1. Contracts mean little
Where should we start? Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs put contracted forwards Jack Watts and Jake Stringer, respectively, on the trade table and copped a verbal hiding from all and sundry. Part of the criticism was that being so brazen ruined the clubs' bargaining power, and ultimately both clubs accepted less than they wanted. Then we watched as a conga line comprised of Charlie Cameron, Nathan Wilson, Lachie Weller, Bryce Gibbs, Josh Schache, Jarman Impey, Adam Saad, Gary Ablett, Matthew Lobbe and Logan Austin successfully requested new homes. A small number were relatively mutual, but all were contracted at least for 2018. Some players – we're looking at you, Charlie and Lachie – even felt so emboldened as to publicly challenge their clubs' reluctance to move them on. About the only thing a contract represents these days is a safeguard for under-the-pump footballers who would otherwise be delisted.

2. Essendon and Port Adelaide are flag contenders
Richmond proved what a successful addition or three from other clubs can lead to. Are the Bombers or Power next? Both played finals this year, but were found wanting once the whips were cracking. They emerged as clear-cut winners in the Trade Period to put themselves in the premiership conversation. Port effectively gave up pick 31 for Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop, while Essendon brought in Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad on a series of draft picks without losing anyone. The Power also swapped Jarman Impey (Hawthorn), Brendon Ah Chee (West Coast) and Matthew Lobbe (Carlton) for draft picks, while Jackson Trengove joined the Dogs via free agency. But Ken Hinkley's 2018 side should be far superior to this year's version.

3. Proven isn't sexy
We treat most players, outside of the Bryce Gibbses and Jake Levers, like used cars, where their value starts decreasing as soon as they leave the lot. Why doesn't it go the other way, at least for a substantial period? There was barely a ripple when Fremantle ripped Nathan Wilson – who gained more metres this year than everyone not named Dustin Martin – out of the Giants for just a future second-round pick. Yet Gold Coast was panned for giving up the No.2 selection for 21-year-old Lachie Weller, the 13th selection in 2014 who had blossomed into the Dockers' most promising player and best field kick. Was it overs? Yes. But outrageous overs for a young gun that wanted to be a Sun? No. And Collingwood's acquisition of Swans rookie Sam Murray – who, granted, is not a proven commodity like Wilson or Weller – would seemingly only have been acceptable if the Magpies got him for free. Too often with draft picks we adopt the unrealistic gift card philosophy of "this could be anything". 

4. The 2017 draft isn't on the nose out west
This year's draft crop wouldn't be blamed for developing a complex, given all the chatter about its lack of depth and how good the 2018 class is in comparison. But West Coast went out of its way to bolster its presence in the 2017 edition – adding picks 21, 26 and 37 – to give it five selections inside the top 40 and eight in total. The suspicion is most will be used on West Australians, maybe even mature-age options such as Liam Ryan, Tim Kelly and ex-Docker Haiden Schloithe. The moral of the NAB AFL Trade Period was that players ideally want to ply their trade in their home state, so it could be a smart move.

Ex-Docker Haiden Schloithe is among the prime WA prospects. Picture: AFL Photos
 

5. Schache's challenge is only just starting
Schache's will-he-or-won't-he-go-home drama raged from pre-season right into the Trade Period despite 2015's No.2 pick re-signing at the Brisbane Lions for two years in June. The story ended, in some ways, when the 199cm forward joined the Western Bulldogs on Thursday for the bargain-basement price of selections 25 and 40. But if Schache thinks the pressure valve will be released, he is in for a rude shock. He only has to ask his new teammate Tom Boyd, the dux of the 2013 draft class. We will find out a lot more about Schache next year and beyond.

6. It could've been worse for Gold Coast
The Suns were perhaps the hardest to grade for their Trade Period performance. They lost Gary Ablett, Adam Saad and Brandon Matera – who all wanted to go home for various reasons – and paid big-time to ensure Lachie Weller came aboard. Gold Coast also missed out on free agent Steven Motlop. But the Suns did well to receive solid compensation for the wantaway trio, and scored Aaron Young and Harrison Wigg for little more than pocket change. Will Young and Wigg transform Stuart Dew's team? No, but Gold Coast didn't rest on its laurels and made something out of what could have been a disastrous situation. 

7. Free agency compensation needs a tweak
The difference in compensation for free agents James Frawley (Melbourne received pick No.3 in 2014) and Lance Franklin (Hawthorn scored No.19 in 2013) ensured this new system – introduced in 2012 – was quickly under fire. The disparity, of course, had less to do with the players and more to do with the AFL's equalisation measures tied to ladder finishes. Another chapter was added this year, when the AFL surprisingly awarded Geelong the 19th selection in this year's NAB AFL Draft as reimbursement for losing Steven Motlop. The fact that became the circuit-breaker in the Gary Ablett deal inspired conspiracy theories, but either way, an overhaul is needed to a funky formula that a disgruntled Brisbane Lions head of football David Noble described as "secret herbs and spices".

Should Steven Motlop be worth a first-round pick in free agency compo?

8. Deadline Day is king
There is constant debate about the length of the Trade Period, because everyone knows most of the action happens on the last day. It was no different this year, with seven deals completed before midday and 22 by 2pm, after only nine moves had been completed in the previous 10 days of the exchange period, including free agency. The Stephen Silvagnis of the AFL world are masters at playing 'chicken', which adds drama and column inches, but it also generally means deals take time to evolve. The Trade Period is an all-consuming, exhausting experience for everyone involved – from players to managers to club bosses to journalists – and is only going to get bigger, at least as an event, judging by the increasing prominence of NAB AFL Trade Radio.

9. Carlton is building stealthily
The Blues know their place – in other words, that they are still some way off being relevant in the premiership race. That's why offloading Bryce Gibbs and gaining a swag of draft picks, including a pair in the first round, was the right thing to do. This wasn't a perfect Trade Period, but injecting readymade duo Matthew Kennedy and Darcy Lang into the midfield was a great result. Patrick Cripps will be back on the field next year, David Cuningham earned a Rising Star nomination in 2017 and Sam Petrevski-Seton will be better for his experiences this past season. Skipper Marc Murphy isn't slowing down either, so Carlton's onball brigade is taking shape, even with Gibbs gone.

10. The Kangaroos received a reality check
No luck with Isaac Heeney? Hardly a disaster. Failure on big-play moves for Josh Kelly and Dustin Martin? Annoying, slightly embarrassing, but bold. Rejection from Darcy Lang? This is starting to hurt, especially as Essendon and Port Adelaide became the newest destination clubs in the past fortnight. This Roo rebuild won't be a quick fix. There were no takers for veterans Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas, who have a year left to run on their contracts, and a three-headed ruck problem remains that they never saw coming two years ago. Braydon Preuss' rapid development has created a headache, although the bigger issue is that Todd Goldstein wasn't a patch this season on his 2015 heights. And Majak Daw is still an injury-prone project, eight years after being drafted. Is North willing to take a salary cap hit to cut Thomas loose, and maybe Swallow, despite their contracted status, knowing they are advanced in age and no longer best-22 material? 

What is the Kangas' plan for Todd Goldstein and Majak Daw? Picture: AFL Photos