The West Australian’s chief football writer Mark Duffield has praised Fremantle’s 2017 NAB AFL Trade Period.

Speaking to The Sunday Times sports editor Glen Quartermain in Thursday’s edition of The Game podcast, Duffield said he was impressed with Fremantle’s ability to maximise their return from Lachie Weller’s request to be traded to Gold Coast. 

A former no.13 draft pick and AFL Rising Star nominee, Weller was rated as one of Fremantle’s best young prospects.

In trade negotiations, general manager of list management Brad Lloyd stood firm on his price for Weller – the no.2 pick in the 2017 NAB AFL National Draft. 

As well as securing pick no.2 in the trade period, Fremantle signed two talented young local players in Nathan Wilson from GWS and Brandon Matera from the Gold Coast.

The club also takes pick no.5 into the upcoming draft.

“They’ve played an amazing game of poker,” Duffield said of Fremantle.

“I thought they’d overcooked it. My impression was once Lachie Weller came out (to request a trade), Fremantle had to get the deal done and I wondered whether they were going to.

“But I bow to their greater judgment, because they did get the deal done and they got more than I thought they’d get.”