AFL trade period a festival of lies as list managers and recruiters treat the public for fools

It’s the time of year for list managers and recruiters to shine, but the trade period has become a festival of lies. SCOTT GULLAN writes, the days of getting away with such gibberish are gone.

As all 18 clubs shuffled into Marvel Stadium for the official start of the AFL trade period, one list boss summed it up perfectly: “Welcome to the Festival of Lies”.

Each club representative was given an allocated time to spin their narratives in front of the cameras and this was where the fun began.

For many of these list managers and recruiters, this is their time to shine. For two months each year the spotlight is on them with free agency and trading in October followed by the national draft in November.

So there is some pressure to come with your best stuff or should that be your best efforts to rewrite history.

Tim Lamb at the AFL Trade Period. Picture: Getty Images

Poor old Tim Lamb, Melbourne’s list boss, was on a hiding to nothing. It was like he was facing up to Curtly Ambrose on a sticky wicket without a helmet.

So it was no surprise he nicked the first ball through to the keeper.

“Clayton (Oliver) will be at the club next year 100 per cent. He has never been offered for trade. If a player has a meeting it doesn’t mean they want to leave. He is happy to be with us next year,” Lamb said.

Say what?

So everything that had gone on for the past couple of weeks, didn’t really happen, Timmy? Your CEO Gary Pert didn’t ring opposition clubs to gauge their interest in Oliver?

So Geelong just out of the blue decided to contact Oliver’s manager, arrange for him to meet their CEO Steve Hocking and football boss Andrew Mackie and then another clandestine meeting at ruckman Rhys Stanley’s farm with a group of players, including vice-captain Tom Stewart.

They did all this for fun because apparently there was no means to an end as he wasn’t being “offered for trade”.

There has been plenty of talk surrounding Clayton Oliver’s future. Picture: Getty Images

AFL clubs love treating the public for fools; there are some who think it’s part of the game trying to hoodwink fans. The days of getting away with such gibberish are gone.

Certainly other clubs aren’t falling for any of this rubbish, but yet there were plenty trying to put it on.

Take Sydney’s list manager Chris Keane on Luke Parker: “We haven’t started discussions with North Melbourne yet. It’s not as straightforward as people think. He’s a valuable player for us.”

Hang on, is this the same player you released a statement on last week with coach John Longmire thanking him for his years of service and then lauding him at the best and fairest count.

And is it the same 31-year-old who didn’t get into the senior team until Round 19?

The Western Bulldogs were on the same program, determined to erase the fact Caleb Daniel and Jack Macrae weren’t in their best 22 for most of the year.

Then there is other messaging that confuses everyone. Carlton is so in love with pick No.12 that the Blues are refusing to use it in a trade to get their No.1 target, two-time All-Australian Dan Houston.

Instead, we’re led to believe, they will happily stand aside and allow arch rival Collingwood to stroll in with pick No.13 and some extra steak knives attached to get him.

Confused? Don’t worry we all are.