Geelong’s roll continued on Friday when Greater Western Sydney agreed to trade emerging midfielder Tanner Bruhn to the Cats for pick 18, just two years after the Giants used pick 12 to select the Geelong local in the 2020 national draft.
The Cats then landed pick 25 in a pick swap with the points-hungry Brisbane Lions in which Geelong handed over picks 38, 48, 55 and future second- and fourth-round picks.
Tanner Bruhn is now a Cat, having rejected a two-year deal to remain a Giant.Credit:AFL Photos
Geelong will hope pick 25 can satisfy Collingwood as they seek Oliver Henry, who wants to move to GMHBA Stadium to play alongside his brother Jack Henry.
However, Collingwood have been adamant all week that they will accept nothing less than a first-round pick for Henry, who was pick 17 in the 2020 draft. He has played 25 games in his first two seasons, kicking 21 goals in 15 games this year as he developed his forward craft.
The Magpies were frustrated at the initial offer Geelong made for Henry, which sources said was pick 38 and would value the player well below what he was in his draft year despite being developed in two seasons at Collingwood.
The Magpies will reluctantly agree to a first-round pick but would not be averse to letting the deal slide if an offer to their liking is not made, which would give Henry the option of going into the draft or re-signing with the Magpies.
Oliver Henry has shown great promise in two seasons at Collingwood.Credit:Getty Images
The Lions now have picks 21, 34, 35, 36, 38, 48, 55 and 56 to cover their points for father-son prospects Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher as well as potentially facilitate a deal between Brisbane and Hawthorn for Jack Gunston. The clubs will have to trade for the premiership Hawk after the free-agency period ended on Friday. They also have a future first-round and two future second-round picks, which could help them create a suitable offer for the Western Bulldogs to agree to trade Josh Dunkley.
The Bulldogs have resolved to put their best-and-fairest winner into the pre-season draft if an adequate deal is not allowed.
Essendon have shown an interest in Carlton midfielder Will Setterfield, with discussions expected to ramp up over the weekend.
Clubs attending the national draft combine will continue discussions through the weekend with many big names looking for trades in Jason Horne-Francis, Luke Jackson, Jacob Hopper, Brodie Grundy, Rory Lobb and Dunkley still without deals finalised.
The Kangaroos are still weighing up whether receiving pick No.2 for Horne-Francis in a multi-club deal with West Coast and Port Adelaide is adequate for last year’s No.1 pick but have not been forced to make that decision as the Eagles remain adamant they want a player in any deal that sees Junior Rioli get to Port Adelaide.
If the Kangaroos do land the first two picks in this year’s national draft, they may consider splitting one of the picks with the Giants, who have picks 3, 12, 15, 18 and 19. However, pick swaps can occur between the end of trade period and the week of the national draft.
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