With 23 rounds in the books, it’s a good time to look back at last year’s trade period and analyse each move that was made.
Has the acquisition worked for your club? Did they give up too much? Did they get a bargain?
We’ve gone through all 36 players that moved clubs in free agency or the trade period and assigned a grade based on their first season at their new club.
This has been based on their OUTPUT VERSUS COST (what was given up to get them)
FREE AGENTS
Karl Amon to Hawthorn: B+
Karl Amon will have played 21 games in his first season as a Hawk averaging 23.1 disposals per game. He has been ultra reliable on the wing and delivered exactly what the Hawks would have wished for.
Jayden Hunt to West Coast: B
Despite all the chaos at West Coast, Jayden Hunt has been a consistent contributor this season. He has played 22 games, averaging 19.1 disposals per game and proving himself as a leader amongst a young team.
Dan McStay to Collingwood: B-
Dan McStay will truly get judged on his impact in September. He has kicked two goals in every game since returning to the side in Round 18. He has only played 11 this season after a serious finger injury. This grade has room to grow.
Zaine Cordy to St Kilda: C+
Zaine Cordy was a savvy depth pick-up by the Saints. He has filled holes forward and back and had a strong finish to the season. Good bit of list management by Stephen Silvagni and his team.
Liam Jones to Western Bulldogs: A
Has clearly been their best defender this year when healthy. It's hard to imagine what the Bulldogs' season would have looked like without him defensively.
TRADE PERIOD
Bobby Hill to Collingwood: B
The Magpies gave up a future second round pick to land Bobby Hill, who has absolutely held up his end of the deal. Has kicked 24 goals in 20 games and been a spark for the Pies all season.
Tim Taranto to Richmond: A
The Tigers sold the farm to get him and in the long run, giving up picks 12 and 19 might not look great, but they couldn’t have asked for much more from Tim Taranto in year one. He may be leading the Brownlow at the halfway point. Should win the Jack Dyer Medal.
Blake Acres to Carlton: A
Blake Acres has played all 21 games, been ultra-reliable on the wing for Carlton, will likely finish top five in their best and fairest and cost them a future third-round pick. Tick, tick, tick.
Griffin Logue to North Melbourne: B
The Roos essentially secured their full-back of the future for draft picks handed to them by the AFL. He looked good early in the season, but the torn ACL stings. Especially with Ben McKay likely out the door.
Darcy Tucker to North Melbourne: C+
Played 17 games this season and been a mature body to take some hits in a pure rebuilding year for the Roos. Gave up virtually nothing to get him.
Ben Long to Gold Coast: C
Had a moment early in the season, restricting Izak Rankine. Has played 15 games, now appears out of favour at the Suns. They gave up pick 32 for him which feels a bit hefty.
Tom Berry to Gold Coast: C-
Was part of a larger pick swap between Gold Coast and Brisbane. The Suns essentially got Berry, pick 46 and pick 30 (in 2023) for 25, 36 and 56. He’s played six games this season. Much of a muchness.
Josh Corbett to Fremantle: C-
Fremantle gave up a future fourth round pick to land the key position player from the Suns. He has played five games this year, kicking three goals. Cheap depth for the Dockers.
Tanner Bruhn to Geelong: B
The 21-year-old has played 19 games and shown enough promise for the future as a midfielder. The Cats gave up pick 18 (Darcy Jones) for him. We’ll see how he develops over time.
Toby Bedford to GWS: B-
Has played 15 games for the Giants this season and worked his way into their best side, averaging 5.4 tackles per game and kicking 10 goals. The Giants gave up pick 44 to land him from the Dees.
Luke Jackson to Fremantle: A-
Luke Jackson looks a superstar of the future as a ruckman and has had an excellent season, particularly as the sole ruckman. Of course, Fremantle’s poor season could see them handing over picks 4 and 20 this year for him, as well as 13 last year. It’s a steep price to pay. Output versus cost.
Will Setterfield to Essendon: B
A great pick-up for Essendon given he cost them nothing and looked solidified in their best 22 before getting injured. Has returned through the VFL, but will surely return to their starting midfield in 2024.
Izak Rankine to Adelaide: B
Pick 5 (Bailey Humphrey) is a steep price to pay for a small forward. Rankine has played 19 games, kicked 36 goals and averaged 16 disposals per game. A slight uptick on his output at the Suns in 2022.
Jason Horne-Francis to Port Adelaide: A+
Port Adelaide gave up pick 8 (Reuben Ginbey), a future first round pick (currently 16) and future 2nd and 3rd round picks to land a player who looks like the future face of the club. Has shown this year he will be a superstar midfielder of the competition.
