THE FAT CHRONICLES - FREE AGENCY & TRADING

[Demonland 72,192]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - FREE AGENCY by The Oracle

Life was so much simpler ten years ago when we had a trade week that lasted, erm, well ... a week. Representatives of the sixteen AFL clubs would meet in the sponsors' boxes at Pricefixer Park on the Monday and that would be followed by seven days of argy bargy mixed with a little subterfuge and deception, stories would abound of players and draft picks changing places and in the end, perhaps a dozen or possibly twenty deals would get done, most of them singularly unspectacular. The result was often one of boredom mixed with disappointment met with a shrug of the shoulders and it was on to the next thing which was the national draft meeting in November.

I must have missed something because, while this has been going on, those of us who have carefully watched the shenanigans of trade week have openly advocated that the entire process dragged on over too many days. Everybody was waiting for the action to hot up and reach a hectic, dramatic climax in the last day and a half. The pundits were all saying that the AFL should cut the player exchange period down to three days simply to restore some sanity into the picture. 

Well, the AFL, being the AFL, has suddenly taken a mysterious U turn following the introduction of free agency and has co-joined that concept with the trade period and extended it out to close on to the whole of the month of October. That's why I call it the "FAT" period, which stands for "Free Agency & Trade". The official AFL Free Agency Period runs from 1 October to 5pm on 19 October while the AFL Trade Period runs from 8 October to 2pm on 26 October.

By the time we get to the end of the line on that last Friday of next month many of you will risk being left emotionally and physically wrecked by the twists and turns of the FAT period unless you are properly prepared for the ordeal.

I'm here to help you get through this difficult time and to ensure that life remains as uncomplicated as possible during this time.

The first thing to remember is the "much ado about nothing" rule which applies to a lot of the AFL's business. Despite the warnings of doom and all the hype about free agency, it's not really going to make a difference to most of our lives. One or two big names might change clubs, a number of hopefuls and lesser lights will get involved and a few of them could find new homes and some aging players will boost their pensions. 

That's it folks. No great dramas!

If you don't believe me, here's the latest list of players available as free agents -

Complete list of Free Agents:

Restricted Free Agents

Angus Monfries (Essendon); Brent Moloney (Melbourne); Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide); Luke McGuane (Richmond); Brendon Goddard (St Kilda).

Unrestricted Free Agents

Chris Knights (Adel Crows); Jordan Russell, Bret Thornton (Carlton); Ben Johnson (Collingwood); Ricky Dyson, Dustin Fletcher, David Hille, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Henry Slattery (Essendon); Luke McPharlin (Fremantle); Shannon Byrnes, Josh Hunt (Geelong Cats); Thomas Murphy, Michael Osborne, Clinton Young (Hawthorn); Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn, Jared Rivers (Melbourne); Brett Ebert, Steven Salopek, Jacob Surjan (Port Adelaide); Jason Blake, Raphael Clarke (St Kilda); Jude Bolton, Jarred Moore (Sydney Swans); Quinten Lynch, Mark Nicoski (West Coast); Will Minson (Western Bulldogs).

At a guess, no more than about half of this list is likely to change clubs. The rest will either stay put or retire. With a few exceptions (Brendon Goddard mooted to go to the Bombers very early in the proceedings) the changes are unlikely to represent much more than a blip on the radar although hundreds of articles will be written and thousands of discussions and arguments started on the subject with much time of that time wasted. The rumours, innuendo and scuttlebutt have already been flying around the media and the Internet for several weeks. Fear not and remember "much ado about nothing".

Now, I've gone all this way without explaining Free Agency and that is because much of the information about the topic has been released by the AFL in dribs and drabs and if I didn't know better (and I actually don't) I would be saying that they're making it all up as they go. However, for a better understanding of the process, I refer you to FA explained by Luke Holmesby of the AFL's own site. He makes a good fist of it and I'll be back from time to time on an irregular basis to discuss the latest developments of this year's FAT Period.

Sit back and enjoy the ride!

[Theo 272]

In the Hun today it also said that any player delisted by their club automatically becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. Not that any decent players would be delisted.

[Freddy Fuschia 741]

In the Hun today it also said that any player delisted by their club automatically becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent. Not that any decent players would be delisted.

Possibly explains why some clubs appear to be reticent about delisting too early.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Free agency makes the off season more interesting.

[Demon trucker 1,800]

I think we will not pick any players in the free agent week, mybe one S.B, from da cats, unless any other club wants him, or stay, unless we throw way to much money. No one in their right mine would want to come to da dees, unless they want out and no other club wants them, the only way up is through drafting, and development in our own list.

Edited September 30, 2012 by vincehotboy

[Whispering_Jack 30,130]

If reports are true that Brendon Goddard will lodge the first FA application as soon as tomorrow, it's possible that FA will rid us of the phenomenon of having one deal hold back many ohers waiting for the big one to be done

.

By removing Goddard early, it might help the other clubs!

[beelzebub 23,376]

Free agency makes the off season more interesting.

does for us

[beelzebub 23,376]

If reports are true that Brendon Goddard will lodge the first FA application as soon as tomorrow, it's possible that FA will rid us of the phenomenon of having one deal hold back many ohers waiting for the big one to be done

.

By removing Goddard early, it might help the other clubs!

Well that and the already settled Cloke issue ought to ease the need for the gates to be held tight.

Its no more that a gut feeling, a guess reqally, but i have the sense we might actually have somethign to watch this year. The whole notion of FA 'seems to cast an eery unknown over all of this. With anywhere up to a dozen or more 'free' picks to be granted with most likely to fall in the 2nd and 3rd rounds the applecart as to whom or what becomes avail now in teh draft for any club let alone where in it just adds to the spice of things.

Lynch could well be an early third in this equation clearing the mysts somewhat. I suppose there had to be a week aded in order to accommodate the offer/thinking time/ counter-offer...or none element.

That...and the AFL love the spotlight so a littel invented drama all goes to this end..

