Your club’s best trade or free agency heist: From Tom Mitchell’s Hawthorn switch to Collingwood’s Jordan Roughead bargain
How did the Hawks land Tom Mitchell for so little? And how did Sydney get a future captain for three late draft picks? We’ve rated your club’s top trade and free agency moves of the modern era.
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Hawthorn is renowned for its ability to pull off trade and free agency heists, but which club has had the greatest success with off-season additions in the modern era?
Finding value in a market where 17 other teams are interested can be difficult, but with eagle-eyed recruiters and shrewd investment clubs have shown their ability to land the bargain which helps shape their future.
We’ve rated the best bargain trade or free agency move your club from players who were on 2019 lists.
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ADELAIDE — Sam Jacobs
Despite missing much of this season so far, Jacobs has been a remarkably durable ruckman for the Crows. Before this year, Jacobs had missed just six matches between 2011-2018 after joining the Crows from the Blues for pick Nos. 33 and 67 in 2010. To put that bargain deal for a No. 1 ruckman in perspective, Adelaide traded fringe ruckman Jonathan Griffin to Fremantle for pick No. 61 the same year. Jacobs has played 181 games for the Crows, including the 2017 Grand Final.
BRISBANE LIONS — Mitch Robinson
It was too easy to pick Luke Hodge, so we’ve gone for the former Blue instead. Robinson signed with the Lions as a delisted free agent at the end of 2014 and has delivered enormously across his 78 games for the club. He’s added a hard edge to the young Lions and his leadership on and off the field has gone from strength to strength. He was a joint winner of the club’s best-and-fairest award in 2015.
CARLTON — Sam Docherty
The Blues have been on the receiving end of some poor trades (we’ll get to Zach Tuohy later) but they struck gold in co-captain Docherty. It cost Carlton only pick No. 33 in the 2013 draft to secure Docherty from Brisbane as a 21-year-old. The Lions were loath to lose young gun Docherty and you can see why, given he has developed into one of the best halfbacks in the competition with his slick ball use. The Blues would love to have him out on the park this season.
COLLINGWOOD — Jordan Roughead
There are a few candidates at the Magpies, including the injured Lynden Dunn and defender Jack Crisp, but Roughead just edges ahead given he’s doing a fine job at fullback in Dunn’s absence. The former Bulldog arrived at Collingwood with little fanfare for pick No. 75 during last year’s trade period and has delivered beyond expectations. After being used in a variety of roles at the Bulldogs, including as a ruckman and forward, Roughead has finally found his best position down back at the Magpies. He’s playing consistent footy as a reliable defender who rarely gets beaten one-on-one. He kept Lance Franklin to just six disposals and one goal last week.
ESSENDON — Devon Smith
Smith has had an immediate impact at the Bombers, winning the best-and-fairest in his first season at the club. After injury-riddled seasons with GWS in 2016 and 2017, Smith relished a move into the midfield at Essendon last year and became a key cog in John Worsfold’s on-ball brigade, with his pressure around the ball his trademark. Essendon slid back onto 10 spots in the 2017 draft to secure Smith, giving up pick No. 14 while receiving pick No. 24 back from GWS along with its 2018 second-round pick (No. 34).
FREMANTLE — Nathan Wilson
The line-breaking halfback has been a standout for the Dockers since crossing from the Giants at the end of 2017. GWS originally demanded a top-20 pick in exchange for Wilson but eventually agreed to a trade of a future second-round pick (No. 25) and pick No. 57 for Wilson and pick No. 71. Creative halfbacks are crucial in the modern game and Wilson, who is averaging 18.2 disposals per game this season is one of the best in the league.
GEELONG — Zach Tuohy
Can you believe the Cats got Tuohy from Carlton in a swap for Billie Smedts? The deal also included the Cats only slipping down seven spots in the draft after trading its future 2017 first-round pick (No. 15) and pick No. 63 to the Blues for their 2017 second-round pick (No. 22). What a bargain. Tuohy has been a dynamic halfback for the Cats, with his penetrating kick a valuable asset, while he can also play in the midfield. Smedts played nine games for Carlton.
