THE TRADING CHRONICLES by The Oracle

Part 1

The free agency period opened at 9:00am on Friday morning and will run through the week and finish at the end of the coming weekend.

The first free agency move on day one was Demons premiership player James Jordon who transferred to the Swans with Melbourne getting an end of second round pick (currently number 39) as compensation. He was eligible for free agency because he was delisted and then re-rookied at the end of 2020.

Jordon played 65 games for the club and was an unused substitute in the 2021 premiership victory. The 22-year-old struggled to secure a spot in the Melbourne side in the latter stages of the 2023 season despite some strong form at Casey. He replaced the injured Angus Brayshaw in the semi-final loss to Carlton. He chose to move to further his opportunities in the midfield.

The second free agency move is GWS Giant ruckman Matthew Flynn who travels across the continent to join the West Coast Eagles in return for a compensation pick, currently number 40. The Swans also gained Fremantle’s Joel Hambling with compensation yet to be confirmed.

The list of free agents is not particularly exciting although the Bombers are expected to feature heavily as they have commitments from North Melbourne defender Ben McKay and ruckman Todd Goldstein and are mentioned as a likely suitor for Saint Jade Gresham. The talk in trade circles is that given the inability of clubs to deal with former Essendon recruiting boss Adrian Dodoro in the past, it was probably best that the club does its business through free agency where the league decides on the formula, rather than the parties.  

The full list of remaining 2023 AFL free agents

Adelaide - Tom Doedee **
Brisbane - Rhys Mathieson * Dayne Zorko
Collingwood - Cooper Murley *
Essendon Will Snelling *
Geelong - Tom Hawkins Rhys Stanley
Gold Coast - Levi Casboult * Sam Day Jake Stein *
GWS Giants - Lachlan Keeffe *
Hawthorn - Fergus Greene *
Melbourne - Jake Melksham
North Melbourne - Todd Goldstein Ben McKay ** Kayne Turner *
Port Adelaide - Scott Lycett ^
Richmond - Bigoa Nyuon *
St Kilda - Tom Campbell * Jade Gresham ** Daniel McKenzie Liam Stocker * Jimmy Webster
West Coast - Zane Trew *
Western Bulldogs - Taylor Duryea ^ Toby McLean Roarke Smith *

* Previously delisted
** Restricted free agent
^ Previously a free agent

The trade period starts today.

Update: 13 October 2023

The following players changed teams as a result of Free Agency over the past week:

• James Jordon (Melbourne to Sydney Swans)

• Matthew Flynn (GWS Giants to West Coast Eagles)

• Joel Hamling (Fremantle to Sydney Swans)

• Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne to Essendon)

• Tom Doedee (Adelaide Crows to
Brisbane Lions)

• Ben McKay (North Melbourne to
Essendon)

• Jade Gresham (St Kilda to Essendon)

• Toby Pink (delisted free agent)

Thanks for that

So all trading posts come on here from today?

 

THE TRADING CHRONICLES by The Oracle

Part 2

The AFL’s free agency and trading period came to an abrupt end yesterday with the usual fast and furious circus frenzy of activity. In the end, a number of players and draft picks had changed hands over a little more than a week and a half of horse trading that involved the usual huff, bluff, some recriminations and even the odd whiff of scandal if the social media could be believed. 

Clubs were claiming victory of sorts and no doubt, the pundits will be declaring the winners and losers as early as this morning.

However, in reality, we won’t know until several months (and probably years) hence as to who succeeded in their aims, who did well and who failed as a result of the process … as they say, “the proof is in the pudding is in the eating”. The value of its quality will be judged on the direct experience the clubs achieve from their input into the process — or, put simply, on its results.

The best and most immediate example of this assertion is with Collingwood, which last year added four players onto its list as a result of free agency and trades — Billy Frampton, Bobby Hill, Dan McStay and Tom Mitchell. Three of the four players were members of the 2023 premiership team with free agent McStay missing out due to a knee injury. Another recruit in Oleg Markov was also in that team after gaining a list place in the Supplemental Selection Period.

None of the new names engendered real excitement twelve months ago but, on the last day in September, Hill and Mitchell were considered in their team’s best half dozen players. Their other new teammates will forever be known as part of a celebrated premiership. The Magpies’ other trades involved the departures of All-Australian Brodie Grundy to Melbourne and another handy player in Oliver Henry who joined his brother at Geelong.

So we look at what happened with each of the 18 AFL clubs in the 2023 AFL Free Agency and Trade period …

Adelaide 

Received: Chris Burgess, pick 14, end of first-round (for Tom Doedee), future second (tied to Melbourne)

Gave: Shane McAdam, Pick 23, Pick 26

Brisbane Lions 

Received: Tom Doedee, Brandon Ryan, Pick 39, Pick 54, future fourth (tied to Hawthorn)

Gave: Tom Fullarton, Jack Gunston, future second (tied to Brisbane), Pick 61

Carlton

Received: Elijah Hollands, Pick 21, future fourth (tied to St Kilda), future fourth (tied to Bulldogs)

Gave: Zac Fisher, Paddy Dow, Pick 17, future third (tied to Carlton), future fourth (tied to Carlton)

Collingwood 

Received: Lachie Schultz, Pick 33, future second, future third (both tied to Hawthorn)

Gave: Jack Ginnivan, Taylor Adams, future first (tied to Collingwood), Pick 39, future second, future fourth (both tied to Collingwood)

