Well folks, every AFL Trade Week we say we’ve seen it all, and then the next one rolls around and knocks us on our arses.
But even still, there’s gonna have to be an absolute eye-waterer next year to top this outrageous shit.
Hawthorn‘s four-time premiership star Sam Mitchell has officially jumped ship and will suit up for the West Coast Eagles in 2017, after the clubs agreed to a trade that is, by all rights, a complete and utter game-changer in terms of AFL list management strategies.
Mitchell won the Hawks best & fairest – his fifth during his time at the club – a mere matter of weeks ago, but now finds himself preparing to move to Perth to take up the next stage of his career.
The 34-year-old will play at least one season for the Eagles (his contract contains a trigger clause for a possible second playing season) before he transitions into a coaching role at the club under the tutelage of senior coach Adam Simpson.
The Eagles confirmed the arrival of Mitchell in an understandably very excited Tweet a short time ago.
Welcome to West Coast, Sam Mitchell!!
Trade details: https://t.co/GE7syaTR8h pic.twitter.com/Iait5rCeSV
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) October 13, 2016
Where it gets really interesting is when you consider what was exchanged in the trade. In short? Not much. Not much at all.
Hawthorn packaged Mitchell, along with picks 54 and 72 in this year’s AFL Draft, and in return the Eagles sent the Hawks picks 52, 70, and 88. A swap of late-round draft picks, with a casual 3-time All Australian set of steak knives thrown in for good measure.
Other clubs had been concerned about the terms of Mitchell’s contract, with questions asked about whether the Eagles planned to back-end his playing contract with his coaching deal, meaning his salary cap worth would’ve been undervalued. But the deal is believed to be all above board and in order.
I tell you, this trade period is absolutely BANANAS.
Photo: Adam Trafford, AFL Media/Getty.
