confirmed that on Tuesday.

O’Meara was one of eight deals lodged in the frantic final 16 minutes of trade period, with several processed after the 2pm deadline.

The O’Meara bungle adds to what some clubs have already labelled the “dodgiest” trade period yet.

It began with Hawthorn publishing a statement declaring free agent Tyrone Vickery had accepted a three-year deal, only for that to be deleted and quickly replaced with a statement saying it was two years.

Sources close to Vickery told the Herald Sun before the deal was done he was expecting to stay at Waverley for at least three years.

Tyrone Vickery’s move to Hawthorn raised eyebrows. Picture: Getty Images

The Hawks were routinely quizzed by the AFL and rivals wondered whether Vickery’s contract was structured to help Richmond land a better compensation pick.

Geelong recruiter Stephen Wells then admitted he was unaware the Cats could trade their future-round pick to secure Blue Zach Tuohy.

Geelong had already traded its first pick in 2015 and 2016 — to secure Patrick Dangerfield and Lachie Henderson — and AFL rules state clubs must use two first-round picks in every rolling four-year period.

Recruiters across the country believed that meant the Cats had to keep their first pick in 2017.

Instead, the AFL decided Geelong could punt its top 2017 pick, so long as it uses two in the next two years.

“I must admit, there was a perception here myself that a deal like this couldn’t be done, but we did check with the AFL,” Wells said.

The Herald Sun reported on Saturday that clubs were left “bewildered” by the guaranteed draft windfall for St Kilda in its pick swap with Hawthorn and were surprised at Carlton’s generosity in brokering the O’Meara deal.

The Blues gave Hawthorn the Giants’ future pick — which will fall between 19-36 — in exchange for picks 48, 66 and 70 on November 25.

Geelong cleared its deal for Zach Tuohy with the AFL. Picture: Getty Images

Hawthorn will enter this year’s draft at pick 88 and next year’s draft at the Giants’ second pick, but was thrilled to land O’Meara, Vickery and Tom Mitchell.

THE AFL’S RULE

“Should a club trade its future first round selection, it may not trade any other future selection for that same draft.”

WHAT HAPPENED

— Hawthorn traded its future first-round selection to St Kilda on October 14

— AFL paperwork after trade period stated Hawthorn on-traded Greater Western Sydney’s future second-round selection to Gold Coast in O’Meara deal

— Hawthorn and Gold Coast informed supporters that the deal instead involved the Hawks’ future second-round selection

— AFL yesterday said its paperwork was wrong, and Hawks traded their own future second-round selection to Gold Coast, as the clubs stated

AFL’S EXPLANATION

“They traded in the GWS future round two selection first, which meant they had a selection in the round that they could trade out, and they elected to trade out their selection, and keep the GWS selection.

“The AFL has interpreted the rule as that they had to retain a round two and round three selection, after trading out round one, so they had to trade in a round two before they were allowed to trade out a round two.”