AFL trade period: we look at who might be up for grabs in this year’s trade period
ADELAIDE has been decimated in recent seasons by poaching raids and draft sanctions and now a pair of Crows sit at the top of this year’s trade period’s most wanted.
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WE forget Adelaide was effectively wiped out of two national drafts.
While the club has put the Kurt Tippett scandal behind it, the loss of two first and second-round picks in 2012 and 2013 for breaching the league’s salary cap and draft rules threatened to set the club back years.
On top of the Tippett punishment, Phil Davis was poached. Nathan Bock left. Stars Jack Gunston and Patrick Dangerfield went home to Victorian clubs and now goal kicker Josh Jenkins and midfielder Brad Crouch are, again, among the top targets in this year’s trade period.
GET OUT OUR VERDICT ON THIS YEAR’S TOP 10 TRADE TARGETS BELOW
The Brisbane offer for Jenkins is believed to be about $3.5 million over five years, or more than $1 million more than Adelaide is prepared to give up.
The Lions’ deal is widely seen as overs for a second key forward who has kicked the most goals from 0-15m (17) and 0-30m (28) in the AFL this season.
But Brisbane knows the only way it will get another big-bodied forward is to throw the kitchen sink at the red-hot Crow, making him think.
However, Adelaide is confident Jenkins and Crouch will stay, in part, because the club is a genuine contender to win what could be the most remarkable premiership in recent history, given the recent sanctions.
To keep the club in finals contention, the club had to look left-field with its recruiting, making the most of some late picks, the rookie list, free agency and trades.
You see, Don Pyke’s men are the only club without a top-10 draft pick on its books.
And yet, they can still leapfrog back into the top-four with a win over Melbourne, at the MCG.
Football director Mark Ricciuto, who was not at the club at the time of the Tippett fiasco, said former talent chief Matt Rendell, his protégé, Hamish Ogilvie and list boss Justin Reid, deserve credit.
“Adelaide has never bottomed out,” Ricciuto said. “We always strive to compete towards the top.
“Losing Tippett did put the club back a bit, but once things were sorted there, it is a combination of having the right coach and the right players.
“The club needs to be commended for looking outside the square when it hasn’t had those early picks.
“And when Matt and Hamish have had a first-round pick, I think they have nailed it.”
The list of bargain pick-ups includes rookies Rory Laird, Charlie Cameron and Kyle Hartigan, late selections Rory Sloane (44) and Jarryd Lyons (61), while All-Australian goal kicker Eddie Betts was one of the most astute free agent additions we’ve seen.
Gun ruckman Sam Jacobs, connecting forward Tom Lynch and hard-nut defender Kyle Cheney were all traded-in on the cheap. Plus, captain and spearhead Taylor Walker was recruited for virtually nothing, through the scholarship scheme.
But maybe the magic was in the manoeuvring of the stars it lost. It is well documented Adelaide baulked at losing Dangerfield to a free agency deal and instead sought a more advantageous trade agreement, acquiring picks No.11, No.28 and Dean Gore from Geelong.
List chief Reid said the club wanted to act in good faith to Dangerfield and the Cats and were pleased with the outcome.
“You want it to be a win-win situation,” Reid said.
“You can never go in with the mindset that you want to get more than what the other club is receiving because, one - you are not going to get the transaction done and two - well, it can come back to bite you.
“Paddy is playing good footy and you never want to lose someone of that quality.
“But the way he conducted himself on and off the field is a credit to him and I think that helps when you are dealing with the individual, management and the other club.
“Geelong is a ripping club to deal with.”
Ironically, Adelaide recruited Jenkins from Essendon in late 2011, knowing it was likely going to lose Tippett (in a pre-arranged deal against AFL rules) the following season.
So, Adelaide used the No.24 pick it received from Hawthorn for Jack Gunston to swap it to Gold Coast for Nos.27 and No.31. Then, No.31 went from Adelaide to Essendon in return for Jenkins.
Likewise, the Crows gained Crouch and defender Luke Brown in return for losing Davis to Greater Western Sydney. For Bernie Vince, Adelaide drafted Matt Crouch, at pick No.23.
And to help fill the talent void in the wake of the Tippett sanctions in 2012 and ‘13, the Crows added mature-age players Troy Menzel, 21, Paul Seedsman, 24, Dean Gore, 20, and Curtly Hampton, 23, in last year’s trade period, boosting their age and experience profiles.
Reid said the club had a proactive list strategy.
“It’s a balance of what the coach wants now with what the list will need in three or four years’ time,” Reid said.
“But one thing you notice in this role is that you have to be fluid and flexible, because things change.”
MARKET MOVERS
Ten of this year’s hottest trade targets.
BRAD CROUCH (Adelaide)
Position: Midfielder
From: Ballarat Rebels
Age: 22 Height: 185cm
There were strong suggestions the slick midfielder was unhappy earlier in the year after coming back from injury a little prematurely. He misfired and was dropped, leaving him wondering about his future. North Melbourne and Hawthorn are the clubs linked to Crouch, but now he is back in the senior team, and playing well, things are looking more rosy in Adelaide. Has star qualities.
