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The Meat Market Begins.

© Corrina Huxham

The AFL footy season has only just finished, but it is still making headlines. Why? Well two reasons. Firstly the Australia versus Ireland international series kicks off next week and the annual players meat market has commenced. What is the players meat market I hear you ask? Well it is the time of the year when the AFL teams look at their rosters and decide which players might be better off playing elsewhere next season. All the teams start wheeling and dealing, trading players and draft picks in an attempt to improve their teams for the upcoming seasons.

Why do they do it? The trades occur for two reasons. Firstly it could be for the good of the player - a change in scenery to revive a flagging career. Or it could be for the good of the team - sacrifice a good player in an attempt to get higher draft picks and/or another player to fill a specialised role. Either way, the actual player involved does not get much say in the matter.

Players can request a trade to a particular club, but that does not mean that is where he will go. Negotiations between the clubs are usually highly complicated and if a deal can not be reached, the player's request is denied. The player can then be traded to another club against his wishes, or they can nominate for the pre-season draft and hope that their preferred club picks them up. Some go to the extreme and refuse to play for any other clubs, sitting out the season until the club of their choice picks them up.

An example of this type of trade is evident with Barry Hall from St Kilda. He has requested a move to the Sydney Swans, and does not want to play for any other club. St Kilda are negotiating with Sydney and want Sydney's first round draft pick as well as a player in the same calibre as Adam Goodes in exchange for Hall's services.

Some players are traded because they feel that their career has stagnated at their current club. They believe a change of coaching staff, team mates and overall scenary will help them reach their full potential. These players do not have predetermined preferences in terms of clubs they want to play for, but they may state that they prefer to play in a particular state. Corey McKernon of the Kangaroos is in this predicament. He wants to revive his career by playing for another team. He has not made a preference known, but would prefer to stay in Victoria. However, he has not ruled out a move interstate if the conditions were right. Carlton look to be the front runner in securing McKernon's signature.