The trend of strong clubs benefiting from attractive trade deals looks set to continue this year with Gold Coast youngster Jack Bowes nominating Geelong as his preferred destination.
GWS star Tim Taranto has already joined Richmond, and former teammate Jacob Hopper looks set to follow him to Punt Road.
Meanwhile, Brisbane are in the box seat to acquire Josh Dunkley and Jack Gunston and Melbourne are closing in on Brodie Grundy in order to replace Luke Jackson who seems headed to Fremantle.
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Bowes in isolation isn’t in the same league as those other players mentioned. After all, the former No.10 pick has only averaged 17 disposals in his 83 games with the Suns since debuting in 2017.
But as part of their “salary dump” proposal, the Suns attached pick No.7 to the deal, to entice rival clubs to get Bowes, and his reported $1.6 million contract, off their books.
Essendon and Hawthorn were the other Victorian clubs in the race for Bowes, but in the end he settled on Geelong.
“Gee it’s flattening for the rest of the competition, that Geelong have been able to do it,” St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.
“Clubs like Essendon and Hawthorn, they’d love to continue to rebuild and get that early pick, and get a quality player in the right age bracket. Unfortunately for them it’s the Cats who’ve come up trumps again.”
He added: “And the ability because of the selflessness of players, to not take top-dollar, to take a little bit less and understand it’s what leads to success.”
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Likewise North Melbourne champion David King was full of praise for the Cats.
“This is why great football clubs stay where they are. Great off the field as much as on it,” he said on Fox Footy’s Trading Day.
“Selling the vision, selling the dream for this kid to come down and be part of what is already a special football club, the way they treat people, the way they allow you to have a life outside of football. It’s not all football.
“It’s a great sell, and why wouldn’t you want to go there? If you were Jack Bowes you’d choose Geelong right now.”
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The reigning premiers are now waist-deep in the top 10 of this year’s draft, but former North Melbourne coach David Noble said critics of that prospect should be more upset with the Suns than the Cats.
“Is the environment strong enough for the Gold Coast for them to retain enough (players)? (Izak) Rankine comes out,” Noble said on AFL Trade Radio in reference to Rankine’s request to be traded to Adelaide.
“We talk about the intrinsic value of teams being able to offer finals as an incentive – that’s hard to put a monetary value on.
“Jack would go down there understanding the salary system Geelong operate by, so they would probably smooth this money out (over a few more years).”
Despite failing to realise his full potential so far, Bowes would be a “great get” for Geelong, according to Noble.
“It brings the other piece into the equation,” Noble said.
“I think Bowes can find himself in there (Geelong midfield).
“(Joel) Selwood’s just retired, (Patrick) Dangerfield I think in the back end of his career will probably go forward.
“To put Bowes into that midfield with (Cam) Guthrie at the moment, I mean, wow – they’re up there again.”
– with Max Laughton
