I've thought for a couple of years now that AFL clubs have been handed the keys to being able to operate multi million dollar businesses, but often still run like the local footy club. This is especially evident in trading future picks.
Some clubs have done pretty well with these strategies- the Cats trading away theirs each year without consequences, besides their lack of youth being brought in.
Freo had an early near miss- they supposedly offered two first rounders for McCarthy, which GWS knocked back as not enough. Freo had finished top of the ladder this year, and figured they would again the next year. They finshed third last, so if the trade went through it would have been Pick 16 and Pick 3. GWS eventually received much less.
The Treloar deal was another high profile example. Collingwood are still probably okay with the outcome, but it cost them more than they expected. They traded Pick 7 in 2015, and a 2016 first rounder. This pick ended up being pick 8. They likely thought they'd be improving and it'd be a pick in the double digits. Doesn't mean it wasn't worth it, just that they paid more than expected
The Hawks deal was perhaps the most costly, and recognised as so at the time. Without weighing in to whether they should have chased O'Meara, or whether we'll see him at his best, it's a poor trade.
The Hawks traded Picks 23, 36 and 2017 first rounder for Pick 10 and 68. We know they slid this year, but even if they had won the flag it'd be trading 18, 23 and 36 for 10 and 68- a pretty big price. Obviously they didn't, and they actually traded away 7, 23 and 36 for 10 and 68. They gave up two second rounders to move back in this years draft.
The Dees are latest to join in, trading Pick 10 in this year's draft, as well as trading next year's first rounder. There were also various other picks traded. Without wading into whether they did well or not, I think it's a dangerous trade. Next year's draft is touted to be quite strong, so next years' pick is likely more valuable. They expect they'll get better, but as we saw with Collingwood a few years ago, this may come back to haunt them. They're currently 7th favourite for the flag at Sportsbet, and whilst I appreciate this isn't the best indicator of future success, it's at least impartial. Sportsbet would then suggest that they've also Traded Pick 11. But if they slide rather than improve it could really cost them, however they'd likely contend that it's worth the risk. Similarly with Treloar, where the Pies are still okay with the cost.
Hopefully clubs will be more cautious going forward with trading future picks. In my opinion it should be a last resort.
Some clubs have done pretty well with these strategies- the Cats trading away theirs each year without consequences, besides their lack of youth being brought in.
Freo had an early near miss- they supposedly offered two first rounders for McCarthy, which GWS knocked back as not enough. Freo had finished top of the ladder this year, and figured they would again the next year. They finshed third last, so if the trade went through it would have been Pick 16 and Pick 3. GWS eventually received much less.
The Treloar deal was another high profile example. Collingwood are still probably okay with the outcome, but it cost them more than they expected. They traded Pick 7 in 2015, and a 2016 first rounder. This pick ended up being pick 8. They likely thought they'd be improving and it'd be a pick in the double digits. Doesn't mean it wasn't worth it, just that they paid more than expected
The Hawks deal was perhaps the most costly, and recognised as so at the time. Without weighing in to whether they should have chased O'Meara, or whether we'll see him at his best, it's a poor trade.
The Hawks traded Picks 23, 36 and 2017 first rounder for Pick 10 and 68. We know they slid this year, but even if they had won the flag it'd be trading 18, 23 and 36 for 10 and 68- a pretty big price. Obviously they didn't, and they actually traded away 7, 23 and 36 for 10 and 68. They gave up two second rounders to move back in this years draft.
The Dees are latest to join in, trading Pick 10 in this year's draft, as well as trading next year's first rounder. There were also various other picks traded. Without wading into whether they did well or not, I think it's a dangerous trade. Next year's draft is touted to be quite strong, so next years' pick is likely more valuable. They expect they'll get better, but as we saw with Collingwood a few years ago, this may come back to haunt them. They're currently 7th favourite for the flag at Sportsbet, and whilst I appreciate this isn't the best indicator of future success, it's at least impartial. Sportsbet would then suggest that they've also Traded Pick 11. But if they slide rather than improve it could really cost them, however they'd likely contend that it's worth the risk. Similarly with Treloar, where the Pies are still okay with the cost.
Hopefully clubs will be more cautious going forward with trading future picks. In my opinion it should be a last resort.
