Jaeger O’Meara trade to Hawthorn from Gold Coast remains a source of confusion and discontent in AFL

MULTIPLE clubs remain confused by an AFL ruling which allowed Hawthorn to trade its future second-round pick to secure Jaeger O’Meara.

Jaeger O'Meara poses in his new Hawthorn Hawks colours after the contentious trade.

MULTIPLE clubs remain confused by an AFL ruling which allowed Hawthorn to trade its future second-round pick to secure Jaeger O’Meara.

But league boss Gillon McLachlan on Wednesday declared all clubs and AFL staff were “clear” on rules governing the trading of future picks.

The AFL has conceded it issued incorrect paperwork regarding the O’Meara trade last week, which compounded confusion.

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AFL media manager Patrick Keane tweeted after trade deadline that Gold Coast received GWS’s future second-round pick in the O’Meara trade, because Hawthorn was forced to keep its own.

The paperwork distributed by the league also stated that the Hawks on-traded the Giants’ pick to the Suns.

But the AFL now says Hawthorn swapped pick No. 10 and its own future second-rounder for the midfield jet.

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Clubs contacted yesterday by the Herald Sun were split as to whether Hawthorn had been allowed to trade its future second-round selection after earlier offloading its future first-round selection.

One called for an official inquiry, believing the O’Meara deal was illegal and questioned the presence of AFL figures in the trade room.

Another club powerbroker believed the AFL was facing pressure to get the O’Meara trade done, because it didn’t want to “stoke the fire” as it thrashes out a new pay deal with the AFL Players’ Association.

Jaeger O'Meara’s move was the biggest and messiest of the trade period.

A third club wondered whether the AFL was hesitant to let the possibility of O’Meara joining Essendon for free through the pre-season draft materialise.

Suspicions also rose as to why the O’Meara trade, among others, did not lob on the official board until well after the 2pm deadline.

But four list bosses agreed that “from go to whoa” clubs have been able to do what Hawthorn did.

“That’s my understanding. As long as you trade in another pick in that round, it’s OK,” one said.

“It’s a bit silly in that you can bring in pick 36 and trade 19, but it’s clear enough I think.”

The conflicting understanding highlight the ambiguity surrounding trade rules, which clubs said had not been updated since being introduced last year.

It is believed Collingwood was open to offloading its first and second-round picks last year after bringing in St Kilda’s second-round selection for Nathan Freeman.

Instead, Brisbane Lions chose the Saints’ future second pick instead of the Pies’ in exchange for James Aish.

The Hawks gave Gold Coast its choice of future picks and when it was confirmed the second on offer belonged to GWS, the Suns opted for Hawthorn’s.

“I don’t think that’s correct at all (that clubs don’t understand the rule),” McLachlan said on Wednesday.

“The rules are clear. The (O’Meara) trade was perfectly legal and I don’t think there’s any grey in that.

“If anyone needed clarification they spoke to (integrity officer) Ken Wood during the process and I think they got pretty clear answers.”

McLachlan dismissed the bungled paperwork as an “administrative error”.

“I reckon people could be happy to make a clerical error and I think it’s a little overhyped,” he said.

Geelong recruiting boss Stephen Wells admitted during trade period he was unaware his club could trade its first pick in 2017 after offloading its first pick in 2015 and 2016.

That loophole helped the Cats secure Zach Tuohy.

Originally published as Jaeger O’Meara trade to Hawthorn from Gold Coast remains a source of confusion and discontent in AFL