Itll be different...I hope..lol

[RalphiusMaximus 6,053]

I've just had a rather interesting thought ragarding the whole FA mess. What would happen if we were to sit it out and not move on anyone? According to The Article on the AFL site, your compensation is based on your net gain/loss of players during the FA period.

Clubs will be compensated by way of draft picks if they are deemed to have a net loss in the free agency period. The compensation falls into one of five categories - a first-round pick immediately following the club's first round pick, an end of first-round pick, a second-round pick immediately after the club's second round pick, an end of second-round pick or a third-round pick immediately after the club's third round selection.

As such, if we were to have Moloney (a former B&F and one of our top-payed players) and Rivers (Two years running in our top 5) and possibly Bate as well, we would be in line for a 1st tier compensation. This would give us picks 3, 4 and 5 in the draft. Even if we have by this stage been forced to take Viney with pick three, we still have two top five picks to use. If we were somehow lucky enough to snare Viney with our second round pick, we would be sitting on a gold mine with three top five picks.

Anyone else think this tactic is worth more to us than a mid-range player who can't get a game with their own side?

[Demonland 72,192]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - COMBINATION by The Oracle

We entered uncharted territory this week with free agency and the impending trade period dominating the football news at one level and the Draft Combine attracting interest with respect to new talent on another.

The FAT "Free Agency and Trades

The conclusion from the first week of FA is that it is generally an unqualified success in terms of getting seasoned players together with their preferred new clubs. Of the list of restricted free agents Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Danyle Pearce (Fremantle) and Troy Chaplin (Richmond) found new homes while Chris Knights (Richmond), Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne) and Quinten Lynch (Collingwood) are of the unrestricted variety who did likewise. 

This left many FAs still in limbo and while a few others will find new destinations and others will still come to terms with their existing clubs, for some it will be the end of the road.

This weekend presents a perfect segue into a fortnight in which the FA and trade period becomes FAT. During the week, the trade conjecture stepped up with Kurt Tippett becoming the major player as he plans his exodus from Adelaide. Collingwood pair Sharrod Wellingham and Chris Dawes who both want out are also attracting interest and young Sun's midfielder Josh Caddy has everyone guessing as to where he will end up although some are scratching their heads as to how someone who finished 17th in the club's best and fairest while playing every game of the season could be such a wanted man.

Things will play themselves out slowly in the coming weeks but one matter affecting the trades and draft positioning will be the three potential father/son picks nominated in that category for the 2012 national draft. Their fate will be decided on Monday morning at the opening of the exchange period when opposition clubs can bid for them ahead of the draft. The nominating club then has to decide whether to take player at its next available  selection in that round (not including compensation picks). The players available are Joe Daniher (Essendon), Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs) and Jack Viney (Melbourne). Other potential f/s players. Jordon Bourke (Geelong - son of Damian),  James Stewart (Collingwood - son of Craig) and James Stewart (Hawthorn - son of John Platten) were overlooked.

Daniher is expected to be taken with Essendon's first pick, Hunter with the Bulldogs' third round pick while Viney's situation is up in the air. Depending on whether he is claimed by one of the new franchises he could go to Melbourne as early as pick three or in the second round. We'll know soon after 10 o'clock.

By way of a general update, here is the excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play

MELBOURNE:

It has been a frantic few days for Melbourne. Geelong free agent Shannon Byrnes came on board on Thursday and the Demons are working Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham hard to convince them their futures are at AAMI Park, just a few drop punts down the road from the Westpac Centre. St Kilda's Farren Ray has also been mentioned in dispatches and what helps is that the Demons have three first round draft picks, including picks three and four, which they will part with for the right deal. Then there is the Jack Viney situation, where a relatively straightforward father-son selection has been complicated by the interest of both GWS and Gold Coast. Should either club place a first-round bid for Viney at Monday morning's father-son bid meeting, Melbourne will then need to use one of its first-round selections for Todd's oldest son. And finally, Melbourne has about 10 uncontracted players whose futures will remain in limbo until after the free agency and trade periods are done.

The Draft Combine

There was an added flavour to this year's draft combine with the introduction of an international group of potential draftees - Internationals named for Combine. Some of the lads produced great results in the athletic testing and one Gideon Simon of Papua New Guinea has been added to Richmond's list as an international rookie while New Zealander Kurt Heatherly is a Hawthorn scholarship holder who has already shown out with Caulfield Grammar and the Sandringham Dragons.

Melbourne, which pioneered international recruiting with its Irish contingent lad by Jim Stynes and Sean Wight in the 1980s, has shunned this pathway in recent years. Perhaps the success of Sydney's Canadian ruckman Mike Pyke might revive some interest on the part of the club. If it does, then in US College basketballer Eric Wallace might fit the bill. Athletically, he's a freak but the question is whether he has the same level of commitment and desire to learn and achieve at a foreign sport in an alien environment as did our Jim and whether the MFC has the resources and will to develop such a person.

The rest of the week's combine didn't attract the hoopla of the internationals but there was a substantial amount of interest from club recruiting people who not only observed the testing but conducted what, in many cases, were detailed interviews with their subjects and these were only the tip of the iceberg where specific targets were concerned. The amount of background checking of potential draftees these days is quite unbelievable.

Naturally, there were a few standouts and a handful would have improved their draft stocks. These included some of the more seasoned players in the group who have been playing against men such as North Ballarat's Dean Towers and Launceston's Jesse Lonergan through to 17 year old GWS Mini Draft prospects Jack Martin, Jesse Hogan and Joshua Kelly. More testing continues at the State Screeinings over the weekend. The big question as always is whether they can play footy?

2012 Draft Combine Results

Below are the leading results from the 2012 NAB AFL Draft Combine held at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. 

