Another trade period has been completed, with every club — to varying extents — played a part in the madness.
Several big names found new homes, some were kept at their current ones and, to top it all off, a suite of draft picks swapped hands over the course of the period.
We grade every team’s performance during the 2023 AFL trade period in our Report Card, with analysis from Fox Footy’s Trading Day and the foxfooty.com.au team.
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ADELAIDE CROWS
Who left: Tom Doedee (free agent, Brisbane), Shane McAdam (trade, Melbourne)
Who arrived: Chris Burgess (trade, Gold Coast)
Draft picks owned: 10, 14, 20
Jon Ralph says: “A swing and a miss – and it was a big swing on Harry Petty, who I think they will likely get next year but will have to give up multiple picks in a trade. They’ve got an elite draft hand, they lose Shane McAdam and bring in just one player in Chris Burgess in terms of key positional cover. They’ve lost Tom Doedee and Nick Murray is out with an ACL tear, so they’re potentially two short in defence. But they do like Max Michalanney and Josh Worrell and Mitch Hinge – thy feel like they’ve got some players who will very quickly replace Tom Doedee.”
Leigh Montagna says: “Rebuilds take time, they are a slow burn and you’ve got to get your draft picks right. They’ve had a few misses early, they’ve been nailing them lately. They’ve now got three picks inside 20 to try and nail it again and get another crop of youngsters. I think they’re building nicely, their backline is still inexperienced – especially without Doedee now and Murray for next year – so a lot is going to rest on Worrell and Michalanney and Hinge and Jordon Butts. I think they’re progressing the right way, but still for me be patient and continue to build.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: D+
BRISBANE LIONS
Who left: Tom Fullarton (trade, Melbourne), Jack Gunston (trade, Hawthorn)
Who arrived: Tom Doedee (free agent, Adelaide), Brandon Ryan (trade, Hawthorn)
Draft picks owned: 30, 39, 51, 54, 67
David King says: “Doedee is an obvious hole for them when you see what happened Grand Final day with Harris Andrews being locked away. Who else was going to be that interceptor? Kiddy Coleman did what he did as a halfback flanker but I think this is a terrific get. I like the way this guy plays. He’s fallen out of love with the Adelaide Crows and that can happen. Go to a fresh opportunity. He’s a solid citizen. He’s a heart and soul. I think it’s a great get for Brisbane.”
Leigh Montagna says: “I think when (Doedee) comes back he adds, Will Ashcroft comes back, next year’s draft they’ve got a top five pick in Levi Ashcroft – talk about father-sons! He’s almost as good as Will so that’s scary for the opposition. They are in a good position, Brisbane.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B
CARLTON
Who left: Zac Fisher (trade, North Melbourne), Paddy Dow (trade, St Kilda)
Who arrived: Elijah Hollands (trade, Gold Coast)
Draft picks owned: 22, 28, 70
Jon Ralph says: “No cap space to get busy, so natural improvement turns them into a flag force. They get Elijah Hollands for virtually nothing. They lose Paddy Dow and Zac Fisher who they didn’t play in finals and don’t believe would be in their team next year. They get some picks in for next year for (father-sons) Ben and Lucas Camporeale. The future is bright.”
David King says: “I really like Elijah Hollands – he’s been played out of position for 18 months. He’s not a wingman, he is a ball-winning mid. I think he’s better than what he’s shown. Vossy will teach him how to win his own footy, don’t worry about that. If he can’t, he won’t be playing – simple.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+
COLLINGWOOD
Who left: Taylor Adams (trade, Sydney), Jack Ginnivan (trade, Hawthorn)
Who arrived: Lachie Schultz (trade, Fremantle)
Draft picks owned: 19, 33, 80
Leigh Montagna says: “We know how great a job Graham Wright did 12 months ago culminating with Bobby Hill (winning the Norm Smith Medal). They go and get their man Lachie Schultz, who’s an above average small forward – he can do both sides of the ball, he can hit the scoreboard, he’s a terrific pressure player and link up man. I think they’ve done really well … I think they’ve got to blood these youngsters as well as continue to be one of the top teams in the competition.
