Jay Clark on why the AFL’s mid-season draft should evolve to include rookie-listed trading next year

The next logical step after this year’s mid-season draft is to allow clubs to trade rookie-listed players, writes Jay Clark. How would it work? HAVE YOUR SAY.

Peter Ladhams (right) has been starring in the SANFL but is stuck behind Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder at Port Adelaide. Picture: Dean Martin.

It’s the logical next step for the mid-season draft.

Rather than just draft players from the state leagues, next year clubs should be able to trade rookie-listed players to fill specific list needs, as well.

Recruiters say the problem with the mid-season draft this year is the lack of standout options in the state leagues, after being so heavily mined in recent seasons.

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But there is genuine support from clubs about the prospect of swapping fringe players from the rookie list.

Essendon is the obvious one. Carlton needs some forward line pressure players.

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Collingwood would have loved access to another key defender, too, in last year’s run to the Grand Final, when Ben Reid, Darcy Moore, Tyson Goldsack and Lynden Dunn all went down.

Right now, the Bombers are scouring the country’s state leagues for a ready-made ruck replacement after losing promising back-up big man Sam Draper to a season-ending knee reconstruction.

Draper was on the verge of a senior recall when disaster struck, leaving the Bombers at risk.

But what if they could work a deal with Port Adelaide for, say, 202cm Port Adelaide big man Peter Ladhams, or Western Bulldogs’ 203cm ruck Jordon Sweet?

Surely clubs could work win-win deals.

Peter Ladhams (right) has been starring in the SANFL but is stuck behind Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder at Port Adelaide. Picture: Dean Martin.

Ladhams, 21, has been racking up massive numbers in the SANFL, including 28 disposals, 40 hit-outs and two goals at the weekend) but is stuck behind Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder at Port.

The competitive beast Sweet, 21, is a goer in the ruck contest, and is working on his forward craft, after winning a flag at North Adelaide last year.

But Tim English is the man at the kennel and the Bulldogs played Jackson Trengove in the ruck at the weekend in the win over Brisbane.

Then there’s Tom Boyd in the VFL, too.

It makes perfect sense for Essendon to be able to pitch a deal to Port for Ladhams, or the Dogs for Sweet, to secure someone desperate for a senior opportunity.

And given these guys earn minimum wages, upwards of only $70,000 a year, a swap like this would have minimal impact on salary caps. Perhaps they could get a transfer fee, too, to help with any moving costs.

Jordon Sweet reels in a mark during SANFL finals last year, before he was drafted to Western Bulldogs. Picture: Sarah Reed.

And it’s hardly going to ignite tanking claims when clubs would surely be swapping mid or late-round picks for these rookies, rather than first-rounders.

We’re not talking blockbusters, they’re the leftovers.

But they can also be great success stories who can make a significant difference to clubs plotting genuine finals charges.

Melbourne may have been interested in some keyposition depth and Hawthorn has been hard-hit by injuries in the midfield.

The fans want loyalty, but the rookie-listed players can be excused for swapping colours mid-season if they’re not even getting a game and are out of contract at season’s end.

We know the AFL likes the idea of increasing list flexibility and generating hope.

It was AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan who floated the idea of a mid-season trade period a few years ago. It’s being tossed around for several years.

And this is a perfect solution to some clubs’ list headaches.