THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2013 - TRUTH, LIES AND THE WHOLE DAMNED THING by The Oracle

THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2013 by The Oracle

TRUTH, LIES AND THE WHOLE DAMNED THING

They say that the first language of the AFL is the telling of lies and the opening days of the 2013 trade period added currency to that perception. If we believed all of the rumours that were being spread about the place over the past few days, then most AFL clubs would be virtually unrecognisable by the time of next year's opening bounce.

We heard on Tuesday morning that Greater Western Sydney has launched a bold $4 million play for disgruntled Collingwood defender Heath Shaw. The immediate thought that came to my mind was that the Giants must have plenty of money to throw around if a player of Shaw's ilk was being offered anything like that sort of money to move to Sydney. But then I started wondering who's money are we talking about?

After all, this is a fledgling club that can barely attract a crowd of six or seven thousand to that quaint Skoda Stadium out in the sticks of western Sydney where the game is about the third or fourth most popular ball sport and, despite the team's name, it's dwarfed by the local soccer team which has a far greater following and is also quite good at the game.

It was at about this time that I remembered that this crowd is being financed by the AFL which grudgingly doles out money to a number of other clubs (including Melbourne) but the amount must be nothing that comes near to matching these Hare Krishna impersonators from the outer reaches of the city of sin.

Later in the day, GWS denied it had offered the amount quoted but confirmed they're very much interested so who's going to quibble about a couple of hundred thou either way. Shaw is off to GWS and likely oblivion and if that happens, Taylor Adams will most likely be a Pie sooner or later.

In the meantime, the AFL has confirmed that the Buddy Franklin deal is kosher, the Hawks have passed on matching a deal they cannot possibly match and are shameless about the fact that they're content to take a first round draft pick allowed under the rules which they so vehemently denied the Demons under a different rule but that's the business of AFL.

So here we are watching the grass grow under the feet of most club recruiters while at Melbourne, which boned one of its own yesterday, there's even less happening. These days Demonland is not the preferred location of most football stars. It's more like the deepest of slums in one of the third world's poorest cities compared to the bright lights of Hollywood. Which means that of the dozens of names bandied about as possible swaps for the Demons' perhaps not so coveted pick 2, none have put up their hands to date. In fact, they're rushing to deny the truth of it all.

Done Deals

Lance Franklin (Hawthorn FA) to sign a long term contract worth about $10 million over nine years to join the Swans.

Dale Thomas (Collingwood FA) joins the exodus from the Pies and is off to Carlton on a four-year deal that will earn him close to $700,000 a season. A clairvoyant with close connections to Mick Malthouse tipped this months ago so it's no surprise at all.

Eddie Betts (Carlton FA) goes to the Crows on a four-year offer worth about $2m.

Colin Sylvia (Melbourne FA) lured by Ross Lyon on a guarantee of playing in a losing grand final team at least once in the next three years.

Shane Mumford, the Sydney ruckman has accepted a three-year deal with Giants.

Matt White (Richmond FA) joins Port Adelaide on a three-year deal.

Shaun Hampson (Richmond) The back-up Carlton ruckman who struggled to get away from Megan Gale on match days was the first trade, going to Punt Road in exchange for the Tigers' second round pick, No.28 overall.

To be continued