David King says: “They’re a seriously experienced group and those guys will continue to drive them to another opportunity next year. Schultz goes in as almost another leader … had moments in games when they’ve been needed – I love those sorts of players, guys who can turn the game for you when it’s in the balance. They don’t miss a beat, they’re a happy football club and why wouldn’t they go back-to-back? There’s a heap of club sniffing around the edges just behind them, but right now you’d have to be thrilled with what they’ve done in the off-season … let’s not forget the leg up the father-son rule gives Collingwood is enormous. The bottom line is Nick Daicos probably should’ve won the Brownlow this year and he’s going to be an elite player for a long time. To get that sort of player as a father son allows you some scope with your list build. You can have some misses with your picks along the way if you get a bit of father-son love.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B
ESSENDON
Who left: Massimo D’Ambrosio (trade, Hawthorn), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (trade, Port Adelaide)
Who arrived: Todd Goldstein (free agent, North Melbourne), Ben McKay (free agent, North Melbourne), Jade Gresham (free agent, St Kilda), Xavier Duursma (trade, Port Adelaide)
Draft picks owned: 9, 31, 35, 61
Leigh Montagna says: “For me they’re the winners of this trade period. I think Ben McKay is going to be really significant for them. He’s an above average key defender, bordering on elite when he’s at his best. The flow-on effect is that Jayden Laverde can now play on the second tall and Jordan Ridley can play his intercept role. Yes he’s got his flaws and he played like a guy who probably knew he was leaving. Jade Gresham has got huge upside. A lot of people talk about Lachie Schultz being ‘the get of the trade period’, but if you look at the numbers, Jade Gresham has had three better seasons than Lachie Schultz. Forward of centre, he’s going to provide some headaches … I think they’ve got lots of pieces. For me they should be playing finals next year. I think they’re in the right spot.
David King says: “My only question is: What are they charging towards? Are they charging towards contention and absolutely winning the flag in the next couple of years? The reason why I say that is the top 30 picks – from 2017 there’s none left, from 2018 there’s none left and 2019 there’s none left. So there’s a void coming – and it’s coming quicker than you think. Have they got the absolute game-breakers already? That’s why the importance of Archie Perkins and Nik Cox and Zach Reid – that draft is so critical to what this list does. Because you can fill spots everywhere with these types of selections in the off-season, but the absolute core of winning flags in my opinion comes from Picks 1 to 6.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A
FREMANTLE
Who left: Joel Hamling (free agent, Sydney), Lachie Schultz (trade, Collingwood), Liam Henry (trade, St Kilda)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 34, 46, 60, 64
David King says: “I don‘t know whether I love them or not. They’re stacking a lot of players through the draft. Since 2017, they’ve got 11 players they’ve drafted in the top 30 and 10 still on the list. They’re the picks I rate, after that it’s lucky dip stuff. I think they’ve got a good glut of high quality players coming through. But I feel like they never really pick a year when they’re actually going to be the team. Are they building towards two or three years’ time when they go all in? It seems to be they see a Hogan and go and get him, they see a Jackson and go and get him, they see a Wilson and go and get him, they see an Acres. They’re forever just tinkering with these selections; I’d love them to sit out a couple of years and then just go hard for a two to three year window. But in saying that, they are stacked for young talent.”
Jon Ralph says: “The only thing I would say is Lachie Schultz, they thought he might sign a long-term deal, but everyone in football knew there were really valid reasons why he might potentially move back to Victoria with his partner. They knew from March that Liam Henry was going to be in Victoria, so why was it they didn’t have a crack at Tyler Brockman early? West Coast knew … I’m just not sure if they were behind the play or ahead of the play. All of a sudden now, they’ve got a (void) on the wing and at half-forward. Having said that, I understand how hard it is to get players to come across to Freo. But Brockman was there, you have a crack.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: D+
GEELONG CATS
Who left: Esava Ratugolea (trade, Port Adelaide)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 8, 25, 76, 87, 94
Jon Ralph says: “Remember halfway through the season they were going to have a crack at Bailey Smith and Darcy Parish? In the end they did almost nothing and that’s because they realised they were coming so close to a cliff in terms of their age profile and list demographic, and they just pulled the brakes on … they didn’t secure the back-up ruckman just yet, but they are so excited about Toby Conway, who’s just a little giraffe. They’ve got some exciting players – Jhye Clark and Max Holmes, they just need to pour some 40 more games into them. But it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a premiership threat next year.”
