THE TRADING CHRONICLES 2007: DAY FIVE by The Oracle

MUCH ADO ABOUT "WHAT"?

Adelaide Advertiser, columnist Michelangelo Rucci summed up trade week by writing yesterday that the week is "about false hope" and that leaving aside Chris Judd's move to Carlton, it has been "much ado about nothing."

Rucci maintains that despite the enormous amount of the public attention on AFL players during the week, it is essentially a period that brings forward only three themes encompassing players. They have either -

(1) "lost currency at their clubs get to find more opportunities elsewhere" – e.g the move of Melbourne’s Travis Johnstone to Brisbane,

(2) "lost patience at their clubs - usually with the coach" and move on e.g Adelaide’s Ben Hudson to the Western Bulldogs, or

(3) "annoyed their coaches" and are moved on – e.g. Brad Moran from the Kangaroos to Adelaide.

He concluded that the reason why the week is one of unfulfilled expectation is that no trade, not even the move of a Brownlow Medallist and the game's number one player will tip a club from contender to premier. The trade week simply does not work that way in practice.

When the clock struck the hour of two in the afternoon yesterday, the feeling was generally one of anti-climax as supporters of the various AFL clubs sat down to assess how their teams had fared over the AFL Trade Week. I suspect that the overwhelming majority would agree with Rucci's assessment that the week was much ado about nothing.

Certainly, the supporters of three clubs – Essendon, Fremantle and Hawthorn would feel that way because their clubs ended the week completing no trades. A number of others managed to engage in what you might describe as "low level" trading involving players with lesser profiles and their fans might also be feeling empty handed now that the dust has settled.

However, Rucci's "false hope" scenario can't yet be seen to apply to the likes of Carlton, a club that clearly achieved its main objectives over the exchange period. The Blues netted Judd, retained the top selection in the National Draft, snared premiership midfielder Richard Hadley (admittedly now an AFL "lesser light") from Brisbane and still retain the leverage and power of pick 2 in the Pre season Draft which promises the possibility of attaining a handy uncontracted player in December. There's plenty of hope there as long as the golden groin stands up!

Paradoxically, the hopes and aspirations of West Coast Eagle fans should also be flying high right now. Although they have lost their brilliant skipper, they will go into 2008 with four of the best 22 young players in the land courtesy of National Draft picks numbered 3, 13, 20 and 22 together with a player who might just fill the bill in their desperate search for a much needed key forward in Josh Kennedy. Deep in the gloom created by the loss of Judd, the drug and crime related scandals and the death of a club icon, these prospects also fill the WA club with renewed hope for the future.

St. Kilda fans would also be brim full of hope for 2008 because their club gained four players - Adam Schneider and Sean Dempster from Sydney and Charlie Gardiner and 2007 premiership player Steven King from Geelong – for peanuts thanks mainly to salary cap concerns at their old clubs. The Saints have milked the system well!

Even Sydney coach Paul Roos came out and stated that "his club achieved all of its trade week goals". That's one that I simply can't work out but then again, Roos is a successful premiership coach so who am I to argue with that? Roos did however make the most profound comment about the exchange period and the system in general when he described Carlton's reward at trade week (Chris Judd and the keeping of the number 1 draft pick) after losing its last 11 games of the season as the "ugly side of football we don't need". Amen to that!

Which brings me to Melbournefc. There was a lot said and written about its aims for trade week. A lot of names have been bandied about but the reality is that at week's end, the only new face at the club is a young ruckman who once was a first round draft selection but has spent three years in the wilderness at Adelaide which he represented only twice in AFL company. John Meesen joins the trio of Jeff White, Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson to augment the club's ruck strength but will have a battle on his hands to break into the ranks. On the other hand, the Demons have lost a former best and fairest winner who was the number 1 draft pick when he arrived. Many will feel entitled to ask, where's the hope there?

