IN THIS week's Sliding Doors, made possible by ventraip australia, our chief football correspondent Damian Barrett puts Carlton, Sydney, Collingwood list manager Ned Guy, Essendon, Peter Bell's feather, Gold Coast and more in the Doors' spotlight.
What's Barrett saying about your club? What's he saying about the AFL? Check it out.
TRADE PERIOD VERDICT We rank your club from worst to best
| If |
the Crows are broken ... |
| then |
according to those who know him best, the appointment of Matty Nicks as coach is sound. Relationship builder. And he had only 24 hours, but he managed to convince Brad Crouch's desire to stay, too. Crouch really liked the Saints' approach, and he loved the Suns' financial numbers. |
| If |
this team under Fagan clearly lives without regret ... |
| then |
it will quickly move on from missing Jamie Elliott. But, would've been on the second line of betting for the 2020 premiership if it secured him. |
| If |
the Blues botched the Telstra AFL Trade Period in failing to hit its targets of Papley and Martin ... |
| then |
it actually won't matter come round one next year. Eddie back in the dark navy blue and 90,000 in the MCG house for the season-opener against the reigning premiers. |
| If |
Pies list manager Ned Guy manages to keep De Goey, Grundy and Moore beyond the 2020 season ... |
| then |
there might be room for another statue in the Olympic Precinct. |
| If |
retaining Joe and Orazio was "Mission accomplished", as per the official Bombers' social media offering on Wednesday night ... |
| then |
wake up. Both players were in the leadership group and both were desperate to get out. What does that say? And where have they actually taken you, anyway? Not to a finals win. When players want out, get 'em out, make deals that suit YOUR club, and move on. |
Mission accomplished. pic.twitter.com/5lfaPNpp02
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) October 16, 2019
| If |
Peter "Feathers" Bell had a problem on his hands this time last week after the Saints stormed out of a meeting called to thrash out compo for Bradley Hill ... |
| then |
he regrouped beautifully in the ensuing seven days. Well played. |
| If |
the narrative has been accepted that Josh Jenkins was a decision arrived at in the final 24 hours of Trade Period ... |
| then |
upon reflection (and a few phone calls), I'm not buying it. Was always going to the Cats. And it's a fantastic outcome for both parties. |
| If |
you get too caught up in the obvious positivity of King re-signing and the now-guaranteed drafting of Rowell and Anderson ... |
| then |
check yourself. Yep, there is finally a speck of light. But, only one thing actually matters. The "W" after each match. |
| If |
the Giants' list management has been superb in the past two Trade Periods ... |
| then |
they need to clear even more space and trick things right up next year. There's a big forward available. See below. |
| If |
Scully and Patton are overall No.1 draft picks now on the Hawks' list, and O'Meara effectively a No.1 through the Suns' access to 17-year-olds ... |
| then |
that's some serious talent on a list that won the third of three consecutive flags four years ago, without even one of that trio. But … they all have body issues. |
| If |
you don't throw a curveball offer to Jack Martin via your access to the first "live pick" in the pre-season draft ... |
| then |
you're being negligent. Take the shot. |
| If |
footy clubs are still paying spotters' fees ... |
| then |
the Giants' Heath Shaw deserves some folding in an envelope. Urged his brother Rhyce to secure Aiden Bonar. |
| If |
others felt the Power stuffed up in letting Dougal Howard walk out ... |
| then |
I'm not in that camp. |
| If |
you landed Tom Lynch this time last year ... |
| then |
there was zero scope, or reason, to do anything of significance in the 2019 Trade Period. |
| If |
you got five players through the door in the 2019 trade space ... |
| then |
very, very well played. But there's only who will actually make significant difference – Bradley Hill. Great get. |
| If |
some people feel I'm carrying on too much about the failed Daniher bid ... |
| then |
I don't care. It was amateurish from the outset, plain embarrassing at the finish, and I'm including his management in this assessment. You actually urged Joe to go public with his desire to become a Swan, and then let him down, and hurt him. If I was Joe, I'd be changing management, and still be looking to head to Sydney at the end of next year … but not the Swans. |
| If |
you actually stop to take a breath and analyse it ... |
| then |
with Yeo, Shuey, Gaff, Jetta, Redden, Sheed, and now Kelly, as the headline acts of a very deep midfield, it's scary. |
| If |
he has never sought a profile ... |
| then |
that's not surprising given the way he and his family is wired. But Dogs' list and recruiting manager Sam Power deserves massive plaudits for the clear plan going into Trade Period, and even more for its execution. |
| If |
the clubs regained some control of player movement during the 2019 Trade Period ... |
| then |
that's only fair. The AFL should now sign off on this rule: if a contracted player wants out, then his club can move him to the club of its choice, not his. |
