FREE AGENCY AND TRADES, EACH CLUB RATED.
ADELAIDE 6 out of 10
Not much to report, but they didn’t lose Patrick Dangerfield. Kyle Cheney was solid for Hawthorn and Luke Lowden is a back-up ruckman. Curious that they traded away pick No.10 with Geelong for pick No.14, along with lower draft selections.
BRISBANE 8/10
A year after they were pilloried for so many go-home defections, the improving Lions were big players. Collingwood’s Dayne Beams is a strong addition and Allen Christensen could be very handy.
CARLTON 7/10
Tall forward Kristian Jaksch and midfielder Mark Whiley are promising young additions. The jury remains out on Liam Jones, who has shown promise, but ended this season playing in the VFL.
COLLINGWOOD 7/10
Regardless of the circumstances, losing Dayne Beams and Heritier Lumumba means more experience out the door. But the `Pies rallied by picking up Levi Greenwood and Travis Varcoe, along with Jack Crisp. And they now have two top-10 draft picks.
ESSENDON 6/10
No matter what you think of Patrick Ryder, his defection is a blow to the crisis-stricken club. But Adam Cooney boosts their midfield and Jonathan Giles could be a handy back-up ruckman. It could have been a lot worse for the Bombers.
FREMANTLE N/A
No trades
GEELONG 6/10
Allen Christensen and Travis Varcoe were once touted as keys to the Cats’ future, so they’re significant losses. The proof will be in the pudding whether Mitch Clark and Rhys Stanley are worthwhile recruits.
GOLD COAST 7/10
Not bad work from the Suns, who gain important experience with Nick Malceski. Mitch Hallahan was starved of chances at Hawthorn and has potential. And they’ve retained Daniel Gorringe, who could have gone to Port.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 6/10
They’ve lost six players, including potential star Tom Boyd and Jono O’Rourke. On the plus side, Ryan Griffen brings plenty of experience and they have three of the top seven draft picks.
HAWTHORN 8/10
Working beautifully, as usual. James Frawley further boosts their defence and they didn’t lose Ryan Schoenmakers. Mitch Hallahan, Kyle Cheney and Luke Lowden probably had to go to gain further opportunities. One year on, Buddy who?
MELBOURNE 6/10
While they can ill-afford to lose Frawley, the No.3 draft pick is rich compensation. They have the second and third draft picks – this time, can the Demons make good use of them? Lumumba and Jeff Garlett bring experience and Sam Frost has potential.
NORTH MELBOURNE 4/10
Levi Greenwood finished third in their best-and-fairest this season, so he’s a massive loss. And they missed out on Cooney. Free agents Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite have been known more for their potential than anything they’ve achieved yet.
PORT ADELAIDE 9/10
The Power were already firmly in their premiership window before the Ryder trade went through. It’s the grand final or bust next year for Port.
RICHMOND N/A
No trades
ST KILDA 6/10
Their prized No.1 pick was on the table, but no-one offered enough to make them part with it. Stanley has been a tease over the years and they score a high round-two pick at No.21 in return.
SYDNEY 4/10
In the wake of the ongoing furore over Lance Franklin’s monster deal, the AFL effectively barred the Swans from bringing in anyone other than delisted free agents. Malceski looms as a significant loss.
WEST COAST N/A
No trades
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4/10
Whoa. What a trade period – coach (Brendan McCartney, sacked), captain (Griffen, defected and traded) and their Brownlow Medallist (Cooney, traded) all gone. They finally have a proper key forward (Boyd), but they’ve bet the farm on a kid who’s played just nine senior games.