Richmond’s “extraordinary trade flex” leaves rival clubs “bewildered” as another Giant joins the mix.
Plus, does a top pick want to leave North Melbourne?
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TIGERS ‘EXTRAORDINARY RECRUITING FLEX’ COULD LURE DUO
After Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admitted to meeting with contracted GWS midfielder Jacob Hopper, rival clubs are reportedly “scratching their heads” at the trade position the Tigers find themselves in.
Already Giant Tim Taranto is reportedly keen to sign on for 2023, plus they’ve got a host of early drat picks to bargain with to get a deal sorted for Hopper too.
SEN’s Sam Edmund joked “half the GWS list” is going to Richmond.
“What an extraordinary recruiting flex from the Tigers yesterday that meeting with the contracted giant Jacob Hopper,” he said.
“They’ve already got Tim Taranto on the hook down there on a very good deal, we might add and a long-term one (but) Jacob Hopper as well?
“We’re not privy to the books, we don’t know the bottom line looks like – clearly they can do it financially but how do they do it in the trade sense, because we’ve got those figures in front of us. They’ve got their first-round pick, Pick 12 as it stands at the moment. They’ve got two second-rounders, their own but one tied to North Melbourne which is handy, that sits at 19 at the moment.
“So 12, 19, I think there’s a 30, and then you go all the way back. So how do they do it from a trade point of view?
“Taranto is not contracted but Jacob Hopper clearly is, he’s also being courted by Geelong and clearly wants to come home, he’s just got to settle on his destination.
“So what sort of trade for those two prime midfielders would possibly satisfy the Giants? That’s got the whole industry at the moment scratching their heads saying, ‘how could they possibly do this’?
“The people that I’ve spoken to at other clubs – list managers and player managers this morning – are genuinely bewildered as to how it would possibly happen. Does another club have to get involved, are there future picks involved? GWS we know needs to ease the squeeze, but they’re not going to be railroaded into giving up quality players for nothing. Surely players of that calibre.”
Edmund said given Geelong were also keen on Hopper and “far down the path”, it seemed a tug of war could open up for the Giant.
“Do Geelong still have a role to play in Hopper given we know how far down the Hopper path the Cats have gone? They wanted their own double act – they want Hopper and (Brodie) Grundy to come in,” Edmund said.
“It’s a good choice to have for Jacob Hopper. Am I going to Richmond or am I going to Geelong? Both want me, I want to come home, great to have options.”
DOES NORTH FIRST ROUNDER WANT OUT?
Tarryn Thomas endured a tough 2022 season as he was restricted to just 10 games, sparked a war-of-words with a fan on social media and suffered a family tragedy.
Now there’s rumblings he may want to depart Arden Street – despite having two more years to run on his deal at the Roos.
“There’s just one other player I want to mention and it’s Tarryn Thomas. Perhaps just one to keep an eye on,” Edmund reported.
“I know we reported recently he was gettable a couple of months ago and Gold Coast were interested and they’d gone a fair way down the track, there’d been discussions about him being traded up there.
“As we said though, I’d close the door on the Suns. But there are just some murmurings that there could still be a twist here. He’s contracted for two more years, I’m just not sure how happy he is there and whether he might act upon those feelings in this trade period.
“He might not, but he might, so just a watch on Tarryn Thomas at the Kangaroos.”
Thomas has managed 57 games for the club since arriving as pick eight in the 2018 Draft.
The Kangaroos do have their sights set on Giant Tanner Bruhn, who is reportedly keen to get home to Victoria this trade period.
“Tanner Bruhn, wanted by Hawthorn, Kangaroos are really keen, Geelong are too,” Edmund said.
“They’re also in the race for (Docker) Griffin Logue, Jason Horne-Francis locked in for next year, Todd Goldstein soon to be – the specifics of that one being worked out now with everything pointing to him staying.”
DOES DUURSMA DEPART?
It’s no secret Xavier Duursma didn’t find his best footy in 2022 as the first round draft pick struggled to cement his place in the 22.
He played just 11 games – including the last four to see out the season to take his club tally to 57 in four seasons.
Edmund said while Duursma had been “unhappy” at the Power, no trade request had been made.
“Xavier Duursma didn’t have a great season and there was a few things involved that really boiled down to him being unhappy for a fair period of time,” he said.
“It was put to me very clearly that unhappiness didn’t extend to him wanting to leave Port Adelaide – it was just unhappiness with his situation. The fact he wasn’t getting played, he was the sub or he was playing out of position. It hadn’t gone as far as (saying to coach Hinkley) ‘Kenny I want out’.”
NO DECISION YET BY DUNKLEY
Bulldog Josh Dunkley has a big decision to make on his future – two years after his failed trade request to get to Essendon.
The difference now is he’s out of contract – albeit as a none-free agent.
Dunkley is yet to inform the Dogs of his decision on where to play in 2023, with Essendon reportedly set to “ask the question” while Port Adelaide looms large.
“There’s no more torturous waiting game than that lived by Western Bulldogs supporters at the moment because Josh Dunkley still hasn’t told the Dogs of his intentions for next year,” Edmund said.
“Unsigned, he’s being wooed heavily by Port Adelaide – I think that is the club. I know Brisbane have bought a ticket to the raffle here, but the Port Adelaide offer is the big one, this is the one that trumps the Dogs offer, trumps the Brisbane offer – this is exhibit A for temptation for Josh Dunkley.
“I know he’s got a link there, his partner plays netball there … but the contract offer in its length and in its financial clout, that’s the one.
“(But) no decision has been made from Josh Dunkley yet.”
Dunkley’s Bulldogs teammate Jason Johannisen is another player with a big call to make on his future.
With Bailey Dale and Caleb Daniel seemingly ahead in the halfback race, Edmund says the Gold Coast are ready to offer Johannisen a deal to play in his preferred position.
“Not a certainty yet to the Gold Coast, but it’s a solid offer and they have a need there that would see the Norm Smith Medallist reprise his dashing halfback role which he hasn’t been able to do (for the Dogs),” Edmund said.
“When Bailey Dale’s on the scene, Caleb Daniel pulling the strings there, (Johannisen) hasn’t been able to do that at Whitten Oval.
“So the sell for him is: ‘Yes, it’s a three-year contract and a solid one, but you get to play half back again at our football club’.”
