Cam McCarthy has officially become a Docker after a year of waiting, joining the Fremantle football club as part of the first trade of the 2016 off-season.
The GWS Giants traded McCarthy, along with draft selections No.7, No.34 and No.72 to the Dockers for their first selection at the draft, No.3 overall.
“We’re really excited about getting Cam to Fremantle,” said Fremantle’s list manager Brad Lloyd.
“He’s a talented young player who is a proven performer at AFL level.
“We are really looking forward to seeing Cam pull on a Fremantle jumper in 2017.”
GWS’ football manager Wayne Campbell said the deal would help all three parties.
“With Cameron’s strong desire to return to Western Australia, we worked closely with his management team to facilitate a deal that we feel benefits everyone involved,” Campbell said.
“Cam’s welfare was always the priority for everyone at the Giants and the club wishes him the very best for the rest of his career.
“Securing the third pick in the draft is significant as it puts us in a strong position to further enhance our playing list.”
It’s a trade twelve months in the making, after McCarthy went to the Giants this time last year to request a trade west.
However the Giants saw McCarthy, who was contracted for another two seasons, as a ‘line in the sand’ moment and refused to trade him.
They would have hoped to turn the situation around in 2016, but instead McCarthy quit the club before the season began and moved back to Western Australia, citing homesickness.
That makes it rather an odd deal in the end. GWS certainly got less now than they could have last year, but can be said to have won an important victory for their self-respect.
It’s also a credit to their canny trading ability that they managed to turn the situation into a tidy profit of moving up from pick No.7 to pick No.3 in the draft – that could have huge ramifications on draft day.
On the other hand, Fremantle have the chance to turn this into one of the best deals in the history of the club, if they’re able to make the most of McCarthy’s talent.
He kicked an impressive 35 goals from 20 games in just his second year at the Giants, and is still only 21 years of age.
If he can become a top-flight forward for Fremantle in the future, the Dockers will go down in history as the big winners in this deal.
Roarers, who do you think wins this trade? For every trade this off-season, we’re asking you to rate the trade – vote below, and we’ll release all the results at the end of trade period.
Don Freo
Guest
How he'll cope in 5 years time with what?
me too
Guest
And there you go!
13th man
Guest
Hope your right Johno not sold on English
Balthazar
Guest
Yep, SPS. Then Logue. Then English
Chuckles
Guest
McCarthy is a good player but needs to get fit - no-one knows how he will cope in 5 years time..
Chuckles
Guest
That's if their other trades go thru because they are short of picks now - I understand they will get one Academy player and they have another low pick don't they?
johno
Guest
Coniglio, Palmer, Lobb and Nathan Wilson seem to be doing ok over there. Jarrod Picket looks like he wants to go to Melbourne to be with SOS but not desperate to come home.
johno
Guest
He's been training with South Freo for months and is apparently in really good nick
johno
Guest
anon I don't think you understand the deal Freo gave: 2234 points worth of picks to GWS GWS gave: 2236 worth of points to Freo plus McCarthy Freo had before this trade a top 10 pick GWS had before this trade a top 10 pick, and second round pick and a fourth round pick and a quality young forward If Freo use the second rounder for Hill the deal becomes pick 3 for pick7 (probably same player Freo wanted anyway), plus Hill, plus McCarthy, plus a fourth rounder Not sure what it is you don't get about that bein a good deal fro Freo
johno
Guest
Likely draft IMHO 1. McLuggage (Ess) 2. Bowes (Bris matched by GC's pick 4) 2. Brodie (Bris) 3. McGrath (GWS) 4. used for pick 2 5. Taranto (Carl) 6. Setterfield (Rich matched by GWS) 6. Ainsworth (Rich) 7. SPS or English (Freo)
johno
Guest
Hawks can have pick 72 for Hill
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Pretty solid trade both parties. Obviously the thing for Freo is whether they can get McCarthy up and running early. he has had (will have) 18 months out of the game. You can train as much as you like but match practice is completely different. GWS also ensures they maintain there Draft status.
13th man
Guest
If SPS is still available he must be first choice
dave
Guest
I'm a West Oz lad and have toured the country 3 times,had extened stays at the Goldie and Darwin and really enjoyed my time in Melbourne. Sydney for a West oz boy is like going to a different country. Sydney should be careful when drafting kids from rural areas or from the other side of the country.The majority of kids drafted have no experiancs of living in the big smoke that is Sydney. Maybe some sort of compensation is needed to entice these kids out of the heart of AFL Victoria. Cost of equalisation allowance maybe?
Daws
Guest
You know him do you?
13th man
Guest
You must be laughing.... Pick 3 for a player that was never going to play again for you... Chris Bond is stupid... Pick 3 would have been something special. SPS was a gun and we blew it!!
13th man
Guest
I'm not at all happy about it. Petrevski seton is a gun and we've missed out big time. McCarthy has been out for a yr... should have been a third round pick for him!!!
Lroy
Guest
I cant believe the Giants gave up anything for this guy... pick three was a given, what else did the Dockers have to offer?? They should have demanded the Dockers first two draft picks minimum and given up nothing...
Raimond
Roar Guru
McCarthy is talented, but lacks application and is clearly a drama queen. I'm glad to see the back of him to be honest.
ES
Guest
Yep happy with Freo's get, but as you say it's a handy strategic pick for GWS too. Good trade all round.