David King says: “Since 2017, they’ve only got five players remaining on that list that are top 30 selections. There is a void there and real hole, it’s a massive concern for them. But when you’ve won a flag so recently, you’re prepared to wear what comes in the immediate aftermath. We’ve seen it with West Coast and Richmond, this is the cycle you have to live. Maybe they’re just saying: ‘Well, we’re going to lose a few players, let’s reset’. They’re not going to publicly come out and say that, because they want their members to think they can achieve when they go to the football week on week. I think it’s more about what they’re not saying than what they are.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C-
GOLD COAST SUNS
Who left: Chris Burgess (trade, Adelaide), Elijah Hollands (trade, Carlton), Mabior Chol (trade, Hawthorn)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 24, 26, 27, 32, 36, 38, 66, 71, 74
Jon Ralph says: “They fixed their cap position, they get about $1 million in this year and next year’s cap out. They accumulated enough points for their academy picks. There’s four of them: Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers and Will Graham. They stockpile three future first-rounders next year, thy allow Chol and Hollands to go back. They’ve done the right thing by Hollands – there are circumstances there that means he needs to be close to his family – and would they have played him next year anyway? Probably not.”
David King says: “They won nine games last year, but for me they play finals next year. I think Damien Hardwick comes in. He gives them the stability of a set program, expectations are lifted. There’s obvious ‘know how’ – how it should look during the week and on a weekend. These players are going to love this new environment. There’s enough talent. They’re stacked for talent … they’ve got plenty to work with.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+
GWS GIANTS
Who left: Matt Flynn (free agent, West Coast)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 7, 16, 43, 59, 77, 79
Jon Ralph says: “They miss on Elliot Himmelberg, he stays in Adelaide, but they might play Braydon Preuss alongside Kieren Briggs or maybe if Cadman is ready they’ll play him as well. Nick Haynes stays and everyone is going to say he’s on $1.1-$1.2m – plus next year. I think the club would say: ‘Right when we were challenging, he was playing for $300,000-$350,000,’ so people will try and measure him against that $1 million salary, but that’s not fair on him. They’ve had a medical with Orazio Fantasia, he’s a rookie option. So maybe he might be able to come in if he’s fit and kick 25 goals. If Toby Bedford can have a full pre-season, maybe there is help at hand for Toby Greene.”
Leigh Montagna says: “Just keep an eye on Orazio Fantasia, I think there’s still upside there. If he can get to the Giants, I think he’s got some serious talent to show some of his best footy. He’s not completely done and dusted if he can get his body right. The Giants are in great shape, they go with Pick 7 to the draft – they’ll target someone specific. We haven’t seen anywhere near the best of Cadman.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C
HAWTHORN
Who left: Tyler Brockman (trade, West Coast), Jacob Koschitzke (trade, Richmond), Brandon Ryan (trade, Brisbane Lions)
Who arrived: Jack Ginnivan (trade, Collingwood), Jack Gunston (trade, Brisbane Lions), Mabior Chol (trade, Gold Coast), Massimo D’Ambrosio (trade, Essendon)
Draft picks owned: 4, 44, 47, 49, 62, 63
David King says: “I think Hawthorn have done really well (with Ginnivan). It’s a steal for them. I like the way he plays, but he’s got to be more back page and less front page … I don’t understand it (the Gunston trade), to be blunt about it. Jack has achieved everything in our game. It didn’t work at Brisbane and he wanted to come home. I know he can play serious footy and he can probably have another four-goal game across the journey next year, but how many games does he take off and development hours at Hawthorn? That’s what concerns me. They’re on the fast-track model to rebuild in a two to three-year window – otherwise the heat is going to come on Sam Mitchell. I think he’ll look back at this decision (Gunston) in two to three years’ time and think: ‘Was it a good one or not?’ I think the ruthless Hawthorn of old would’ve said ‘not for us’.”