That question is not an easy one to answer other than to say the expectations can only be fulfilled in the future. We all need to take deep breaths, sit back and see what the many changes at the cub will bring over the coming months and years. The club is pinning its faith on its as yet undeveloped cluster of promising players in the under 23 age group. We all know who they are, we all know that they are full of potential and we all know that "potential" is a dirty word at a club where so much potential has gone unfulfilled for so long. But that's where the hope lies at the Melbournefc – in the very fact that change is taking place.

The complete list of trades during this week's official AFL exchange period:

ADELAIDE

Gains

Brad Moran from the Kangaroos

Brad Symes from Port Adelaide

Round Two Selection (NDP 30) from West Coast, via Western Bulldogs on-trade

Round Three Selection (NDP 38) from the Western Bulldogs

Round Two Selection (NDP 28) from Sydney, then on-traded to Port Adelaide

Round Three Selection (NDP 37) from Melbourne, then on-traded to the Kangaroos

Losses

Martin Mattner to Sydney

John Meesen to Melbourne

Ben Hudson to the Western Bulldogs

Round Two On-Traded Selection (NDP 28) from Sydney to Port Adelaide

Round Three On-Traded Selection (NDP 37) from Melbourne to the Kangaroos

Round Three Selection (NDP 43) to the Western Bulldogs

Draft Picks 10, 27, 30, 38, 59, 75, 91 (ND) 9, 25 (PSD)

BRISBANE LIONS

Gains

Travis Johnstone from Melbourne

Round Four Selection (NDP 52) from Carlton

Round One Selection (NDP 14) from Collingwood, then on-traded to Melbourne

Losses

Cameron Wood to Collingwood

Richard Hadley to Carlton

Round One On-traded Selection (NDP 14) from Collingwood, to Melbourne

Draft Picks 8, 25, 41, 52, 57, 73, 89 (ND) 7 , 23 (PSD)

CARLTON

Gains

Chris Judd from West Coast

Richard Hadley from the Brisbane Lions

Round Three Selection (NDP 46) from West Coast

Losses

Josh Kennedy to West Coast

Round One Selection (NDP three) to West Coast

Round Two Selection (NDP 20) to West Coast

Round Four Selection (NDP 52) to the Brisbane Lions

Draft Picks 1, 36, 46, 68, 84 (ND) 2, 18 (PSD)

COLLINGWOOD

Gains

Cameron Wood from the Brisbane Lions

Round Six Selection (NDP 96) from the Kangaroos

Losses

Ben Davies to the Kangaroos

Round One Selection (NDP 14) to Melbourne, via Brisbane Lions on-trade

Draft Picks 31, 47, 63, 79, 95, 96 (ND) 13, 29 (PSD)

ESSENDON

Gains

Nil

Losses

Nil

Draft Picks 6 23, 39, 55, 71, 87 (ND) 5, 21 (PSD)

FREMANTLE

Gains

Nil

Losses

Nil

Draft Picks 7, 24, 40, 56, 72, 88 (ND) 6 , 22 (PSD)

GEELONG

Gains

Round Three Selection (NDP 44) from Sydney

Round Four Selection (NDP 62) from West Coast, via Western Bulldogs on-trade

Round Six Selection (NDP 90) from St Kilda

Losses

Henry Playfair to Sydney

Steven King to St Kilda

Charlie Gardiner to St Kilda

Tim Callan to Western Bulldogs

Draft Picks 17, 34, 44, 50, 62, 82, 90, 98 (ND) 16, 32 (PSD)

HAWTHORN

Gains

Nil

Losses

Nil

Draft Picks 12, 29, 45, 61, 77, 93 (ND) 11, 27 (PSD)

KANGAROOS

Gains

Ben Davies from Collingwood

Sam Power from the Western Bulldogs

Round Three Selection (NDP 37) from Melbourne, via Adelaide on-trade

Losses

Brad Moran to Adelaide

Round Three Selection (NDP 48) to the Western Bulldogs

Round Six Selection (NDP 96) to Collingwood

Draft Picks 15, 32, 37, 48, 64, 80 (ND) 14, 30 (PSD)

