THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2010

THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2010 by The Oracle

FISHING

Melbourne Football Club list manager Tim Harrington has been quoted as saying that he "believes this week's trade period might be quieter than expected."

For the first time in several years there are no big fish in the trade pool thanks to the successful extraction of Gary Ablett and the rest of the Gold Coast six through the uncontracted player rule.

The result of this is that we are left with no "headline" players up for grabs like a Chris Judd or a Shaun Burgoyne in previous years and therefore the common view among the recruiting fraternity is that we should expect a quiet week, certainly one that should see far less activity than the 2009 exchange period.

However, there are some unknown factors at play and most of these revolve around the new franchise. With nine selections in the first round, the big question is whether the Suns are willing to trade one or two of these for established players they were unable to snare because of their contract status?

Insiders maintain that the Gold Coast are concerned about their failure to attract a big name key forward. Without one or two readymade targets up forward, they are going to struggle. It would seem that Brad Miller is not in their sights while David Hale, thought by many as a likely Demon is also being mentioned as a possible returnee to his home state. Still, you never know what they might come up with before the week is out.

The other clubs will also be jostling to get an early pick in the draft so no doubt Gold Coast Recruiting Manager, Scott Clayton will be the man of the moment when the clubs meet this morning to open the first day of this first exchange period of the new era.

The Suns are also expected to be in the thick of things when it comes to dealing with players who have previously been in the system or nominated in previous drafts. The word is that they have already decided to snaffle names like Andrew Krakouer and Myles Sewell with the view of trading them off to other clubs for draft picks or players.

But the Suns might also decide to pick and keep players under this rule as well. Williamstown's Frosty Miller Medal winner Matt Little who was previously on Hawthorn's list to fill a forward post at the new club.

There is one reason for believing that the clubs might get more business done than Harrington expects. In past years when there has been a big fish or two in the trade mix, many other potential trades have been held off and even frustrated by the inability of clubs involved to close the big deals. In their absence, it might be easier for them to do business.

Speaking of business, the first business of the day today will be the father/son bidding which should see Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore on their way to the Doggies for their first two draft picks and Jacob Brennan to West Coast for a late selection.

After that it will be on for young and old and we can expect plenty of twists and turns over the coming week. I wonder whether this year we will see a club standing on its principles in the way the Saints did last year over Luke Ball. They refused an offer of pick 30 and Sharrod Wellingham last year and might have had Tyson Goldsack if they were listening at all to the Magpies.

It took a year for the message to hit them but on Saturday, Wellingham and Ball were among the best for the Magpies along with Darren Jolly who was taken from the Swans with a first round pick. The Saints got nothing from Collingwood and lost a favourite son in Ball. Among their own trades was Andrew Lovett who cost a first rounder but didn't make it to the NAB Cup and they ended up getting Jesse Smith from North Melbourne who cost nothing but then again, produced nothing either.

Such are the vagaries of the exchange period.