AFL / Paul Bugeja / 18 October 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

As trade week comes to a close, Paul Bugeja takes a look at where your team stands and wonders how happy you'll be with their decisions...

Didn't you love to trade footy cards when you were a kid (maybe you still do...?)

How exciting was it getting your pocket money each week after mowing nana's lawn and spending a vast chunk of it on a new pack of cards?

There were disappointments, of course.

'Not another Kevin Bartlett.'

And some joys.

'At last, a Tuck, ace.'

And occasionally a bit of desperation.

'I'll give you three Schwarzes for a Hirdy.'

Looking over the 2011 trades, supporters will no doubt have similar feelings about players they've lost and players they've gained.

As one might expect, Greater Western Sydney (GWS) have been the most active.

With so many NAB draft picks at their disposal, and needing to beef up their list with more senior players, they have dealt with no less than ten clubs during the trade period. Luke Power, Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan are the three most notables heading the way of GWS, as well as some high draft picks to allow clubs to snatch up players they have had their eyes on, such as Ahmed Saad (Essendon), Luke Brown (Adelaide) and Jarrad Boumann (Hawthorn).

Hawthorn haven't been too far behind GWS, shedding Jordan Lisle (Brisbane Lions), Brent Renouf (Port Adelaide) and Will Sierakowski (North Melbourne), and picking up emerging forward Jack Gunston (Adelaide) and some high second round draft selections. A strong play for Geelong's promising backman Tom Gillies didn't come off, although the securing of Jarrad Boumann should go some way to bringing future further strengthening of their back-line.

In a three-way trade, Richmond gain support in their ruck division, with Ivan Maric moving over from Adelaide, Tom Lynch leaving St Kilda to become a Crow and the Saints picking up a second round draft pick (37). They also moved on Mitch Morton, who will become a Sydney Swan.

After much wrangling, Fremantle faced up to the disappointment on the weekend of losing the fight for Mitch Clarke, with Melbourne trumping them, although it is reported that Fremantle's Chris Bond says his club was "nowhere near" to sealing a deal, so let the prospect go.

As the trade window began to shut, much-maligned Melbourne defender Matthew Warnock looks set to head to the Gold Coast Suns where it is no doubt hoped the warmer climes will lift his player spirit.

Pick 7 from last year's draft, Josh Caddy, was in the middle of sensitive negotiations to bring him back to Melbourne. The deal Essendon was trying to broker with GCS looked all but scuttled, but the Demons are reported to have stepped in at the 11th hour (the trade period finishes at 2pm sharp) to try and mediate a trade. At trade close, however, Caddy looked destined to remain a Sun.

Neither Carlton nor Geelong effected a trade, with Carlton seemingly totally absent from any form of negotiation. Clearly, both coaches feel their lists are in reasonable shape, not an unfair assumption given the performances of both sides this season. Howevern with the exodus of senior players in the shape of Moody, Milburn and Ling from Geelong, it seems odd that they overlooked flanker Rick Ladson, who is no longer required at the Hawks yet is back to top match fitness and has several potential playing years ahead.

Most other trades have been NAB draft for draft picks, although in a last minute flurry, as is often the case, Lewis Johnstone went from Sydney to Adelaide, the Saints untried Irish player, Tommy Walsh, went to Sydney and young Essendon ruckman Josh Jenkins was traded to Adelaide.

With the draft complete, eyes will no turn to the NAB draft in a month's time, when all the most promising talent of the next generation of footballers will be up for grabs.

(PLEASE NOTE: No trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm today)