While some would contend that 24 rounds of football, a month of finals and a couple of practice matches to kick things off is enough football to poke a boot at, in this era of the 18-team talkback radio pitches, it is clear that the trade period has taken on a life of its own.
Punters may screech that they hate hearing about proposed deals between March and September, but in reality, any article about a player wanting in, out or otherwise rates its socks off analytically as these same fans can't help but want to know the score.
And although footy fanatics may disagree, the analytics tell us that there is only one thing they love more than trade chat, and that's when trades are put under the microscope.
So while you lot may hate us for it, deep down we know that you love it.
From 1990 until the cessation of the 2022 season, here is the trade that every club wishes they had a mulligan for.
Melbourne (2015)
In - Ben Kennedy, pick 29 (on traded to Gold Coast) and pick 50 (Liam Hulett)
Out - Jeremy Howe and Jimmy ToumpasÂ
Trading the pick that became Sam Docherty for Mitch Clark isn't great in hindsight, nor is sending Scott Thompson to Adelaide for a first-rounder that was turned into Brent Moloney, but parting with Jeremy Howe for Ben Kennedy and the pick that became Mason Redman has to feel like a shopping trolley poll to the skull. However, the migraine begins to dissipate once one remembers pick 29 played a leading role in making Clayton Oliver a Demon.