Willie Rioli to Port Adelaide: C+
Rioli has played 16 games in 2023 and kicked 25 goals while averaging 2.2 tackles per game. He hasn’t quite been the game-swinging small forward that Port Adelaide likely were hoping for. Could he have a big impact in September?
Jack Gunston to Brisbane: D+
Hasn’t quite been the forward-line-shaping swing Brisbane likely hoped. Fitness and now injury have limited Gunston and he has only kicked 22 goals from 17 games, down from 32 in his last year as a Hawk (from 16 games). He will be 32 next season. You'd do the trade again, though.
Brodie Grundy to Melbourne: D
Was excellent when Max Gawn was injured, filling the role superbly. Otherwise, has created a selection headache, limited Gawn’s impact, become a point of external tension and now potentially another trade situation. Of course, one big day in late September could swing this right around.
Jack Bowes to Geelong: C+
The toughest trade to grade on ‘cost’, given Geelong essentially absorbed his salary in exchange for a top 10 draft pick. On Bowes’ output alone, the 25-year-old has been steady, but hasn’t set the world on fire. He has played 16 games in a variety of roles. Getting Jhye Clark certainly makes this a win for the Cats.
Billy Frampton to Collingwood: B+
Some outstanding business by Collingwood, giving up a future third-round pick for a player who has filled a need as a key defender, a ruckman and up forward when needed. He has been solid in every role and is exactly the kind of depth that puts contenders over the top.
Jacob Hopper to Richmond: C
Richmond will hand the Giants pick 7 this year for Hopper, who certainly hasn’t set the world on fire. The 26-year-old has played 15 games, dealt with a few injuries and averaged 21.7 disposals and 4.4 clearances per game.
Aaron Francis to Sydney: C+
Sydney gave up nothing to get him and probably figured Francis would be break in case of emergency depth. The unfortunate nature of Paddy McCartin retiring and other key defensive injuries has seen him called up 14 times this season.
Sam Weideman to Essendon: C
Managed to play 15 games for Essendon in 2023 – a career high for the key forward. Hey did, however, kick just two goals from his last nine games in the seniors.
Josh Schache to Melbourne: D
Melbourne gave up nothing to get him. Depth to have, replacing Sam Weideman on the list. Has only played the one full game in the seniors, however. Was worth a punt, but that will probably be it.
Lachie Hunter to Melbourne: A
The Demons only gave up a third-round pick for Lachie Hunter, who has played 21 games this season and been a key contributor on the wing. He has averaged 22.6 disposals per game and 3.8 inside 50s.
Josh Dunkley to Brisbane: A+
The Lions gave up pick 21 (Charlie Clarke) last year and what is currently picks 17 and 36 this year for Josh Dunkley, who is a chance to win their best and fairest and has been enormous in their midfield. Huge unders for a superstar midfielder.
Tom Mitchell to Collingwood: B+
Considering Collingwood gave up picks 41 and 50 for him, Tom Mitchell has absolutely delivered as a pure on-baller. He has played 22 games this season, averaged 24.9 disposals and 4.7 clearances per game. He certainly will have a role to play in September.
Cooper Stephens to Hawthorn: D+
Was thrown into the Ollie Henry-Tom Mitchell three-way trade, but hasn’t managed to crack into the Hawthorn side this year. He has averaged 19.6 disposals per game in the VFL for Box Hill.
Oliver Henry to Geelong: A-
Two goals on Saturday will see Henry finish his first season at the Cats with 40 goals to his name. He has been an excellent pick-up and will be a long-term part of their forward line. Pick 25 was a fair price to pay.
Rory Lobb to Western Bulldogs: D-
Lobb forced his way out of Fremantle, with the Dogs paying two second round picks for him. After a career best season at Fremantle, Lobb has kicked just 21 goals in 19 games and has found himself out of the side at stages. Fair to say this deal has not worked in year one.
Jaeger O’Meara: C-
Jaeger O’Meara hasn’t had a hugely impactful year at Fremantle – has he been better than Will Brodie was in the same role last season? They gave up a future second round pick to land the 29-year-old. He has averaged 19.6 disposals and 4.3 clearances per game.
Lloyd Meek to Hawthorn: C
Meek has played 15 games in his first season at the Hawks, mostly sharing the ruck duties alongside Ned Reeves. Given they gave up a fourth round pick for him, the ruck depth will be handy long term.