THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2007: DAY TWO by the Oracle

A BUTTERFLY FLAPS ITS WINGS

The trade week continued to throw up surprises yesterday with Sydney premiership player Jude Bolton joining Travis Johnstone on the growing list of midfield talent whose names have come up for mention by the men who sit at AFL club negotiating tables.

The pair will always pale into insignificance however, when compared to the big midfield name of trade week whose status still remains up in the air. The Blues and the Eagles remained deadlocked overnight on Chris Judd although officials of both clubs are optimistic about their negotiations reaching a conclusion some time soon. Richmond is hovering in the background with an offer of draft picks number 2, 18 and 19 for the 24-year-old Brownlow Medallist but the Juddster remains committed to the Blues and it has been suggested that he would bypass the Tigers if he went into the Pre season Draft by putting in a demand for a first year salary of $2million. Will someone please tell me that it's not all about the money and that he's really leaving Perth for "family reasons"?

The first official deal was concluded yesterday with the Sydney Swans taking Adelaide running defender Martin Mattner in exchange for their second national draft pick, the 28th overall while the Western Bulldogs are closing in on two deals. Ben Hudson is headed to the Whitten Oval with Adelaide agreeing to accept an unspecified second-round pick for the ruckman. Whilst the Dogs have pick number 22 in the second round they are seeking to acquire a later pick in the round to pass on to the Crows. They are also set to snare Geelong's Tim Callan with their last pick.

A plethora of other trade deals were being bandied about yesterday. Among them were: -

• The Saints, who lead the list of clubs crying out for more ruck strength, were linked with former Geelong captain and premiership ruckman Steven King. The Cats are likely to get pick number 26 in exchange. This would also ensure that Mark Blake remains with Geelong.

• Meanwhile Collingwood is pursuing Brisbane Lion ruckman Cameron Wood and are prepared to offer their first-round selection, pick number 14.

• If that deal is done, Travis Johnstone could leave Melbourne for northern climes with the Lions on-trading their newly acquired selection to the Demons. Johnstone is due back from Bangkok today to discuss his future with manager Alex McDonald. It could well be that he will remember his 42 possession game against the Blues in round 22 as his last in the red and blue.

• Hawthorn is desperate for a key defender and has rekindled its interest in Carlton's Bret Thornton who, at one stage last year, committed himself to join the Hawks.

• The name of Brisbane Lions' small man, Rhan Hooper emerged on the trade scene after the Tigers showed interest.

• Amon Buchanan and Adam Schneider joined Jude Bolton on the Harbour City "for sale" list.

• Kepler Bradley could be headed home with a place at Fremantle on offer.

The number of names being named is mind-boggling but we know that many mooted trades will fizzle out and die by the end of the week. The main interest remains on the high profile Judd Saga but there are other trades which have a much lower profile and yet could end up having far reaching consequences going far beyond the apparent importance of the concluded trade.

One example of this could be West Coast's possible trading of out-of-contract forward Mitch Morton to Richmond in a deal that could involve the clubs in exchanging their second round draft picks.

Morton's brother Cale is a highly rated utility who won the Larke medal as the best and fairest player in Division One in this year's Under 18 National Championships. The 192 cm Morton, who has been likened to retiring Bomber James Hird, is a long kicking, one touch playmaker who would most likely be targeted to join his brother at Tigerland via the second pick overall in the national draft.

This would leave the Eagles in a bit of a quandary. Assuming the Blues retain their number one pick and go according to the book by selecting Northern Knights ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, the next best available player would arguably be another Knight in brilliant midfield prospect Trent Cotchin.

Cotchin is all class and matches his great skills with pace to burn. Unfortunately, his form at the national carnival was ordinary as he laboured under heavy tagging tactics and, just when things were looking up again, he broke a foot during the Nab Cup Under 18 finals series.

Such things would not of themselves normally diminish his status as a desirable early draft selection but if the Eagles snare pick number 3 in the Judd trade, then they face a dilemma. The problem will be whether they should take Cotchin (who may not be all that keen to travel west) as the best player available or should they overlook him in favour of the home grown talented bunch of young Sandgropers who played a major role in WA's brilliant showing in the NAB AFL Under-18 championships this year when it won the division one title in devastating fashion.

A total of eight West Australians were rewarded with All Australian representation from the carnival including Morton, Chris Masten, Rhys Palmer, Patrick McGinnity, David Myers, Alex Rance, Daniel Rich and Nicholas Naitanui. The two latter players are ineligible because of their age but the others are all potential first round selections at this year's national draft and any one of Masten, Palmer and Rance could finish in the top five.

The Eagles have been sadly disappointed by the defection of their skipper in Judd and they might be reluctant to travel down the same path with a reluctant Cotchin particularly if they take a liking to a Masten or a Palmer. That could see Cotchin falling to pick four in the draft allowing the Demons to reap a very handy bonus because they would surely pick him without much hesitation. That possibility is not a strong one but the situation highlights the fact that there are many facets to the trade week activities and that not all of them are manifested directly in the trades themselves.

