Jon Ralph looks at big trade issues, including Steven Motlop, Roos’ rebuild and Essendon’s needs
JON Ralph looks at the big trade questions from Day 1, including does Steven Motlop have the best timing in the AFL, is North Melbourne serious about rebuilding and the attacking star Essendon needs.
Jon Ralph
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DAY 1 didn’t deliver any trades but there was plenty of juicy rumours.
Jon Ralph looks at the major issues after the opening day of the 2017 AFL trade period, including Steven Motlop’s good timing and North Melbourne questionable rebuild.
LIVE TRADE BLOG: FOLLOW DAY TWO LIVE HERE
GARY BUCKENARA: WHY A TOP-10 PICK IS A MUST FOR JAKE STRINGER
GARY BUCKENARA: IS ESSENDON ON CUSP OF PREMIERSHIP GLORY?
TRADE TRIFECTA: BOMBERS READY TO PART WITH PRIZED PICK
FOUR OBSERVATIONS FROM DAY ONE OF THE TRADE PERIOD
BRISBANE CLEARLY DOESN’T BELIEVE JOSH SCHACHE CAN PLAY
It’s the only take out from their decision to actually offer to trade a player who they worked so hard to re-sign only months ago.
Let’s face it, his decision not to play in the NEAFL grand final was bizarre.
His meeting with Richmond a few weeks back didn’t go well either, seemingly putting off the Tigers from further investigation.
But if the Lions believed Schache had an upside they wouldn’t be trading him, aware they will never get less from him than after his year from hell.
The only conclusion is they are moving him on now while they can get something for him.
Here is the stat that would worry Brisbane — he applies the worst pressure of any forward in the competition.
Surely for a player in only his second year you can cut him some slack.
But if Brisbane isn’t doing that, they must not think he can make it.
WHAT ARE THE CROWS DOING?
Adelaide keeps banging on about player welfare and culture and yet it says under no circumstances will it trade Charlie Cameron.
It can’t have it both ways.
It can’t say it is looking after players but retain them against their will.
It can’t desperately attempt to lure Bryce Gibbs despite years on his contract then say it will hold contracted player Cameron no matter the circumstances.
They will never get more for him than this year given they could get Brisbane’s pick 12 or 18 for a player they picked up as a rookie.
Especially given he says he won’t sign another contract next year at Adelaide.
Brisbane could still be the wooden spooner next year.
Imagine their glee if they got him for nothing next year in the pre-season draft after a year of building resentment when he had to play for a club he didn’t want to be at.
You get the feeling his manager Colin Young would love that scenario.
So a club that is already considering Steven Motlop will surely relent at some stage before next Thursday.
WHY ARE THE ROOS KEEPING GOLDY?
If the Kangaroos are so intent on rebuilding they will get rid of a solid servant in Sam Gibson, why are they keeping Todd Goldstein and Jarrad Waite?
The Roos took a swing for the fences, keen to try to secure Josh Kelly and Dustin Martin.
Getting those two to Arden St would have put them in the window and seen most of their elder statesmen play on.
Now that they have missed they will take their picks — Nos.4 and 21 — and force-feed games into the kids.
Gibson is such a solid servant — with 130 consecutive games under his belt — but they clearly feel playing him would cost youngsters games.
Does that mean they have to play Ben McKay over Waite, and Sam Durdin over Scott Thompson, who just signed a new contract?
At least the Roos know where they are — embarking upon another year of development.
But with Goldstein 29 and the Roos not in the premiership window while he is at his peak, surely they would consider offers for him?
Time will tell.
IS MOTLOP WORTH THE MONEY?
Steven Motlop is going to retire a very rich man.
It’s all a matter of timing, isn’t it?
Despite years of topsy-turvy form, he has timed his run to perfection.
First he cashed in on a 26-goal, 441-possession 2015 to sign a deal worth $600,000 a year.
Then despite a modest 2017 season two excellent finals put him in position to win as much as $600,000 a year from Adelaide.
THE ATTACKING WEAPON ESSENDON MUST GET
ESSENDON is about to recruit an explosive, line-breaking attacking weapon that will take them much closer to an elusive premiership.
It’s just that his name isn’t Jake Stringer.
Adam Saad has been tucked away on the Gold Coast for three years flying under the radar.
In case you hadn’t noticed, he might be the complete small defender.
He puts the best small forwards in the competition to sleep — Eddie Betts can repeatedly attest to that — with Saad keeping Robbie Gray, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Devon Smith and Paul Puopolo goalless this year.
He is the best running bounce exponent in the league, causing chaos as he surges up the field scanning the field for options.
Few defenders take the game on like speed merchant Saad, no matter the risk.
And he kicks the ball beautifully, a raking left footer who is well above the AFL’s average with Champion Data’s kick rating (+4.7 per cent).
As a package, he is elite.
If the Bombers had a priority and had to choose between Stringer and Saad, it might just be Saad, because Essendon’s issues weren’t scoring this year, not with a forward line boasting Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker, Orazio Fantasia, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Josh Begley and James Stewart.
Saad not only gives Essendon that Nick Smith-style lockdown player, he frees up Andrew McGrath to play in the midfield.
In truth more than Devon Smith or Jake Stringer, the Bombers would love a big bull in the midfield, a Patrick Cripps-style player who instantly replaces Jobe Watson.
Maybe Stringer can address that need by playing huge chunks of games in the midfield.
But the Bombers need players like Jayden Laverde to turn into a clearance monster, need Darcy Parish to go to the next level, need Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett to keep improving, if that’s possible.
But imagine the ball movement off Essendon’s halfback line — Saad, Michael Hurley, Conor McKenna.
The Dogs won a premiership with myriad halfback options you couldn’t tag — Jason Johannisen, Shane Biggs, Easton Wood and Matthew Boyd.
Essendon says it can do a deal that sees them land Stringer, Smith and Saad with its bevy of draft picks while also keeping Aaron Francis at the club.
Every one wants its pick 11 — the Dogs in the Stringer deals, GWS and Gold Coast in deals for its players which would see it hand back a later pick.
But it is beholden upon Essendon to get the deal done for these three players and banish the perception it is the boy who cries wolf, as Gary Buckenara labelled them.
If it takes a second-round pick in next year’s draft, or losing Francis, so be it.
Every club wants it all — keeping quality picks and securing everyone it wants.
The fact is Essendon basically secured a free No.1 overall pick in McGrath given the extraordinary circumstances it took to secure that pick.
It needs to prove it can do deals.
How close is it to a flag?
It was smacked around by Sydney at the SCG in its last game this year.
But Hooker was missing, Orazio Fantasia only warmed up after halftime as he tested an injured hamstring and All-Australian Hurley, coming back from a sore calf, played his worst game of the season on Callum Sinclair.
If Richmond can win the flag this year, Essendon is good enough to win it next year with great talls, elite ball movement and exceptional depth.
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