Hypothetical Trades: Part 1

I have been teasing this for a while. Welcome to hypothetical trades where I float trade ideas that would work for both of the clubs involved. This is me putting all of the stories and rumours together and putting it with my knowledge of list management and the draft system to try and predict possible trades that may happen.

Here is 5 trades that would work for both sides. For those looking for a reason to read, I am about to give my opinions on the Dan Houston, the multiple Richmond players and Tom Barrass. The draft picks are based on the draft order as I write this piece.

MELBOURNE and PORT ADELAIDE/ESSENDON Bombers/Power receive: Pick 42 + (Possible pick 63 sweetener)

Demons receive: Nick Bryan or Dante Visentini

Max Gawn is 33 next season. He cannot go on forever. All it would take is 1 injury and Melbourne are done. The Dees need Ruck depth without losing too many picks. And preferably this player would need to be young to replace Gawn after retirement for at least half a decade. This has me deciding on 2 ruck options for Melbourne that could work really well in Bryan and Visentini. Both of these players are behind 2 other ruckman when they could very much be a 2nd up option. Bryan is behind Draper and Goldstein. He may be harder to get and may need a sweetener pick added as Goldstein is 36 and Draper is injury prone. This also gives us Visentini who is behind Soldo, 28 and Sweet 26. He has played AFL games before and has shown great athleticism and an ability to ruck the ball to advantage a midfield. His name has not been spoken of enough in my opinion and he may be a perfect option for Melbourne that does not break the budget, Port's website says he can play up forward which is perfect for what we require, we miss Luke Jackson dearly in the ruck department obviously but we also miss him as a forward target that could take big marks and kick goals.

Both of these players may be lured by learning from the best ruck of the past decade, and having a chance to come into the side in the occasion of a Gawn injury. This player will become the number 1 ruck after his departure, gaining an opportunity to ruck for a decade, it sounds like a pretty good deal.

As for Melbourne and Port Adelaide this in theory could be part of a Dan Houston trade and may mean Melbourne give up 2 first rounders for Houston and Visentini. Houston is a good player but I strongly suggest to my Demons that we do not do this deal for 2 first rounders. That would place our list into possible future disarray. If they think they can get it done for one first rounder or an added second, then I would consider that. However I think going for Giants free agent Isaac Cumming is a better option. He's going to come cheaper and still has great rebound 50 ability as well as a good kick of the football. He is also a year younger. Anyway slight side-track but getting one of the two rucks mentioned would be great business for Melbourne and could help set the future foundations for a team that wants to contend for finals now and into the future.

Adelaide and Western Bulldogs: Forseeable

Adelaide receives: Caleb Daniel and Picks 43 and 61

Western Bulldogs receives: Mark Keane

I feel like this trade will work very well for both of the team involved. The Dogs get a key defender to be there for years unlike veterans Liam Jones and Rory Lobb and to partner with Buku Khamis for years to come. He has had a very good breakout season Keane. Meanwhile the crows get to give some more opportunity to Dan Curtin as their future key defender, and they get to add a player that could very much make a difference in a side looking to make finals next year. Caleb Daniel has endured a tough year at the dogs, but could turn it around and provide great ball-use off half back for the crows which would be perfect for what they need. This trade suits well for both sides especially as both players involved could request trades out.

Collingwood and West Coast: Forseeable

Collingwood receives: Tom Barrass and Pick 59

West Coast receives: Pick 26 and a Future 1st 

Tom Barrass is going to leave West Coast. You heard it here. I hitch my van on this. I cant see him staying on a rebuilding team when he is getting older. He has many suitors too including from last year so its time for him to go. Collingwood are a big club, with maybe a little bit of free money laying around to get their second key defender to work with Darcy Moore. Collingwood could also get Mark Keane but I feel like Tom Barrass is going to give you more in the next 3-5 years than Mark Keane. Its time for Collingwood to cash in, and for West Coast to cash in too before he loses more value due to age. Tom could be a huge addition to a team that has lost Nathan Murphy and needs to regain a form of their premiership defence.

Gold Coast and Richmond: Forseeable

Richmond receives: Pick 10 and pick 20

Gold Coast receives: Daniel Rioli and Pick 36

The first of two Richmond players I am writing about in this article, Rioli seems to want to leave the club and to reunite with his old coach in a more desirable situation on the Gold Coast, where finals contention is very possible next year. The Tigers need to start to lick their wounds and gain some picks to help accelerate the rebuild before Tasmania come into the competition. This year is the year that the draft has to be attacked due to the depth and the variety of roles found in certain players. They are set to ask for two first round picks for Rioli which seems a little be excessive but they can get close to that if they give up pick 36 as well. This trade works well for both sides, the suns get Rioli and keep a first round pick, the tigers get to help their rebuild with 2 extra young guns.

Fremantle and Richmond: Foreseeable

Fremantle receive: Shai Bolton

Richmond receives: Pick 12, 13 and a Future 2nd 

The biggest trade mentioned in this article in my opinion. This can actually happen, and its good for both teams too mind you. Again, this is about Richmond getting more picks to improve their younger players department to accelerate their rebuild and gain the absolute maximum amount of talent. This draft is deep so they can either take their picks, for trade up the order to secure an even better pick. This trade and the trade before will give the tigers 4 first round picks to play with, possibly 5 if any Liam Baker compensation comes through. For the dockers it is now all about the now. This trade gives them an absolute star of the competition to have in the forward line and rotating through the midfield, this move makes Freo a top 4 team, with Liam Baker too possibly, a premiership team, I am very excited about how the dockers could look next year. For the tigers fans who don't want to see him leave, that's completely fair, but this trade helps you too.

Freo are possibly looking nasty.

Thanks for reading through. I'll see you again tomorrow for the midweek news wrap and on Thursday for Woz's Footy Preview.

Cheers.