MELBOURNE

Gains

John Meesen from Adelaide

Round One Selection (NDP 14) from Collingwood, via Brisbane Lions on-trade

Losses

Travis Johnstone to the Brisbane Lions

Round Three Selection (NDP 37) to the Kangaroos, via Adelaide on-trade

Draft Picks 4, 14, 21, 53, 69, 85 (ND) 3, 19 (PSD)

PORT ADELAIDE

Gains

Round Three Selection (NDP 28) from Sydney, via Adelaide on-trade

Losses

Brad Symes to Adelaide

Draft Picks 16, 28, 33, 49, 65, 81, 97 (ND) 15, 31 (PSD)

RICHMOND

Gains

Jordan McMahon from the Western Bulldogs

Mitch Morton from West Coast

Losses

Round Two Selection (NDP 19) to the Western Bulldogs

Round Three Selection (NDP 35) to Western Bulldogs, via West Coast on-trade

Draft Picks 2, 18, 51, 67, 83 (ND) 1, 17 (PSD)

ST KILDA

Gains

Sean Dempster from Sydney

Adam Schneider from Sydney

Steven King from Geelong

Charlie Gardiner from Geelong

Losses

Round Two Selection (NDP 26) to Sydney

Round Six Selection (NDP 90) to Geelong

Draft Picks 9, 42, 58, 74 (ND) 8, 24 (PSD)

SYDNEY

Gains

Martin Mattner from Adelaide

Henry Playfair from Geelong

Round Two Selection (NDP 26) from St Kilda

Losses

Sean Dempster to St Kilda

Adam Schneider to St Kilda

Round Two Selection (NDP 28) to Port Adelaide, via Adelaide on-trade

Round Three Selection (NDP 44) to Geelong

Draft Picks 11, 26, 60, 76, 92 (ND) 10, 26 (PSD)

WEST COAST

Gains

Josh Kennedy from Carlton

Round One Selection (NDP three) from Carlton

Round Two Selection (NDP 20) from Carlton

Round Two Selection (NDP 22) from Western Bulldogs

Round Four Selection (NDP 54) from Western Bulldogs

Round Three Selection (NDP 35) from Richmond, then on-traded to Western Bulldogs

Losses

Chris Judd to Carlton

Mitch Morton to Richmond

Round Two Selection (NDP 30) to Adelaide, via Western Bulldogs on-trade

Round Three Selection (NDP 35) from Richmond, to Western Bulldogs

Round Three Selection (NDP 46) to Carlton

Round Four Selection (NDP 62) to Geelong, via Western Bulldogs on-trade

Draft Picks 3, 13, 20, 22, 54, 62, 78, 94 (ND) 12, 28 (PSD)

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Gains

Ben Hudson from Adelaide

Tim Callan from Geelong

Round Two Selection (NDP 19) from Richmond

Round Three Selection (NDP 35) from Richmond, via West Coast on-trade

Round Three Selection (NDP 43) from Adelaide

Round Three Selection (NDP 48) from the Kangaroos

Round Four Selection (NDP 66) from Geelong

Round Two Selection (NDP 30) from West Coast, then on-traded to Adelaide

Round Four Selection (NDP 62) from West Coast, then on-traded to Geelong

Losses

Jordan McMahon to Richmond

Sam Power to the Kangaroos

Round Two Selection (NDP 22) to West Coast

Round Two Selection (NDP 30) from West Coast, to Adelaide

Round Three Selection (NDP 38) to Adelaide

Round Four Selection (NDP 54) to West Coast

Round Four Selection (NDP 62) from West Coast, to Geelong

Draft Picks 5, 19, 38, 43, 48, 66, 70, 86 (ND) 4, 20 (PSD)

John Meesen joins the trio of Jeff White, Mark Jamar and Paul Johnson to augment the club's ruck strength but will have a battle on his hands to break into the ranks.