What was that about butterflies flapping their wings somewhere above the Amazon River?

A very thought provoking look at how the trades and drafts tie in with each other. I like the sound of Cotchin. Is he the player whose father was upset about him going to WA and getting involved in the Eagles culture?

If nothing else but as an armchair spectacle this year is far and away more interesting than many before. As usual the actual amount of trades wil be but a fraction of those mooted but there are many more "possibilities' this year.

I wonder if this cant be a sign of frustration by a number of clubs regarding either the general success of the club involved or the lack of prgress exhibited by some and certain players.

I suppose by the very nature of trading there has to be a number of teams wiling to participate. Quite curious that it seemed as though some teams were neither comitted to ,nor reticent to trade but took the opportunity to jump in once a couple of key players announced intentions. How Melboure ends up in the wash after all this is still conjecture. Meeson seems the only deal likely to date but as usual I expect much to come down to the wire as the mad "2 oclock" scramble comes on Friday!!!

If nothing else a loud and succint message is being blasted through the sleepy hollow of Junction Oval, 2008 will be different !!

The Eagles have been sadly disappointed by the defection of their skipper in Judd and they might be reluctant to travel down the same path with a reluctant Cotchin particularly if they take a liking to a Masten or a Palmer. That could see Cotchin falling to pick four in the draft allowing the Demons to reap a very handy bonus because they would surely pick him without much hesitation. That possibility is not a strong one but the situation highlights the fact that there are many facets to the trade week activities and that not all of them are manifested directly in the trades themselves.

What was that about butterflies flapping their wings somewhere above the Amazon River?

This Cotchin's an interesting character. Watch him cop a spray from his coach here!

This Cotchin's an interesting character. Watch him cop a spray from his coach here!

So some journalist stuck a microphone in his face and asked him where he might get drafted. He's aware he's a top 5 prospect and responds with humility by suggesting that he's not sure and then cops a public blast from his coach whilst being filmed by foxsports. I think his coach was enjoying his 15 minutes. Cotchin took it well - good on him!

So some journalist stuck a microphone in his face and asked him where he might get drafted. He's aware he's a top 5 prospect and responds with humility by suggesting that he's not sure and then cops a public blast from his coach whilst being filmed by foxsports. I think his coach was enjoying his 15 minutes. Cotchin took it well - good on him!

Dickson doesn't seem very bright.

In one breath he's telling them they're playing for Victoria.

In the next breath he says everyone watching doesn't care if they win or lose, just how they perform individually.

Maybe I missed his point ...

Dickson doesn't seem very bright.

In one breath he's telling them they're playing for Victoria.

In the next breath he says everyone watching doesn't care if they win or lose, just how they perform individually.

Maybe I missed his point ...

Knew the cameras were on him so he decided to show the world that he's a fxxxwit strong disciplinarian.

Knew the cameras were on him so he decided to show the world that he's a fxxxwit strong disciplinarian.

Looks that way. His approach clearly didn't work this year - they were very disappointing.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...2-2722,00.html

Chris Judd i hope ur groin rips to shredds!

Not yet.....

http://sportal.com.au/default.aspx/AFL-new...l-pending-37066

I'll just preface this by saying I saw this on bigfooty...

Now that I have lost 90% of you, there is a Carlton supporter over at Bigfooty who reckons Carlton are almost resigned to the Juda$ deal NOT happening. That means he is likely to wind up in the Pre-Season Draft. The same bloke believes Richmond are a massive shot at getting him, and are quite likely to trade away a big name player to ensure they can match Juda$' asking price even if it is as high as $2m.

Naturally this is off big footy and it is just as likely to be garbage, but this IS from a Carlton supporter. I guess we'll have a better idea if this has any substance by the end of the week, and before you say "Duh", not just if no deal is done for Juda$, but if Richmond do indeed choose to jettison a big player.

If it happens, this will be absolutely priceless. The only possible downside for us is that it pretty much eliminates any chance we have of snaring Trent Cotchin in the draft, but there was little to no chance of that anyway.

Now that I have lost 90% of you, there is a Carlton supporter over at Bigfooty who reckons Carlton are almost resigned to the Juda$ deal NOT happening. That means he is likely to wind up in the Pre-Season Draft. The same bloke believes Richmond are a massive shot at getting him, and are quite likely to trade away a big name player to ensure they can match Juda$' asking price even if it is as high as $2m.

For what it's worth.......

Tigers' Judd ambush

Naturally this is off big footy and it is just as likely to be garbage, but this IS from a Carlton supporter.

Supporters don't know anything.

Supporters don't know anything.

Haha yes thanks Rogue, I did preface it by saying it was from bigfooty, so of course you take it with some salt.

Haha yes thanks Rogue, I did preface it by saying it was from bigfooty, so of course you take it with some salt.

I understand that, but I just think that mentioning that the guy is a Carlton fan, and reiterating that fact, doesn't give the rumour any more credibility. That was my point.

Oh, and a friendly swipe at myself and everyone else that posts on here