THE TRADING CHRONICLES by Whispering Jack

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THE TRADING CHRONICLES by Whispering Jack Part 2: Watching grass grow 

Critics of test cricket (and I’m not one of them) will often claim the sport is excruciatingly boring: that following a five day match is much like watching grass grow. However, the longest form of that game has nothing on the first week of the AFL trade period when it comes to inducing sleep among those in the football public who follows this process in its somnolent moments. The week gone by has been no exception.

Only two player trades have been completed so far and Melbourne was involved in the first when it traded Alex Neal-Bullen who had just finished third in a close finish for the club’s best and fairest, to Adelaide for a second round draft pick which is currently selection 28. By the time the draft comes around in November, this pick will most likely be in the low thirties. The Demons could well have played hard ball and allowed the trade to linger into next week and possibly gained an extra morsel in the bargain but this was a matter of integrity, a reward to a long term warrior for the club who was an integral part in its only premiership for more than half a century. 

In the other player trade, West Coast’s 32-year-old veteran Jack Darling was exchanged to North Melbourne for their pick 67. The rest of the player on the trade merry go round were left to wait until the last 2½ trading. 

Meanwhile, one remaining free agent, Richmond’s Jack Graham found a new home with West Coast on Tuesday. The Tigers received band four compensation, currently pick 42.

After that, the grass grew for another two days and, on Friday, the focus shifted from trading players to trading draft picks. 

The Brisbane Lions who have two players in their draft sights, moved to shore up their ability to secure them. 

The players are father/son midfield star Levi Ashcroft, son of Marcus and brother of the Lions’ premiership player Will and Brisbane NGA Academy member Sam Marshall. To this end, the Lions were involved in two trades. 

In the first, they acquired picks 34 and 66 and gave Carlton pick 73 and a future second round pick, the significance of which became apparent later in the day. In the second, the Lions received picks 32, 42, 43 and 45 and gave the Tigers pick 20. Hence, Brisbane picked up a swag of additional points to get the two quality youngsters who are both likely first rounders. Richmond’s draft hand is expected to grow with further trades next week.

The trade period was then shaken into life when Carlton grabbed pick 14 from Hawthorn in return for their future first and second round picks. The Blues were permitted to trade both picks because they still had a future second rounder from that earlier trade with the Lions. 

The pick swaps have set up an expected deluge as the tempo of trading lifts next week. 

Some clubs will be on the lookout for draft selections given that this year's draft pool is very even at the pointy end where there is no standout but up to about ten players who could lay claim to be first choice. 

Other clubs will be on the lookout for seasoned players with Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston looking to find a new home in Melbourne and clubs scrambling to get Liam Baker, Tom Barrass, Shai Bolton and a number of others seeking to find new homes.

THE TRADES SO FAR

Monday 7 October 

Melbourne’s Alex Neal-Bullen to Adelaide for pick 28

West Coast’s Jack Darling to North Melbourne for pick 67 (now 68)

Friday 11 October 

Brisbane Lions’ pick 20 to Richmond for picks 32, 42, 43, 45
Carlton’s picks 34 and 66 to Brisbane Lions for picks 73 and 2025 R2
Carlton’s 2025 R1 and 2025 R2 to Hawthorn for pick 14.

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Josh Battle (St Kilda) to Hawthorn
Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide) to Gold Coast
Harry Perryman (GWS Giants) to Collingwood
Tom Campbell (St Kilda) to Melbourne
Nick Haynes (GWS Giants) to Carlton
Isaac Cumming (GWS Giants) to Adelaide
Jack Graham (Richmond) to West Coast