Alex Rance joins Gillon McLachlan and Damien Hardwick in support of mid-season draft or trade period

THERE would need to be limits but Richmond premiership star Alex Rance has backed the idea of a mid-season draft or trade period, saying it would be handy for the Tigers. HAVE YOUR SAY

ALEX Rance likes the idea of a mid-season trade or draft and the “buzz” it would create.

The premiership Tiger said there would have to be limits, but believes the concept has merit.

Support for mid-season drafting or trading of players in the AFL was again at the fore this week, after a recent meeting between club and AFL officials.

League chief Gillon McLachlan has backed the concept, and has an ally in Rance.

“I’m a big advocate,” the All-Australian captain said.

NO GO: CLUBS SHUT DOWN MID-SEASON TRADE

TIGERS COACH: AFL LIST RULES ‘FARCICAL’

AFL CHIEF: I’D LIKE TO SEE A MID-SEASON TRADE PERIOD

“I feel like you should have a protected area (of players that can be targeted).

Alex Rance supports a mid-season trade and draft period but there’s a catch.

“You can’t just completely turn your season around by getting Dusty (Martin) and throwing a heap of cash at him in the middle of the season, but say your bottom 50 per cent paid should be eligible to shift if they want to.”

RETIRED: TIGER BEN GRIFFITHS CALLS TIME

McLachlan said in November that he believed a mid-season trade period would provide clubs with another window to tinker with their playing list.

“I would (like to see it),” he said on an AFL podcast.

“It’s one of the only times where you have the weaker clubs, i.e. the club lower down the ladder, having more leverage in the trade.

“It’s four, five or six years for a club to get in the position to be competing deep into the finals.

“And you might get the wrong couple of injuries, and you’ve got everything right and you’re travelling well, and you need a player (and you have) the ability to trade mid-season to pick up a key defender or ruckman.”

Richmond is one player down on its list after tall Ben Griffiths retired to pursue American football. Picture: Getty Images

That’s the situation for Richmond, with Ben Griffiths having announced his retirement to pursue an American football career after the final list lodgement deadline, leaving the Tigers unable to replace him.

Rance, 29, said it would be a no-brainer.

“If you get three ruckmen go down or something like that, or even to pick someone up from the VFL (would be great),” the Wolf Blass ambassador said.

“We’re a position down on the list and to be able to pick someone up, I think would be really beneficial.

“And it would create a bit of buzz, I reckon, too.”