A midfielder that’s been on the verge of Brisbane’s best 22 for years is pondering his options.
Plus Carlton is open to trading its top 10 pick, while a Saint great believes three clubs should make a fringe Cat a priority.
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LIONS MID PONDERING PROSPECT OF MOVE
Fringe Lions midfielder Rhys Mathieson is “exploring a trade”, reports 7 News Melbourne.
Mathieson has struggled for continuity in the Lions’ senior side ever since being drafted out of the Geelong Falcons with Pick 39 in the 2015 draft, playing 72 games across seven seasons.
Despite being contracted to Brisbane for another season, Mathieson is pondering the prospect of a move to a rival club, according to 7 News reporter Mitch Cleary.
Cleary wrote on Twitter that Mathieson was “aware already limited opportunities are going to get tougher” at Brisbane, which is set to being in Dogs best and fairest winner Josh Dunkley via a trade and father-son gun Will Ashcroft via the national draft.
GWS’ loaded draft hand explained | 02:02
“Has no strong suitors as yet but a name to track into the final week of trade period,” Cleary wrote of Mathieson.
Mathieson found good form in the back-half of 2022, averaging 20.0 disposals, 11.2 contested possessions and 6.5 clearances from his most recent six home and away matches.
The 25-year-old had 14 disposals against Richmond in the elimination final, was the unused medical sub in the Lions’ semi-final win over Melbourne then played just 31 per cent of the preliminary final loss against Geelong but still had 13 disposals, 10 contested possessions and six clearances,
BLUES LOOKING TO IMPROVE DRAFT HAND
Carlton’s top-10 draft selection is “on the table”, according to club list boss Nick Austin – and rival clubs have been made aware of that.
Speaking on AFL Trade Radio, Austin said after the acquisition of Dockers wingman Blake Acres his club would now turn its attention to the draft after having just three picks in the past two national drafts.
The Blues currently hold Picks 10, 29 and 49, as well two fourth-round selections. Should the Blues hold their selection, it’d be their first top-10 pick since 2018, although they’d almost certainly select at Pick 11 due to the inevitably early bid coming on Brisbane father-son gun Will Ashcroft.
But Austin said there would almost certainly be opportunities to “move around a bit” in the order, especially on draft night, to improve the club’s hand.
Blues get ‘steal of trade period’ | 02:59
“We’d like to improve our hand as much as we can. Obviously, with the futures market as well, the option is there to bring in some picks there and strengthen our hand this year if we feel that there’s an opportunity,” Austin told AFL Trade Radio.
“We’re pretty open. We’ve been open with all of the clubs that we’ve caught up with that our pick is on the table and we’re keen to improve our hand as much as we feel is necessary and if the right player is there.
“We’ll work through that, whether some things happen this week or not. But I feel like on the night there will be some opportunities to do that.”
Most of the players selected in the top 10 this year are midfielders and hybrid forwards from Victoria, although key forward Aaron Cadman has surged into top-five calculations with a strong back-half to the season.
RIVALS SHOULD LOOK AT ‘DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH CAT’
Geelong’s first-round draftee Cooper Stephens would be a “diamond in the rough” for a rival club looking for an inside midfielder according to Saints champion Leigh Montagna.
The reigning premiers are set to be one of the big winners of the AFL exchange period, with Gold Coast’s Jack Bowes, Giant Tanner Bruhn and Collingwood’s Ollie Henry all wanting to join the Cats. As part of the expected Bowes deal, the Suns are set to hand Geelong Pick 7 as an enticement to take on the $1.6m salary reportedly owed to the Gold Coast on-baller.
Subsequently, Montagna believes Stephens will soon fall “down the pecking order” at the Cats, who already have ample midfield depth, highlighted by the fact Mark O’Connor was set to be the sub in the Grand Final before Max Holmes’ late withdrawal, which meant Brandan Parfitt was ultimately the sub. Parfitt was initially supposed to join Sam Menegola in the grandstand on Grand Final day before the late change.
Cat a dream Moneyball pick-up? | 01:22
Stephens, a 188cm inside midfielder, played seven games for the Cats in 2022 and has been a solid VFL contributor over the past two seasons amid several injury setbacks.
“He’s a bit of a risk, but there’s a diamond in the rough – and I think he’s a long way down the pecking order at the Cats who’s gettable,” Montagna told Fox Footy’s Trading Day.
“Any team that needs a big midfielder should look at this man.
“He showed some good signs this year playing senior footy … He’s got one year to run on a contract, but I think he’s gettable.
“I think some clubs like Essendon or Adelaide, maybe St Kilda, that need some young inside mids that maybe want a player with some real upside and some great attributes with his size, you could do worse than looking at Cooper Stephens from Geelong.”