3 kilometre time trial (minutes:seconds)

Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 09:48

Tom Clurey Vic Murray Bushrangers 10:01

Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 10:09

Kamdyn McIntosh WA Peel Thunder 10:14

Jake Neade NT North Ballarat Rebels 10:16

Sean Hurley Ire Kildare 10:17

Tanner Smith Vic North Ballarat Rebels 10:18

Sam Siggins Tas Lauderdale 10:19

Mitchell Van Den Berg Tas North Launceston 10:19

Sean Lynch WA South Fremantle 10:20

Jesse Hogan WA Claremont    10:20

Shuttle Run (Beep Test) Level  

Tom Clurey Vic Murray Bushrangers 15-1

Mitchell Van Den Berg Tas North Launceston 14-9

Kamdyn McIntosh WA Peel Thunder 14-8

Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 14-6

Will Hams Vic Gippsland Power 14-4

Jonathan O'Rourke Vic Calder Cannons 14-4

Sam Siggins Tas Lauderdale 14-4

Oliver Wines Vic Bendigo Pioneers 14-3

Jason Ashby Vic Oakleigh Chargers 14-2

Brodie Murdoch SA Glenelg 14-2

Jacob Ballard Vic Northern Knights 14-2

Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 14-2

Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 14-2

Clean hands test Score

Matthew Dick Vic Calder Cannons 29

Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 29

Jake Stringer Vic Bendigo Pioneers 28

Nathan Hrovat Vic Northern Knights 28

Jordon Bourke Qld Morningside 27

Matthew Brett Vic Murray Bushrangers 27

Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 27 

Toby Nankervis Tas North Launceston 27

Dayle Garlett WA Claremont 27

Harrison Marsh WA East Fremantle 27

Nick Rodda WA West Perth 27

Goal kicking test Score

Andrew Boston Qld Broadbeach 30 

Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston    30

Jake Stringer Vic Bendigo Pioneers 30

Will Hams Vic Gippsland Power 25

Jake Neade NT North Ballarat Rebels 25

Shannon Taylor WA Claremont 25

Cameron Banfield Vic Sandringham Dragons 25

Sean Lynch WA South Fremantle 25

Jackson Macrae Vic Oakleigh Chargers 25

Brodie Murdoch SA Glenelg 25

Josh Simpson WA East Fremantle 25

Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 25

Tim Broomhead SA Port Adelaide 25

Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 25

Jack Martin WA Claremont 25

Tom Clurey Vic Murray Bushrangers 25

Nick Rodda WA West Perth 25

James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 25

Mason Wood Vic Geelong Falcons 25

Toby Nankervis Tas North Launceston 25

Kicking test Score

Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 29

Rory Atkins Vic Calder Cannons 29

Josh Simpson  WA East Fremantle 29

Jack Martin WA Claremont 28

Will Hams Vic Gippsland Power 28

Brodie Murdoch SA Glenelg 28

Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 27

Aidan Corr Vic Northern Knights 27

Kamdyn McIntosh WA Peel Thunder 27

James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 27

Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 27

Louis Herbert Vic North Ballarat Rebels 27

Jason Pongracic Vic Dandenong Stingrays 27

Agility test (minutes:seconds)

Lachie Hunter Vic Western Jets 8:00

Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 8:25

Tim O'Brien SA Glenelg 8:30

Jordon Bourke Qld Morningside 8:30

Emmett Bradley Ireland Derry 8:31

Zac Williams NSW/ACT Narrandera 8:32

Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 8:33

Mason Woods Vic Geelong Falcons 8:35

Jason Ashby Vic Oakleigh Chargers 8:36

Jason Pongracic Vic Dandenong Stingrays 8:36

Height  Centimetres

Cameron Symonds WA East Fremantle 203.4

Liam McBean Vic Calder Cannons 203.1

Darcy Fort Vic Geelong Falcons    202.7

Chris Prowse Vic Oakleigh Chargers 202.5

Lewis Pierce Vic Dandenong Stingrays 202.3

Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 201.8

Myles Bolger WA South Fremantle 201.6

Yannick Crowder USA Stone Mountain 201.6

Joe Daniher Vic Calder Cannons 201.0

Sam Gilmore Vic Northern Knights  200.6

Jack Hannath SA Central Districts 200.6

Weight  Kilograms

Cameron Symonds WA East Fremantle 104.9

Benjamin Shearry USA Idaho 102.9

Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem 102.5

Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 99.8

Toby Nankervis Tas North Launceston 99.8

Yannick Crowder USA Stone Mountain 98.9

Nick Rodda WA West Perth 98.1

Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 97.4

Jack Hannath SA Central Districts 97.2

Myles Bolger WA South Fremantle 94.7

Hand span Centimetres

Yannick Crowder USA Stone Mountain 26.8

Spencer White Vic Western Jets 26.1

Mason Wood Vic Geelong Falcons 25.3

Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem    25.2

Brodie Grundy SA Sturt 25.1

Kurt Heatherley NZ Bay of Plenty  25.1

Jason Ashby Vic Oakleigh Chargers 25.1

Cameron Symonds WA East Fremantle 24.8

Nick Rodda WA West Perth 24.8

Jesse Hogan WA Claremont 24.8

Jacob Ballard Vic Northern Knights 24.8

Emmanuel Irra SA South Adelaide 24.8

Standing vertical jump Centimetres

Dean Towers Vic North Ballarat Roosters 85

Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 83

Spencer White Vic Western Jets 82

Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem 80

Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 75

Harrison Marsh WA East Fremantle 73

James Stewart Vic Sandringham Dragons 73

Clay Cameron Qld Mt Gravatt 72 Adam Saad Vic Calder Cannons 72

Aidan Corr Vic Northern Knights 72 

Running vertical jump Centimetres

Spencer White Vic Western Jets  100

Laine Wilkins WA Peel Thunder 97

Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 91

Jake McKenzie Vic Western Jets 89

Clay Cameron Qld Mt Gravatt 88

Jed Anderson NT NT Thunder 87

James Stewart  Vic Sandringham Dragons 86

Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 86

Eric Wallace USA Winston-Salem    85

Jacob Ballard Vic Northern Knights 84

Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 84

20 metre sprints (seconds)

Adam Saad Vic Calder 2.81

Kurt Heatherley NZ 2.84

Leigh Osborne Vic Frankston 2.86

Matthew Dick Vic Calder 2.88

Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 2.89

Dean Towers Vic North Ballarat VFL 2.89

Aiden Corr Vic Northern Knights 2.89

Clay Cameron Qld Mt Gravatt 2.91

Jordon Bourke Qld Morningside 2.92

Cameron Banfield Vic Sandringham 2.93

Jarrod Stokes NT Darwin 2.93

Repeat sprints (seconds)

