Premiership coach Paul Roos has backed plans to establish a mid-season trade period in the AFL

HOW important could a mid-season trade period be? Premiership coach Paul Roos says it could be the ‘difference between finishing ninth or eighth’ if clubs use it cleverly.

Paul Roos has backed plans for a mid-season trade period. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

PREMIERSHIP coach Paul Roos has backed plans to establish a mid-season trade period, saying it could be the “difference between finishing ninth or eighth” if clubs use it cleverly.

The AFL is seriously considering the move, which could happen as early as this year, in a bid to make the competition less predictable and give struggling sides greater access to talent during the course of their premiership campaigns.

Roos said while it might be too late to bring in a mid-season trade period this year, the concept had merit and could prove beneficial for both players and clubs.

“I think it is for the more specific types of players,” Roos said.

RADICAL MOVE: AFL CONSIDERS MID-SEASON TRADE PERIOD

360 VIEW: WHY MID-SEASON TRADES HAS HUGE DOWNSIDE

“With all due respect to midfielders, generally your list is full of midfielders. But if you lose a Nick Smith type even, a small defender that can lock down, certainly a ruckman is a really big part of it or if you lose one of your key forwards or key backs you could be at a significant disadvantage. So the ability to fill up in those positions could mean the difference between finishing ninth or eighth, fifth or fourth, third or first.

Paul Roos would like to see a mid-season trade period. Picture: Getty Images

“Whether this year is too early, teams stratagise and probably need to know a little bit sooner than 11 or 12 weeks out. But I think given the evenness of the competition now, trying to get teams from bottom to top in an 18 team competition is obviously harder than in the old VFL 12-team comp. So I think it’s a good move.”

Roos said while a mid-season draft period “would happen” at some point as well, there were complications surrounding that which needed “more thought”.

“I’m not sure we’re ready for a draft yet because that would affect the lower competitions,” the Fox Footy commentator said.

“I’m not sure they’d be happy to lose their best player if they’re on top of the ladder. The trade period is controllable by one competition where you’re trading players within that competition.”

The AFL previously had a transfer window at the end of June which saw many footballers switch clubs before the 1990s.

The AFL also had a mid-season draft which was discarded in 1993.