The AFL Trade Period is heating up on Day 4 with surprise updates on some superstar talents in the marketplace.
The rumours surrounding Giants star Toby Greene, North Melbourne young gun Jason Horne-Francis and Gold Coast’s Izak Rankine are running hot on Day 4.
However, Collingwood star Taylor Adam’s keyboard is ice cold after the Magpies star gave a stinging response to commentary that appeared on AFL Trade Radio.
Adams leapt to the defence of Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, who is expected to make a move to Melbourne this trade period.
Debate has swirled in recent weeks over the Magpies’ decision to shop Grundy to the Demons as the club secured former Lions star Dan McStay in free agency as a replacement. Grundy’s trade is being held in limbo by the Demons’ haggling with the Dockers over a trade for Luke Jackson.
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The Demons expect Grundy’s move to the club to go through without drama once Jackson’s departure is finalised. Grundy is reported to be disgruntled about Collingwood’s decision to ask him to leave. He has reportedly agreed to a pay cut to make the move to Melbourne go through. Collingwood is also reported to have agreed to pay some of Grundy’s wages in coming years.
The situation was brought to the surface again on Wednesday night with former AFL recruitment expert Matt Rendell saying: “He (Grundy) doesn’t offer much in a leadership sense. He’s not in the leadership group for a bloke that has been around as long as he has and how influential he is in games”.
Taylor Adams responded on Twitter by posting: “How can you comment on the quality of someone’s leadership when you have never been led by that particular person?”
Dunkley deal on ‘life support’ as trade falls apart
The Western Bulldogs are reportedly furious at Brisbane’s bargaining tactics and are now prepared to let Josh Dunkley go to the pre-season draft.
In a bombshell twist, talks have broken down between the two clubs with the Bulldogs reportedly telling the Lions that they’re dreamin’.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Lions sent pick 15 to the Giants in exchange for the No. 21 pick and a future second-round selection.
It came after the Bulldogs baulked at the Lions’ offer of two first round picks because the Lions wanted lower round picks in exchange — on top of Dunkley.
SEN’s Sam Edmund first reported the Bulldogs are “irate” that the Lions have committed so much draft capital without having the picks to back-up the club’s plans.
The Lions have also committed to trading for Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston and need massive draft capital to take Will Ashcroft with the No. 1 pick at this year’s draft as a father-son selection.
Earlier this week, the Lions received pick No. 35 from the AFL as compensation for forward Daniel McStay’s departure to Collingwood as a free agent.
Monster three-way trade is brewing
North Melbourne is reportedly in talks with two other teams about a deal that would see the club receive pick two in the upcoming AFL Draft in return for wantaway young gun Jason Horne-Francis.
Foxfooty.com.au reports Port Adelaide, West Coast and North Melbourne are discussing a three-way trade that would see last year’s number one pick and Junior Rioli head to the Power.
The proposed three-team deal would also involve West Coast sending its pick two to Port Adelaide for pick eight and a future first-round pick.
The deal is far from done however, with the Eagles making it clear they need more to entice them to go ahead with the trade.
“Significantly more would need to be included for West Coast,” 7NEWS reporter Ryan Daniels said.
“Not dead, but far off.”
Port Adelaide would reportedly also have to part ways with at least one player to satisfy the demands of the Eagles and Kangaroos.
If the deal eventuates, it would leave North Melbourne with both the first two picks of the 2022 Draft – a seemingly satisfactory result given the loss of last year’s number one pick.
Brisbane is expected to leap-frog North Melbourne into the No. 1 pick with Lions father-son prospect Will Ashcroft expected to be selected first.
Giants official responds to shock trade report
GWS superstar Toby Greene has been surprisingly named in a trade report alongside teammates Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes.
Channel 7 reported on Wednesday night that rival clubs believe Greene had been left “frustrated” by the some of the recent moves and rumoured exits from teammates at the club.
“Toby Greene’s name came up today, the star Giant. I think several clubs are of the view he’s a bit frustrated that Hopper and Taranto have both gone, or will go, to the Tigers,” Tom Browne said.
However Browne quickly clarified by insisting Greene’s camp have no interest in a move.
Greene is reported to have four years remaining on his contract at more than $1 million per-year.
Giants board member and former Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel on Wednesday night replied with a blunt “no” when asked on 3AW if there was any possibility of Greene leaving the club. Bartel did not rule out the possibility of Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes leaving the club after the pair were also mentioned in trade rumours.
The pair’s futures are reportedly being discussed as potential trade targets, should a deal between GWS and Richmond over contracted midfielder Jacob Hopper not be reached.
Tim Taranto has already landed at the Tigers and Hopper could follow suit.
But if GWS and Richmond can’t come to an agreement over Hopper, it could open the door for St Kilda or Hawthorn to swoop in and poach Whitfield or Haynes, according to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey.
“Jacob Hopper has been pretty up front saying that he’s keen to get to Richmond, but understanding that he’s under contract and the deal has to be right,” he said on AFL Trade Radio.
“Would St Kilda put their hand up and use their salary cap space … would they make a play for Lachie Whitfield?
“Hawthorn clearly has salary cap space, they’ve been in the running for Jack Bowes and are interested in him but they also have the salary cap space to do that.
“I wouldn’t say this is a hold up with the Hopper deal, but this impasse could create an opportunity for another club to go and target a different player and I think those players would be (Lachie) Whitfield and Nick (Haynes).
“I’m not saying (Whitfield and Haynes) are looking for trades, but I think the conversation will be had.”
Footy journalist Damian Barrett continued: “Until the trade window is closed, the names of Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes will be spoken about.”
But according to AFL reporter Sam Edmund, only Haynes is at risk of falling victim to the salary cap splurge.
“Lachie Whitfield is not going anywhere, so there won’t be any movement there,” he told AFL Trade Radio.
“In an ideal world, I think GWS would like to move Nick Haynes on as part of their reset.”
Demon puts public pressure on Melbourne to play ball
Star ruckman Luke Jackson has reportedly toured Fremantle’s facilities, putting further pressure on the Demons to reach an agreement with the Dockers.
Widespread reports have suggested Jackson wants to be traded, but has only officially requested to be traded to a team in Perth.
Despite his private desire to play for the Dockers next year, the Demons this week stated the club was entertaining offers from West Coast.
Fremantle has reportedly prepared a monster, long term contract offer but the move has been clouded by the Demons’ reportedly demanding more than two first round selections (including at least one pick inside the top 10) to let him leave.
Channel 7’s Ryan Daniels reported on Monday night the Dockers will offer their first round selections for the 2022 and 2023 drafts.
However, Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb said on AFL Trade Radio the club wants more than that with the Dockers’ top selection in the 2022 draft being Pick 13.
He said the club met with the Eagles on Tuesday to discuss a trade for Jackson.
“We will be doing a deal with whoever gives us the best offer. That will include both clubs in WA. Whoever offers us the best deal is where Luke will end up,” Lamb said.
Crows set to pull off Rankine heist
Izak Rankine could officially be an Adelaide player as early as Thursday, according to reports.
The Crows and Suns are reportedly finalising a deal that will see Gold Coast secure Adelaide’s Pick 5.
Channel 7’s Theo Doropoulous reported Wednesday night the key part of the deal has been agreed upon with the clubs only needing to reach an agreement on a later round pick swap for the deal to officially go through.
Rankine officially requested a trade to Adelaide in August, disappointing senior members of the Gold Coast Suns.
