The Demons have aced the AFL futures market, but Collingwood have floundered. This is how they did itsurprised clubs for its audacity as the AFL’s trade period entered its second week, but it’s straight from the Demons’ successful future trading playbook, which has made them the best traders in the first 10 years of the AFL’s future trading system.
For simplicity’s sake, our analysis was contained to future first round selections traded, given they are the most valuable., give up their future first round pick and a second rounder to Essendon for this year’s pick nine. It’s a repeat of their strategy to only trade their future pick when they can secure an early selection in the draft in exchange.
The worst trading by a club came in 2020 when Collingwood traded its future first rounder to GWS for picks 24, 30 and a future fourth rounder. Collingwood’s future first round pick ended up being pick two after their disastrous season in 2021 saw them slide to 17th. Surprisingly, there is no AFL database recording every trade, so the information has to be pieced together.