Trading Chris Judd, or, Plan B

So, West Coast wants picks 1, 3 and 20 in the draft, as well as Josh Kennedy to send Chris Judd to Carlton. They have publicly and continually said this is what Judd is worth and this is the only offer they will accept. Anything less would be insulting, they’ve said. However, they are forgetting one thing; they’ve got no leverage whatsoever.

To recap, the Judd situation has gone something like this:
a) Judd, out of contract, publicly says he wants to return to Melbourne
b) He interviews potential suitors, and nominates Carlton as his club of choice
c) He leaves the two sides to work out a deal
d) Judd's groin is surgically repaired using catgut, seaweed and an old slinky

In some stroke of madness, the AFL gives all 16 clubs only one week to work out every potential trade deal for the upcoming season, so the clock is ticking for the Eagles, if no deal is struck, Judd simply walks and they get nothing. This is what leaves West Coast with no leverage, and perhaps what is responsible for their very public posturing regarding acceptable compensation.

The Blues have apparently made the generous offer of picks 3 and 20 and Kennedy, yet still been refused. I admire the willingness of Carlton to offer proper recompense and, for the sake of the other clubs forced to work under the one week trade window, the swiftness of their offer. However, if I was Carlton, I’d be pulling a Ron Burgundy and saying, ‘Go fuck yourself, West Coast.’

Play hard ball with the fuckers: “Picks 1, 3, 20 and Josh Kennedy not good enough? We offered, can’t do anymore than that… The biscuits are back in the cupboard…” Seriously, it’s time to lowball them now, while holding shady talks with Richmond. Offer them pick 3 only, or pick 20 only. Take Kennedy off the table.

Why Richmond, you ask? If no deal is done, and Judd walks, he then must nominate for the pre-season draft, in which Richmond holds pick no. 1. Now, the Blues do hold pick 2, but for a small fee I’m sure they could get a guarantee from the Tiges that they’ll bypass Judd. And when I say small fee I mean a lot smaller than picks 1, 3, 20 and Josh Kennedy. Now, onto Geelong’s involvement in trade week…

It appears as though VFL Best & Fairest Tim Callan has requested a trade, with (surprise, surprise) the Bulldogs have emerged as a likely suitor. One of the bravest players I’ve seen at Geelong, but prone to the odd skill error, Callan has not been able to crack a regular senior spot with Josh Hunt and pisshead David Johnson ahead of him for that back pocket spot. It will be interesting to see if That Cats can get something done that hopefully doesn’t involve the words, ‘Peter Street’.

Mark Blake has been the other name to pop up occasionally, with some scribes essentially inventing the story that his disappointment from being dropped for the Gand Final has turned to bitterness, which has manifested in a trade request. (That sounds like a medical condition, doesn’t it?) Now, I don’t claim to have any inside knowledge here, but with his family history at the club, the time and money they have already invested in him and the potential greatness of future teams, surely he wouldn’t be boneheaded enough to leave. The Cats will try and keep both him and King, Blake on a long contract, King on a 1 year deal, and experiment with playing 3 ruckmen in the same side, which they threatened to do this year, if only to keep everyone happy.

If not, Brian Cook should put in a call to West Coast; ‘Silkworm’ Blake for Judd? Sounds fair to me.