Matthew Haynes Vic Northern Knights 23.91

Harrison Marsh WA East Fremantle 24.32

Dean Towers Vic North Ballarat Roosters 24.48

Leigh Osborne Vic Frankston 24.74

Joshua Kelly Vic Sandringham Dragons 24.91

Tim Broomhead SA Port Adelaide 24.98

Jesse Lonergan Tas Launceston 25.12

Gideon Simon PNG Mt Hagan 25.18

Dominic Barry NT North Ballarat Rebels 25.19

Tim O'Brien SA Glenelg 25.19

[dpositive 1,665]

Thanks Dland

Makes you realise the selection process is as much Art as science.

I guess its not just the attributes but how you use them that is the most significant and thats why I appreciate the time and effort put into following the individuals and even more importantly the conversations that occur with the kids and their support. Its where the passionate Dland contributors really can provide some great insight and assistance into developing the team.

Go DEES

[Whispering_Jack 30,130]

The combine results of Joshua Kelly are super impressive for a bottom ager who won't be eligible to play AFL until 2014. Our resident TAC Cup watcher Stevo told me that Kelly didn't have a good finals series but he certainly looked the goods in the Under 18 Championships and his father Phil Kelly was a great at both East Perth and North Melbourne (not quite enough games for F/S).

An outside chance of selection by someone in the Mini Draft but the opposition for one of the two places available is hot!

[Guest gazza03]

I'm sure we will cop a ton of criticism over the next few weeks, from the media and some around here. However, here is an important article written by our own Gary Lyon on the subject of free agency and trades.

Hope it helps many around here understand what we are trying to do -

Eye of Tiger for talent

Thought it was important for many of you to listen to Gary over others in this forum.

Stick with us stay postive the boys are doing there best in tough times with more curve balls coming our way every day.

Go Dees

[Moonshadow 17,676]

Is he any relation to GaRRy Lyon?

[Whispering_Jack 30,130]

Kelly O'Donnell now holds down the portfolio of "pro scouting" at the club. We also have a former policeman who investigates the histories of all potential recruits to ensure that there are no surprises about their background or character if recruited to the club. It's becoming a big business.

[Demonland 72,192]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - ROLLING ALONG by The Oracle

The AFL Free Agency and Trade periods became intertwined as the second week of FA was opened and the trade period officially kicked off last Monday. It turned out a reasonably hectic week with most of the focus on the trade aspects while clubs battled to get their heads around the most appropriate strategies for FA.

The uncertainty regarding the actual compensation involved under the FA system wasn't helping and some clubs were clearly holding back some of their decisions for later next week and until their trade options had crystallised.

The end result from a FA point of view was that only two players found new homes in the second week. Unrestricted FA Tom Murphy (Hawthorn) moved to the Gold Coast Suns while restricted FA Brent Moloney (Melbourne) found a new home with the Brisbane Lions.

The list of FAs continues to dwindle with some finalising their commitments to their existing clubs. Many of the rest are not attracting a great deal of interest. In some cases, the waiting game continues.

The Trade period started with the father son bidding. The result was predictable in the cases of Lachie Hunter, son of Mark, taken by the Bulldogs at #46 and Joe Daniher, son of Anthony, claimed by the Bombers with tenth pick overall. The intrigue involved Jack Viney and whether Melbourne would have to give up a first round selection for the son of former Demon skipper Todd Viney. Sanity and some behind the scenes wheeling and dealing must have prevailed and Jack managed to be taken at 26 (although that number will change when FA compensation picks are doled out next week). The Dees were thrilled and their fans, ecstatic. With all due respect to Essendon on capturing both Goddard and Daniher, to their minds, the first real "prize" of FAT was theirs!

The Gold Coast Suns who had decided against nominating with their pick #2, immediately traded off that selection to Greater Western Sydney for 17 year old WA prodigy Jack Martin who will be pick 1 in the mini-draft. A day later Melbourne moved in on the other pick with a more complex trade handing over picks 3 and 13 for Claremont's Jesse Hogan, North Ballarat's Dominic Barry and pick 20. More excitement for long suffering Dees fans.

Meanwhile, the real trade action kicked off with Port Adelaide getting Angus Monfries from Essendon for pick 48. The Bomber forward could have been taken as a FA but the deal was done to preserve Port Adelaide's compensation levels for Danyle Pearce and Troy Chaplin who departed the club in week one of FA.

The first bombshell of FAT came when Hawthorn snared Brian Lake and pick 27 from the Western Bulldogs in return for their first and second round picks (21 and 41). The Doggies were somewhat reluctant but knew that they would have received zilch for Lake in 12 month's time when he would have become a FA.

The Kurt Tippett saga ran its course through the week and remains unresolved with the Crows and Swans both playing hardball as the impasse continued to have bitter undertones.

Things continued to move slowly through the week with the odd deal done here and there. The Saints picked up Claremont tall and picks 24 and 43 for their first rounder (12) which went to GWS. Lee, who had previously been on Adelaide's list but did not play a senior game for the Crows was football for the club, was pre-listed by GWS.

Geelong won the battle for reluctant Gold Coast Suns midfielder. Although the final deal is yet to be worked out, it is likely to cost the Cats either a first rounder or a compensation pick received when Gary Ablett went north.

West Coast and Collingwood finally came to agreement on Sharrod Wellingham who returns home to Perth in exchange for draft selection 17.

Of course, the completed deals were only the tip of the iceberg as discussions on the fate of several players continued. Here is the excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play for week two:-

MELBOURNE: North Melbourne's Cameron Pedersen is still in the club's sights but the trade is unlikely to be done until later in the trade period. The Demons are still waiting on Dawes and the answer is likely to come this weekend. Whatever the outcome, the club has given Dawes its best shot. Melbourne's interest in Farren Ray is genuine but the negotiations with the Saints are not going to be simple.

