Craig O’Donoghue: AFL trade time is the opportunity to get better so get deals done and seize every moment

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Craig O’Donoghue: AFL trade time is the opportunity to get better so get deals done and seize every moment

Get active and be really aggressive with your use of draft picks. That must be the attitude of every club as the trade ******* begins because you only get a short time each year to make your list better.

When clubs gather at Marvel Stadium on Monday morning, most will hope to walk way from the trade ******* as clear winners. The problem is many will over rate their picks and spend too long haggling instead of getting a deal done.

If you’re a team that believes you can contend, then the only way to do so is to have a ****** now, even if you have to slightly overpay.

Every club need to know precisely where they stand and what it will take to leapfrog other clubs in the race to the premiership.

Brisbane’s premiership followed a constant list build where they brought in established talent. Lachie Neale, Callum Ah Chee, Joe Daniher, Josh Dunkley, Charlie Cameron, Darcy Fort and Conor McKenna all moved to the Lions after starting their careers elsewhere.

Camera IconCharlie Cameron and Josh Dunkley won a premiership at Brisbane. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

In 2023, Collingwood had nine recycled players in the premiership team. Geelong’s 2022 premiership team? Seven players.

Sydney brought in Brodie Grundy, James Jordan and Taylor Adams last year.

Hawthorn will be better. They’ve already brought in Josh Battle as a free agent and will complete a trade with West Coast to get Tom Barrass. The Hawks won 14 home and away games and an elimination final in 2024. They had the sixth best defence in the comp. Their list will clearly be better.

Geelong always get better. They’re about to add Bailey Smith and targeted Clayton Oliver. Fremantle are chasing Shai Bolton.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconBailey Smith wants to play for Geelong. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Never has it been more obvious that contracts aren’t worth the paper they are written on. If players want to leave, clubs tend to oblige. A well managed club can recruit early draft picks once they’ve seen them playing at the highest level instead of speculating on teenagers.

Jack Lukosius has joined Smith as a top-10 selection from the 2018 draft that wants out. If both get their way, four of the top 10 from that year will no longer be with the club that recruited them.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconJack Lukosius is on the move. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos/AFL Photos via Getty Images

2019? That’s four out of the top 10 too. 2017? Five out of 10. 2016? Seven out of 10. Players leave. So clubs must get aggressive now and make their list as strong as possible. Don’t be the club that quibbles over picks and regrets not having enough established talent next season.

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