Leigh Montagna says: “He (Gunston) is going to be a mentor in that forward line, that’s why they’ve got him back. How much of his best football we’re going to see, I’m not sure. It’s an interesting one for me, we’ve spoken about where they’re at with their rebuild – and now they’ve gone and got someone who’s 32 years of age … (Chol) is another big risk for me for Hawthorn. There’s a reason he’s only played he’s 60 games in eight years. He’s inconsistent, a lot of people have seen his effort fluctuate, he’s a guy that can kick goals when the team is going really well. We talk about Gunston coming back at 32, we know Luke Breust is 33, Chad Wingard is 30 – now they’re bringing in a 27-year-old who I’m not sold on. I’m really curious to see what their play is with this trade period … The upside on some players. Particularly Chol and Ginnivan, we know the talent is there. It’s just a question of consistency and doing it week-in, week-out at AFL level at a team that’s probably still; a few years away from being a finals team. They went after Ben McKay and Esava Ratugolea and Liam Henry and didn’t land them and they lost Brockman, so it probably hasn’t been as successful as they would’ve liked. A bit of a hit and miss period for the Hawks.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B
MELBOURNE
Who left: James Jordon (free agent, Sydney), James Harmes (trade, Western Bulldogs), Brodie Grundy (trade, Sydney)
Who arrived: Tom Fullarton (trade, Brisbane Lions), Shane McAdam (trade, Adelaide), Jack Billings (trade, St Kilda)
Draft picks owned: 6, 11, 42
Jon Ralph: “The Dees’ Grundy experiment goes kaput. So it’s Grundy to Tom Fullarton, who didn’t play a lot of ruck last year for Brisbane. Harmes and James Jordon go, which strips depth. Harry Pretty, it’s probably 12 months and then he moves on, even though he couldn’t get a deal done to Adelaide. But Billings lands – Lachie Hunter 2.0, unwanted at his previous club, high talent. So they’d feel like they maybe rescued this trade period, but it does mean Max Gawn is going to have to play a heck of a lot of ruck time in those first 24 weeks until finals.”
Leigh Montagna says: “I like what they’ve done. I think McAdam can seriously play and add a point of difference. Jack Billings is an interesting one, but I do think he’s got some good footy – he had some really high rating years from 2017 to 2019 – and has got that point of difference and composure and nice kick that can help them in the front third, which has been a big issue for them. I wasn’t necessarily a buyer they needed a key forward who’s going to be the difference. They’re not far away. They’ve just got to tidy up a few issues. I think they’re in a pretty good space.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+
NORTH MELBOURNE
Who left: Todd Goldstein (free agent, Essendon), Ben McKay (free agent, Essendon)
Who arrived: Dylan Stephens (trade, Sydney), Zac Fisher (trade, Carlton), Bigoa Nyuon (trade, Richmond)
Draft picks owned: 2, 3, 15, 17, 18, 57
Jon Ralph says: “They’ve got big decisions ahead. They’ve got those (early draft) picks, they add Zac Fisher who can play half-back, half-forward or wing. They’ve got Dylan Stephens, Biggie Nyuon and Toby Pink who was the best defender in the SANFL this year. So Clarko has got some extra magnets to move around the board. I’d love to see a full season out of the ‘War Lord’ (George Wardlaw) – so much young talent, they’ve just got to coalesce it.”
David King says: “It’s no longer a talent thing for me – this is about just setting standards for the footy club. The coach have an uninterrupted pre-season personally and let him get his fingerprints on this group – didn’t happen last year for a whole host of reasons. We’ve had this same conversation for so long about North – love October, hate the rest of the year. It has to turn. The AFL have done the right thing giving them support and they’ve got to maximise that now.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B+
PORT ADELAIDE
Who left: Xavier Duursma (trade, Essendon)
Who arrived: Ivan Soldo (trade, Richmond), Jordon Sweet (trade, Western Bulldogs), Esava Ratugolea (trade, Geelong), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (trade, Essendon)
Draft picks owned: 73
Leigh Montagna says: “Port Adelaide have got their man (Ratugolea). They’ve targeted him for two years, they identified the key-position role was something really significant for them if they want to have a crack to win a flag again. It’s going to fascinating to see how he works alongside Aliir Aliir … I’m a big rap for Zerk-Thacher, I think he showed huge improvement this year, particularly now a third key defender. When he looked average was when he was going up against guys who are well out of his weight division like Tom Hawkins and some of the other monsters. But when he’s a second or third defender, I think he’s got great attributes, his intercept marking really improved and he’s really aggressive. I think he’s a really good get … It does come at the expense of draft picks. They really are investing in the now and they are going to sacrifice some talent in the draft in the next couple of years.”
