National Talent Manager Rob Kerr gives Lions fans an exclusive insight into the Club's plans for the AFL Trade Period

What is the Club’s main objective during the Trade Period?

To address some of the deficiencies that have been identified within our team.

At all times we need to keep in mind what the team looks like if we add a player to the group, that is, how does that player help Michael Voss implement the game plan he is driving within the team.

If there is not a good answer to that question then that player is probably not for us. It may also be the case that a player helps balance our list as we may be lacking a particular type of player.

While we would like to add a mature player to our list, we are not looking to bring a swag of mature players in.

It's possible that we’ll bring in one, two, or even none.

Are there particular types of players the Club will be targeting?

Mostly key position players and midfielders who can add to our mix.

We have not performed well in terms of clearances and we also lack a little in our ability to move quickly from a contest. The players who can do both well are rare commodities - like Trent Cotchin (Richmond) and Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle) - and while players of that quality are not available for trade, if a player can help us out in one of those areas we will consider him.

How much planning and preparation goes on behind the scenes to identify potential talent from other clubs?

We've seen a lot of football during the year, but you need to go back and look at vision and also interrogate the player’s statistics.

We obviously talk to the coaches to get their views on players, because there's little point in bringing in a player if the coach can't see a role for him in the team.

We'll also talk to people who have been directly involved with the players - whether that be past teammates or past coaches.

How about the current Lions players? Are any of them officially ‘off limits’ in terms of potential trades?

The reality is you can never say never.

But it is extremely unusual for players a club values highly to be traded unless the club feels it is the only way to address a deficiency that is limiting your ability to progress as a team.

We see our young players as being critical to our future success and would not part with our youngsters who we rate highly and believe will develop further.

Will you be providing regular updates for fans on the Club’s situation throughout the Trade Period?

No, regular updates are probably unhelpful to working through the process and trying to achieve the best outcome for the Club.

If there is something that can be communicated that I don't think jeopardises our position, then I will certainly do so. Otherwise the cards will be held closely to our chest.

Anyway, isn't all the speculation part of the fun of the Trade Period?

So what is your message to those Lions fans who will be anxiously awaiting news over the coming weeks?

Sit tight. You just need to allow the bargaining process to run its course.

There are a myriad of twists, turns and dead ends in the trading process, and things rarely come to a conclusion quickly.

We have some good draft picks available to us as well, so even if little comes from the Trade Period, we are confident that we will be adding talent to our list.

How valuable are the Club’s draft picks?

I'm in the camp that believes that you have to draft well to build a successful era.

Good teams generally have put together two or three successful drafts. We know that as you go down the draft order, the chances of finding a 150-gamer diminishes, but there is always one young player who you can see some qualities in.

Nevertheless, recent history shows that a combination of drafting and trading is also important to success. Free Agency will also make it easier to add experienced players to your list. The best young talent is hard to resist, but sometimes that young talent needs help to get the best out of itself and give it time to develop.

However that has to be weighed up against the time taken to refine those talents, and when you think your current group can challenge the top four and give itself a chance of success. Your judgements in these areas influence the decision as to whether you trade or hold onto picks.

Your in-depth post-trade analyses on lions.com.au in recent seasons have generated terrific feedback from the Club’s members and supporters - will you be providing a similar review this year?

No problem, although the length of it will be a function of exactly how active we have been.

I do think it is very important that someone in my position explains to supporters who are so emotionally invested in the fortunes of their club why decisions were taken.

I appreciate that they may not always agree with the decision, but at least they get some insight into our rationale, as well as getting a peek behind the scenes of what has occurred.