Well, it has all come down to this. From the opening of business at 9am AEDT this morning, there’ll be just five hours left for teams to lodge trades before the deadline arrives.
» All the trade rumours
» List of free agents
» Every trade and free agency move
One of the biggest AFL trade rumours to come through yesterday was that, on a very quick turnaround, Richmond’s Brett Deledio has asked for a trade to GWS, and is likely to get there for a first-round pick – perhaps the pick No.15 the Giants currently hold.
However the majority of eyes today will be fixed on Hawthorn and Gold Coast who are still trying to work out a deal for Jaeger O’Meara.
Gold Coast president Tony Cochrane made it pretty clear yesterday that Hawthorn’s offer of picks No.10 and No.48 was not going to get the job done.
So, now the Hawks need to come up with something fast, or they’ll be left trying to pick up O’Meara via the national or pre-season draft.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of how Cochrane is going about it – it’s all well and good to take a hard stance on a contracted player, but on an uncontracted one it seems kind of foolish.
What I see at the moment is someone more interested in their own public reputation than in getting the best result for their club.
Added to that, it’s pretty frustrating to see a club that goes kicking and screaming about players leaving but never acknowledges its own failure to provide an environment that is worth staying in.
It’s a pretty immature approach. Look at the way that Sydney and Hawthorn approach trading – is it any surprise that they also happen to be two of the best teams of the modern era? Not in my view.
The Bryce Gibbs deal is set to go down to the wire. Despite reports that Adelaide might give up something on top of pick No.13 to secure him, it now seems they’ve dug in their heels and said it’s that or no deal.
That would seem like a smart play to me as it appeared that the Blues needed that pick No.13 to get Caleb Marchbank and possibly others from the Giants and because of that would eventually relent – however, things may have changed a little on that score.
While the deal isn’t processed yet, Geelong have confirmed that they will gain Zach Tuohy in a deal that will see Billie Smedts go to Carlton, and the Cats will give Carlton their 2017 first-round pick, getting back Carlton’s 2017 second-round pick.
That 2017 first-rounder might be enough to get Marchbank over from the Giants, and if so that means that the Blues won’t need to give Gibbs up in order to get that deal done.
My gut feel is that the trade will still happen, but I’m definitely not as confident on it as I was a week ago.
The Cats might be a very busy club on the final day, as there’s also a possibility they’ll be sending Josh Caddy to Richmond.
Caddy was originally mooted as part of a trade for Deledio to Geelong – that petered out, but it’s believed that Caddy is happy to go to the Tigers if a deal can be brokered.
The rumour going around was that the Tigers would give up pick No.24 for Caddy, which would be a bargain if they can pull it off. Perhaps more likely is pick No.15 if they get it from the Giants.
Also in the news on Wednesday was that Jarryd Lyons has officially asked for a trade to Gold Coast. That might not prove a blockbuster deal in and of itself but could prove crucial to either or both of the Gibbs and O’Meara moves.
dave
Guest
Doggies win the premiership and then trade In Cloke. The roller coaster of life,Highs and Lows.
mds1970
Roar Guru
Old Giants never die. They just turn Blue.
AK
Guest
I just don't get the Cats trade period this year. I didn't expect much as we traded a lot last season, but who we gave up and traded in was a surprise. Get rid of Kersten - a fringe AFL player, and replace him with Black, who has spent the year in the VFL... much like Vardy who we traded to West Coast? Is that GFCs solution to our dire forward line structure?? Black is the foil to support Hawkins???? Tuohy has never been on my radar... seems ok on paper with some much needed leg speed, but doesn't seem like a Delidio (yes yes, we had no chance of getting Delidio when we couldn't trade Motlop out). And trading Caddy for pretty ordinary draft picks???? Mind boggling. If this year has shown us anything GFCs midfield depth isn't much deeper than Dangerfield and Selwood. Duncan has had one of his worst seasons (although you wouldn't know it from his best and fairest count), Guthrie has been spending more time back than in the middle. No Enright or Bartell now so that is unlikely to change. Verdict out on Menegola and SSelwood... they haven't played enough games to make a call on how they are going to add to the depth any more than Caddy would have... but boy it worries me!
steve
Guest
IMO, 13 and a second rounder was the middle ground that should have been enough to complete it. I understand totally why SOS wouldn't budge on two firsts, but I think he should have said first and second rounder gets it done last day. To me that's a fair price from both Carlton's and Adelaide's perspective. It was always a fair price IMO. This deal didn't have to be this hard.
Macca
Guest
Steve - trading Gibbs is a good idea if we get something quality for him - what Adelaide offered wasn't that. Accepting their trade would have been a net loss for our list and that isn't smart trading.
steve
Guest
Yep, SOS sees this draft as very deep. Wanted those picks back.
steve
Guest
You know its coming, but I actually wont disagree with him Macca. I agreed with him that we should have traded one of Gibbs, Murphy or Kruezer last year. Certainly should have traded Gibbs, this time round.
steve
Guest
Don't you have to draft a minimum 3 players?
Macca
Guest
The Mitchell deal was better for them than I thought!! I wonder if they will actually go to the draft?
Macca
Guest
Sammy - 2 first rounders might have been overs but a fist rounder and a future third rounder is well under.
Peppsy
Guest
Hawthorns first pick is now 88, which they got from west coast for Sam Mitchell p
steve
Guest
Col, that's why I questioned Sammy. It certain we would have jumped all over 2 firsts.
sammy
Guest
very true, but nevertheless, Gibbs is reported to be seething at Carlton as everyone but Silvagni considered 2 first round draft picks to be well over. Now Gibbs will know that Adelaide did put up a more than reasonable offer and Carlton rejected it and although he is under contract with Carlton under no obligation to trade, Gibbs is going to have to be very carefully managed as his hopes of returning home have evaporated. Good luck
steve
Guest
Macca, Col. Hearing that GWS were screwing around today, that's why the last 15 minutes went down like it did. We had a deal agreed with GWS last night for Marchbank, Pickett, GWS 2nd rounder for Geelong's 2017 first rounder. When Tuohy's deal went through this morning, they decided that they wanted 13 off us ( Gibbs deal ) and assumed we would complete the Gibbs trade. SOS informed GWS it was unlikely to get done and that a deal between Carlton and GWS was already done. GWS maintained their stance until 1 30pm, with player managers for Deledio, Marchbank and JOM all losing it, and GWS 's stance holding up many deals. They relented and agreed to the original deal made last night. The best Adelaide offered for Gibbs was 13 and future 2nd rounder. SOS walked out on them refusing to deal. We did the deal with Hawthorn, using GWS future second rounder, as SOS wanted the picks coming back as he views this draft as very deep. SOS, and Hawthron, knowing that we did them a massive favour landing them JOM this year, will apparently be more than happy to reciprocate in 2017 when we come calling, knowing the massive favour we did them for JOM.
Macca
Guest
Col you don't mean that bloke who said we should trade Gibbs for Marchbank and Pickett and now thinks they are duds? Who gives a toss what they think - our list is better now than it was 10 days ago and we have pick 5 and 25 to make it even better, we are on the right path but most of all you can see the logic that is being worked through and the plan being implemented.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Macca, can't wait for the usual suspects to come out and say that we failed again.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Sammy, Steve, the final offer was pick 13 and a third round pick which was rejected. Steve if Adelaide had of offered 2 first round picks I am sure we would have grabbed it.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
He comes in as a bit of a filler for the gap left by Kersten I'd imagine.
Macca
Guest
Agree with that Col.
Cat
Roar Guru
I'm happy with that no risk with potential to reward