Port Adelaide may need to contribute more to the reported four-club mega trade deal that would see Jason Horne-Francis and Eagle Junior Rioli land at the Power, according to former number one draft pick Bryce Gibbs.
Speaking on SEN SA on Saturday, Gibbs said the proposed deal that would see GWS land pick one, North Melbourne hold picks 2 and 3 and West Coast finish with picks 8 and 12 could “certainly happen”.
It would mean GWS give up picks 3 and 12 to move up to 1, West Coast give up pick 2 and Rioli, the Kangaroos lose pick 1 and Horne-Francis while Port Adelaide would be giving up pick 8, and potentially their future first rounder to the Eagles.
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“Port are adamant they are not giving up any of their young talent,” Gibbs said.
“If you’re going after high profile talent and early picks and things, you’ve still got to give up something.
“Port obviously dug their heels in with a lot of their young stars. They’ve shut (the approaches from rivals) down all quickly.”
Under the draft point index, the Giants would be giving up a combined 3502 points (picks 3 & 12) for the 3000-point pick 1.
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North would jump from the 3000-point value of pick one to a combined 4751 for picks 2 and 3.
West Coast would be moving up from 2517 draft points for pick 2 to a combined 2819 for picks 8 and 12 – but they would also lose Rioli.
It was reported the Eagles asked about the likes of WA youngster Mitch Georgiades and defender Dan Houston as part of the deal for Rioli, but those approaches were knocked back.
With a now four-club trade flagged, Gibbs said the proposed deal could get every club what they wanted.
“It certainly could happen,” he said.
“And if it takes an extra couple of teams to join in for something like this, absolutely they have to look at it.
“It looks like everyone could benefit greatly.”
Gibbs, who himself is a number one draft pick who ended up with a trade, said Horne-Francis “takes the cake” in that special group that includes the likes of Jack Watts, Brett Deledio and Tom Scully.
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“He takes the cake – he’s doing it after 12 months (asking for a trade). It took me 11 years to come to that decision,” he said.
Fox Footy’s David King believes a deal for Horne-Francis for pick two isn’t enough on its own to satisfy the Roos.
“I just don’t think it’s enough,” he said.
“You’ve had a pick one and he’s had a year of development. You’ve got to prize him out of contract as well.”
Gibbs described the proposed four-club deal as “fascinating” and didn’t put it past the Roos to stand firm and hold onto Horne-Francis if a deal did not meet their demands.
“There’s so much uncertainty at the (North Melbourne) footy club. I daresay that’s a part to play in Jason’s decision to request a trade back to Adelaide,” Gibbs said.
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“It’s fascinating.
“The way (Swan Tom) Papley turned around and had such an amazing year after his trade request to Carlton was denied; you look at Josh Dunkley who requested a trade to Essendon. He goes on to have an amazing year and wins the Bulldogs’ best and fairest.”
Gibbs said it was clear Horne-Francis’ only option to return home for 2023 was Port Adelaide, given Adelaide are “all in” on Izak Rankine.