I'm guessing not all 4 of these players will take the field on the same day, and since Jeff White is going nowhere and John Meesen is new to the club, what are the chances of either Jamar or Johnson being delisted? Are they both contracted?

I like having 4.

If one goes down injured, we still have two second ruckman keeping pressure on each other to perform.

And we're Melbourne, so you know one of them IS going to go down injured . . .

Bailey has created an environment for feirce competition so at least the guys will have to earn their spot. I suspect that by the end of next year that not all of them will survive.

Johnson is more of a all round ruck / folower type who can be very handy in the front 50 m.. He's not a true ruck. we really have like 3 and 1/2

Johnson is more of a all round ruck / folower type who can be very handy in the front 50 m.. He's not a true ruck. we really have like 3 and 1/2

Johnson has more skill and class in his little toe than Jamar has in his own body.

Riley should have never dropped him.

I have no idea what Meeson is like and so as it stands my two preferred options are White and Johnson.

Johnson has more skill and class in his little toe than Jamar has in his own body.

Im ver inclined to agree. Watching some of his Sandy games he is vastly more verstaile than seeming alowed to work in his time in red and blue. I dont think either Neale or Riley used him to good effect. I at least like the idea of trialling him at CHF. ( at least he leads the right way!! )

i can see white retiring at the end of next year with pj and meesen being our ruck partnership. remember pj was an all australian under 18 ruckman

I could see a role for Pj as second up ruck. Like to see him rested on field up near sharp end rather that taken off all the time as is way of current rotations

Im ver inclined to agree. Watching some of his Sandy games he is vastly more verstaile than seeming alowed to work in his time in red and blue. I dont think either Neale or Riley used him to good effect. I at least like the idea of trialling him at CHF. ( at least he leads the right way!! )

The best I saw Daniher use Johnson was in the Queens Birthday game.

He had him as a leading forward and for a big guy he was pretty explosive off the mark. The problem was he didn't kick all that straight that day.

I wouldn't have PJ as a permanent forward, but he does provide a good target up forward when needed.

I also though that he did a pretty goon job on Mooney in the backline early this year. There is no doubting his talent.

to sum up most of the thoughts i have heard in the last couple of weeks

-apparantly johnson is not suited to be a ruckman and has more of a future as a forward or back

-if thats the case, when white retires in the next 2 or 3 years we will have only jamar and meesen and may need to get another ruckman. room for everyone

i can see white retiring at the end of next year with pj and meesen being our ruck partnership. remember pj was an all australian under 18 ruckman

end of next year? geez... cutting a little short.. i reckon 3 more... if pretty much injury free

do we have a ruck coach???

competition for spots is healthy at a club. good having all 4 in my opinion

This topic has been done to death recently. Anyhow...

White doesn't have too much longer left. Neither PJ, Jamar, or Meesen has even cemented a #2 ruck spot, let alone show they're capable of taking over as first ruck. If anything, we don't have enough rucks. I'd certainly be rookie listing a young ruckman.

This topic has been done to death recently. Anyhow...

White doesn't have too much longer left. Neither PJ, Jamar, or Meesen has even cemented a #2 ruck spot, let alone show they're capable of taking over as first ruck. If anything, we don't have enough rucks. I'd certainly be rookie listing a young ruckman.

Correct to a point.

We dont have enough quality ruckman.

White is near the end. Both PJ and Jamar are on notice to perform.

The wraps on PJ are way off the mark. He is as close to being a good AFL ruckman as Miller is to be the next Carey.

Our ruck division is an issue and many here overrate mediocrity.

