mellowyellow
𝑅𝐹𝒞
Trading period leaves heads spinning
5:16:21 PM Mon 28 October, 2002
Bruce Eva
AFL Record
The frenetic AFL trading period is over for another year, leaving some players relieved, some disillusioned, some elated and some bewildered.
It can be messy, it can be ruthless, it can be downright demoralising, but there is no doubt — and whether this is a positive or not can be debated at length — it creates a level of intrigue and excitement within the competition unmatched by any other off-field activity.
As is always the case, some clubs have traded aggressively, while others have been mere bit-part players. Following is each club’s ‘report card’ on how it fared over the five-day trading period.
ADELAIDE
The Crows clearly are of the opinion they only need to ‘top-up’ to challenge for a flag over the next couple of seasons. They scooped the biggest fish in the pool, Wayne Carey, and also gained the enigmatic Ronnie Burns and the solid Jason Torney — a total of 496 games in experience. Losing Kane Johnson will hurt their midfield, and they don’t have a selection at the national AFL draft until No. 36.
BRISBANE
As expected, the Lions lost Des Headland back to his native Western Australia, but would be delighted to pick up the silky-skilled Blake Caracella from their arch-rivals, Essendon, and they do have Fremantle’s first pick (No. 5 overall) as part of the Headland compensation package. The exciting, but injury-hit, Damian Cupido has also departed — Bomberland being his new residence.
CARLTON
The Blues stuck true to their word and didn’t trade either of their prized first two selections in the national AFL draft. In acquiring ruckman Barnaby French from Port Adelaide, who turns 27 next month, Carlton swapped second round selections with the Power, meaning its third choice in the draft won’t come until No. 31.
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies didn’t get the first round pick they were after from Sydney for Nick Davis, settling for the Swans’ second choice (No. 23) instead. Picking up Melbourne Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin, who is only 26, for their first round (No. 16) selection is a bonus. The swapping of midfielder Damien Adkins to West Coast for forward Andrew Williams is one of the lower-profiled trades that will still be watched with interest in terms of which club emerges the ‘winner’.
ESSENDON
Salary cap stress for the Bombers was obviously a lot more acute than first thought, with the experienced trio of Justin Blumfield, Blake Caracella and Chris Heffernan all departing to give the Dons some much-needed breathing space. They have picked up young talent in Adam McPhee (Fremantle) and Damian Cupido (Brisbane), and have two selections in the first round of the draft (No. 12 and 13), but they would still be bracing themselves for a potential backlash at the loss of three such popular members of the playing group.
FREMANTLE
The Dockers got their man in the form of Des Headland, and remained in the first round of the national AFL draft by gaining selection No. 15 for releasing key defender Leigh Brown to the Kangaroos. However, that pick is their only one until No. 52. Adam McPhee moves to Essendon as part of the three-way swap that delivered Headland back home.
GEELONG
One cameo performance. After plenty of speculation, the Cats finally off-loaded inconsistent forward Ronnie Burns, and took on another youngster in his place. Burns is now at Adelaide, with young key position prospect Ben Finnin, who is yet to make his AFL debut, returning to Victoria.
HAWTHORN
The Hawks have added height in the form of prize signing Peter Everitt and mobile utility Kingsley Hunter. While the Hawks had to give up their first three draft selections (two to St Kilda and one to the Western Bulldogs) to acquire this pair, they remained in the first round courtesy of gaining West Coast’s first pick (No. 10) for the services of Daniel Chick.
KANGAROOS
The Wayne Carey era officially ended when he was traded to Adelaide, and the Roos are now the best-placed team after Carlton in terms of early draft picks with No. 4 and 11 at their disposal in the national AFL draft. The trading of explosive forward Byron Pickett was a shock, but they have bolstered their defence with Docker Leigh Brown set to add real stiffness to their spine.
MELBOURNE
Shane Woewodin’s trade to Collingwood makes him the first Brownlow medallist since Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon to Port Adelaide) to not play out his career at the club he won the league’s highest individual award at. The Demons have a ready-made midfield replacement in Bomber Chris Heffernan, who will certainly come at a cheaper rate than Woewodin. Melbourne has the final two first-round selections (No. 16 and 17) of the first round of the national AFL draft.
