Key posts
Crows high on Burgess
By Roy Ward
Adelaide Crows think they have made a wise pickup with South Australian native Chris Burgess heading back home from Gold Coast.
Burgess, 27, only played one game this past season and 36 games overall since being drafted by the Suns from West Adelaide in 2018.
Chris Burgess (right) leaps against Tom Hickey in 2021.Credit: Getty Images
Burgess has won the past two Jim “Frosty” Miller Medals as leading goal-kicker in the VFL and at 194cm, the Crows think he could help them at either end of the ground.
The Crows traded picks 23 and 26 to the Suns for Burgess and pick 14.
Crows list management and strategy general manager Justin Reid praised Burgess’ potential.
“We are very pleased with the deal,” Reid said.
“Firstly, to get Chris to the club, he is an athletic key position player who has the versatility to play forward or back which we know is important in today’s game.
“And it’s an opportunity for Chris to continue his AFL career in his home state, he is a quality person who will bring a lot to our team both on and off the field.
“In addition to that, receiving pick 14 strengthens our draft hand as we look to add more top-end talent to our playing list.”
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Adams, Grundy reunite in Sydney
By Michael Gleeson, Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
Former Collingwood teammates Taylor Adams and Brodie Grundy will be reunited in Sydney in 2024 after the pair were both traded to the Swans on Wednesday.
The Magpies received pick No.33 for Adams who joins the Swans on a three-year deal after telling the Magpies on Sunday he wanted to be traded to the harbour town.
The former vice captain who just turned 30 was due to be paid about $650,000 next year in the final, back-ended year of his contract. He has been given a three-year deal from the Swans with the plan for him to play permanent onball rather than sharing his time forward in what is a rare trade win-win for both clubs and the popular player.
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Pies’ surprise swoop on Schultz
By Michael Gleeson, Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
Just a year after bringing in the player who would go on to win this year’s Norm Smith Medal, the Magpies have again targeted a small forward with Dockers goalsneak Lachie Schultz requesting a trade to the new premiers.
Collingwood last year recruited small forward Bobby Hill and key target Dan McStay to reshape their forward line and this year look to go further, with the 25-year-old Docker wanting a move to Victoria.
Lachie Schultz has requested a trade to Collingwood.Credit: Getty Images
The nuggety forward, who has kicked 63 goals in the last two seasons, was to be out of contract at year’s end, but activated a trigger mid-year tying him to the club until the end of 2024. Schultz will be an unrestricted free agent when he comes out of contract at the end of next year as he had previously been delisted and re-listed as a rookie by Fremantle.
Essendon’s list strategy is clear. Can they execute it?
By Jake Niall
Essendon’s post-season recruitment strategy is clear. The Bombers are addressing their most blatant needs and have targeted free agency, rather than just trades, in the knowledge that they cannot afford to trade their first pick in the upcoming draft.
So, North’s Ben McKay has arrived on a hefty six-year deal, Jade Gresham will very likely follow as another free agent signing from St Kilda, and Todd Goldstein, 35, is reuniting with Brad Scott – who was McKay’s first AFL coach – to provide quality back-up over the short term in Essendon’s two-ruck set-up.
Ben McKay has headed from North Melbourne to Essendon.Credit: AFL Photos
Unless there is a surprise raid – and it cannot be ruled out in Adrian Dodoro’s last hurrah as list boss – the only acquisition that will require Essendon to give up draft capital/players will be for Port Adelaide’s Xavier Duursma, who is slated to play a mixture of midfield and wing for the Bombers.
Having spoken to the Bombers, they’re adamant they will not part with pick No.9 in the draft, for either Gresham or Duursma, and that if the Saints match the Gresham free agency offer – as is their right – then he won’t be an Essendon player.
Good morning
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL trade period live blog for day four of the league’s annual player movement window.
We had a big day yesterday, headlined by Brodie Grundy and Taylor Adams both securing moves to the Swans.
Let’s see what today has for us as a number of potential moves remain up in the air.
Please feel free to leave a comment on the blog and enjoy the hours to come.
