It was the biggest no-deal in the short history of the Nana’s, and it almost caused the demise of the season-old keeper league.
Three sides were involved in what was set out to be a historic trade, but three other sides luckily passed on the eventually controversial deal.
It all began with a pick swap, with Heeney Some Milk contacting The UUFFT about the possibility of trading for Pick 5 in the upcoming draft.
Heeney Some Milk receive: Pick 5 (UUFFT)
The UUFFT receive: Rd 2 2021 selection (HSM), Rd 2 2021 selection (TCC)
The trade was turned down, with Jesse Fienemann acknowledging his side is in desperate need of midfielders and defenders this draft.
This acknowledgement encouraged Edward Holland, coach of Heeney Some Milk, to offer a little sweetener to get the deal over the line, a sweetener that would almost ruin the league itself.
It’s no secret that Heeney Some Milk aren’t flag favourites, so the possibility of a season loan of one of their best players was raised, allowing Fienemann cover for the 2020 season, before heading to the 2021 draft with two early picks to select the midfielders and defenders he needs.
Fienemann was intrigued, but as discussions slowly continued, he began including other sides in the unfinished deal, shopping Clayton Oliver from Heeney Some Milk to four different teams, before agreeing to the initial loan deal.
Not Harry’s Team, Gabe’s Team and Max’s Team were all contacted by Fienemann and Holland regarding the self-titled “league-changing trade”, before the head coach of NANA Winner, Tyson Manthorpe, showed his eagerness.
Heeney Some Milk receive: Pick 5 (UUFFT), 2021 Rd 8 Pick (UUFFT) NANA Winner receive: Clayton Oliver (season loan), 2021 Rd 3 Pick (UUFFT) The UUFFT receive: Bachar Houli, 2021 Rd 2 Pick (HSM), 2021 Rd 2 Pick (TCC), 2021 Rd 5 Pick (NANA)
A simple pick swap that had been declined, had suddenly blown out to a three-team loan deal that six of the eight sides in the league were already aware of.
Trade talks with NANA Winner began at 10:00PM Wednesday (ACDT) and a nervous Manthorpe, who only made one trade last season, finally accepted the deal almost 20 hours later at 5:30PM Thursday.
Then, chaos ensued.
Though when the trade – the largest deal in Nana’s history – was announced to the league, it was all rather quiet.
Due to the fact it had not been revealed as a loan deal, the coaches were expecting a fiery debate as on paper, this trade had no positives for Heeney Some Milk.
But, shortly after, the coaches got the uproar they thought they wanted.
A message from the newly revealed “Integrity Unit” was shared to the league via Harry Roberts, coach of Not Harry’s Team, while the unnamed members of the Integrity Unit hid from their phones, waiting for it all to blow over.
Only it didn’t blow over, a dedicated Fienemann, Holland and Manthorpe made sure it was only the beginning.
There was plenty of back and forth between one of the most passionate coaches in the league, Jesse Fienemann, and one of the least-interested coaches in the league, Harry Roberts, but the coaches’ main issue was the handling of this situation.
"I’m [madder] about the utter disgrace in which this league is run than the trade itself" - Fienemann
It’s not the first time the league has come under scrutiny for its mishandling of list management situations, with another coach who wasn’t involved in the infamous loan, believing that the Commissioner is “running this league like a dictatorship”.
Grey area regarding the use of loans in Nana’s was around for a full season, but it was this trade that finally sent it all into lockdown.
A mis-understanding from the Commissioner regarding tanking and a pot-stirring Roberts drew attention away from the poor handling of the loan itself, as coaches began to argue over unrelated topics.
And, as debate went on until Friday morning, the coaches of the “Nana’s 3” found themselves without passion for the league and discussed the idea of leaving altogether.
The plans for a new, rival league were unveiled, featuring the Nana’s 3 and five other members, including one who has been in the Commissioner’s expansion replacement sights for a long time.
But, as the dust began to settle on the controversial loan, the coaches admitted that deep down they don’t want to leave; but hoped this dark day in Nana’s history could bring about some change as to how the league is managed.
"I actually really want to stay, but there has to be change" - Fienemann
The trade was cancelled, the grey area around loan deals removed, but whether the league will go behind fellow players’ backs regarding future decisions remains to be unseen.
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