Essendon

Received: Ben McKay, Todd Goldstein, Jade Gresham, Xavier Duursma, Pick 35

Gave: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Pick 52, future third (tied to Essendon), future fourth (tied to Essendon), Pick 73

Fremantle 

Received: Future first (tied to Port Adelaide), future first (tied to Collingwood, future second, future fourth (both tied to St Kilda)

Gave: Lachie Schultz, Liam Henry, Pick 23, future second (tied to Fremantle), future fourth (tied to Fremantle)

Geelong

Received: Pick 25, Pick 76, Pick 94

Gave: Esava Ratugolea

Gold Coast Suns

Received: Future first (tied to Bulldogs), future end of first (NM special assistance), Pick 23, Pick 26, Pick 28, Pick 35, future second (tied to Brisbane), future third (tied to Essendon)

Gave: Mabior Chol, Elijah Hollands, Chris Burgess, Pick 4, Pick 46, Pick 51, future fourth (tied to Gold Coast)

GWS Giants 

Received: End of second round pick 

Gave: Matt Flynn

Hawthorn 

Received: Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston, Jack Ginnivan, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Pick 47, Pick 49, future second, Pick 44, Pick 62, Pick 63

Gave: Jacob Koschitzke, Tyler Brockman, Brandon Ryan, Pick 33, pick 54, future second future third, future fourth (all tied to Hawthorn)

Melbourne 

Received: Jack Billings, Shane McAdam, Tom Fullarton, Pick 11, end of second (for James Jordon), future third (tied to Bulldogs)

Gave: James Harmes, Pick 14, Pick 27, future second (tied to Melbourne) Pick 35, Pick 47, future third (tied to Melbourne)

North Melbourne 

Received: Zac Fisher, Dylan Stephens, Bigoa Nyuon, Toby Pink, first round (for Ben McKay), Pick 17, Pick 18

Gave: Two future end of first, Pick 21, Pick 65

Port Adelaide 

Received: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, Jordan Sweet, Pick 73, two future fourths (tied to Essendon and Carlton)

Gave: Xavier Duursma, Future first (tied to Port Adelaide), Pick 41, Pick 49, future fourth (tied to Port Adelaide), Pick 76, Pick 94

Richmond 

Received: Jacob Koschitzke, Pick 41, future second (tied to Fremantle), future fourth (tied to Port Adelaide)

Gave: Ivan Soldo, Bigoa Nyuon, Pick 50

St Kilda 

Received: Liam Henry, Paddy Dow, end of first (for Jade Gresham), future third (tied to Carlton), Pick 40, future third (tied to Melbourne)

Gave: Jack Billings, Nick Coffield, Future second, future fourth (both tied to St Kilda), Pick 35, Pick 56

Sydney Swans 

Received: Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy, James Jordon, Joel Hamling, end of first (NM special assistance)

Gave: Pick 25, Pick 33, future second (tied to Sydney), pick 46

West Coast Eagles 

Received: Matt Flynn, Tyler Brockman

Gave: Pick 44, Pick 63

Western Bulldogs 

Received: James Harmes, Nick Coffield, Pick 5, Pick 46, Pick 50, Pick 51, Pick 52, Pick 56

Gave: Jordon Sweet, Pick 10, Pick 17, future first (tied to Bulldogs), Pick 40, future third, future fourth (both tied to Bulldogs)

I know I’ve been in full cliche mode today but I don’t hesitate to say everything is all in the eyes of the beholder. Just as there was nothing in Collingwood’s 2023 that screamed brilliance about its recruiting, we simply don’t know how things will pan out for the clubs in 2024. A few were barely involved in the nitty gritty while a few were busy … we’ll see how the season unfolds and, of course, with more opportunities to recruit and the draft to come, there’s lots more water to flow under the bridge.

From Melbourne’s perspective, the three players taken collectively played very little football in 2023 but who knows how they will fare in 2024? 

Players who remain uncontracted -

Adelaide James Borlase 
Brisbane Lions Blake Coleman, Rhys Mathieson, Darryl McDowell-White, Carter Michael, Dayne Zorko
Carlton Nil
Collingwood Aiden Begg, Josh Carmichael, Will Kelly, Nathan Kreuger
Essendon Jaiden Hunter, Will Snelling, Patrick Voss
Fremantle Nil
Geelong Mitch Hardie, Flynn Kroeger, Oscar Murdoch
Gold Coast Suns Sandy Brock, Levi Casboult, Sam Day, Oskar Faulkhead, Hewego Paul Oea, Alex Sexton, Jeremy Sharp, Jake Stein, James Tsitas, Bodhi Uwland
GWS Giants Cooper Hamilton, Lachlan Keeffe, Callan Ward
Hawthorn Lachie Bramble, Fergus Greene, Ned Long
Melbourne  Jake Melksham Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Kye Turner 
North Melbourne Aiden Bonar, Jack Mahony, Kayne Turner
Port Adelaide Orazio Fantasia, Sam Hayes, Scott Lycett
Richmond Mate Colina
St Kilda Tom Campbell, Thomas Highmore, Daniel McKenzie
Sydney Swans Jaiden Magor, Sam Reid, Sam Wicks
West Coast Jordyn Baker, Tyrell Dewar, Zane Trew
Western Bulldogs Dominic Bedendo, Hayden Crozier, Taylor Duryea, Lachlan McNeil, Roarke Smith