Negotiations for a new contract for unrestricted free agent Lynden Dunn are progressing well. Finally, with Moloney and Shannon Byrnes likely to cancel each other out in relation to compensation picks, the decision of Rivers to leave or not may determine what the Demons have to offer to attract players in the final week of the trade period.

Melbourne's trade strategy of bringing in a selection of players with maturity and experience to balance the loss of others who have either gone or are on the way out is interesting. Having collected their young prizes early in the week, it is becoming apparent that the national draft will not present too many difficult selection issues for the recruiting staff. The Demons should retain pick 4 which is likely to present the club with a talented young midfielder but otherwise, when the FAT is done and dusted (including possible delisted FAs in November) the actual national draft itself may not be very eventful for Melbourne. We should remember that the father son pick and rookie elevations count as part of a club's minimum allowable three draft selections. If a few other clubs follow that course (and I suspect that this will be a flow on from FAT) then the rookie draft might present some interesting choices in December.

In the meantime, the FAT times just keep rolling along.

Week Two - completed FATs -

Trades, Week 1

■ Gold Coast Suns trade picks 2, 63 and 2010 end-of-first-round compensation pick to GWS for selection 1 in the mini-draft (Jack Martin) and 2011 end-of-first-round compensation pick.

■ Port Adelaide trades pick 48 to Essendon for Angus Monfries.

■ St Kilda trades pick 12 to GWS for Tom Lee (Claremont), picks 24 and 43.

■ Hawthorn trades picks 21 and 41 to Western Bulldogs for Brian Lake and pick 27.

■ Melbourne trades picks 3 and 13) to GWS for Dominic Barry, selection 2 in the mini-draft (Jesse Hogan) and pick 20.

■ West Coast Eagles trade pick 17 to Collingwood for Sharrod Wellingham

Free Agency Movements, Week 2

■ Tom Murphy (Hawthorn UFA) moves to the Gold Coast Suns.

■ Brent Moloney (Melbourne RFA) moves to the Brisbane Lions.

[rumpole 515]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - ROLLING ALONG by The Oracle

Here is the excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play for week two:-

MELBOURNE: North Melbourne's Cameron Pedersen is still in the club's sights but the trade is unlikely to be done until later in the trade period. The Demons are still waiting on Dawes and the answer is likely to come this weekend. Whatever the outcome, the club has given Dawes its best shot. Melbourne's interest in Farren Ray is genuine but the negotiations with the Saints are not going to be simple. Negotiations for a new contract for unrestricted free agent Lynden Dunn are progressing well. Finally, with Moloney and Shannon Byrnes likely to cancel each other out in relation to compensation picks, the decision of Rivers to leave or not may determine what the Demons have to offer to attract players in the final week of the trade period. 

I'm having some trouble understanding the proposition that Moloney and Byrnes cancel each other out for the purposes of determining compensation under free agency.

Shannon Byrnes was born 7 April, 1984 and is 175 cm 77 kg and has played 108 senior games. For the past two seasons, he's spent most of his time in the Cats' VFL team. He managed only 5 senior games in 2011 (47 disposals) while he played only 4 in 2012 (40).

Brent Moloney had a stellar season in 2011 winning the club best and fairest and polling 19 Brownlow medal votes. He was born 28 January, 1984 and is 182 cm 88 kg. He has played 145 senior games (22 with the Cats). He featured in all 22 games in 2011 (509 disposals) and in 2012 he played 15 senior games (256), a fair result seeing that he was considered well down on form. He played only 4 games in the VFL but three were at the end of the year when it was clear that he most likely wouldn't stay on at the club. Remember, his manager made it clear earlier in the season that Moloney would pursue his free agency options at the end of the year.

By what measure does the author of this piece come to the conclusion that their value is at par?

Melbourne must not accept such a result. It would be a complete injustice. 

[Whispering_Jack 30,130]

Rumpole. You're appointed Senior Counsel in the event that we need to run this in the Supreme Court.

However, do we know what criteria are applied to determine the compensation?

[monoccular 17,428]

Demonland - can we please pin this thread and ask that you and you alone update the moves?

As I tried in another thread, we need a central thread to which we can refer for reliable, unadulterated, troll-free status information.

Thanks

[Demonland 72,192]

Demonland - can we please pin this thread and ask that you and you alone update the moves?

As I tried in another thread, we need a central thread to which we can refer for reliable, unadulterated, troll-free status information.

Thanks

In a couple of day's time this thread will be merged with the other FA thread which is pinned up at or near the top of this board.

Cheers

[Demonland 72,192]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - THE FAT SIDE by The Oracle

Soon after the free agency exchange period came to an end on Friday afternoon, the AFL announced the compensation it was giving to cover the loss of players and it finally dawned on players and supporters that the system was more about allowing the free flow of players with more than seven year's service to their clubs than about "compensation". It should be obvious to all and sundry by now that when the AFL talks about compensating clubs, it does not speak of providing restitution for players lost within the system it has created but something entirely different. The results of the system speak for themselves. Here are the movements of the past fortnight together with "compensation" (where applicable):-

Free Agency Movements - October 2012

■ Adelaide

Gains: Nil

Losses: Chris Knights

■ Brisbane

Gains: Brent Moloney

Losses: Nil

■ Collingwood

Gain: Quinten Lynch and Clinton Young

Losses: Nil

■ Essendon

Gains: Brendon Goddard

Losses: Nil

■ Fremantle

Gains: Danyle Pearce

Losses: Nil

■ Geelong

Gains: Jared Rivers

Loss: Shannon Byrnes

■ Hawthorn

Gains: A third round pick (66)

Losses: Tom Murphy and Clinton Young

■ Melbourne

Gains: Shannon Byrnes and a third round pick (49)

Losses: Brent Moloney and Jared Rivers

■ Port Adelaide

Gains: Two second round picks (30 & 31)

Losses: Troy Chaplin and Danyle Pearce

■ Richmond

Gains: Troy Chaplin and Chris Knights

Losses: Nil

■ St. Kilda

Gain: A first round pick (13)

Loss: Brendon Goddard

■ West Coast

Gains: A third round pick (62)

Loss: Quinten Lynch

The "compensation" was based on a document issued by the AFL which said:

''We confirm that the compensation formula will produce a points rating for players based on two factors:

1) new contract of the free agent and

2) age of the free agent.

