If ever there was an argument for and against this topic have a look at good old Norf and the Dawks.
While Norf will outplace us on the ladder this year quiet simply in the future they are shot ducks, they traded away good draft picks for slightly above average footballers that didn't get them anywhere.
why do you say that? when both sides have north 30 and richmond 28 players who are still 22 or under including rookies.
they have more first or second rnd picks on their list supposedly where all the quality is and they have a much better record on developing players and their recruiting record is better also.
also believe its a bit of a furphy that they have traded away all of their early picks over the yrs. 02 04 and 05 are the only yrs in the last 10 where they have traded early picks away. in 02 they traded pick 13 for leigh brown but of set this, and this was a key by getting pick 2 for an ageing carey.
02 shows us all how it should be done. they stayed in the first rnd, ironically they ended up with our pick 2. while trading for a type they thought they badly needed.
so many things come into it when looking to trade for players. where the list is at how much depth are you challenging how much experience you have on the list. your structures quality etc etc etc.
there is a right time and circumstance to trade for players. in trading for players you must always keep one eye on the future.
to me one circumstance for a club in rebuild, who have cleaned out a lot of under performing older players, and are left with few experienced players on the list. its okay to go and get an experienced player or two as long as you take care of the long term first.and the players taken can lead teach and add to the team even if it is only in the short term.
your current circumstance and state of the list with all things considered determines how you go about drafting /trading.as your list grows and gets stronger so do the circumstances and processes you may go thru.