David King says: “They have the key three now of Aliir, Ratugolea and Zerk-Thatcher – and I love that. It gives Ken Hinkley a real opportunity to be aggressive on the edges with the other three – Dan Houston, Kane Farrell and Miles Bergman – and be really damaging off a half-back flank and allow those others to do the bulk of the intercepting and the bulk of the defending. That’s what good teams do. Now I don’t know how aggressive Ken can be with this, because you’ve got two guys who seriously want to intercept in Aliir and Ratugolea. Can they super aggressive? They might be the highest pressing team we’ve ever seen with these two elite interceptors down back … I like it (recruiting two rucks). It’s an obvious hole. When you get to the pointy end of the year, you get exposed where you’ve got significant flaws – and that’s what has happened at Port Adelaide over the last couple of seasons. They’ve done something about it and I think given their midfield stocks, hit-outs to advantage is a game-changer for those guys. Wait and see what these guys can do when they’re on the move and being proactive out the front of stoppage.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B+
RICHMOND
Who left: Bigoa Nyuon (trade, North Melbourne), Ivan Soldo (trade, Port Adelaide)
Who arrived: Jacob Koschitzke (trade, Hawthorn)
Draft picks owned: 29, 41, 65, 68
Jon Ralph says: “They lose Ivan Soldo as the back-up ruckman, despite two weeks of denials. They get back Pick 41 and a future second rounder. It’s good enough to let him go if they can get a Scott Lycett as a back-up. Samson Ryan would need to step up (if not). It’s all about the young breed coming through.”
Leigh Montagna says: “They’ve still got so many players, high end talent at 24, 25 (years of age). You talk about (Noah) Balta and (Shai) Bolton, (Liam) Baker and even (Tim) Taranto, (Daniel) Rioli. They’ve still got a lot of guys that are still young enough to be a part of the next phase whenever that is for Richmond. It might be a bit quicker than you think. The Koschitzke one for me – he either just plays a role as a really competitive tall forward that Richmond have been used to bring the ball to ground and allow the smalls to play that style. The other thing to consider – I think Koschitzke would make a great key defender and I’d look at moving maybe a Balta or Gibcus as maybe a permanent forward to work alongside a Tom Lynch for a year or two and then take the reins.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C
ST KILDA
Who left: Nick Coffield (trade, Western Bulldogs), Jack Billings (trade, Melbourne)
Who arrived: Liam Henry (trade, Fremantle), Paddy Dow (trade, Carlton)
Draft picks owned: 13, 21, 40
Jon Ralph says: “Ross Lyon adds – well let’s face it, Stephen Silvagni added – Paddy Dow after picking him with Pick 3 in the 2017 draft. He’s a clearance beast who adds some pop out of the stoppage. Liam Henry is an elite running mid. Both of them have upside. You could say neither of them are midfield game-changers, but I think the finals participation last year gives them a little bit of a honeymoon period to say ‘we don’t need that massive spike’.”
Leigh Montagna: “They added some talent and depth around the edges with these two players. For me they just need to nail their draft picks. We know that for St Kilda to build this core and capable of winning finals and be a regular contender, you need that big crop and age bracket coming through together. They’ve already built the foundation with Mitch Owens and Matteas Phillipou and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Anthony Caminiti and Max King. They now need to nail these picks – and their tricky picks.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B
SYDNEY SWANS
Who left: Dylan Stephens (trade, North Melbourne)
Who arrived: James Jordon (free agent, Melbourne), Joel Hamling (free agent, Fremantle), Brodie Grundy (trade, Melbourne), Taylor Adams (trade, Collingwood)
Draft picks owned: 12, 45, 55
Jon Ralph says: “I think they are one of the big winners or one of the big winners in the top eight. Brodie Grundy is a cheap as chips deal – only paying him his $600,000. Taylor Adams is a heart and soul clearance beast plus Joel Hamling and James Jordon both free agents who they will feel could be in their best 22. They still have pick 12 to go back to the draft. I think it’s a seriously impressive period for John Longmire who absolutely thinks he’s in the sweet spot.”
David King says: “They’ve had concerns around the edges … they’ve looked as wobbly last year as they’ve ever looked I think. I think Grundy is still an elite ruckman … he’ll give them that first service. That little hit to advantage. It’s only a step, only a metre. That’s so exciting if you’re a Sydney Swans supporter. I like what they’ve done.”