''Draft picks will be allocated to clubs based on the net total points for free agents lost and gained during the transfer period. Draft picks will be allocated to one of five places: first round, end first round, second round, end of second round and third round.''

There are winners and losers there and the frustration at some clubs was obvious. Hawthorn received a third round compensation pick from the AFL for the loss of Clinton Young, and nothing for Thomas Murphy. Football operations GM Mark Evans has told of how the Hawks feel they have been "pick-pocketed" and that they are considering an appeal.

Melbourne could also feel cheated with its meagre "compensation" for two players who a little more than twelve months ago finished first and second in their best and fairest. On the other hand, if remuneration is paramount in determining compensation then the Demons might also feel vindicated in not working too hard to keep either Moloney or Rivers if their new pay packets are so meagre as to warrant nothing more than a third round pick at 49.

Port Adelaide was nicely rewarded for the loss of its two players with not just one but two picks but it was aided by some nifty footwork in the guise of a trade it worked out with Essendon over free agent Angus Monfries. However, it is certainly arguable that the two clubs were tampering with the draft system in a way designed to manipulate the free agency compensation outcome in favour of Port Adelaide. Monfries and his four year contract would have bitten deeply into what Port would otherwise have received. Essendon who were going to get nothing out of it were glad to pocket pick 48. The AFL is usually swift to knock such things on the head but, in this instance, it did nothing.

The end of the story is that in a very short period of time it is likely that free agency will become exactly that as otherwise the presence of this arbitrary system of compensation will destroy it altogether amid feelings of suspicion from both the clubs and the public about the way it is administered.

If you think free agency is done and dusted until next year, then you should think again. Between 1 & 13 November any player who has been delisted can be signed up by any club. In other words, free agency will be well and truly on for delisted players and with no compensation for the clubs they are leaving. This will facilitate movement for delisted players without their involvement in the draft or trading. Naturally, the clever club list managers will have already worked things out and have been in the ears of player managers. The result might be a reduction in trade deals over the final week of the exchange period as clubs wait for the free pickings of delisted players.

And so it was that this week's trading was subdued in many cases because clubs were waiting on the outcome of the free agency compensation.The big news from Melbourne's point of view was the club securing Chris Dawes for pick 20 and an exchange of later picks. The coup put a lie to the claims by critics that good players didn't want to go there but it didn't stop them from turning their attention to new claims that the price paid was too high or that the club was using a scattergun approach to recruiting. Undeterred, the Demons continue to move forward with their plans.

This week's excerpt for Melbourne from the AFL website's State of Play for week three:-

MELBOURNE: Lots of turnover and weighing up the additions and subtractions, there is a case to say Melbourne will be better next year. But what the Demons have done is sell hope and the club should have little trouble flogging memberships and keeping the turnstiles clicking over to watch the kids develop and Mitch Clark, Jeremy Howe and now Chris Dawes clunk a few marks close to goal. Of course, getting the ball to them remains an issue and the Demons need to keep addressing their midfield at the forthcoming drafts.

North's Cameron Pedersen remains in the club's sights while contracted Rockman Stef Martin is attracting interest from a few clubs. The long running Kurt Tippett saga continues and we're seeing signs that Sydney's "nice guy" image is beginning to tarnish. The coming weeks will continue to see changes to every club's list. This ain't done and dusted just yet.

Completed Trades, Weeks 1 & 2

■ Richmond trade Angus Graham and pick 50 to Adelaide for pick 40.

■ Gold Coast trade Josh Caddy to Geelong for 2010 first round compensation pick and pick 55.

■ North Melbourne trade Hamish McIntosh to Geelong for pick 36.

■ Collingwood trade Chris Dawes and pick 58 to Melbourne for picks 20 and 45.

■ Gold Coast Suns trade picks 2, 63 and 2010 end of first round compensation pick to GWS for selection 1 in the mini-draft (Jack Martin) and 2011 end of first-round compensation pick.

■ Port Adelaide trades pick 48 to Essendon for Angus Monfries.

■ St Kilda trades pick 12 to GWS for Tom Lee (Claremont), picks 24 and 43.

■ Hawthorn trades picks 21 and 41 to Western Bulldogs for Brian Lake and pick 27.

■ Melbourne trades picks 3 and 13) to GWS for Dominic Barry, selection 2 in the mini-draft (Jesse Hogan) and pick 20.

■ West Coast Eagles trade pick 17 to Collingwood for Sharrod Wellingham

[Sydney Pennski 296]

North trade Hamish McIntosh for pick 36 and apparently want similar for Pederson. Is this a joke?

[Dockett 32 1,239]

North trade Hamish McIntosh for pick 36 and apparently want similar for Pederson. Is this a joke?

Must be.

[Demonland 72,192]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - CUT AND RUN by The Oracle

Looking back at the frenetic activity of Friday morning's AFL meat market, one is touched by a feeling of pathos. Much of the stock in trade was little more than horse flesh; pathetic off cuts of inferior quality destined for one or two seasons in and out of the limelight before the inevitable final dumping and football oblivion.

I could hardly believe how many were treating it all so seriously or that the AFL website was operating a facility such as Trade Week Radio with commentators rattling on and on ad nauseum about nothing much at all and talkback callers asking the same questions three or four times a day. I really do empathise with that sort of thing but only because I've been doing it here for years.

Just look at the efforts of the Demons in the dying hours of the exchange period that seemingly lasted forever. It started when someone spotted David Rodan walking into AAMI Park but he wasn't there to celebrate the Storm's NRL premiership victory. In the blink of an eye, he became Melbourne's first Fijian born player at a cost of humble draft pick 88 which was soon to be one of the biggest players of the week, overshadowed only by the Tippett scandal but more of both later. 

