THE FAT CHRONICLES - THE FAT SIDE

[Demonland 72,185]

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.

■ 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