Key posts
NSW firming to host potential AFL ‘Magic Round’
By Peter Ryan
New South Wales is emerging as the favourite to host a proposed extra “magic” round of football in 2023, as the AFL works through ways to avoid it clashing with the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
In the initial proposal, the idea was for the “Magic Round”, which would see nine games played in Sydney on the same weekend, to be held from April 13-16 to coincide with school holidays.
The atmosphere in the preliminary final at the SCG was electric.Credit:Getty Images
However, the Sydney Royal Easter Show attracts more than 800,000 people to the Sydney Showgrounds located at Sydney Olympic Park from April 3-17, adding some complexity to the idea.
The AFL is keen for the round to be a festival of Australian football in the non-traditional AFL state early in the season, with a particular emphasis on supporting Greater Western Sydney as they attempt to gain a stronger toehold in the city.
Zorko backs Lions to snare Dunkley, get points for father-son picks
By Roy Ward
Brisbane Lions skipper Dayne Zorko told SEN Queensland this morning that he is confident the Lions will find a way to secure Western Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley and trade for enough picks to cover their incoming young funs including father-son picks Will Ashcroft, son of Marcus Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, son of Adrian Fletcher.
“I’m confident we will get everyone over the line that we need – whether that happens this week or not,” Zorko told SEN Queensland.
“Will has committed to us and Jaspa is going to be a gun as well so we want them both.
Dayne Zorko.Credit:AFL Photos
“The Bulldogs want two first-round picks for Josh Dunkley and he is a fantastic player who won their best and fairest award, so I understand the price tag. What they are saying is they are willing to let him walk to the preseason draft which enables any club to swoop on.
“Ideally, we would love to get a deal done before 5pm today. Our recruiters will have all the scenarios played out and plans in place.
“It always gets messy like this but I think both parties will be happy and get the deal done.”
The Age’s Peter Ryan and Michael Gleeson reported on Thursday that the Bulldogs would be playing hardball over the deal and wouldn’t sign it off unless they were happy with the terms.
The Western Bulldogs are prepared to send their best and fairest winner Josh Dunkley into the pre-season draft if the Brisbane Lions don’t offer a suitable deal for the 25-year-old midfielder.
The club’s list management committee has agreed to the shock move that could leave them empty-handed after the Lions traded out pick 15 in a pick swap with the Giants on Wednesday, scuppering the chances of them landing Dunkley in exchange for selection 15 and a future first round pick.
The Lions did that deal after the Bulldogs refused to send later picks to the Lions along with Dunkley in exchange for two first round draft picks.
Where Horne-Francis was at last night
Late yesterday The Age’s Peter Ryan reported North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and West Coast were still keeping hopes alive of completing their three-way deal.
The complex trade would see North Melbourne net pick 2, and another pick or player, Port end up with Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli, and West Coast gain pick 8 and a future first-round pick (after splitting their pick 2).
Let’ see if today is the day this deal becomes a reality or whether it floats onto next week.
Jason Horne-Francis is seeking a move back to South Australia.Credit:Getty Images
Official moves
The following trades and player moves have been signed off and made official by the AFL.
13. Josh Corbett (GC) traded to Fremantle in exchange for future fourth-round pick.
12. Tom Berry (BL), pick 46 (BL) and future second-round pick (BL) traded to Gold Coast in exchange for picks 25, 36 and 56.
11. Ben Long (StK) and future fourth-round pick (StK) traded to Gold Coast in exchange for pick 32.
** Brisbane Lions traded pick 15 to GWS in exchange for pick 21 and future-second round pick.
9/10. Griffin Logue (Fre), Darcy Tucker (Fre) and future third-round pick (Fre) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for future second-round pick, future third-round pick and future fourth-round pick.
8. Zaine Cordy (WB) joined St Kilda as an unrestricted free agent.
** Melbourne traded picks 33, 43 and 53 to Port Adelaide in exchange for pick 27.
7. Liam Jones (Carl) joined Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent. Carlton received pick 49 (AFL) as compensation.
6. Daniel McStay (BL) joined Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent. Brisbane Lions received pick 35 (AFL) as compensation.
5. Blake Acres (Fre) traded to Carlton in exchange for future third-round pick.
4. Jayden Hunt (Melb) joined West Coast as an unrestricted free agent. Melbourne received pick 52 (AFL) as compensation.
3. Tim Taranto (GWS) traded to Richmond in exchange for pick 12 and pick 19
2. Bobby Hill (GWS) and pick 40 (GWS) traded to Collingwood in exchange for pick 43 and future second-round pick
1. Karl Amon (PA) joined Hawthorn as an unrestricted free agent. Port Adelaide received pick 27 (AFL) as compensation.
*picks are as they are at time of trades so subject to change as draft order alters
Good morning
G’day everyone! It’s Roy Ward here and I’ll be tapping the keys on our AFL trade week live blog for today, Friday October 7 2022.
It’s been a pretty active week from those clubs looking to make changes for next season but we are still waiting to see if Jason Horne-Francis is able to secure a move home to South Australia and Port Power.
There are several other moves still up in the air including Josh Dunkley’s potential move from Western Bulldogs to Brisbane Lions.
Please feel free to leave a comment on the blog at anytime and enjoy the day to come.
