Club’s trade, draft plans could be thrown into disarray as AFL rules overhaul looms at season’s end

PREMIERSHIP recruiter Gary Buckenara says looming rule changes at season’s end will have a big impact on this year’s trade and draft periods and looks at St Kilda’s options for Paddy McCartin.

Jack Lukosius in action for South Australia last year. Picture: Roger Wyman

PREMIERSHIP recruiter Gary Buckenara says looming rule changes at season’s end will have a big impact on this year’s trade and draft periods.

But clubs’ list managers will be kept in the dark until October when the league will announce whether it will introduce an overhaul including slashing interchange numbers and positional restrictions.

Buckenara said the current congestion issues and style of game has put a huge premium on strong-bodied midfielders, while spelling the end of the one-dimensional key forward.

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“The way the game is played now, it is a bit like rugby, and if it stays that way I want big-bodied midfielders who can tackle and who are really good in tight,” Buckenara said.

“That (Nat) Fyfe and (Dustin) Martin type, and these really clean players who win contested footy and get it out.

“Do you need key forwards? Not the lumbering types.”

Nat Fyfe handballs clear of the pack.

Dustin Martin charges clear of Joel Selwood.

Buckenara said St Kilda was one club which had been caught out by the change in game style after investing heavily in big men Paddy McCartin (No.1) and Hugh Goddard (No.21) at the 2014 national draft.

“When you have two early picks, and they don’t come on, it really hurts you,” Buckenara said.

St Kilda parted ways with its list chief Tony Elshaug last week and is on the hunt for a new talent boss to reinvigorate the list.

Buckenara, who helped hand-pick Hawthorn’s golden four-time premiership teams, said McCartin’s concussion history and diabetes issues would be factors for interested rivals if St Kilda was to consider trading him.

“He is a talented player, but I think the style of game his not suiting him,” Buckenara said on the Don’t Argue podcast.

“You would look at what you can get for him.

“There has got to be a buyer, and it will be a bit ‘buyer beware’ now that he has had all these concussion issues and he has got this diabetes issue.

“What was once a first pick, may not - in the current environment - get that first (round) pick (back in a trade).

Paddy McCartin celebrates a goal against Gold Coast.

“So are you better to persevere with him and work on the areas he needs to get (better) in the modern game?

“That may be a little bit more endurance, that may be working on this kicking so he can work up the field and get back.”

The Saints midfielders have also struggled with their field kicking, making it difficult for key forwards such as McCartin, 22, to mark the ball in good position.

Buckenara said potential huge changes to the rules at the end of the year would have a significant bearing on the types of players clubs would be keen to stock up on.

“Building your list, how do you go about planning your list in four or five years’ time if the game’s administrators are going to change the rules? It makes it hard,” he said.

“The AFL really need to look at if there are going to be changes, let the clubs know so clubs can then plan for what a list might look like.”

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