Verdict: Should stay
JARROD WITTS (Collingwood)
Position: Ruckman
From: Sydney University
Age: 23 Height: 209cm
Witts is a highly-rated player at Collingwood, but it is unclear whether he and 203cm Brodie Grundy can play in the same side, especially as neither has blossomed as a key forward target, yet. And the emergence of Mason Cox as a versatile tall has only clouded Witts’s future. He is out of contract at the end of the season and the Pies could secure a first-round pick in exchange for him. Brisbane is believed to be the frontrunner, but Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide are also in the market for a top-line ruckman.
Verdict: All but gone
MICHAEL HIBBERD (Essendon)
Position: Running defender
From: Frankston
Age: 26 Height: 186cm
Essendon is desperate to keep the four Hs — Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell, Michael Hurley and this man, Hibberd. Problem is, Melbourne is circling and Hibberd has strong ties to former Bombers coaches Brendan McCartney and Simon Goodwin. The money at Melbourne will be good and the Demons will be genuinely in the hunt for a finals spot next year.
Verdict: 50-50
MICHAEL HURLEY (Essendon)
Position: Key defender/forward
From: Northern Knights
Age: 26 Height: 193cm
Hurley’s loyalty to Essendon is being tested as he weighs up whether to stay. There is no doubt he is extremely disappointed about the events that have, really, cost him several prime years of his career. And every club would be keen to talk with the gun key big man. But he is contracted for next season, meaning suitors probably would have to secure a blockbuster trade with Essendon. The grievance tribunal process is less likely, considering Essendon has already overhauled its previous administration and football staff and acknowledged its errors. Richmond has denied it has made a five-year offer.
Verdict: Should stay
JAEGER O’MEARA (Gold Coast)
Position: Midfielder
From: Perth Demons
Age: 22 Height 183cm
It all hinges on how O’Meara’s knees hold up over the next two months. If his patella tendon problems continue, clubs will likely baulk at the star playmaker’s price tag, believed to be more than $700,000 a season. Hawthorn and Essendon are interested, but won’t break the bank. In any case, clubs will want O’Meara, a Rising Star winner, to go through a stringent medical test. Gold Coast is more confident of keeping O’Meara than it is Dion Prestia.
Verdict: 50-50
DION PRESTIA (Gold Coast)
Position: Midfielder
From: Calder Cannons
Age: 23 Height: 175cm
Melbourne went hard for Prestia last year but Richmond is the clear leader now. He has a burst of speed around the stoppages that would help Trent Cotchin in the same way Patrick Dangerfield has eased the burden on Joel Selwood at Geelong. Prestia’s manager, Marty Pask, will meet the Suns again next week, and talks probably will be put off until season’s end. Another star midfielder who would command $700,000 at a new club.
Verdict: All but gone
ADAM TOMLINSON (GWS Giants)
Position: Key forward/defender
From: Oakleigh Chargers
Age: 22 Height: 193cm
Carlton went hard for Tomlinson on the last day of last year’s trade period and there is little doubt the hard-running big man will be high on the Blues’ wishlist again. Likened to a young Nick Riewoldt in his draft year, Tomlinson is a key position player with a big engine. Incredibly, he had 52 possessions playing midfield in the NEAFL in a game in May but has played only four AFL games for the season. Contracted for another season but will likely seek more opportunity elsewhere. Other Giants who could be on the move are Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jack Steele and Caleb Marchbank.
Verdict: All but gone
MASON WOOD (North Melbourne)
Position: Forward/midfielder
From: Geelong Falcons
Age: 22 Height: 192cm
Has a big decision to make, as there are a couple of interstate clubs who are red-hot on the blossoming forward. Fremantle and Brisbane, in particular, are super keen to land the hard-running goalkicker, who keeps getting better by the week. And if Jarrad Waite and Drew Petrie play again next season, is there room for Wood in North’s forward set-up? Worth $500,000-plus a season.
Verdict: Should stay
TOM MITCHELL (Sydney)
Position: Midfielder
From: Claremont Tigers
Age: 23 Height: 182cm
Mitchell’s management has been steadfast in saying the onballer loves Sydney and is not considering a move. But after almost clinching a deal to re-sign last month, talks are on hold. Carlton has long-held interest and you could not count out Hawthorn either, as a Sam Mitchell replacement. Suddenly, Tom Mitchell is a $600,000 a year proposition. Can the Swans fit that into their bulging salary cap?
Verdict: Should stay
GARY ROHAN (Sydney)
Position: Utility
From: Geelong Falcons
Age: 25 Height: 188cm
Has had an horrible run with injury, but Rohan is just showing what he can do — play with serious pace. He is not a big possession winner but his defensive forward work is first class. Not surprisingly, the Cats are licking their lips at the prospect of swooping on another local product, either as a line-breaking backman or dangerous forward, or both. Becomes a free agent at the end of next season, when his contract ends.
Verdict: 50-50
Originally published as AFL trade period: we look at who might be up for grabs in this year’s trade period
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