PORT ADELAIDE
As predicted, the Power culled their bulging ruck stocks — sending Barnaby French to Carlton and teenager Barry Brooks to St Kilda. Kangaroo pair Byron Pickett and Stuart Cochrane will give them even more ground-level flexibility, and they have risen a few placings in the national AFL draft order, with the Saints giving them overall pick No. 8 for Brooks
RICHMOND
The Tigers would be delighted by the strengthening of their midfield — Kane Johnson and Justin Blumfield will add hardness and polish to a much-maligned area of the Richmond structure. They have lost Jason Torney to Adelaide and have just one pick in the first 44 selections at next month’s national AFL draft (No. 14), but overall they addressed the biggest trouble spot.
ST KILDA
Picking up talented key defender Luke Penny from the Western Bulldogs was somewhat of an unexpected bonus for the Saints, and young ruck Barry Brooks has plenty of admirers. Like Carey at Arden Street, the Peter Everitt era at Moorabbin is finished, with Glenferrie Oval his new home. The Saints have hung on to their first round draft pick (No. 3) and also have Hawthorn’s second round selection (No. 24).
SYDNEY
Only the one trade — Nick Davis from Collingwood for the Swans’ second round pick (No. 23). That was a win in itself, with Sydney refusing to give up its first round selection (No. 7) for the Magpie goalsneak.
WEST COAST
Clean cut at the Eagles as well — their big-name signing in Daniel Chick from Hawthorn cost them their first pick at the national AFL draft (No. 10), while a straight swap with Collingwood sees Damien Adkins arrive at Subiaco to help the ball-carrying brigade, while forward Andrew Williams returns to Victoria.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Received only draft picks, not players, for their two transactions — the releasing of key defenders Luke Penny and Kingsley Hunter to St Kilda and Hawthorn respectively. The Bulldogs now have three picks in the first 22 selections after acquiring No. 19 off the Saints for Penny, while they have an extra pick in the third round (No. 39) for the clearing of Hunter to the Hawks.
5:16:21 PM Mon 28 October, 2002
Bruce Eva
AFL Record
The frenetic AFL trading period is over for another year, leaving some players relieved, some disillusioned, some elated and some bewildered.
It can be messy, it can be ruthless, it can be downright demoralising, but there is no doubt — and whether this is a positive or not can be debated at length — it creates a level of intrigue and excitement within the competition unmatched by any other off-field activity.
As is always the case, some clubs have traded aggressively, while others have been mere bit-part players. Following is each club’s ‘report card’ on how it fared over the five-day trading period.
ADELAIDE
The Crows clearly are of the opinion they only need to ‘top-up’ to challenge for a flag over the next couple of seasons. They scooped the biggest fish in the pool, Wayne Carey, and also gained the enigmatic Ronnie Burns and the solid Jason Torney — a total of 496 games in experience. Losing Kane Johnson will hurt their midfield, and they don’t have a selection at the national AFL draft until No. 36.
BRISBANE
As expected, the Lions lost Des Headland back to his native Western Australia, but would be delighted to pick up the silky-skilled Blake Caracella from their arch-rivals, Essendon, and they do have Fremantle’s first pick (No. 5 overall) as part of the Headland compensation package. The exciting, but injury-hit, Damian Cupido has also departed — Bomberland being his new residence.
CARLTON
The Blues stuck true to their word and didn’t trade either of their prized first two selections in the national AFL draft. In acquiring ruckman Barnaby French from Port Adelaide, who turns 27 next month, Carlton swapped second round selections with the Power, meaning its third choice in the draft won’t come until No. 31.
COLLINGWOOD
The Magpies didn’t get the first round pick they were after from Sydney for Nick Davis, settling for the Swans’ second choice (No. 23) instead. Picking up Melbourne Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin, who is only 26, for their first round (No. 16) selection is a bonus. The swapping of midfielder Damien Adkins to West Coast for forward Andrew Williams is one of the lower-profiled trades that will still be watched with interest in terms of which club emerges the ‘winner’.
