THE TRADING CHRONICLES - PART SEVEN

THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2011 by The Oracle

Part Seven: IN ANOTHER PLACE

I spent most of yesterday moving house so I missed the bulk of the action as the week's AFL trade activity came to a close. When I eventually took the time to pause and reflect on how things were going, I discovered how underwhelming this week is in the scheme of things.

When the first of just four completed trades of the day involves the transfer of a hitherto unknown rookie in exchange of a draft pick on the wrong side of fifty, then you know that it's time to return to the task of moving that drawing room cabinet across to a spot near the window. 

But then the thought came to me that it was a big deal at least for left-footed wing/half-back Will Sierakowski who goes  immediately from Hawthorn's rookie list to a senior list position at North Melbourne. It's another case of the Kangaroos doing things on the cheap because it only cost them pick 58. This is a club that survives by scrimping and saving and it does it well because it simply can't compete financially with the big boys. Sierakowski will probably have lots of time to ponder about this at a choice of VFL destinations - North Ballarat or Werribee.

This relatively minor trade explains why North Melbourne football manager Donald McDonald was on the front foot earlier in the day denying his club was still interested in Demon Addam Maric. Despite testing him medically, the Roos had gone for someone cheaper. 

Good luck to them and, as for Maric, he will have to find another place - just like me!

At least one Maric found a new home when Adelaide's Ivan Maric turned up at Tigerland for a second round draft selection (37). That pick was then immediately on traded for the Saint's Tom Lynch who becomes a Crow. 

The dismantling of Hawthorn's 2008 premiership ruck line up was completed when Brent Renouf was shipped off to Port Adelaide for its second round draft selection (33).

I'm now beginning to realise the significance of the "national" part of our competition. The past week of wheeler dealing has seen a preponderance of completed trades involving players crossing state borders to find new homes (in one case, it's a national border). The introduction of two new franchises will make this phenomenon even more commonplace.

And that brings me to Brisbane's Mitch Clark. Like me, he's been looking for another place for some time and yesterday, he told Melbourne that, despite its generous offer, he was determined to rejoin his family in WA and it's Fremantle or bust for him. 

It's also possible that the Dockers increased their offer to him but you can be sure that next time he lands at Perth airport, it won't be just to have a look around as some tourists do but rather because he will have long ago made a lifestyle decision to move to that other place - and good luck to him too!

It was late in the day when the doorbell rang and my neighbour came over to invite me for a drink or two. In the end, we watched the A League blockbuster between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide. It's early days I know but the Victory has invested a lot of coin on star recruit Harry Kewell who I thought might have been lucky not to cop a red card and get away only with yellow in his team's shock 1-0 defeat. They have earned just one of a possible six points so far and have yet to manage a goal. The thought came to me that perhaps the recruiting of big names isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Completed Trades after Day Five:

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.

8. North Melbourne gets Will Sierakowski (Hawthorn rookie)

Hawthorn get third round draft selection (No. 58).

9. Richmond get Ivan Maric (Adelaide) 

Adelaide get second round draft selection (No. 37).

10. Adelaide get Tom Lynch (St Kilda)

St Kilda get on traded second round draft selection (No. 37).

11. Port Adelaide get Brent Renouf (Hawthorn)

Hawthorn get second round draft selection (No. 33).

The Oracle will spend most of the time rearranging the furniture at his new home but has promised to come back to us soon with his take on the weekend's trade news.

This thread will merge with Trade Week Discussion at some time over the weekend.