Why can't 2,3 or even 4 trades prior to round 3 set up your season?

[Slashers]

Why can't making 2, 3 or even 4 trades prior to the round 3 price changes set you up for a ripper of a season? Are they wasted trades? We do have 20 of them. Even if you made all 4 (2 per round), you still have 16 to hang on to.

We all chose our squads based on previous season efforts and the pre-season NAB. As we all know, even after round 1, season smokies start to become evident (even obvious - as in, 'why didn't I realise that').
For these smokies, it might be the last chance to grab them at a straight swap price (or even a money making trade) before they completely blow out.
On the same hand, for various reasons, most of us would have a player or two that already don't look the goods, and its obvious now there are better options.
So those players will be going down, and the smokies up, so the gap can widen rather quickly.

I know there will be some 'its only round 1' comments, but you only have 1 chance with some of these trades and doing them now can be just as crucial as the decisions we made picking the team to start with.

Thoughts?

[Bluke]

At least wait untill after rd2 so you have a better idea of:

1) who is in form
2) who isn't in form

I wouldnt use more than two trades before round 3. You will want a few come finals time and you will need a few to upgrade your cash cows to premiums. I would say 10 trades for this alone. Leave 6 for LTI's (thats generous, I hope =P) and 4 for the finals.

[Torress]

m8 there is no right or wrong way to go about it as u may take the path that results in overall success - who knows!!!
but trading early is not good - lots of reasons why but prob mostly due to a bit of bad luck (injury). guess it depends, u may of spent 300k on a dud -i don't know? and u swap that midprice dud with another - i get that. but if ur gonna trade, i'd be really cautious.
this really comes down to experience, i've been in the situation in the past where i've burnt thru trades and u just run out late, u feel the pinch alot during the last half of season and trading is crucial, blowing 4 or 6 trades within 1st few weeks may be asking for it - need enough trades to cash cowl and enough to upgrade, then have leftover trades for straight swaps for midpricer improving or due to injury. if u MUST trade make sure its worth it early!!!! if u don't have to do not open up the heraldsun website!!!!

[Sams-Town]

You shouldnt consider trading your premiums or mid pricers based on the first two games. Remember that you have picked these players based on track record over a long time (premiums) and you have picked your mid pricers/smokies based on a lot of variables that you have also researched. I agree with the above you should keep your trades. However If you were to make a trade before the price jump I would advise only considering a rookie shift/trade. Maybe you have picked a rookie who is not adapting to his senior debut well and that is risking his job security and his score. So before the price rise you have a chance to remedy this without paying for it or sideways trading later when he is dropped.

[Alex7089]

I CAN work it's just very RISKY.
My mate does this, normally burns 10 trades within the first 10 weeks, he's finished in the top 500 for the last 3 years.
Can definitely pay off because if you're right and the player you bring in continues then that is god, but if you trade them in and they get injured you're basically in the same place you started, only 2 trades down.
If you get lucky with injury this is a very successful strategy, problem is you can't ensure luck with injury.

[Fletch74]

I tried it last year, but then had some rotten luck with injury and was left with 5 or so trades with 8-9 rounds to go.

You've got to remember that Rd 1 really counts for very little. At the end of the day the only impact Rd 1 has on value is for Rd 3... Rd 2 impacts Rd 3 and Rd 4, etc. Remember that the value of players are based on a Rolling average not just one game!!

What happens if the player you get rid of has a ripper of a week in Rd 2 and the payer you trade in has an average week... You've got to give your players a chance. Maybe a tweak after Rd 2, but nothing before then.

[Justin Bieber]

it can set you up for the season. risky as it could use up trades you might need later on for injuries, upgrades, etc.

2 trades before round 3 last year set me up for the year.

i need maybe 14 trades for upgrades (depending on cash cows) and i have 6 to spare. can spare 2 trades before round 3 this year but am pretty happy with my team. started scoring higher than it did last year.

[antman]

I wen't into last year to trade the 2 players that were going to lose the most money over the first 2 games and pick up the best performing mid priced players then use that money to upgrade rookies at round 7 to 8.All i'm going to say is one worked out for the best but the other one I ended up trading back into the side later on(fail) then I ended up 2 trades short for the granny which I ended up losing.

[tom_scully]

NO TRADES ROUND 1

[sleepydaz]

I'm not trading round 1, but i'm considering swapping a couple of cheapies around after round 2. Considering getting rid of Nason for Waters in my backline reserves.

[thefly1976]

i think it works ok if you dont get injuries... i tried that last year but copped a floggin towards the end of the season with injuries and resting of players from stkilda and geelong... and mick malthouses rookie rotations..

and the ongoing if your not going to make the eight finish as low to bottom as possible routine so all senior players sent in for surgury