The Trades – Day 8: Carlton satisfies its need for speed

Main image: Adam Saad. (Top right clockwise): Aliir Aliir, Nakia Cockatoo, Lachie Fogarty, Tom Hickey, Shaun Higgins.

Like a slack school student scampering to get their assignment finished at the last minute after having weeks to complete it, AFL trade week has produced plenty of activity in the last couple of days.

Predictably, the dominoes continued to fall on Wednesday, with no fewer than six players finding new homes, taking the tally to 22 for this year’s free agency/trade period.

And with the trade period ending at 7.30pm on Thursday, you can expect that number to increase significantly by then.

On day eight, Essendon speedster Adam Saad finally joined Carlton (his third club), North Melbourne veteran Shaun Higgins crossed to Geelong (also his third club), Sydney defender Aliir Aliir made his way to Port Adelaide, West Coast journeyman Tom Hickey made it four clubs by switching to Sydney, injury-prone but talented Cat Nakia Cockatoo was traded to Brisbane, and his former teammate Lachie Fogarty headed to the Blues.

Having already recruited Zac Williams from the Giants as a free agent, Carlton certainly won’t be wanting for speed next year after also bringing in Saad.

The deal probably took longer to be completed than it should have, but in the end the Blues parted ways with their coveted pick eight, as well as 87, and also got back picks 48 and 78 from the Bombers, which is a good result for Essendon considering Carlton was reportedly initially demanding a second-round pick as part of the transaction.

But at the end of the day, Carlton got its man – and what a man he is. Not only does Saad provide great run and dash off half-back but he is also capable of doing an effective lock-down role.

A model of consistency at Essendon, Saad finished in the top four of the Bombers’ best-and-fairest in each of his three years there.

He was certainly one of Essendon’s best players, but the Bombers’ pain of losing him could be offset if they manage to package up any of their three top-10 picks into a deal for the Bulldogs in return for premiership midfielder Josh Dunkley.

Saad looms as the logical replacement for Kade Simpson on Carlton’s half-back line, but the Blues might have to put their plans of playing Williams in the midfield on ice for the time being following the shocking news of co-captain Sam Docherty having a malignant testicular tumour removed last week.

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It’s unclear how long Docherty’s recovery will take, so if that means Saad and Williams team up in defence, Carlton will have no shortage of speed in that area of the ground until Docherty returns.

Meanwhile, Geelong isn’t ready to shut its premiership window just yet, with the acquisition of the classy Higgins, who joins Isaac Smith, and probably Jeremy Cameron, at Kardinia Park.

Higgins will inject experience, skill and cool decision-making to the Geelong midfield, which will go some way to making up for the loss of the retired Gary Ablett.

And it must be said that North Melbourne actually did pretty well to get pick 30 for a 32-year-old.

It also illustrates how much things have changed at the Kangaroos. Last off-season, Higgins rejected an offer from the Cats to stick with the Kangaroos amidst an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation at what they could achieve in 2020 following a strong finish to the season under then-caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw.

But 13 months later, after a three-win season, Arden Street is in turmoil, Shaw unfortunately vacating his role as senior coach after one year, and Ben Brown also on his way out.

Elsewhere, Port Adelaide would be very pleased indeed at its ability to prise Aliir out of the Swans’ grasp, in exchange for a future second-round pick. Aliir is a very talented key defender who has the potential to become one of the best in the game if he continues his current trajectory of improvement.

Size down back was a huge issue for the Power all season, despite their ability to monopolise top spot on the ladder.

When push came to shove at the pointy end of the season, the likes of Tom Jonas, Trent McKenzie and Tom Clurey were found wanting, and struggled to contain the best teams’ key forwards, so coach Ken Hinkley will no doubt be hopeful Aliir, 26, will assist them in that department.

And in another development, AFL Media is reporting that St Kilda is attempting to coax former Hawthorn defender James Frawley out of retirement.

COMPLETED DEALS
1. Rory Atkins (Adelaide) joined Gold Coast as an unrestricted free agent. Adelaide received pick 36 as compensation.
2. Isaac Smith (Hawthorn) joined Geelong as an unrestricted free agent. Hawthorn received pick 42 as compensation.
3. Joe Daniher (Essendon) joined Brisbane as a restricted free agent. Essendon received pick 7 as compensation.
4. Zac Williams (GWS) joined Carlton as a restricted free agent. GWS received pick 10 as compensation.
5. Aidan Corr (GWS) joined North Melbourne as a restricted free agent. GWS received pick 30 as compensation.
6. Zac Langdon (GWS) traded to West Coast in exchange for pick 54.
7. Oleg Markov (Richmond) traded to Gold Coast in exchange for future third-round pick.
8. Jesse Hogan (Fremantle) traded to GWS in exchange for pick 54.
9. Brad Crouch (Adelaide) joined St Kilda as a restricted free agent. Adelaide received pick 23 as compensation.
10. Kyle Hartigan (Adelaide) traded to Hawthorn in exchange for future fourth-round pick.
11. Shaun McKernan (Essendon) joined St Kilda as a delisted free agent.
*Pick 43 (Brisbane) and future fourth-round pick (Brisbane) trade to Melbourne in exchange for pick 53 and future third-round pick.
12. Peter Wright (Gold Coast) trade to Essendon in exchange for future fourth-round pick.
*Pick 33 (Adelaide) and Pick 50 (Adelaide) traded to Melbourne in exchange for future second-round pick and future fourth-round pick.
13. Mitch Hannan (Melbourne) traded to Western Bulldogs in exchange for future third-round pick.
14. Braydon Preuss (Melbourne) traded to GWS in exchange for pick 31.
15. Stefan Martin (Brisbane) traded to Western Bulldogs, Lachie Young (Western Bulldogs) and pick 70 (Brisbane) traded to North Melbourne, Pick 63 (North Melbourne) traded to Brisbane.
16. Lachie Fogarty (Geelong) and pick 38 (Geelong) traded to Carlton in exchange for picks 30 and 51.
17. Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong) traded to Brisbane Lions in exchange for future third-round pick.
18. Adam Saad (Essendon), pick 48 (Essendon) and pick 78 (Essendon) traded to Carlton in exchange for picks 8 and 87.
19. Aliir Aliir (Sydney) traded to Port Adelaide in exchange for future second-round pick.
20. Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne) traded to Geelong in exchange for pick 30.
21. Tom Hickey (West Coast), pick 34 (West Coast) and pick 60 (West Coast) traded to Sydney in exchange for future second-round pick, future third-round pick, pick 58 and pick 62.