As the wheeling and dealing comes to an end, we assess who clinched the best deals and who lost out
After two weeks of wheeling and dealing, the AFLs trade and free agency period has come to an end.
The reality is most trades are unfair for a variety of reasons. Many variables inflate and decrease value; player position, age, potential, time left on contract, bidding wars between clubs, contract offers, injury history, list requirements.
Player X may have a greater on-field output than Player Y, but that doesnt guarantee the trade price will be higher. Whilst an individual trade may not necessarily be a win, it may not necessarily be a loss either as a player, draft pick or on-trading may yield a reward down the line. Trading is ultimately the act of risk assessment and calculating potential gains.
The following is a breakdown of all the movements and an evaluation of the handiwork of list managers over the last two weeks. All trades are rated in an individual sense, although some trades are linked via on-trading:
Tom Boyd to Western Bulldogs, GWS receive Ryan Griffen and Pick six
Considering the high value of both ends of this deal, only eight years hindsight will tell who wins. In terms of current value, the Dogs now have a player who they can build a side around. Its almost a deal they had to make, as there are few lower ebbs than losing your captain and coach in a week.
The Giants add short-term class and experience, but its a wonder whether Griffen at his peak will be there when they challenge for a premiership. Pick six isnt too bad either.
Western Bulldogs: 8/10
Greater Western Sydney Giants: 8.5/10
Jonathan ORourke and pick 43 to Hawthorn, GWS Giants receive Pick 19 and Pick 40
Hawthorns decision to trade their first-round pick for Giants midfielder Jonathan ORourke is fraught with risk. The highly rated junior struggled with form and minor injury, but now moves into one of the best development systems in the league. If the move fails, the risk was worth it as the Hawks seek to replace an aging midfield. GWS on the other hand, are left with decent compensation which saw them eventually upgrade for pick seven.
Value for Hawthorn: 7.5/10
Value for GWS: 7/10
Jeff Garlett and pick 83 to Melbourne, Carlton receive Pick 61 and 76
Regardless of off-field problems and a lack of defensive pressure, Garlett is an AFL standard small forward on offensive numbers something Melbourne have struggled to keep on the field. On the Blues side of the coin, Garlett lost value spending too long outside the senior team. The swap of draft picks is in project player and rookie upgrade territory, something a rebuilding Carlton will find a way to utilise.
Melbourne: 6.5/10
Carlton: 6/10
Joel Patfull to GWS, Brisbane receive Pick 21
The Giants receive a dual Lions best and fairest winning defender, perhaps one of the more underrated players running around outside Victoria. Experience and workrate guaranteed, GWS are able to bolster their defence. The Lions will use pick 21 for their own ends, whilst impressive youngster Justin Clarke is more than capable of filling the hole left by Patfull. A rare fair trade.
GWS: 8/10
Brisbane: 8/10
Allen Christensen to Brisbane, Geelong receive Pick 21
Brisbanes score in the last trade was related to finding the currency to net Geelong half-forward Christensen. Christensen is a classy footballer, who in recent times has been hit by injury. Added to a squad with supreme midfield and flank depth, Christensen has no excuse not to flourish in his new home when he is fit. Geelong would ultimately be disappointed with what they received, but his value was hurt by recent injury and contract status.
Brisbane: 8/10
Geelong: 6/10
Dayne Beams and pick 67 to Brisbane, Collingwood receive Pick five, Pick 25 and Jack Crisp; Levi Greenwood to Collingwood, North Melbourne receive Pick 25
After nearly two weeks of haggling, Dayne Beams is now a Lion. Picks five, 25 and Jack Crisp are certainly overs, but Beams being in contract put the ball in Collingwoods court. Beams at his best is one of the top 10 midfielders in the league, so mark it down as a luxury purchase.
Levi Greenwood, regardless of his excellent 2014 form, is worth the pick North received for him. He spent most of his last contract out of the team and was often stifled by other ball winners at the club, he heads to Collingwood to fill Luke Balls role in midfield.
Brisbane: 7.5/10
Collingwood: 8/10
North Melbourne: 7.5/10
Mitch Clark to Geelong, Heritier Lumumba to Melbourne, Collingwood receive Travis Varcoe
All three moves in this deal depend on who gets the best out of their respective players. Mitch Clark, despite his talent has been riddled with issues since his final year at Brisbane. At 27, confidence in his body and mental health must be restored quickly for Geelong to get the best out of him.
Lumumba and Varcoe, when at their best, featured in world beating teams, where their freedom from opposition scrutiny saw them become dangerous footballers. Its highly improbable theyll get that sort of freedom again, but are short term upgrades on wing/half back for both clubs.
Geelong: 6.5/10
Melbourne: 6/10
Collingwood: 6/10
Rhys Stanley and pick 60 to Geelong, St Kilda receive Pick 21
Geelongs list needs evens this trade out a little. Hamish McIntosh and Nathan Vardy have been injury ravaged and the list of tall project players Stephen Wells has drafted are taking their time. Stanley played a decent amount of football and averaged six marks a game in 2014.
With Mitch Clark and Tom Hawkins due to take the best defenders, Stanley would find life much easier in the Geelong forward line. That said, giving up pick 21 is nothing to sneeze at as Chris Pelchen and Ameet Bains continue their fine work of rebuilding the Saints.
Geelong: 6.5/10
St Kilda: 8.5/10
Kristian Jaksch, Mark Whiley and Pick 19 to Carlton, GWS receive Pick seven
Carlton fans shouldnt despair in downgrading a first round pick. List wise the decision makes sense, an able looking tall and midfielder plus a pick in the top 20 is solid business. There wasnt much currency player wise to get the move done on Carltons end, allowing GWS to add another early first round pick.
Carlton: 7.5/10
GWS: 8/10
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