Leigh Montagna says: “Kinnear Beatson and his team – a big win. They’ve targeted specific players with specific needs. We’ve spoken a lot of their contest and clearance game as really inconsistent and it let them down at crucial times – now they’ve addressed that with Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams. They get the key defender (in Hamling) – not their first choice, but they get someone who is a solid, reliable player. I expect a bounce back this year.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A
WEST COAST EAGLES
Who left: Nil
Who arrived: Matt Flynn (free agent, GWS)
Draft picks owned: 1, 23, 37, 58
Jon Ralph says: “I’ve got no doubt they will consider offers (For Pick 1). Hawthorn offered Pick 4, a future first-rounder and Brockman, that wasn’t enough. I think North Melbourne won’t offer Picks 2 and 3, but they’ll offer say Pick 2, 15 and 17. (But) West Coast will say they want three within 10. I think in the end, if North Melbourne has to offer up Picks 2 and 3, it’s just too much. Given then North Melbourne would go from Pick 1 to Pick 15, which will push to Pick 20 – that’s not enough for North Melbourne … Matt Flynn, a really emerging ruckman. If he gets a chance, I think he’s exciting and they also bring in Tyler Brockman. Not a bad little period. But they’ve got Picks 1, 23, 37 and 58 – you cannot bring one elite player in when you’ve got eight list holes. You need to maximise that No. 1 pick and that’s by getting whatever you can for it and that will go all the way until November 20 – I think it’ll take that long for them to get a deal done on Pick 1 … say Melbourne offer Picks 6, 11 and a future first-rounder – they are going to get assaulted by many clubs trying to throw many things at them. They will be spoiled for choice, but at some stage, you’ve got to have a crack at maximising their assets. I think they’re very likely in the end to try and hand on the No. 1 pick … think about what happened this year, North Melbourne had the No. 1 overall pick and they gave it up and in the end Sheezel and Wardlaw are absolutely amazing. Every West Coast fan said: ‘We split that Pick (2) and we’ve done the right thing because we’ve got local kids (Ginbey and Hewett)’. If (they do get) Dan Curtin and they get Pick 8 and 12 and they bring local kids there and they love to play there and Daniel Curtin is their captain in eight years’ time. Yes, Harley Reid is going to be an outstanding player in Victoria, but they’ve got their local talent and they love their locals.”
Leigh Montagna says: “I agree, I think West Coast needs a glut of early picks. You’ve got to get them in a two or three year window. We’ve seen premiership teams build that six, seven, eight or nine guys of your core together. I think they have to get more draft picks in this draft rather than going to Pick 23 after taking the first pick. I think that’s why North Melbourne is in the box seat. If I’m North Melbourne, I’m OK holding onto Picks 2 and 3, I’m not going to give them both up. I’d put it in West Coast’s hands and say: ‘If you want more picks, you take 3, 15 and 17, otherwise we’ll just go in with Pick 2 and 3’. Ball is in West Coast’s court.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Who left: Jordon Sweet (trade, Port Adelaide)
Who arrived: James Harmes (trade, Melbourne), Nick Coffield (trade, St Kilda)
Draft picks owned: 5, 48, 50, 52, 53, 56, 69, 72, 75
Jon Ralph says: “I think they had a great trading period. They signed Aaron Naughton for seven million years! They upgraded to Pick 4, they got Nick Coffield in as depth, they retained points for father-son prospect Jordan Croft – who they think can play as a key back, I know he played forward in the Under 18s – they got James Harmes. Can they save their coach’s bacon while holding onto Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Tim English? They’re big questions, but they’ve certainly added.”
Leigh Montagna says: “I think they’d love to get Nick Watson in the door – that exciting small forward – at Pick 5. Interesting for me, Harmes and Coffield – do they walk into their best 22? Maybe not, they’re going to have to fight for spots where their best positions are. Coffield’s got a couple to get ahead of – Ed Richards and Bailey Dale – and Harmes can play that half-forward role with that hard edge and apply some forward pressure that had been an issue at stages. For me, the Bulldogs are going to be around the mark. It’s the same questions we’ve had for them for the last couple of years. They’ve got talent, they’ve got a lot of pieces – it’s just putting it all together to get the very best version of the Bulldogs.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B
