Here are some of the big moves to watch during the 2021 AFL trade period that runs between 4 – 13 October.
Adam Cerra to Carlton
Emerging midfield star has nominated Carlton as his preferred destination and is likely to join recently-appointed coach Michael Voss at the Blues after four years in the west, but negotiations with Fremantle appear set to drag out. At the centre of the proposed deal is Carlton’s No.6 draft pick, with the Dockers sure to require that selection and more in return to get it done.
Jordan Dawson to Adelaide
Versatile and skilful Sydney star wants a move home to South Australia and has nominated Adelaide as his club of choice. The Crows have draft picks four and 23 at this stage, but are unlikely to part with their top selection as their rebuild continues. Could Port Adelaide swoop in at the last minute to snatch the classy left-footer?
Robbie Tarrant / Callum Coleman-Jones
Tarrant will move to Richmond via a trade, rather than using free agency, in order to preserve the end of second-round compensation pick the Tigers received for losing free agent Mabior Chol to Gold Coast. Promising key forward Coleman-Jones wants to move in search of more senior opportunities with North Melbourne after finding himself down the pecking order at Punt Road.
Collingwood draft points for Daicos
Will be forced to match a bid from North Melbourne, GWS or Gold Coast for father-son draft prospect Nick Daicos and therefore must get creative to find enough draft value index points to secure the young gun. Trading in Patrick Lipinski (Western Bulldogs) and Nathan Kreuger (Geelong) – quite possibly in exchange for third-round or future picks – will further complicate matters.
Interest in the No.1 draft pick
Wooden spooners North Melbourne will field offers for the first selection at November’s national draft and rival clubs are interested, but the Kangaroos are unlikely to hand over the prized pick. Adelaide are particularly keen on South Australian product Jason Horne-Francis but would need the Roos’ top selection to land the future star.
Tom Mitchell / Jaeger O’Meara
Hawthorn’s rebuild is on and trading away one of their two midfield guns has been flagged as a way for new coach Sam Mitchell to secure high-end draft picks to use on elite young talent. Richmond are one club that have a strong draft hand and could look to Mitchell or O’Meara to beef up their on-ball division for another premiership tilt.
Stephen Coniglio
GWS have said their captain has not been raised in trade discussions but Coniglio has struggled for the past two years and could help ease pressure on the Giants’ tight salary cap. The midfielder, whose 2021 campaign was wrecked by ankle and toe injuries, has five years left on a contract reportedly worth about $1 million a season.
The ruckmen
There is always intrigue around ruckmen at this time of year, with Port Adelaide’s Peter Ladhams and Geelong’s Darcy Fort attracting interest from rival clubs this time around. Western Bulldogs duo Tim English and Jordon Sweet also have admirers, though contracted English would command a huge deal to get him out of Whitten Oval. Fremantle ruck-forward Rory Lobb could also be on the move despite having two years left to run on a big contract.
Jeremy Finlayson
Key forward is happy at GWS but has been allowed to assess his options as he and his partner seek family support after the birth of their first child. Finlayson met with Port Adelaide last month.
Jordan Clark to WA
Squeezed out of Geelong’s best side after a breakout 2019 season and has again been linked with Fremantle, who have pursued the speedster for two years.
Sam Petrevski-Seton to West Coast
The 2016 No.6 draft pick didn’t settle in a new role for Carlton at half-back this year and has asked for a move home to Western Australia, nominating West Coast as his club of choice.
Jarrod Brander
The talented tall has managed just 22 games in four seasons with West Coast, who will entertain offers for the 2017 first-round draft pick. Carlton are reportedly interested, raising the prospect of Brander and Petrevski-Seton being tied in the same deal.
Free agency
The free agency period got under way on Friday, with Mabior Chol immediately joining Gold Coast from Richmond and Jake Kelly moving to Essendon from Adelaide. Sydney opted against matching Carlton’s four-year offer to restricted free agent George Hewett. St Kilda’s Luke Dunstan is likely to find a new home after being delisted, with the Bombers and Suns believed to be interested in the midfielder who received 11 Brownlow Medal votes this year. Free agency bidding closes on October 8.
AAP
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