RICHO’S TOP 10: AFL should consider bringing back a mid-season trade period to help clubs hurt by injury

1. I’ve been saying for years now that we should have a mid-year trade period, not just a mid-season draft.

Most professional sports and leagues can trade or transfer players during the season. It’s time we do this in the AFL again. We did it in the 1970s. One famous trade was Gareth Andrews going from Geelong to Richmond after round seven, 1974, for Rex Hunt. He actually played against North Melbourne two weeks in a row. The teams that would benefit the most this year would be led by the Western Bulldogs. With Tim English out and Sam Darcy gone for the season they have been exposed big time in the ruck the past two weeks and it does not get any easier against Sydney’s Brodie Grundy tonight. Even if English returns in the next few weeks they would love a bit more depth in this area. West Coast and Richmond are the other two teams desperately needing reinforcements. It’s never been harder to rebuild with just kids. I think the Tigers would love to find a small forward who could hit the scoreboard or a midfielder with some speed and burst. These are two areas they are struggling in big time. As for the Eagles, a bit of experience and height down back wouldn’t go astray. They are asking a lot of Reuben Ginbey, who is 191cm, against some monster full-forwards. It would be fascinating who these clubs would make a play for and who they would be prepared to give up, plus it would give us another talking point on the sidelines.

2. I have seen some shocking things in footy, but nothing was as hard as continuing to call the Dogs-Cats game after Darcy did his ACL.

While you don’t like seeing any player injured, I felt extra flat when Darcy went down. This guy is going to be something extra special and the game needs players like him out there. He’s a bums on seats type of star. He immediately knew how bad the injury was, slamming his fist into the turf. It is seriously going to hurt the Bulldogs’ season. Overall, it was a disastrous night for the Dogs, with Tom Liberatore concussed and defenders James O’Donnell and Rory Lobb suffering hamstring strains. It will be hard for them in the coming weeks with the Swans, Freo and Hawks to come.

3. It’s been fantastic to see the support Elijah Hollands is getting from the whole footy public.

If you haven’t read the post from his father Ben, please check it out. They were very touching words that ring true with everyone. His call to support and lift people up who are struggling was spot on. The complete opposite to some of the crap I saw online post the game last Friday. I played with Ben at the Tigers, he is a great guy so I’m glad the family are getting heaps of love. It was hard to watch the vision of Elijah struggling on the field. One thing that absolutely made me angry was reading some of the vile, nasty comments and commentary online. Most of it from faceless trolls. Absolutely disgusting. Social media companies need to be better as these trolls need to be more accountable.

4. It’s also been a tough period at the Crows with the passing of Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson’s brother.

Mental health is a huge problem in our community, and these sad situations highlight it. I strongly support calls for a mental health round, especially after Bailey Smith’s post-match interview last Friday night backing it in. We highlight a lot of issues in the AFL, and we really could help shine a light on men’s mental health and getting more men to talk and not keep their problems and feelings bottled up. The Saints have Spud’s Game every year for men’s mental health and the Danny Frawley Centre. The rest of the competition should join in. Let’s get it done.

5. It’s my favourite day on the footy calendar this Saturday with the traditional Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day clash.

It’s an inspiring day to honour those that serve and have served our country. The playing of the Last Post makes your hair stand up on the back of your head at the ground. I feel like Essendon are a chance to win the game. Their past 11 quarters from quarter-time against the Dogs in round four have been highly competitive. They pushed the Suns all the way last week. Some positional changes and improved pressure suddenly have the Bombers feeling buoyant. If Essendon skipper Andrew McGrath can do the impossible and manage to shut down Nick Daicos, I’m not sure the Pies have enough points in them. It should be a close either way. No one would have said that just three weeks ago.

6. We get a lot of recency bias in our game when judging players and matches.

But I cannot remember a player turning a game on his own like Nick Daicos did last Thursday against the Blues. His first 10 minutes of the last quarter were as good a burst from a player I can remember seeing. I know Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett Sr and Dusty definitely did. It was Daicos’ 100th game and he was determined to not walk off that ground a loser. He did it all, kicking a goal, setting up both of Jamie Elliott’s goals, winning clearances and contested possessions. This guy is a star and deserves every accolade.

7. Do yourself a favour and go back and watch what happened after Carlton’s Talor Byrne missed the opportunity to draw the game against Collingwood after the siren.

All of his teammates got over to console him. It was great to see that support. The fourth-gamer would have been disappointed. I loved when Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury went over to him to offer Talor some encouragement. What a star Pendles is in all ways.

8. It has never been more important for a footy club to have a jumping ruckman.

In years gone by 200cm was a tall ruckman. These days you need your ruckman to be 205cm-plus. They are not easy to find. Former Collingwood and now Fremantle player Mason Cox was identified at training combine in the United States. AFL clubs should be again casting their nets wider and hold more of these tryouts in the States. There are so many tall athletes that don’t get drafted to the professional football or basketball leagues after college and are lost to sport. There surely are athletes over there that could potentially be these jumping type rucks that would love a crack at the AFL. Club recruiting teams need to get creative.

9. The wizard Nick Watson is quickly becoming my favourite player in the AFL.

A crucial five-goal display last week won the Hawks the game against Port Adelaide. He is now the best small forward in the competition. Every time he goes near the ball something happens for Hawthorn. What he also now adds is damaging explosive pace out of the centre ball-up. His ability to hit packs at full pace to win a crumb front and square or win a stoppage is second-to-none. At his current rate of form, he will be selected in his first All-Australian team at the end of the season.

10. It was remiss of me in last week’s column to not mention Brisbane dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale’s 300th game.

The thing I have loved about Neale the most throughout his decorated career is just how clean he is with his hands at ground level. He simply never fumbles no matter how much pressure he is under. It’s no fluke when you talk to people at Brisbane, they will tell you about the incredible amount of work he puts into his ball handling craft. He always puts teammates into better positions. A sign of a truly great player is making their teammates look better. Lachie has always done this.