Melbourne finally got its man in North's Carl Pedersen who managed two games in 2012 so it had to be considered an absolute steal that the player they traded for him (Jordan Gysberts) played only half that number this year. In order to balance the ledger the Demons had to grudgingly give up the coveted pick 63 but they managed to claw back number 74. When it was all over, the football departments of both clubs were seen heading in different directions at Etihad Stadium doing high fives and giggling to each other. 

The next step was to despatch Cale Morton back home to WA and the club that hounded out his now premiership winning brother allegedly for lack of a work ethic. Somehow, the Eagles had managed to secure pick 88 from Port Adelaide in an obscure trade deal and the Demons were only too happy to accept it back for possible use in upgrading a rookie at some stage in the future. Sad to think that Morton was once a top four draft pick: his epic fall from grace will go down in the history books.

The Demon fire sale wasn't finished yet. Stef Martin joined Brent Moloney at Brisbane for two more useless draft picks (53 and 73). With that, the FAT had been well and truly chewed up by the club's football department and everyone pulled up stumps.

The overall impression one got from the last day in particular was that the Demons were doing a cut and run from previous drafting disasters and making space on their playing lists for more recruits. Pedersen was the day's only real prize.

For a full wrap of the club's four week marathon Octoberfest read this Melbourne’s free agency/trade summary.

So if there are more to come (apart from national draft pick 4 and father/son selection), from where will they come? Well, in the next week, the clubs will lodge their first lists for the upcoming month or so and then there is a fortnight up to mid November during which they can pick up delisted players from other clubs onto their own lists. Then follows the national draft in late November and the pre season and rookie drafts in mid December. More players will come and go.

One player who interests me is Port Adelaide's Ben Jacobs who indicated during the exchange period that he wanted to return home to Victoria and nominated North Melbourne as his preferred  club. The Kangaroos stuffed Melbourne around over the Pedersen deal for the better part of a fortnight trying to extract a better (and ultimately, non-existent) draft pick to secure Jacobs so it would be a touch ironical if he found his way to the Demons. The club could certainly do with another midfielder so one assumes they would be open to persuading him to come across via the pre season draft where only the two new franchises stand ahead of the Demons. This places the club in a good position to snare him if something could be worked out with his management.

Of course, GWS and GCS might well take him but one wonders whether Jacobs is the type of player they would want on their lists given their existing riches in that area. Moreover, those clubs might well have a bigger fish to fry.

The big fish is Kurt Tippett and he, his management and his old club are all well and truly in the frying pan at the moment as we wait on the outcome of yet another AFL investigation. While the Crows face massive penalties if found guilty of draft tampering and salary cap rorting, there is a view that the player himself might come out of it with a sanction involving deregistration for a brief period but leaving it open for other clubs to pick him up, possibly in the pre season draft. That's where those new franchise clubs in might enter the equation.

Whatever the case, recent events have shown us that the football season never ends. It just keeps rolling along.

The wash up for the month so far -

ADELAIDE

In: Angus Graham (Richmond), draft selection 54

Out: Michael Doughty (retired); Chris Knights (Richmond); Brad Symes, Will Young (delisted); draft selection 43

Draft selections: 20, 54, 64, 83, 101, 119, 137

BRISBANE LIONS

In: Brent Moloney (restricted free agent), Stefan Martin (Melbourne)

Out: Josh Drummond (retired), Amon Buchanan (retired), Cheynee Stiller, James Hawksley, Sam Sheldon, Bryce Retzlaff, Brad Harvey (rookie), Josh Dyson (rookie), draft selections 53, 73

Draft selections: 8, 24, 33, 91, 109, 127

CARLTON

In: Draft selection 71

Out: Jordan Russell (Collingwood); Bret Thornton, Rohan Kerr, Paul Bower (delisted); Nick Heyne (delisted rookie); Matthew Lodge (delisted NSW scholarship player); Blake Bray (delisted NSW scholarship player)

Draft selections: 11, 36, 56, 71, 76, 94, 112

COLLINGWOOD

In: Quinten Lynch (West Coast), Clinton Young (Hawthorn), Jordan Russell (Carlton), NAB AFL Draft selections 18, 21, 39

Out: Chris Dawes (Melbourne), Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Tom Young (Western Bulldogs); Paul Cribbin, Daniel Farmer, Shae McNamara, Lachlan Smith, Trent Stubbs (delisted rookies); draft selections 42, 48, 58

Draft selections: 18, 19, 21, 39, 82

ESSENDON

In: Joe Daniher (father-son), Brendon Goddard (St Kilda), draft selection 52

Out: Angus Monfries (Port Adelaide), Mark McVeigh (retired), Anthony Long, Brendan Lee (delisted rookies)

Draft selections: 10 (committed to Daniher), 35, 52, 55, 75, 93, 111, 129

FREMANTLE

In: Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide), draft selection 37

Out: Greg Broughton (Gold Coast); Antoni Grover (retired); Jay van Berlo (delisted); Gavin Roberts, Jordan Wilson-King (delisted rookies); draft selection 60

Draft selections: 17, 37, 40, 80, 98

GEELONG

In: Josh Caddy (Gold Coast), Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne), Jared Rivers (Melbourne)

Out: Simon Hogan, Matthew Scarlett, David Wojcinski (retired); Orren Stephenson, Tom Gillies (delisted); Shannon Byrnes (Melbourne); draft selections 36, 59, first-round compensation pick for losing Gary Ablett

Draft selections: 16, 79, 97

GOLD COAST

In: Tom Murphy (Hawthorn), Greg Broughton (Fremantle), Jack Martin (GWS trade incentive selection), 2011 compensation selection end round one (R.Palmer), 2010 compensation selection round one (G.Ablett), draft selections 13, 57, 59, 60

Out: Josh Caddy (Geelong), Tom Hickey (St Kilda), Josh Fraser (retired), Andrew McQualter (retired), Sam Iles, Lewis Moss, Piers Flanagan, Alik Magin, Hayden Jolly, Michael Coad (rookie), compensation selection end round one (J.Brennan), Draft picks 2, 26, 47, 69

