Adelaide Crows

If

you want to see some drama ...

then

fast forward to draft night. We reckon the Crows will privately broker in advance a pick trade with the Suns (and quite possibly negotiate where either Lukosius or Rankine are not taken by the Suns at No.2) and then create some theatre on draft night itself with some on-the-clock swaps which will get them pick three. 

Brisbane Lions

If

we fully respect Beams' right and need to demand an exit ...

then

at the same time we fully empathise with Fagan and co who felt the addition of Neale would make this team a finals contender.

Carlton

If

SOS was still loitering at Marvel Stadium right up until deadline ...

then

we know he got Doriemus-style close (v Might and Power in the 1997 Melbourne Cup) with Dylan Shiel.  

Collingwood

If

Beams and Roughead were the ins ...

then

it was a very good NAB AFL Trade Period.

Essendon

If

Dylan Shiel ever tells what really happened between the moment he chose Essendon and actually finding himself a Bomber on Wednesday night ...

then

it'd make for fascinating listening, particularly for Carlton supporters. But we doubt he ever will. 


Fremantle

If

the feather never went in to Belly's cap ...

then

so be it. Neale's decision was made long before he took the gig and, after a bad start to Trade Period followed by an unneeded and old-fashioned ambiguous general release statement, the Trade Period novices Belly and Steve Rosich became experts and maximised the Dockers' possibilities. Well played.  

Geelong Cats

If

you recruit the tackling-focused Dahlhaus ...

then

you might as well keep the goal-focused Menzel. Could be a dangerous mix inside forward 50. 

NAB AFL TRADE HUB Latest news, videos and live blog

Gold Coast Suns

If

the last person out could please turn off the lights ...

then

… well, it's not quite at that stage. But, that person's finger is hovering over the switch. This is the official last chance for the AFL wanting permanent presence on the Gold Coast .  

GWS Giants

If

you've been forced to take the full dose of medicine in one hit, which came in the firesale of Shiel, Lobb and Scully ...

then

the problem would normally disappear. But there's a double dose already prescribed for this time next year, when Kelly and Coniglio, and others, get to make decisions on their futures.  

Hawthorn

If

you miss on Lynch and May and Shiel ...

then

you keep going and you hit Wingard. Many criticise this club for coughing up big draft picks and all-time greats (Mitchell, Hodge, Lewis) or budding superstars (Burton) every single year. We admire the preparedness to be ruthless in the pursuit of success.  

Melbourne

If

there was a narrative-defining moment of Trade Period 2018 ...

then

it was Josh Mahoney on Trade Radio two Tuesdays ago. Publicly revealed the Dees wanted May and Kolodjashnij, and were prepared to let go Hogan. A risky yet genius move. All other clubs knew they were cooked in the pursuit of May. No coincidence the Pies re-contracted Moore that night and gave more cash to Langdon after it. Mahoney controlled the Trade Period from that moment, and ultimately got what he wanted. 

INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER Your club's picks

North Melbourne

If

the focus the past two weeks has been on Polec, Hall, Tyson and Pittard ... 

then

the real improvement for North in 2019 will come if Simpkin and LDU take massive steps.  

Port Adelaide

If

we like the ins, particularly Burton ...

then

we still can't get our head around Wingard being an out. In 2013, 2014 and 2015, he was the most must-watch player in the comp. Will never understand how it came to this.     

Richmond

If

you ask us which team won Trade Period ...

then

this one did. By the length of Winx's second Cox Plate victory.  

St Kilda

If

You ask us which team finished bottom of the ladder in trade period ...

then

this one came second last.  

Sydney Swans

If

you ask again which team finished bottom of the ladder in Trade Period ...

then

this one did.  

West Coast Eagles

If

we ran the Eagles ...

then

there would have been zero chance we would've let Tim Kelly go back to Geelong. The inaction could cost a premiership defence. Yes, we know there wasn't much draft pick scope, but when a player of this calibre presents himself on a platter, you don't push the platter back.

Western Bulldogs

If

we keep hearing Libba is about to re-sign ... 

then

we can only assume he is. We've heard it a lot, though, and note at the same time that there's less than two weeks to run of his current contract. 

WHO'S LEAVING YOUR CLUB? All the latest retirements and delistings

If

Steve Hocking now has his spare time back having completed the arduous task of finalising the rule changes ...

then

we'd now recommend a thorough review of all aspects of the player exchange system. Our two bob's worth: remove compo for loss of free agents; open a full-blown, 48-hour club-to-club trade window (say, a Tuesday and Wednesday) in mid-May; allow the trading of draft picks up to three years in advance (with no restriction on how often you chose to do that).