AFL trade news 2017: Which emoji best sums up your club’s business so far?

EMOTIONS always run hot in trade time. Jay Clark finds the emoji to match every club’s movements ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

emojis for trade yarn from Jay Clark

EMOTIONS always run hot in trade time. Jay Clark finds the emoji to match every club’s movements ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

ADELAIDE

It’s usually Essendon doing the bar brawling this time of year. But Crows’ list chief Justin Reid put his dukes up as soon as he walked into Etihad Stadium last Monday and the tough talk has paid off.

Two first-round picks for Jake Lever and another top-20 selection for Charlie Cameron is good darts.

They say they’re not into Bryce Gibbs but we don’t believe them. He’d be perfect, and they have a mountain of top picks, now. Stay tuned.

Gary Buckenara analyses Brisbane Lions’ list after the 2017 season

Gary Buckenara analyses Collingwood’s list after the 2017 season

Gary Buckenara analyses Melbourne’s list after the 2017 season

Gary Buckenara reveals what really happens on the weekend in the middle of AFL trade period

Gary Buckenara analyses Fremantle’s list after the 2017 season

BRISBANE

The Josh Schache saga has more twists and turns than the Game of Thrones. And as things stand, the man widely considered the second best underage player in the country only two years ago could be left standing at the altar.

If there are any suitors for Schache, they’re yet to come forward. Luke Hodge is a magnificent get for the Lions and is sure to shake things up at the Gabba. Charlie Cameron will put bums on seats. Overall, very positive.

CARLTON

Yeah, nah. You can imagine the deadpan look on Steve Silvagni’s face when Bryce Gibbs asked whether there was any chance the Blues could facilitate a trade with the Crows.

SOS is known as the master of the Mexican stand-off but things didn’t go as well as they hoped when Tom Rockliff and Devon Smith chose other clubs.

But there’s always something happening with the GWS off-cuts. Come on down, Matthew Kennedy.

COLLINGWOOD

The Magpies have been virtually silent over the past week, undoubtedly trying to save their pennies and pray that Tom Lynch choses the Pies sometime next year.

We think he’s down in Sorrento now, on his end of season break. Surely Eddie can take him out on Sam Newman’s yacht or something over the next couple of weeks.

Swan small forward Sam Murray is expected to join by Thursday’s trade deadline to add some badly-needed pace and pressure in attack.

ESSENDON

The new destination club. It’s a bit hard to believe, but after a couple of nightmarish years, Essendon fans are dreaming of a top-four-spot in 2018.

And the next few days are going to be fascinating as the tug-of-war over Jake Stringer continues. Adrian Dodoro pulled a crafty move off-loading pick No.11 for Devon Smith in an attempt to call the Dogs’ bluff over Jake Stringer. Pass me a Pina Colada, this is about to get interesting.

FREMANTLE

The Dockers say they’re not into Jesse Hogan. But we reckon Ross Lyon would be tempted to send almost daily text messages.

Every year Freo will ask whether the hulking forward wants to come home to Western Australia to co-pilot the forward line alongside Cam McCarthy.

Nathan Wilson has already purchased his place near Dockers’ headquarters and will add some speed and Brandon Matera is on his way too.

GEELONG

That’s Gary Ablett. The Greatest Of All Time. It’s still unclear how this deal gets done because no Cat wants to be traded to the Gold Coast as it stands, but for everybody’s sake, we hope it’s a smooth passage over the next few days.

The game would love to have Gazza back doing his thing on the big stage under lights on the MCG. Stephen Wells is still over the moon the AFL gift-wrapped pick No. 19 as free agency compensation for Steve Motlop.

They want to take it to the draft. Not confident on Jake Stringer or Jack Watts.

GOLD COAST

The Suns hope Stuart Dew is a miracle-worker, because things will go really sour next year if they cop another flogging in the first half of next season and lose Tom Lynch.

Right now, the spearhead is determined to help lift the fledgling Suns off the canvas and we respect him for it.

But the heavy blows keep coming. The Suns might snag Port Adelaide’s Aaron Young and could do worse than nab Melbourne’s Jack Trengove, but getting players up there looks like mission impossible.

Maybe they just go to the draft and start over.

GWS

We were tempted to go with the Ferrari here, after Craig Hutchison questioned at the start of the year whether Leon Cameron was the right man to drive this talent-laden outfit to the premiership dais.

And it’s fair to say they were unable to hit top gear this season, in part due to an awful run of injuries. They don’t really have the money to top-up with any more star recruits this week and instead will look to bring in more elite talent at the draft.

