With the AFL Grand Final won & done, the footballing world turns it’s attention to the upcoming Trade and Free Agency window. Before the first player movement kicks off, we’ve provided you with a full recap of what movements are already in motion & what isn’t.
Embed from Getty ImagesFree Agency Nomination
The biggest name in this trade period is the 2019 Coleman Medalist Jeremy Cameron. He’s told the Giants of his desire to continue his AFL career at Geelong. As a restricted free agent, the Giants could and by all media reports will match the offer. Meaning, Geelong will likely have to part with multiple first-round picks. Thankfully, thanks to the Tim Kelly trade the club have plenty.
Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch has nominated St Kilda as his club of choice. Like Cameron above, as a restricted free agent the Crows can force a trade by matching any offer. The only reason the club won’t match an offer is if the Saints deal contract is sufficient to trigger a first-round pick compensation. With the Crows finishing bottom, that would mean pick two.
Over a year after requesting a trade, Joe Daniher has yet again signalled his intent to leave by activating his free agency right to nominate Brisbane as his club of choice. Daniher is a restricted free agent, so like Croch and Cameron, the Bombers can match the deal.
One of the first moves expected to go down is unrestricted free agent Crows defender Kyle Hartigan. The Crows defender has accepted a multi-year deal to join the Hawks. He’s unlikely to net the Crows any compensation.
The Adelaide Crows are one of two clubs that have multiple free agents on the move. Wingman Rory Atkins clearly loved his time in the Gold Coast bubble that he’s moving there permanently. Given the rumoured length of the deal (four years) the Crows will be preparing for a third-round compensation pick.
The first big-name player to nominate a club (over a month ago now) was GWS defender Zac Williams. The running half-back has nominated Carlton as his free agency destination. Given the rumoured size of the contract (over $800,000), the Giants should net themselves a first-round compensation pick. For a club currently without a first-round pick, the Giants (based on ladder position) will net themselves a top 10 pick.
Like Adelaide, the GWS Giants also have three free agents who have nominated to depart. Aiden Corr will join the North Melbourne Football Club. The Giants will likely receive an end of second-round pick compensation although some suggest it could be as high as second-rounder meaning it’d be a pick in the mid to late ’20s.
Embed from Getty ImagesClub Nominated for Trade
The Blues look set to further bolster their backline, with running defender Adam Saad nominating Carlton as his trade home of choice. Anyone that follows the trade period extensively is expecting this one to go down to the final hours given Adrian Dodoro’s involvement.
The rebuilding Adelaide will be bolstered through the midfield with 2018 first-round selection Jackson Hately wishing to return home to South Australia. A second-round pick should get the trade done, while should negotiations fall over the Crows can select him through the pre-season draft given the hold the first pick.
The giants will lose another talented youngster with another former first-round pick from the 2018 draft with Jye Caldwell informing GWS of his intent to be traded to Essendon. The bombers will have their work cut out for them this trade period with multiple deals needing to be done, but this should be the easier of the lot.
It’s gone under the radar but Demon Mitch Hannan has told the club of his desire to play for the Bulldogs in 2021. A later draft pick should get the deal done.
Thankfully for the Giants, it’s not all one-way departure traffic. They’ll pick up Braydon Preuss via trade from Melbourne and finally should get a decent long term ruck. You’d think a second-round pick from GWS (perhaps the compensation pick via Corr) should be sufficient to get the trade done.
Embed from Getty ImagesLooks Likely
The Kangaroos have spectacularly parted ways with goal kicking forward Ben Brown. While no club has been officially been nominated, he’s been heavily linked with Melbourne.
He’s yet to request it formally, but Orazio Fantasia seems destined for Port Adelaide. Similarly, GWS look set to lose another with Zac Langdon all but confirmed to join West Coast.
Shaun Higgins was linked with Geelong last year, and it’s seemingly on the cards again this year.
Connor Blakely and Jesse Hogan are attainable according to The Age. The former an elite junior midfielder and would be a handy inclusion at a number of clubs.
Neither club has confirmed it publicly, but the ‘smoke’ around Port Adelaide’s interest around Allir Allir seems to be gaining momentum.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn The Trade Table?
Cedric Cox has told the club he will seek a trade to WA, neither the Dockers nor Eagles have publicly shown their intent. On the topic of Brisbane, Alex Witherden is a talented youngster who would attract plenty of interest should he wish for a change of club scenery. Gold Coast duo Peter Wright and Will Brodie both former top picks have been overtaken by the next generation of Suns. Both players would be in a lot of AFL teams best 22. Should they choose to go, you’d suspect the Suns would get a deal done easily.
Even though Geelong are set to land the biggest name of the trade window in Jeremy Cameron they could lose a talented young trio with Charlie Constable, Nakia Cockatoo and Quinton Narkle all rumoured to be interested in getting further opportunities elsewhere.
If you can believe the Twitter feed of Tom Browne, then Josh Dunkley could be heading toward Essendon. He’s a contracted player, so if he is to go, it might cost the Bombers up to two first-round selections.
Player By Player Review
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