AFL trade rumours update: Big names, high picks move on first day

The 2015 AFL trade period started with a bang yesterday, with a number of prominent players finding new homes on the first day.

Compare that to last year when we waited more than three days for the first trade to be completed. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – welcome to the new age of player movement.

The biggest story of course was that Patrick Dangerfield officially joined Geelong in the first completed trade of 2015.

The Cats were expected to sign Dangerfield as a free agent but with the Crows confirming they would match any free agency offer, both parties took to the trade table and worked out an equitable deal.

In the end the Cats gave up their first and second round draft picks this year – currently picks 9 and 28 – and also gave up young South Australian midfielder Dean Gore.

In exchange they received Dangerfield, and the Cats’ third round pick in this year’s draft, currently pick 50.

Funnily enough it was during the Cats’ celebratory press conference when the news broke that they had completed another signing, with the West Coast Eagles confirming they would not match the offer from Geelong that Scott Selwood accepted on Friday.

Safe to say that in the space of about three or four hours the Cats’ midfield received a significant boost in talent. They’ll now turn to focus on trades to acquire Lachie Henderson and Zac Smith.

In other news Brisbane ruckman Matthew Leuenberger formally accepted Essendon’s offer to join the club on a three-year deal as a restricted free agent.

The paperwork has been lodged and it’s now up to the Lions to either match Essendon’s offer or officially decline to do so. They won’t match it, and instead will be happy to receive what will likely be a second round pick in compensation. I expect them to announce as much today.

Lastly, the Lions traded midfielder Jack Redden to West Coast, with the Eagles giving up their first round pick – currently pick 17 – in exchange.

It’s a good return for the Lions, and a great acquisition for West Coast as they look to further improve their side after finishing as runners-up in 2015.

The AFL also gave some indication as to the compensation picks that West Coast and Hawthorn will receive for the respective departures of Scott Selwood and Matt Suckling.

These picks aren’t locked in yet but it has been indicated that the Eagles will receive pick 37 for Selwood and the Hawks will receive pick 39 for Suckling, though these picks may fall further back in the order as more compensation picks are awarded.

West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett had a go at the AFL over the Selwood compo labeling it as ‘disrespect’, but I’m not sure what he was reasonably expecting in return for a player who was regularly left out of the Eagles’ best side this season.

The Hawks on the other hand appear to be satisfied with their compensation for Suckling.

An already active trade period looks set to remain as such tomorrow with Essendon and Melbourne expected to lodge a trade involving Jake Melksham early in the morning.

It’s believed that Melbourne will give up their second round pick, currently pick 25, in exchange for Melksham.

Melksham has played 114 games for Essendon since being taken at pick 10 in the 2009 draft, but is not a highly-rated player and the industry opinion is that Melbourne are giving up a bit more than he’s worth.

The Dees will sign Melksham to a four-yeal deal reportedly worth $400,000 per season. The trade will see him reunited with former Essendon assistant coach Simon Goodwin.

After the Dangerfield trade Adelaide now boast picks 9, 13, 28 and 32 in the upcoming draft – before compensation picks are awarded – and reportedly have some interest in packaging picks together to move further up the draft order.

St Kilda, who are looking to find an equitable trade for Jake Carlisle, have signaled an interest in possibly giving the Crows pick 5 in a deal that lands them multiple first rounders – one to keep for themselves, and one to trade for Carlisle.

The Saints currently hold picks 5 and 24 inside the first 25, and are looking to make deals for Carlisle and for Collingwood’s Nathan Freeman.

Port Adelaide have tabled an offer of their first round draft pick – currently pick 10 – to Gold Coast in exchange for Charlie Dixon. However, the Suns have knocked this back and are reportedly looking to add a Port Adelaide player into the deal.

There’s not been any indication as to who that player might be just yet. Aaron Young and Andrew Moore are both looking to leave the Power in search of more opportunity, but it’s not clear if Gold Coast is interested in either of them, or if they would be willing to move there.

Other sources say that Gold Coast are instead requesting two first round picks, which Port does not have. It’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out, but my expectation is that the Suns will eventually bend and take a deal below their asking price.

Port have also reportedly offered up their second round draft pick, currently pick 29, to Melbourne in exchange for Jimmy Toumpas. Melbourne would prefer to retain Toumpas and are hoping to convince him to stay.

Jeremy Howe however is officially on his way out of Melbourne having properly requested a trade away from the Demons. He hasn’t nominated a club of choice yet but it’s believed he will choose from Gold Coast, North Melbourne or Collingwood.

Having missed out on Matthew Leuenberger, the Swans have officially requested Callum Sinclair from West Coast as they look to find a trade for Lewis Jetta. However, the Eagles current position is that they will not trade Sinclair, who is contracted and has not requested a move.

A trade that will see Adam Treloar join Collingwood is reportedly close to fruition, and the Magpies are then expected to turn their attention to James Aish. It’s reported that they are willing to offer their 2016 first rounder in order to secure Aish.

Carlton are apparently looking at a trade that would see Tom Bell and Levi Casboult join Brisbane in exchange for their second round pick, currently pick 21.

Greater Western Sydney are keen to secure a mature ruckman in this trade period to support Shane Mumford and it’s reported that North Melbourne’s Daniel Currie, Geelong’s Dawson Simpson and Carlton’s Robbie Warnock are all of interest.

Currie is expected to join Gold Coast as a replacement for Zac Smith, but Simpson and Warnock are on the market.

Essendon have reportedly shown interest in Bulldogs pair Michael Talia and Mitch Honeychruch. Talia is certain to leave the club after a falling out with coach Luke Beveridge, whether or not Honeychruch is on the trade table is unclear.

North Melbourne’s Ryan Bastinac apparently has a number of clubs interested in his services after he was left out of the side for North’s finals campaign. Brisbane and Melbourne are two clubs who’ve been named so far as having interest in him.

Fremantle have reportedly shown some interest in Geelong forward Shane Kersten but already have their hands full at the moment looking at trades to recruit Harley Bennell and Cam McCarthy.

Jed Anderson was rumoured to have selected West Coast as his preferred destination for a trade but I’m not sure this rumour has legs. There’s been no official statement from Hawthorn or West Coast on it just yet which you would expect if it was confirmed.

There’ve been some rumours about Brendon Goddard possibly leaving Essendon but these don’t see to have much substance. The Bombers denied any chance of Goddard being traded, and Goddard simply tweeted the below last night.

Despite interest from other clubs, Nathan Hrovat looks likely to stay put at the Western Bulldogs and fight for his spot in their best side.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen reportedly will re-sign with Adelaide with an official announcement to come later in the week despite rumours of him looking for a new home.

David Astbury may be staying put with the Tigers. There’s been interest in him from rival clubs including Brisbane but they’ve so far refused to put him on the trade table.