Bryce Gibbs, Gary Ablett and Jake Stringer are the three big names who are still waiting to find out where they’ll play in 2018 as we approach the final day of the 2017 AFL trade and free agency period.
After strong words from both Carlton and Adelaide suggesting that a Bryce Gibbs deal to the Crows wasn’t on the table this year, reports came out today that the Blues have approached Adelaide about a late deal to trade Gibbs home.
While some reported with confidence that Gibbs would certainly join the Crows this year there is now some speculation that a misunderstanding about the deal has led to one party pulling of the agreement – so Gibbs’ future is still very much in limbo.
The deal would reportedly have seen Carlton gain pick 10 and Adelaide’s first and second-round picks from the 2018 draft, with the Blues then passing on Bryce Gibbs and their own 2018 second-round pick to Adelaide.
However the misunderstanding reportedly is that the Crows do not want to give up their 2018 second-round pick. It’s a crucial part of the deal, because Carlton intend to forward it on to GWS in exchange for Matthew Kennedy.
By the sounds of it there won’t be any chance of this leading into a deal for Josh Schache, though Carlton does seem like the only remaining club in Victoria who might be interested in him after the Western Bulldogs were ruled out as a potential destination today.
Darcy Lang however looks likely to move to Carlton after picking them as his preferred destination on Wednesday, against rival offers from Gold Coast and North Melbourne. Because of that, Geelong and Gold Coast will need to find a different way to get a deal done for Gary Ablett.
That deal will now likely be for picks alone. Gold Coast would like it to involve either pick 19 or 22, which most would say is too high a price to pay for a 33-year-old, but it may get done – possibly with the Cats getting something back the other way, such is the value of Ablett’s return to Geelong.
There was little movement on the Jake Stringer trade however with the Bulldogs still considering a deal where they would get picks 25 and 30 from the Bombers.
There was some suggestion that those picks could then be moved in a pick swap to get pick 13 from the West Coast Eagles, however those talks appear to have broken down and the Dogs probably don’t have an option to trade up anymore.
That leaves them with a decision – hold out and hope for the best with Jake Stringer in 2018, or accept an offer that is well below what they were aiming for. It’s not a great set of options.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Harley Balic traded from Fremantle Dockers to Melbourne Demons for pick 66.
A fairly small piece of business that was bound to get done sooner or later, but had to wait until Melbourne finalised other deals for Jake Lever and Jack Watts.
I’m a fan of Balic, though I’ll be curious to see how well he fits into a Melbourne side that already has plenty of similar players.
He might able to slot in Jack Watt’s half-forward role though – while he’s quite a different player, he could play in that area od the ground.
Harrison Wigg, pick 54 and Adelaide Crows’ 2018 fourth-round pick traded from Adelaide Crows to Gold Coast Suns for pick 39.
One the came out of the blue to some degree but Wigg is potentially a good pickup for the Suns given he has played some great footy in the SANFL.
You’d be pretty happy with the return if you’re Adelaide though, as they drafted Wigg with pick 35 and have gotten only a mildly later pick for a player they probably would’ve delisted, along with some spare pieces.
Don’t be surprised if that pick winds up being part of the Bryce Gibbs trade – if it does, the Crows should be sending Gold Coast a nice fruit basket or something.
Aaron Francis, Lachie Weller, Brandon Matera, Nathan Wilson, Andrew Swallow, Matthew Lobbe, Aaron Young, Anthony Miles, Daniel Robinson and Mitch Honeychurch are other players who might move on the last day.
Macca
Guest
Geoff - Adelaide weren't offering 2 first rounders, they were offering 10 and next ears first rounder for Carlton's second rounder - with Gibbs leaving the blues and going to Adelaide that could possibly have been the blues shift from pick 19 to pick 18. What the blues had agreed to was 10 and next years first rounder and next years second rounder for Gibbs and next years second rounder - that could have meant Adelaide go from 36 to 19 in the second round and get Gibbs for the price of two first rounders - that seems more than fair to me.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
Haha, ... salty Bombers supporter?
Jack
Guest
We have a great recruitment team Now look at last two drafts . We have got 7 rising stars plus guys like Pickett. Add another 4 first round draft picks in next two years. All of these Young guys seem to be Signing up long term as well. I do think 2018 the only team we will beat is north though
Macca
Guest
Dozens?
Geoff Schaefer
Guest
Two first rounders is more than fair for a player of Gibbs' age. Maybe SOS is just sick of Carlton being Adelaide's feeder club?
Davidt62
Guest
The Western Bulldogs handling of the Jake Stringer situation is nothing but a Shakespearean tragedy...Peter Gordon is nothing but a poor man's Lady McBeth
Davidt62
Guest
Huh....just ask Carlton....dozens of Top 10 picks and stuff all to show for it
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Or player managers? I tend to think that if he really wanted to go to Adelaide, both sides would have made it happen
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
They could always try, but Wilson's pretty much set on Freo, plus GWS and Freo supposedly are just steak knives away from a deal, which may or may not be affected by the end result of the Weller shenanigans.
Rats
Guest
Gibbs to the crows for 2 first round pick was the deal last year. So this year Camron to the lions and schache to carlton so don't worry about the pick from Brisbane , Adelaide need to then give up pick 10 to the blues now we have a deal.
Mattician6x6
Guest
Is it possible wce are monitoring the Wilson situation waiting to make a late play for him? