Former Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews says the Lions will have a “gigantic win” if they can clinch the deal to net Carlton’s AFL Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola.
The players set to head the other way, Lions full-forward Daniel Bradshaw and midfielder Michael Rischitelli, met with Blues officials and toured the club’s facilities on Thursday.
Bradshaw and Fevola have agreed to move, but the Blues need the seal of approval from a reluctant Rischitelli to finalise the trade.
If Rischitelli remains steadfast in his desire to stay with the Lions, Carlton and Brisbane need to agree on an alternative draft pick or player to switch clubs or the deal will be scuttled.
While 30-year-old Bradshaw has formed a dangerous attacking partnership with Lions skipper Jonathan Brown, Matthews said that if the Lions succeeded in gaining 28-year-old Fevola, they would be acquiring a younger, better option.
He said Bradshaw’s injury history, including a major knee injury which destroyed his 2007 season and back problems, also created doubts about his longevity.
“I see it as a gigantic win for the Lions,” Matthews told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
“Daniel Bradshaw is a good full-forward, Brendan Fevola’s a very good full-forward and he’s two years younger.
“I think his body’s in better shape, I’m not sure what shape Braddy’s body’s in, he’s (almost) 31, I don’t know whether he’s going to play until he’s 35.”
Matthews was confident Fevola could cope with playing a lesser role alongside the dominant Brown and also expected he would have learnt his lesson off-field after the Blues’ decision to off-load him.
“I’d be very surprised if Fev is not exemplary in all facets of his footy life, for at least the next couple of years,” he said.
Matthews doubted Rischitelli would refuse to join the Blues.
“If your club says `We’re prepared to let you go’ and the new club loves you and says `You’re going to be fantastic for us’, 99 per cent of players eventually go,” he said, noting Rischitelli’s Melbourne origins helped.
Meanwhile, mediation has helped Port Adelaide and Hawthorn broker a deal to send gun Power midfielder Shaun Burgoyne to the Hawks.
The two clubs have agreed on a trade which will result in Port getting two first round draft picks, while Hawks forward Mark Williams will join Essendon.
Sydney confirmed the move of their premiership ruckman Darren Jolly to Collingwood, in exchange for draft picks 14 and 46.
The Swans, having already acquired ruckman Mark Seaby from West Coast, are now set to also pick up Geelong back-up ruckman Shane Mumford.
Cats football manager Neil Balme said salary cap pressures meant they had no hope of matching the Swans’ lucrative offer agreed to by Mumford, who missed selection in their premiership team.
“We’re particularly disappointed that we’re losing Mumford because he’s a young bloke that we’ve helped to improve his footy and he’s still only a rookie,” Balme said.
“But he’s been sought by another club, they’ve put up a huge offer and we can’t compete.”
Collingwood were still trying to generate a deal, possibly involving a third club, to try to satisfy St Kilda’s demand for a player in return for Saints’ midfielder Luke Ball.
The Saints have already traded away Xavier Clarke, who missed the entire season with a knee injury, to Brisbane, for pick 60.
And Richmond fringe key forward Jay Schulz will join the Power, in exchange for youngster Mitch Farmer.
Firestarter Bob
Guest
I suggest Fevola being suspended from playing for 3 or 4 matches would be a good start. As has happened in 2009 with off-field matters in the NRL.
Redb
Roar Guru
Rain in Melbourne? - apart from the last month, you must be joking. ;-) I'm not defintely defending Fev, nor do I have an answer to what punishment he deserves, but being dumped by his beloved Carlton would have hurt a fair bit. What do you suggest hang him from the yard arm? Redb
Michael C
Roar Guru
So far, (ignoring the traded picks) Brisbane have picked up Fevola, Xavier Clarke, Brent Staker, Amon Buchanan and Andrew Raines. For Lachie Henderson, Brad Dalziell Swans have picked up Josh Kennedy, Ben McGlynn, Shane Mumford and Mark Seaby. For Amon Buchanan, Barry Hall*, Darren Jolly and Hawthorn have got Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne. For Ben McGlynn, Josh Kennedy and Mark Williams. Those are probably the 3 biggest human trade clubs so far.
