With the season over, the hardcore football fans favourite time of the year is about to begin. The trade period provides fans with excitement, hope and optimism for the upcoming season as anyone other than Melbourne fans can begin to forget about the previous year.
The next few weeks will be filled with speculation, rumours, player movement and trade ideas ranging from plausible to downright insane.
Every year there are the big-name players thrown around, who seem to take up most of the conversation this time of the year.
While getting most of the attention and excitement, often it's some of the players that go under the radar in trades and signings that make the biggest impact for their club.
kicks for goal during the AFL Community Series match between the Geelong Cats and the Essendon Bombers at GMHBA Stadium on March 06, 2021 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Last year big-name players such as Jeremy Cameron, Adam Saad, Joe Daniher and Zac Williams were the most discussed free agents and trades. Despite these players changing clubs, it ended up being some of the smaller deals that made the biggest impact on their clubs, however.
Stefan Martin, Mitch Hannan and Ben Brown were all moved on by their previous clubs and ended up playing important roles for grand finalists. Essendon obtained Peter Wright, Nick Hind along with picks 7, 8 and 9 which helped propel them into finals and set them up for years to come.
Adam Cerra, Lachie Neale, Jordan Dawson and Ben King are the current big-name players that have gotten most of the attention so far in the lead up to the trade period.
Instead, we take a look at some of the undervalued or unwanted players that could prove to be a valuable pick up for a team this offseason.
3. Jarrod Lienert (Port Adelaide)
Jarrod Lienert is a 195cm defender who has struggled to solidify a spot in the Port Adelaide team. The Power are quite deep in the position with Aliir Aliir, Trent McKenzie, Tom Jonas, and Tom Clurey all playing the same position.
He was able to string together five consecutive games between Rounds 14 and 18, but was unable to keep his spot as the Power moved towards the finals.
Throughout those games, Lienert averaged 16.8 disposals, 4.6 rebounds from 50, 4.6 intercepts and 373 metres gained.
Due to his absences in the AFL squad, he played 12 games of SANFL in 2021. He was a standout for Port Adelaide in that competition averaging 23.3 disposals, nine rebound 50s, 5.6 marks and 97% disposal efficiency.
Throughout the 26-year-old's career, he has been above average to elite in rebound 50s, disposal efficiency, intercept possessions and metres gained for his position.
Tall defenders are valuable players and can often be difficult for clubs to find. Lienert is now coming into his prime but is unlikely to play significant minutes for the Power.
A move could be valuable for both player and club, as he could be worth a third to fourth-round pick to the right side. Lienert could be a valuable pickup like Dougal Howard was for the Saints in 2019, who also left the Power to seek further opportunities.
Lienert would provide great height and defensive instincts for any club, with the ability to drift off his man and intercept the ball. He is an elite ball user, helping rebound the ball from out of defence. He will be only 27 by the start of next season and would be ready to have a big impact on a new club in round one of 2022.
