SEN and Herald Sun reporter Sam Edmund has predicted that the AFL trade period will extend to a nine-month trade period, in a bid for clubs to have freedom in being able to mould their lists.
With player movement gaining more and more hype and interest every year, the fortnightly trade period always attracts media attention and fan engagement.
Richmond coach Damian Hardwick has called for the opportunity to add players to lists to help fill the void left by players that retire or have season ending injuries, similar to the situation of the retirement of Kurt Tippett and Ben Griffiths.
Edmund discussed Hardwick's idea on SEN Breakfast, where he believes that his idea will be inferred into a longer trade period, with the introduction of mid-season trades.
With many American sports adopting similar style of system, Edmund believes it will become a part of the future of the AFL.
โI think we will have a trade window that stays open from where it starts now until June,โ Edmund predicted.
โThe trade window will go all the way until midyear, allowing teams to replace players with injury and vice versa, and swap and trade.
โAfter June, bad luck. You shut the gate because we are approaching finals.โ
Edmund also added he thinks that draft picks would be eligible to be traded, along with listed players.