ManInBlack
Guest
btw - just gotta point out, a couple of years back, I think there was a magical draft pick that got on traded and on traded and circum navigated the country. This year, the closest we get is pick 39. It started in the hands of WCE. Got traded to Brisbane as part of the Dalziel/Staker/Seaby/Buchanan deal. Brisbane then later swapped it to the Swans for pick 47. The Swans have now sent pick 39 to Hawthorn as part of the deal to secure McGlynn and Josh Kennedy.
ManInBlack
Guest
Good question. Reality is that other than what police or Crown security might say or do....which may be nothing, that Fevola has been exiled from the club that he has spent the last 10 odd years of his life at. He's been rejected outright....finally. THat's a pretty harsh personal judgement handed down upon him. And he's seen that his career was right on the line by the lack of people lining up to offer all that much for him. Beyond that - - what would you suggest? The AFL perhaps backing up after the 'bringing the game into disrepute' charges against Ben Cousins?? Perhaps. For now though - the AFL would be perfectly happy that 2010 AFL in QLD will see big publicity around the Fev and Brownie show, followed by 2011 with big publicity around the K.Hunt show.
Michael C
Roar Guru
With 3 little tackers of my own, I can well understand the 'go home' factor for mature aged players with young kids. Darren Jolly returning from the Swans to Melbourne - - no bad blood, no hard feelings...just, there are some things more important and grandparents are a treasure. That's nice to see.
Michael C
Roar Guru
Melbourne FC in particular would look a tad silly to dump Robbo on one hand and pick up Bradshaw on the other.
Firestarter Bob
Guest
Can someone please explain to me exactly how Fevola has been "punished" for his Brownlow escapade? All I see is a player being traded from one a rainy Melbourne club to sun city of Brisbane. Did all the other players traded this week misbehave at the Brownlow too?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I brought up Melbourne becasue I thought they got first pick, so if he doesn't resign the fall back position of getting drafted isn't a disaster for him. If it was perhaps the Dockers with first pick then he would need a trade. I think it's likely he may have rejected Carlton, perhaps going there has cleared his mind and so there must be adecent chance of him resigning now.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
On finals, that would only pay 1.05 I’m guessing now. They had Jonathan Brown on breakfast radio handling a call in segment. This is nova radio so while Brown is on every week this is very unusual. Normally his segment is 25% footy and 75% what Kyles is up to and his latest trip to Bunnings. Today was the first day he has been ambushed by reporters while coming in to do his segment asking him about Fevola. Would be great if Bradshaw stayed but reading between the lines he has 4 kids and there is talk about going home. Even Brown admitted he seriously thought about going back to Melbourne last year and it seemed last year it’s now or never to go back and in the end decided to stay. And Michael C I think the Brissie supporters you know are pretty representative of the general feeling. I am sure there will be some anti Fevola talk (probably not from AFL fans) but those on the radio who didn’t want the trade to go through was only because of the price. They didn’t want to lose Bradshaw and Rischitelli. Judd’s image is coping a hammering of late…
Redb
Roar Guru
Apparently he is happy to play for a Melbourne club not necessarily Melbourne. He is uncontracted which could mean the Lions dont want him, he is carrying an injury or they just chose to trade as he was uncontracted. Put Bradshaw in with Brown and Fev and that is downright dangerous. Redb
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
The prospect of playing for Melbourne probably doesn't scare Bradshaw so hopefully the lions can get something for him. Pretty exciting times for Brisbane again.
Redb
Roar Guru
No Bradshaw, but he remains uncontracted. Brisbane have an awesome forward line with Brown and Fev. Redb
Michael C
Roar Guru
The Brissie supporters I know are super pleased about this - - they love Bradshaw. For Carlton, it just perhaps reinforces that Fev dun bad. SEN reckon that Brownie is about the best placed captain to actually pull Fev into line. And sharing the forward 50 (??) it'll mean he's right there with him on and off the field. Put some dollars on the Lions for finals in 2010!!!!
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Huh No Bradshaw? I knew Rischitelli rejected the move but it seemed Bradshaw was prepared to go.
Michael C
Roar Guru
OMG - Fev to Brisbane.....for a pittance. AFL website reports: 11:05 AM Fri 09 October, 2009 THE BRISBANE Lions have snared one of the biggest deals of trade week, securing Brendan Fevola and pick No.27 in the NAB AFL Draft in exchange for Lachie Henderson and Pick No.12.