After last year’s non-event of a trade week, this year’s version was significantly better. Trades happened and not just late on Friday. This was actually the reverse of past trade weeks. After a busy first four days nothing really happened on the Friday, which is when most of the action happened in years gone by
The big talking point was Brendan Fevola who was basically sent packing from Carlton. He went to Brisbane with pick 27 and in return the Blues received Lachlan Henderson and pick 12. A forward line of Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola is going to be a nightmare for defences in 2010.
Brisbane were aggressive in trade week picking up Andrew Raines, Amon Buchanan, Xavier Clarke and Brent Staker. Following the week, the Lions shortened in AFL betting. Although this was before Daniel Bradshaw set he wasn’t going to be returning.
Sydney were just as active and picked up Mark Seaby, Shane Mumford, Josh Kennedy and Ben McGlynn. Additionally they traded Barry Hall to the Western Bulldogs and Darren Jolly to Collingwood. They have picks 6 and 14 and should be well placed for next year after missing out on the finals for the first time under Paul Roos.
Mumford came from Geelong and the Cats shored up their draft picks. They now had seven picks in the first 65 which puts them in a great position to snare some more promising youngsters.
Hall’s addition to the Western Bulldogs gives them the spearhead they have been craving for a while. He should help them kick more goals which has always been their problem. Against St Kilda in the preliminary final, they dominated but just couldn’t kick goals.
People are now confident in Hawthorn’s hopes following the trades for Josh Gibson and Shaun Burgoyne. Their first pick may only be 39 but given they won the Premiership just two years ago, their list is already pretty sound.
Sydney tried hard to prise away pick 3 from the Tigers but they were holding firm. They have 3, 19, 35 and 44.
Essendon picked up Mark Williams but lost Andrew Lovett and Jay Nash. They have four picks in the first 33 and this should give them a huge boost.
Collingwood were hampered by the fact they have unrealistic expectations at the trade table. You have to give away something to get something and they just don’t get this. This was also the problem with St Kilda and Luke Ball.
The draft is happening in November and should be fascinating. With it the last one until the new teams enter, this one is critically important.
David Wiseman writes about AFL football and the Melbourne Cup.
