CONGRATULATIONS to Peter Bell and Steve Rosich for standing firm and making the blunt call to walk away from a trade for Melbourne key forward Jesse Hogan.

It’s something the Fremantle hierarchy has not done in the past at this time of the year. They don’t want to sell the farm for the Claremont product and see some risk attached to the 23-year-old given the Demons’ hefty compensation demands.

Criticism of the club in the wake of their announcement to withdraw from the Hogan race on Friday is off the mark.

So too is speculation that a Hogan trade will get done and this is just part of the negotiation process.

The question remains: Why are Melbourne, who were one win away from a grand final in 2018, prepared to entertain a trade for a 195cm forward who averages more than two goals a game?

A lot has of been made of the Dockers’ “due diligence” with regard to Hogan.

That same due diligence has not been evident in the past and the club is paying for it now. The roll call of past failed recruits still haunts the Dockers. No wonder they tread warily now.

Hogan is also on good money. How good? If AFL Players’ Association boss Paul Marsh had his way we would know. Marsh says he doesn’t have an issue with players’ wages being made public.

Camera Icon Peter Bell is standing firm on the Jesse Hogan issue. Credit: Getty Images

“What we’ve seen in sports around the world is if this happens — and this is a careful-what-you-wish-for situation — is that player wages will go up significantly,” Marsh said.

Clubs would know what is exactly required in negotiation and it also gives the fans a chance to assess a player’s worth.

The argument against making salaries public is the effect it will have on the players’ mental health. But for me it’s all about the fans and they deserve to know.

And as the hype and commercialism of the AFL trade period increases each year, judging a player’s worth drives debate and interest in the game well after the final siren has sounded in the grand final.

But still, the trade period goes too long. It should be pulled back to a week and I would like to see clubs and players being forced to declare who is up for trade before it starts.

Overpaid underachievers are a common theme for me.

Clubs have lost power in that they cannot trade a player against their will, while contracted players can seemingly walk out with years remaining on their deal.

This trade period we’ve seen the likes of Geelong and Fremantle dig their heels in over trade requests from contracted stars Tim Kelly and Lachie Neale.

It’s a stance I applaud and want to see more of. I’m not suggesting keeping players against their will, but if Neale and Kelly want to leave then they shouldn’t dictate their destination.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says trading players without their consent would give clubs more leverage in the exchange period.

“If you want player movement, you want surety of contracts, you want confidentiality of contracts — which a lot of sports don’t have — we have got to have the conversation about making it more equitable for everyone,” Scott said.