Trade Reviews, or, Subtraction by Addition

In 2004, Richmond, coming off another sub-par season, were looking to make some changes and invest in the youth movement. They were shopping around their former all-Australian ruckman/forward Brad Ottens, who had just finished 8th in their best & fairest, and wanted two 1st round draft picks in return.

The Cats had also come off another sub-par season and at was apparent to all that they needed a key marking forward. So, after moving on turn-over and terrible haircut prone Brent Maloney to Melbourne, the Cats had the requisite draft picks and thus pulled the trigger on one of the most high-profile draft day trades in AFL history.

While Ottens has not been dominant he has been more than serviceable. Playing mostly in the forward line he has been at the mercy of the midfield, and to say he could use some better midfield delivery would be akin to saying Nicole Richie could do with a decent feed.

Ottens’ value to the team has yet to be fully realised, but that’s a blog for another time and probably another writer (I’m looking at you, Mrs. Watson). In 2004, although it cost us draft picks and a promising young midfielder, I believed Geelong had to make that trade. I still do.

These days, clubs are highly unwilling to part with first round draft picks at all and trades for established players are coming at an increasingly cheap rate. So, was Ottens that highly rated at the time, or are clubs now over-valuing the worth of first round draft picks? Or, a third option, are teams simply being fooled into taking other teams’ trash? Let’s take a look at early candidates for ‘Most useless off-season addition’.

Peter Everitt, Sydney.
After haggling about the price for several weeks, Sydney finally relented and gave Hawthorn the 2nd round choice it wanted for the big ruckman. At the time I was critical of Sydney for not wanting to give anything up but now I think I see why. Everitt looks about as mobile as a Lou Richards does during the 'Sunday Footy Show' handball comp. (Seriously, how long til they're wheeling out Lou hooked up to an iron lung?)

Jason Akermanis, Western Bulldogs.
Let’s see, the Bulldogs have a team of lightening quick, slightly built players who don’t miss a target and run all day, but are lacking midfields who can win their own ball and any quality sizable players. Hmmm, what to do? I know, let’s get another player who is exactly the same as the other 35 on our list, only he’s past his prime, injury prone, overpaid and a loud-mouthed team cancer. Almost a Grant Thomas-esque move by the Bulldogs.

Michael Gardiner, St.Kilda.
On the negative side, he’s played zero games on an underperforming team that desperately needs a ruck presence and the current coach can’t blame Grant Thomas for his injuries. On the positive, from the same amount of games played this season he has one less arrest than Jeff Farmer.

Paul Medhurst, Collingwood.
Medhurst was the main player traded for Chris Tarrant? Really? What was Fremantle’s first offer, a toasted cheese sandwich?

Kent Kingsley, Richmond.
You didn’t think I’d forget about the Great Kent of Kingsley, did you? Granted, Kent was picked up in the pre-season draft and not in a trade, but so far he’s played no games due to an on-going hamstring complaint and is supposed to fit into a forward line at a club where their spearhead with 700 career goals is constantly maligned and slagged by his own supporters? Do you think Kent will be around for ‘Richmond: Operation 2011’?