I would like to see us rookie another big player as heaven help us if our ruck future revolves around either Jamar and/or PJ. I hope Meesen works out

maybe bailey sees paul johnson as a backman in waiting. he has explosive speed for a big man and has a big body. big nicho started as a ruckman before finding his niche as a full back with mixed success.

id love to see him move back and take the quick leading forwards. he'll need time to develop though, you dont learn how to play full back over night.

I wouldn't have PJ as a permanent forward, but he does provide a good target up forward when needed.

I also though that he did a pretty goon job on Mooney in the backline early this year. There is no doubting his talent.

I agree, he always think he can play pretty well round HFF and he does have some flexibility to be thrown in pther spots.

For a guy that big he is really good at ground level & very fast. However his overhead is poor and he doesn't often get it together.

With 3 2nd rucks, one has got to be in form at any one time you'd hope.

The question is would PJ or Jamar be picked up by another club i fthey were delisted?

I doubt it.

Correct to a point.

We dont have enough quality ruckman.

White is near the end. Both PJ and Jamar are on notice to perform.

The wraps on PJ are way off the mark. He is as close to being a good AFL ruckman as Miller is to be the next Carey.

Our ruck division is an issue and many here overrate mediocrity.

I would like to see us rookie another big player as heaven help us if our ruck future revolves around either Jamar and/or PJ. I hope Meesen works out

and once again.... rhino richards doomy and gloomy prediction, the end of the world for the MFC is near.

personally id like to see them all play in the same game... see who can play around the ground up back or forward... who can trouble the oppositions ruck in the hitouts etc.. playin the same opposition ruckmen will also establish a better understanding of who is better and wat role they are suited too, maybe in the wizard cup?

i like the idea of a really tall side.... i think its abit more daunting for the opposition. it is likley this will not happen.

personally id like to see them all play in the same game... see who can play around the ground up back or forward... who can trouble the oppositions ruck in the hitouts etc.. playin the same opposition ruckmen will also establish a better understanding of who is better and wat role they are suited too, maybe in the wizard cup?

i like the idea of a really tall side.... i think its abit more daunting for the opposition. it is likley this will not happen.

Its not surprising you have not yet a got a "better understanding of who is better and w(h)at role they are suited too.." given someone like Jamar has been on the list for six years and PJ four years! Anyone inkling why they sought Meesen for a pick and not just relied on a rookie?? Hmmmm! The Club is rightly concerned with the quality of the ruck stocks and rightly so.

Bailey's really going to have fun with your favourites and once again you wont have clue what is happening when he does it.

After finishing 15th I would have thought even you might have realised that some serious review of the team list is necessary. No doubt you pretty chuffed with it.

imo white has two years max. and it wouldnt surprise me if he goes end of 2008. jamar will not make it as a ruck. he is not good enough. he is not anywhere near as good as jolly, and jolly is a second ruck. PJ has talent yes, but he is not going to be a 1st ruck. it is more likely he will be a 2nd ruck who plays forward. meesen i havnt seen anything of so i cant comment.

if pj or meesen dont step up this year we could have a serious problem next year, because PJ and jamar cant do it on their own.

What I want to see is a new coach giving White no more than 50% time in the ruck.

We are never going to move on and develop replacements if we insist on letting White ruck for the majority of the game.

I expected White to do no more than 50% of the rucking in 2007, but he continued to be our number 1 dominant ruck.

Jamar is actually a good tap ruckman, we should utilize his skills there because he does little to nothing around the ground.

PJ has to get better, otherwise he won't survive. Practice may not make perfect, but it'll definitely tell us whether or not he can cut it.

Will be interesting how this new Meesen guy is used. Will he automatically be given 2nd ruck with Jamar as depth and PJ playing elsewhere on the ground, or will those 3 have to battle it out on a rotation policy?

Will be interesting how this new Meesen guy is used. Will he automatically be given 2nd ruck with Jamar as depth and PJ playing elsewhere on the ground, or will those 3 have to battle it out on a rotation policy?

-rotation +form, and that goes for all four.

At least that's what I'm hoping.