THE TRADING CHRONICLES: DAY FIVE

THE TRADING CHRONICLES: DAY FIVE

THE BIG FIZZER by The Oracle

With the world's financial crisis completely overshadowing events, football's own exchange period was always going to pale into insignificance against a backdrop of confusion and crisis on global markets. The week's activities however, produced even less result than most of us thought with only six player trades completed and not a single player of any note changing clubs.

It was not for lack of trying among the clubs that the output was so poor. For every completed trade there were probably at least ten names bandied about during the lead up and the week of trading but there were factors at play that influenced the market. These included economic factors and the gloomy economic outlook, the high price tags some managers put on their players, the perception that this year's draft pool was strong and deep and the imminent changes to the draft, particularly those that will apply with the imminent inclusion of teams from the Gold Coast and West Sydney. Clubs valued their draft picks more than ever this year and many deals that might have been consummated in other years simply were left on the shelf.

The highest draft pick to change hands was # 24 as part of the final day deal that saw Robert Warnock move from Fremantle to Carlton. It would be safe to say that this would have been Warnock was the most expensive player to be traded for a selection outside the top 20 but more of that later. Other trades yesterday involved Bulldog Farren Ray joining the Saints in a trade that saw picks 31 and 48 rotated between the clubs and Brent Prismall moved to the Bombers for draft pick # 93. The draft took on a ridiculous face with Brisbane's gift of Anthony Corrie to Collingwood for selection 93 (I wonder who they have in mind to use that one on) and the Pies offloaded the troublesome Rhyce Shaw for an exchange of insignificant draft picks.

From Melbourne's point of view, the club worked hard but failed to secure Warnock and Prismall and Brad Green stayed put and finally signed a new three year deal. The so-called "failure" to convince the Docker giant and the injured Cat, who were fringe players at best at their former clubs, is no disaster and probably a blessing in disguise for the club which can now concentrate on the forthcoming National Draft where it has three selections in the top twenty and possibly, on the Pre Season Draft (but I wouldn't be holding my breath over that one).

The PSD already promises to be as big a fizzer as the exchange period – all of which spells the likelihood of a strong push towards free agency to protect the interests of the uncontracted player. From Melbourne’s point of view, it is to be hoped that the club embraces the changes that will come and that it won’t shy away from taking the lead in aggressive trading in future years. For this year however, it was a time best to stay away from the major trades and the results of the week prove that conclusively.

Missing out on Warnock was no big deal. Carlton came in with such a knockout offer to the young ruckman who has 21 games of AFL experience under his belt that he was virtually priced out of dealing with any other club. The Blues applied the Pythagoras theory of bidding for this player. When early suitors Richmond and Melbourne came in with reported offers of around $900,000 for three years, they added a year to the contract, squared the number four to get 16 and added the requisite number of naughts to come up with figure so ridiculous for a ruckman in the current era that it would have been irresponsible of the other clubs to match. On the very day when the current Gordon Gekkos of this world were getting their comeuppance across the globe you could rely on Carlton to promote the culture of greed to the nth degree.

As for Prismall, it would have been dangerous for a club like Melbourne to have taken the risk on an injury ravaged player of such inconsequence and pay the amount the Bombers finally coughed up for him. Essendon also had a tough 2008 on the injury front. At least the price they paid for their new disabled wingman was cheap at selection # 39.

And so we move on into the brave new world. There are only six weeks to go before the National Draft, following which we might all be better placed to reflect on whether it was better to hold on to that valuable commodity – a top twenty draft pick.