THE TRADING CHRONICLES - PART SIX

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THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2011 by The Oracle

Part Six: ACTION!!!

Melbourne took centre stage yesterday  when it made its play for Brisbane's Mitch Clark who has been desperate to return home to Western Australia and to play for the Dockers who have been unable to come to terms on a trade with the Lions.

In an audacious move, the Demons offered big money for the homesick ruckman/forward but the indications are that Clark's mindset is one of returning to WA and the go home factor will be a difficult one to trump although Melbourne has been assured that its offer will receive serious consideration.

While the odds still strongly favour the 195cm ruckman/forward finding his way home, from the Demons' point of view it is an exercise that has been worth employing. Even if they fail to get their man, the football world knows the Dees mean business and have the money and the wherewithal to spend on recruiting the right player. This alone might stand the club in good stead in trade calculations. Perhaps it might even help it to ferret out a player or two before the exchange period ends next Monday.

Elsewhere, GWS continued to control the wheeling and dealing with other clubs. Three "faux" trade deals were completed, all of them involving the Giants. One was a trade of a compensatory future draft pick for another in this year's draft to Fremantle which the Dockers might be planning to use in their bid to snare Clark. 

The others involved trading under the rule that enables it to keep or trade up to ten players previously on an AFL list, or nominated for a previous draft. Norwood's Luke Brown went to Adelaide under this rule along with pick two in the "mini draft" which the Crows will use on Brad Crouch. St. Kilda took two small forwards in Terry Milera (Port Adelaide) and Northern Bullant Ahmed Saad for their first round pick which was the one on traded by the Giants to the Dockers. Three more players - Martin Clarke, Jamie Elliott (Collingwood) and Steve Morris - had been traded under the rule earlier in the week and the Giants are expected to keep Adam Kennedy (Western Jets), Tim Mohr (Casey Scorpions) and two picks for later on.

The result is that while Sheedy's Giants are likely to be the competition's dwarves for some time, they will dominate this year's national draft and have a big say in future drafts with the number of compensatory selections they are accumulating.

They already hold 11 of the first 14 picks, including the first five, in next month's national draft and are right in the centre of another deal being concocted that will see them gain a fifth uncontracted player, little known Bulldog Sam Reid who has been at the club for four years and achieved very little. With that sort of background, he should be right at home with Sheedy and his merry men at Blacktown.

Completed Trades after Day Four:

1.  Richmond get Steven Morris (West Adelaide) and first round draft selection (No. 15)

GWS Giants get first round draft selection (No. 14).

2. Collingwood get Marin Clarke (ex-Collingwood),  Jamie Elliot (Murray Bushrangers) and fourth round draft selection (No. 67)

GWS GIANTS get first round draft selection (No. 25).

3. Adelaide get first round draft selection (No. 24), second round  draft selection (No. 46) and third round  draft selection (No. 64).

Hawthorn get Jack Gunston (Adelaide), third round  draft selection (No. 53) and fourth round  draft selection (No. 71).

4.  Gold Coast Suns get first pick in the "mini draft".

GWS GIANTS get first round draft selection (No. 4) and a mid first round compensation draft selection for future use.

5. St. Kilda get Terry Milera (Port Adelaide, SA),  Ahmed Saad (Northern Bullants) and first round draft selection (No. 25)

GWS GIANTS get first round draft selection (No. 20).

6. Fremantle get first round draft selection (No. 20).

GWS GIANTS get an end of first round compensation draft selection for future use.

7.  Adelaide get second pick in the "mini draft" and Luke Brown (Norwood).

GWS GIANTS get first round draft selection (No. 10) and a late first round compensation draft selection for future use.

The Oracle spent today in a padded cell and is moving house today. He still expects to have plenty of time to continue to bring you the trade action over the weekend.