TRADED players are always a tempting prospect in Toyota AFL Dream Team, and after a bumper 2009 exchange period coaches are going to have plenty of recycled and rejuvenated players to pick from. But how many are going to be savvy buys?

If we are to generalise, there are four types of players that find themselves traded in the October chaos - the A-grader who is headhunted, the handy established player, the unproven youngster and the player who hasn’t met expectations and receives a fresh start.

Eleven players found new homes in 2007 and 2008 and their experiences should offer a rough guide to how we should handle the 23 players exchanged at the end of last season.

The A-grader
There’s only one player from 2007-08 in this category and that is Brownlow Medalist Chris Judd, who crossed from West Coast to Carlton at the end of 2007 after a season hampered by injury. Judd still played 18 games in his last year with the Eagles, but his average of 85 was well down on his superb 2006 season (100.3).

So how did the switch affect Judd’s DT scores? The groin injury lingered, but Judd held his average at 85 and played more games (21). Free of injury, the improvement came for Judd in his second year at Carlton, averaging 94.3 across 22 games and registering nine 100-plus scores.

Comparing anyone to Judd is fraught with danger, but Luke Ball, Brendan Fevola, Shaun Burgoyne and Darren Jolly can all be considered A-grade players and it is unlikely life at their new clubs will see their DT performances diminish. Age is an obstacle for new Bulldog Barry Hall. 

The handy established player
Four players from 2007-08 sit in this category, and the numbers suggest Marty Mattner, Rhyce Shaw, Richard Hadley and Jordan McMahon all improved their DT form. 

Mattner crossed from Adelaide to the Sydney Swans at the end of 2007 after playing 19 games at an average of 58.8. The improvement was immediate, with the rebounding defender playing all 22 games in 2008, averaging 79.2 and notching three 100-plus scores. He backed that up last year with an average of 72.1, again playing all 22 games.

Hadley, who arrived at Carlton after playing 14 games with the Brisbane Lions in 2007 at an average of 63.1, has struggled with injury at his new club. However, he has managed to improve his scores when playing. He played six games in 2008 (average of 69.5) and 11 in 2009 (72.3). 

In their first seasons at new clubs Jordan McMahon and Rhyce Shaw both played more, with McMahon lifting his average into the 80s and Shaw holding his there. McMahon’s second season at Richmond was less fruitful.

Brock McLean, Brent Staker and Bradd Dalziell can be considered established players who should have impact at their new clubs in 2010.  

Young and unproven 
Former Blue Josh Kennedy’s talent was well known when he crossed to West Coast for the 2008 season, but he was yet to have an impact in DT.

After averaging 44 in 13 games with Carlton in 2007, he soon lifted his numbers to 62.8 (2008) and 73.6 (2009). Games played were an issue initially, but he showed that young, talented players can improve their scores regardless of a new football home.

Kennedy’s namesake at the Sydney Swans and Carlton’s Lachie Henderson are two players who can follow the Eagle’s lead in 2010.

Second chances 
Tim Callan, Anthony Corrie and Adam Thomson have been priced generously at the start of the previous two seasons, but all three have failed in DT terms, receiving few opportunities at their new clubs.

Farren Ray and Mitch Morton provide the hope in this category. After 12 games with the Bulldogs in 2008, Ray played all 22 with the Saints and lifted his average from 72.7 to 89.5 with nine 100-plus scores.

Morton has improved steadily since crossing from West Coast to Richmond for the 2008 season, lifting his average from 59.6 (2007) to 78.1 (2009).

Brett Peake and Ben McGlynn will be risky but interesting cases in 2010.

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The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.