GOLD COAST — Jarrod Witts
A co-captain for pick Nos. 44 and 62? Yes, please. The Suns has been on the receiving end of some seriously bad trades given the revolving door of stars that have walked out on the club, but it did well when it secured Witts from Collingwood at the end of 2016. The 209cm ruckman assumed the No. 1 ruck role from day one and in his 50 games has established himself as a leader after being named co-captain with David Swallow this season. His tap work has been impressive, while he’s developed his around-the-ground game, averaging 13.4
disposals this season.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY — Shane Mumford
When the Giants missed out on Lance Franklin at the end of 2013 on the surface it seemed a massive blow but the upside was it enabled the club to secure No. 1 ruckman Mumford from the Swans. Franklin’s huge contract meant Sydney had to lose a player or two and fortunately for GWS, Mumford was one of those. The Swans didn’t drive a hard bargain at the trade table, releasing Mumford for just pick No. 35. Mumford has played 79 games for the Giants but his value isn’t on the stats sheet. It’s the huge physical presence and ability to make his teammates walk taller that has made him such an important player.
HAWTHORN — Tom Mitchell
A Brownlow medallist for a late first-round draft pick? Hawthorn landed arguably the greatest bargain of recent trade periods when it parted with picks 14 and 52 in exchange for Sydney Swan Mitchell and pick 57 in 2016. Mitchell immediately went from a fringe player with the Swans who racked up huge numbers in the NEAFL to the main man in Hawthorn’s engine room. Within two years as a Hawk he became a Brownlow medallist, polling 28 votes to finish four clear after a prolific second season at the club. Hawthorn is renowned for snaring bargains during the trade period, but considering Dylan Shiel cost Essendon two first-round picks from GWS last year.
MELBOURNE — Jeff Garlett
The Jake Lever and Steven May deals might usurp the trade which brought Garlett from Carlton to the Demons in 2014, but for sheer value Melbourne has come out well in front. Melbourne parted with picks 61 and 79 for small forward Garlett, also gaining Carlton’s pick 83. While he’s been on the fringes this year, Garlett has twice booted 40 goals or more in his four full seasons with Melbourne and returned 29 and 18 majors in the other two years. Talk about value for money (well, draft picks).
NORTH MELBOURNE — Shaun Higgins
The Roos’ struggles to land their free-agency targets are well-documented, but Higgins’ signing in 2014 proved a shrewd move. Higgins has won the past two North Melbourne best-and-fairests and was named in the All-Australian team last year, averaging 27.4 disposals in 20 games. The smooth mover has played more than 200 games and although he rarely gets many accolades, has been a key figure in North Melbourne’s midfield for the past five years.
PORT ADELAIDE — Ryan Burton
Can we declare the Ryan Burton deal this soon? Considering it helped Port Adelaide land Rising Star contender Connor Rozee as well as talented South Australian Burton from Hawthorn, Power fans will look back on this trade for years to come as one the club nailed. While they parted with Chad Wingard, who has had an injury-riddled start ton his Hawthorn career, moving up in the draft to ensure they picked Rozee might be one of the best trades Port Adelaide has made.
RICHMOND — Toby Nankervis
It doesn’t get much better than securing a premiership ruckman for a third-round draft pick. Mobile ruckman Nankervis was stuck down the pecking order at Sydney and Richmond took advantage by offering pick 46 in a deal during the 2016 trade period. Nankervis carried the ruck load solo for much of his first season in yellow and black and was integral to the Tigers’ breakthrough flag. At only 24, he’s still got years ahead of him leading Richmond’s ruck brigade.
ST KILDA — Josh Bruce
On the fringes as a tall at GWS, Josh Bruce switched to St Kilda for pick no. 48 in 2013. Bruce was switched from defence to attack after joining the Saints and has become a valuable contributor, kicking 36 goals or more in three seasons and a career-high of 50 in 2015. Injury kept Bruce to three matches last year, but he’s averaging better than a goal per game in 10 appearances this season.
SYDNEY — Josh Kennedy
Sydney might have given up Tom Mitchell for less than his worth, but they certainly landed their own bargain from the Swans with the dual capture of Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn. Sydney only gave up picks 39, 46 and 70 for the fringe Hawthorn pair. Kennedy has played more than 200 games for the Swans, is a three-time All-Australian has played in a premiership and captained Sydney. McGlynn kicked 167 goals in 127 trades for Sydney.
WESTERN BULLDOGS — Tom Boyd
The length and value of the contract might not have been a bargain, but what wouldn’t you give up to win a drought-breaking premiership? The Bulldogs sent pick No. 6 and Ryan Griffen to GWS for Boyd, who was arguably the best player in their 2016 grand final victory. Griffen wasn’t able to recapture the form he showed at Whitten Oval with the Giants, largely due to injury.
WEST COAST — Elliot Yeo
Elliot Yeo had shown glimpses of his talent in 27 games for Brisbane Lions when he was traded to West Coast for a second-round draft pick in 2013. He has since become one of the AFL’s most influential midfielders and was a key figure in the Eagles’ 2018 premiership victory. He’s already played 142 games, is 25 years old and is only getting better.
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