Interesting little bit from this Herald Sun article regarding Geelong trading their first picks
"Geelong has not yet made a play for St Kilda’s Paddy McCartin, despite widely-held belief the Saints’ spearhead is open to a move in the exchange period."
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/ ... e06077fab7
Full Article:
THE AFL’s restrictions on trading future-first round picks wont bite down on Geelong until next year if the club continues to trade out its top picks.
The Cats are the only club in the league which have traded out their first-round pick in each of the past three years.
If they again move on this year’s first-round choice, without bringing in an early replacement selection, they will be prevented from trading out their future first-round pick (for the 2020 draft) in next year’s exchange period.
Any club which does not use at least two first-round picks at the draft within a rolling four-year period will be handcuffed from passing on their future first-round pick the following season.
Importantly, every club can trade its first-round pick for the current season every year, as the rules only refer to trading out future first-round picks, according to an AFL document.
However, there is a large loophole.
All clubs can still apply for special league exemption to beat the future first-round pick clamp down even if they are fall into the restriction zone.
In an AFL document ‘Determination for the trading of future draft selections’ it says, “Exceptions will only apply based on the age of players traded for first-round selections and what other draft selections have been taken by the club in the relevant time frame.”
The Cats have clarified with the AFL they are allowed to trade their first-round pick and their future first-round pick for this year’s exchange period.
However, it is more likely the Cats will hold on to both choices and pick up a youngster in the first round of this year’s draft for the first time since they welcomed Nakia Cockatoo in 2014.
Since then, Geelong has traded it first-round selection to nab stars Lachie Henderson, Patrick Dangerfield and Zach Tuohy.
The Cats are mindful of refreshing the list with some young talent, despite zeroing in on Western Bulldogs free agent Luke Dahlhaus and Sydney speedster Gary Rohan as well.
As the Herald Sun revealed in July, the Cats have offered Dahlhaus a four-year deal to arrive at the cattery and help them dial up the forward line pressure for next season.
Rohan would also add some extra speed and line breaking flair.
The Cats may also lose hard nut George Horlin-Smith to Gold Coast, goal kicker Daniel Menzel to St Kilda and livewire Lincoln McCarthy to Brisbane.
Geelong has not yet made a play for St Kilda’s Paddy McCartin, despite widely-held belief the Saints’ spearhead is open to a move in the exchange period.
The AFL designed these trading restrictions in 2015 to prevent irresponsible or haphazard list management.
They will be implemented for the first time in next year’s exchange period.
“The relevant time frame commences from the National Draft in 2015, so the first four year block will not come into effect until the Exchange Period of 2019,” the AFL rule states.
Clubs have to seek board approval before swapping out its future-first round pick in any year.