The Brisbane Lions have made their second trade of the day, securing Jarrad Jansen and Josh Walker from Geelong in exchange for their 2016 third-round draft pick.
Jansen joins the Lions having spent two years on the list at Geelong without being given a senior debut. The 192cm midfielder was drafted by the Cats at pick 36 in the 2013 draft.
His performances in the VFL however have been eye-catching, and he finished second in the Geelong VFL best and fairest.
He requested a trade in September, citing a desire for more opportunities at senior level.
Walker joined the Cats in the 2011 rookie draft, and in four years with the Cats has managed 33 senior appearances, kicking 35 goals.
He played sixteen games at senior level this year, his most in any season so far, but with an uncertain future at the Cats – especially given the arrival of Lachie Henderson – has taken the opportunity to join the Lions.
He should be comfortably in the best side at Brisbane, who are woefully short of mature key position forwards.
“Josh is an older player and has played alongside Tom Hawkins as the second key forward. It’s a bonus for us to get a player at his age, who is in his prime,” said Lions list manager Peter Schwab.
“Jarrad has some real potential so it’s a great opportunity for him, and also for us to see how he develops.”
A future third round pick is no major reward for the Cats, but they will be happy enough with the deal given the quality players they have been able to bring into the club this off-season.
“Both players are looking to play regularly at AFL level and they feel this is most likely to happen at Brisbane,” said Geelong’s general manager of football Steve Hocking.
“With the strengthening of our list in this period, and the Lions’ desire to add Josh and Jarrad, it was a good outcome for all parties.
“We add another draft pick in next year’s draft, the players receive greater opportunity, and the Lions add players they feel can help them.
“Both Josh and Jarrad have been fine clubmen and have represented the club professionally during their time at Simonds Stadium.
“Hopefully they will be able to forge good careers and become regular players for the Lions.”
David
Guest
like your update Josh. It sums it up pretty well. If you have a successful period you can be generous, not so easy if the club is experiencing hard times.
Josh
Expert
Yeah, in a sense Geelong can only afford to do that because they so rarely have players of note wishing to leave. Generally, if someone doesn't feel like they're fitting into their system, the Cats probably don't feel like they are either. If the Cats were facing the kind of exodus Brisbane has over the last few years, I imagine they'd look at things a bit differently.
TomC
Roar Guru
This is the way the Cats operate. When a Geelong player decides he would be better off elsewhere, the club facilitates his wishes and takes a reasonable offer from the destination club, instead of putting the player through a stressful trade period where his possible value is debated in the media. It's a very mature, humane approach. It's part of what makes Geelong a destination club and allows them to retain most of the players they want to keep and attract the likes of Dangerfield et al. I wish my club could operate in the same way, but it's really not possible.
George
Roar Rookie
Cats ... giving away players for unders every trade period.