With the AFL mid-season draft fast approaching, the idea of a trade period to match has been suggested by CEO Gillon McLachlan for the league's future.
If a mid-season trade-period was to be implemented into the 2019 season, there would be a few names circling the trade block and here's who might just be making a move mid-year.
Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
Potential suitors: Carlton, North Melbourne, Fremantle, Melbourne
It's not hard to see that Jarryd Roughead's form has dipped with age since winning three consecutive premierships with Hawthorn, leading to the 32-year-old to play out round eight of this year in the VFL.
Several clubs across the league are battling with depleted forward-line stocks and having to depend on youth to fill the void.
For a player who's set to retire in the next year or two, a deal to move Roughead away from Hawthorn may sound like a poor idea. For a fourth or fifth round pick, clubs could invest into the future with a coaching deal for Roughead post-football. A move similar to ex-teammate Sam Mitchell's trade to West Coast in the 2016 trade period.
Carlton, Fremantle, Melbourne and the Kangaroos have all backed young, inexperienced forwards to lead their 2019 campaign, with some hoping for a late finals push. Not many options available for a mid-season trade would bring a stronger finals experience and presence than Roughead.
