AFL player manager Tom Petroro believes the 2018 trade period could see more deals done than ever before.
In 2017, 31 trades were completed during the trade period, although Petroro has looked at the 2018 crop and believes teams this year could pull off bigger and better moves compared to past seasons.
He understands at least 20-25 deals could get done, with the scope of player movements potentially hitting 40+ deals, given a number of moves only begin to come up in conversation while the trade period is happening.
Petroro himself has players who could change clubs during the upcoming period, as he manages big names like Chad Wingard, Alex Fasolo and Lachie Neale, who is the subject of some intense courting by the Brisbane Lions.
“I read an article during the week that said there was 32 or 33 players talked about and I looked at that and went 20 to 25 get done, and then I looked at it and went, well, there’s probably another four or five that I know of that aren’t in this article that are probably a good chance to see things happen as well,” Petroro told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“So I assume a lot more than 20 (players will move). Is it 30, is it 40, it’s hard to tell.
“You talk about the Kangaroos being into Andrew Gaff, they’ve got the money for Gaff, and then they miss out on Gaff, Gaff stays – for argument’s sake – and they still have the money.
“Do they jump into Dylan Shiel, do they look at another player, things can change course pretty quickly.
“Most clubs are pretty calculated, but I still firmly believe there’s one or two more to come.
“Like, there’s another big fish to fall.”
This year's trade period runs from Monday, October 8 at 10am - Wednesday, October 17 at 8.30pm.
