Trade period in the AFL can do strange things to people. That much we saw it in the last 10 days.
Footy fans from all clubs applauded their list managers and berated them in equal measure. They either won the deal or paid overs for incoming and outgoing talent.
They either set their club up for a tilt at a flag or consigned it to wallowing in the bottom quartile of the competition for the next five years. Often both sides of the argument were presented around the same transaction.
Football is an opinion business, but it’s inexact. Usually subjective.
In the case of the West Coast Eagles there were extreme views about the outcomes of a week of offers and counter offers that saw the club secure Liam Baker, Matt Owies and free agent Jack Graham.
The club split pick three for 12 and 14 (with Carlton) to ensure Baker made it to his destination of choice, the former Richmond vice-captain looking to finish his career at home. The Eagles, light on for draft collateral appealing enough for the Tigers to release the pugnacious utility player, had to get inventive.
They did. But not all Eagles fans were thrilled with the manoeuvre. They were universal in their want for Baker to arrive at the club he supported growing up in Pingaring, but not enamoured with the price tag.
Beyond the shelf price, however, there was a bit more to this trade.
Dual premiership player Baker committed to the club within minutes of Andrew McQualter being named senior coach for the next three years. McQualter had been part of the coaching structure at the Tigers as both an assistant and then interim senior coach when Damien Hardwick stepped away in 2023.
Baker and McQualter harbour a high degree of mutual respect. So, too, does Graham who also played in a couple of Richmond premierships. Graham committed to come as a free agent, anticipating the Eagles would successfully complete the Baker trade.
While the cut and thrust can be brutal, there is also a degree of integrity and honour at play.
The other aspect to all of this is that Owies, who came as part of the pick split with Carlton, Graham and Baker help to fill a gaping hole in the demographic of 23-27 year-olds on the list. And, by the bye, they’re pretty decent players too.
Already we have seen a clear demonstration of their leadership qualities too. Even before the Baker deal had been processed the two Richmond stars had been ‘training’ with young gun Harley Reid.
The character of those players around an impressionable young list will be important as they help establish and drive the standards required to succeed at the elite level.
The word out of Carlton is that Owies, who has kicked 60 goals in the last two seasons, is every bit as impressive. An interview he did on Melbourne radio indicated it was an accurate assessment.
Whether dropping nine spots in the draft order is worth it (after trading 14 to Richmond) only time will tell. Clearly there is an assumption that higher quality players are available at the top of the order, but this talent pool runs deep.
And the Eagles might also be able to trade back in with the future first, second and third round selections it received in the trade the exchange that sent key defender Tom Barrass to Hawthorn.
At the completion of the draft on November 20 and 21 pundits will be in a better position to evaluate the post-season deals. In three years’ time it will be even clearer.
