Trade deficit

by LES EVERETT

THE dust has settled after another AFL trading period and Fremantle has emerged with its squad enhanced but with another blow its to spirit.

The Dockers picked up Leigh Brown at five in the 1999 national draft and in 2001 called him best club man.

During draft week the club swapped him for pick 15 in a draft the experts say is lacking in riches.

Des Headland is exactly the type of player Fremantle needed but in being so single-minded in its pursuit the club probably paid too high a price to gain him. Collingwood picked up a Brownlow Medallist for draft pick 16; West Coast got a fairest and best winner for choice 10, Port Adelaide gave up pick 15 and finished up with the most frightening player in the competition and it's not even worth mentioning what Brisbane, Melbourne and Richmond "paid" for Essendon premiership players Blake Caracella, Chris Heffernen and Justin Blumfield.

In comparison Fremantle gave up picks five and 21 plus Adam McPhee to snare Headland who has looked like a top player for a half a season of his four year AFL career.

In Fremantle's favour is the fact Headland's best half season was his last - he's a player who looks on the verge of big things.

While fans will be baffled by events during the trading period, and some are unpicking the number of their favourite player from their club jumper, some good may come of it all.

AFL players as a group are paid too much. No club can truly afford the $5million plus wages bill it is forced to pay its players.

But even though they are swimming in an ocean of riches many individual players and their managers are greedy. In an environment where team spirit should be paramount some players are prepared to take more than their share while their team mates miss out.

What's required is not only a reduction in the salary cap but a change in the way players are paid.

One man who should be getting his head around this is AFL 2IC Andrew Demetriou. In a previous life as a union heavy he led the players into their fantasy land - now he should be able to show them the way out.

Blake Caracella in happier days

Disclaimer