And it’s important they hit the nail on the head, because the club’s depth has been whittled away quicker than we expected.

HAWTHORN

Clarko said it would rip his guts out to see Hodgey run around in another club’s colours next season. But the premiership warrior leaves with the Hawks’ blessing, same as Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis did last year.

As much as it hurt to seem go, did those two departures cost the Hawks last year? Not at all. But much hinges on the health of Jaeger O’Meara’s knees and the Hawks are confident they’ve worked out the problem. Jarman Impey will add some much-need speed.

MELBOURNE

Fans are nervous the Demons sold the farm in order to get Jake Lever from Adelaide. Two first-round picks, plus some other spare change, is a hefty price to pay for the intercept king.

But we are very confident the rich investment will pay off next season as the Dees chase their first finals berth in 12 years. Certainly, that will be the pass mark for 2018.

Demons fans are also threatening to revolt over the Jack Watts move but the fact he finished 21st in the best and fairest tells you where Simon Goodwin stands on the matter.

The senior coach channelled Christopher Columbus in his best and fairest speech to help Dees’ fans embrace change.

To cross the ocean the club has to be brave enough to lose sight of the shore. ‘Goody’ just hopes the seas don’t get to stormy on the voyage.

NORTH MELBOURNE

They were the most active club in the season proper with big money moves for Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly.

But it’s been quiet in the past couple of weeks as the Roos prepare to take pick No. 4 to the draft.

The Roos would be open to trading one of their three ruckmen and Darcy Lang may arrive to add some midfield depth.

Andrew Swallow would be open to more senior opportunities elsewhere if a club came knocking. Gold Coast is the obvious one to join his brother.

Otherwise, there’s a few tumbleweeds rolling down the corridors.

PORT ADELAIDE

Bold play from Port has Ken Hinkley rubbing his hands together about the Power’s top-four prospects next season.

They might have lacked a bit of scoring power in 2017 but the moves to secure Tom Rockliff, Steve Motlop and Jack Watts adds a big lick of talent in the forward half.

And Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert and Travis Boak are quality inside midfield foundations to build upon.

Watts has been very impressed with his talks with the Power so far and is expected to formally nominate Port either Monday or Tuesday. Brilliant period.

RICHMOND

Still in party mode after their stunning flag win. No way is it the best list in the AFL but the Tigers harnessed a special team spirit and bond which carried the Bulldogs all the way to the top the year before.

Certainly, Dustin Martin and Dane Swan look to be enjoying Richmond’s success on their overseas jaunt.

Richmond has significantly cooled on the prospect of signing Brisbane forward Josh Schache and instead say they want to take their two first round picks to the draft. One of them will nab father son midfielder Patrick Naish.

ST KILDA

Don’t get us wrong, they’ve tried very hard to jag a big name and some midfield polish. But as things stand, if they can’t prise Adam Tomlinson out of GWS, who would be a nice addition to the back half and potentially even midfield, the Saints will be happy to take a strong hand to the draft.

Don’t rule out the Saints swapping pick No. 7 and No. 8 for something higher. Hopefully for the Saints’ fans there’s something good in Santa’s sack next year.

SYDNEY

If there is a surprise in store in the next couple of days it’s Kurt Tippett. Rival clubs think the Swans would be happy to move him on if there was a decent deal on offer, helping clear some salary cap space.

As it stands, there’s nothing forthcoming for Tippett, but it is the one domino people are eagerly awaiting to fall.

The Swans have a big man log jam at a time when the game is trending towards a smaller and more mobile forward setup.

WEST COAST

Adam Simpson has flagged big changes to his team’s list after another disappointing season bowing out in the second week of finals.

The Eagles want to go to the draft to reinvigorate the squad, leaving Sharrod Wellingham anxiously waiting a new deal.

Matt Priddis, Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie and Sam Butler are all gone.

Expect the Eagles to offer bumper deals to gun free agents Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern as a priority before Christmas.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

We can’t sugar coat it. It’s going to get extremely awkward if Jake Stringer isn’t traded to Essendon and is forced to return to the kennel for day one of preseason.

The Dogs put him up for trade and but have since missed out on the Bombers’ pick No. 11 for Stringer. Now, they either settle for something less, or run the gauntlet and keep him.

Stringer is feeling burnt, and doesn’t want to go back to Whitten Oval, which doesn’t really augur well for anyone except Essendon.

They’ve done well to add Jackson Trengove from Port and Docker Hayden Crozier. But you wonder whether the Dogs would turn back time, as Cher sang, if they had the chance.