ESSENDON
Salary cap stress for the Bombers was obviously a lot more acute than first thought, with the experienced trio of Justin Blumfield, Blake Caracella and Chris Heffernan all departing to give the Dons some much-needed breathing space. They have picked up young talent in Adam McPhee (Fremantle) and Damian Cupido (Brisbane), and have two selections in the first round of the draft (No. 12 and 13), but they would still be bracing themselves for a potential backlash at the loss of three such popular members of the playing group.
FREMANTLE
The Dockers got their man in the form of Des Headland, and remained in the first round of the national AFL draft by gaining selection No. 15 for releasing key defender Leigh Brown to the Kangaroos. However, that pick is their only one until No. 52. Adam McPhee moves to Essendon as part of the three-way swap that delivered Headland back home.
GEELONG
One cameo performance. After plenty of speculation, the Cats finally off-loaded inconsistent forward Ronnie Burns, and took on another youngster in his place. Burns is now at Adelaide, with young key position prospect Ben Finnin, who is yet to make his AFL debut, returning to Victoria.
HAWTHORN
The Hawks have added height in the form of prize signing Peter Everitt and mobile utility Kingsley Hunter. While the Hawks had to give up their first three draft selections (two to St Kilda and one to the Western Bulldogs) to acquire this pair, they remained in the first round courtesy of gaining West Coast’s first pick (No. 10) for the services of Daniel Chick.
KANGAROOS
The Wayne Carey era officially ended when he was traded to Adelaide, and the Roos are now the best-placed team after Carlton in terms of early draft picks with No. 4 and 11 at their disposal in the national AFL draft. The trading of explosive forward Byron Pickett was a shock, but they have bolstered their defence with Docker Leigh Brown set to add real stiffness to their spine.
MELBOURNE
Shane Woewodin’s trade to Collingwood makes him the first Brownlow medallist since Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon to Port Adelaide) to not play out his career at the club he won the league’s highest individual award at. The Demons have a ready-made midfield replacement in Bomber Chris Heffernan, who will certainly come at a cheaper rate than Woewodin. Melbourne has the final two first-round selections (No. 16 and 17) of the first round of the national AFL draft.
PORT ADELAIDE
As predicted, the Power culled their bulging ruck stocks — sending Barnaby French to Carlton and teenager Barry Brooks to St Kilda. Kangaroo pair Byron Pickett and Stuart Cochrane will give them even more ground-level flexibility, and they have risen a few placings in the national AFL draft order, with the Saints giving them overall pick No. 8 for Brooks
RICHMOND
The Tigers would be delighted by the strengthening of their midfield — Kane Johnson and Justin Blumfield will add hardness and polish to a much-maligned area of the Richmond structure. They have lost Jason Torney to Adelaide and have just one pick in the first 44 selections at next month’s national AFL draft (No. 14), but overall they addressed the biggest trouble spot.
ST KILDA
Picking up talented key defender Luke Penny from the Western Bulldogs was somewhat of an unexpected bonus for the Saints, and young ruck Barry Brooks has plenty of admirers. Like Carey at Arden Street, the Peter Everitt era at Moorabbin is finished, with Glenferrie Oval his new home. The Saints have hung on to their first round draft pick (No. 3) and also have Hawthorn’s second round selection (No. 24).
SYDNEY
Only the one trade — Nick Davis from Collingwood for the Swans’ second round pick (No. 23). That was a win in itself, with Sydney refusing to give up its first round selection (No. 7) for the Magpie goalsneak.
WEST COAST
Clean cut at the Eagles as well — their big-name signing in Daniel Chick from Hawthorn cost them their first pick at the national AFL draft (No. 10), while a straight swap with Collingwood sees Damien Adkins arrive at Subiaco to help the ball-carrying brigade, while forward Andrew Williams returns to Victoria.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Received only draft picks, not players, for their two transactions — the releasing of key defenders Luke Penny and Kingsley Hunter to St Kilda and Hawthorn respectively. The Bulldogs now have three picks in the first 22 selections after acquiring No. 19 off the Saints for Penny, while they have an extra pick in the third round (No. 39) for the clearing of Hunter to the Hawks.