Draft selections: 13, 57, 59, 60, 87, 105, 123

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

In: Stephen Gilham (Hawthorn); draft selections 2, 3, 12, 14, 28, 65

Out: James McDonald, Luke Power (retired); Steve Clifton, Tim Segrave (delisted); Jack Hombsch, Jake Neade (Port Adelaide); Jack Martin* (Gold Coast); Jesse Hogan*, Dominic Barry (Melbourne); Tom Lee** (St Kilda), Jed Anderson (Hawthorn); draft selections 20, 24, 29, 43, 68

Draft selections: 1, 2, 3, 12, 14, 28, 65, 69, 86, 104, 122

* denotes GWS 17-year-old list concession mini-draft

** denotes GWS pre-selection

HAWTHORN

In: Jed Anderson (GWS NT zone selection), Brian Lake (Western Bulldogs), Matt Spangher (Sydney Swans), draft selections 29, 68, 72

Out: Chance Bateman, Cameron Bruce (retired); Jarrad Boumann (delisted); Stephen Gilham (Greater Western Sydney); Thomas Murphy (Gold Coast); Clinton Young (Collingwood); draft selections 22, 44, 65

Draft selections: 28, 65, 66, 84, 102

MELBOURNE

In: Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), Jack Viney (father-son), Dominic Barry (GWS NT zone selection), Chris Dawes (Collingwood), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Jesse Hogan (GWS trade incentive selection), draft selection 49

Out: Brad Green (retired); Kelvin Lawrence (delisted); Brent Moloney (Brisbane Lions); Jared Rivers (Geelong); draft selections 3, 14, 27 (committed to Viney), 48, 88

Draft selections: 4, 27, 49, 53, 70, 73, 77, 88, 106, 124

NORTH MELBOURNE

In: Jordan Gysberts (Melbourne), draft selections 42, 48, 63

Out: Hamish McIntosh (Geelong), Aaron Edwards (Richmond) Cameron Pedersen (Melbourne)

Draft selections: 15, 38, 42, 48, 58, 63, 78, 96, 114, 132

PORT ADELAIDE

In: Angus Monfries (Essendon), Jack Hombsch (GWS), Jake Neade (GWS NT zone selection), Lewis Stevenson (West Coast), Campbell Heath (Sydney Swans), draft selections 30, 31, 85

Out: Troy Chaplin (Richmond), Danyle Pearce (Fremantle), David Rodan (Melbourne); Mitch Banner, Simon Phillips, Steven Salopek, Jacob Surjan (delisted); Mitch Curnow, Jarrad Irons, Daniel Webb, (delisted rookies); draft selections 52, 29, 72, 88

Draft selections: 7, 30, 31, 85, 90, 108, 126.

RICHMOND

In: Troy Chaplin (Port Adelaide), Chris Knights (Adelaide), Aaron Edwards (North Melbourne), draft selection 43

Out: Angus Graham (Adelaide); Dean McDonald, Brad Miller, Kelvin Moore (retired); Andrew Browne, Jeromey Webberley, Dan Connors (delisted); Addam Maric, Piva Wright, Gibson Turner (delisted rookies); draft selection 50, 74

Draft selections: 9, 32, 34, 43, 92, 110, 128

ST KILDA

In: Tom Hickey (Gold Coast), Tom Lee (Claremont), Trent Dennis-Lane (Sydney Swans), draft selections 25, 26, 41, 44

Out: Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Jamie Cripps (West Coast); Sam Crocker, Brett Peake, Dean Polo (delisted); Daniel Archer (delisted rookie); draft selections 12, 37, 57

Draft selections: 25, 26, 41, 44, 77, 95, 113, 131

SYDNEY SWANS

In: Draft selections 47, 66, 72

Out: Jarred Moore, Mark Seaby (delisted); Eugene Kruger, Jack Lynch, Dylan McNeil (delisted rookies); Campbell Heath (Port Adelaide), Matt Spangher (Hawthorn), Trent Dennis-Lane (St Kilda); draft selections 72, 85

Draft selections: 23, 45, 47, 66, 67, 103, 121, 139

WEST COAST

In: Sharrod Wellingham (Collingwood), Jamie Cripps (St Kilda), Cale Morton (Melbourne), draft selections 46 and 62 

Out: Quinten Lynch (Collingwood), Koby Stevens (Western Bulldogs), Lewis Stevenson (Port Adelaide), draft selections 18, 41

Draft selections: 46, 61, 62, 81, 99

WESTERN BULLDOGS

In: Lachie Hunter (father-son), Koby Stevens (West Coast), draft selection 22

Out: Brian Lake (Hawthorn); Nathan Djerrkura, Lindsay Gilbee, Ryan Hargrave (retired); Tom Hill, Andrew Hooper, Brodie Moles, James Mulligan, Justin Sherman (delisted); draft selections 27, 44, 71

Draft selections: 5, 6 (GWS compensation for Callan Ward), 22, 50 (committed to Hunter), 51 (GWS compensation for Sam Reid), 89, 107 and 125

[Elwood 3184 1,301]

THE FAT CHRONICLES - CUT AND RUN by The Oracle

...

One player who interests me is Port Adelaide's Ben Jacobs who indicated during the exchange period that he wanted to return home to Victoria and nominated North Melbourne as his preferred club. The Kangaroos stuffed Melbourne around over the Pedersen deal for the better part of a fortnight trying to extract a better (and ultimately, non-existent) draft pick to secure Jacobs so it would be a touch ironical if he found his way to the Demons. The club could certainly do with another midfielder so one assumes they would be open to persuading him to come across via the pre season draft where only the two new franchises stand ahead of the Demons. This places the club in a good position to snare him if something could be worked out with his management.

Oracle, if only you ran the show at the MFC.

Getting Jacobs in the PSD would be a magnificent coup and would go a long way to offsetting the loss of high draft picks like Morton and Gysberts for peanuts.

Do you think the FD could pull something like that off?