Relying on drafting alone won’t get the job done. You must trade as well.
When a team is in rebuild mode, drafting should always be the priority. When a team is in premiership window mode, trading must be amped up.
Why? Opportunity and the lack thereof.
A rebuilding team has access to high draft picks over a number of years. A contending team doesn’t.
I’m of the opinion that you never trade a top 5 pick, ever. However, if your first pick is outside the top 10, you must be prepared to move it on if you can pick up an established player who fills a definite need whilst you are in premiership contention.
Sydney have had both the COLA and Academy benefits. They have used the system beautifully. We’re not in a position to use those benefits.
Hawthorn are a different kettle of fish and represent the model we should closely follow.
Hawthorn hasn't had a top 10 draft pick since 2006. Our last top 10 pick was Morabito in 2009.
Hawthorn have no difficulty trading away first round picks in order to fill specific needs which will help them win now. We are currently in that Hawthorn zone, our first round picks are not really high enough to get access to the top plums in each draft.
Is the best available player at #16 any better than the best available player at #21? Hawthorn say no. They'll happily slide down the selection order a few notches and use that leverage to trade in a player they believe they need now whilst not severely compromising their selection position.
In 2012 they traded away #21 and #43 for Lake and #27. In 2013 they traded away #18 and #19 and Savage for #24 and #59 and McEvoy. Last year they traded away #19 and #40 for O'Rourke and #43.
We are at a significant disadvantage to the Hawthorns of this world when it comes to attracting quality players.
Trading them in is extremely difficult. We must keep trying.
Does Aaron Black represent quality? At the moment probably not.
Black suffered a shoulder injury in rd 6 last year (v Freo. Remember the Johnson misconduct charge for bumping into Black as he was trying to leave the field?).
He went on to play every game for North last season, however, by season’s end he could barely raise his arm to shoulder height. He had shoulder surgery during the off season and has struggled to regain any form since then. He had a very good game at VFL level last week but spoiled things by kicking 2.5.
He should be back in the North senior team soon, Jarrad Waite has only kicked 0.4 in games v Freo, West Coast and Sydney in the past month.
Let Black return to senior footy on a regular basis, follow his progress and at season’s end make a call on whether he’s a possible trade target or not.
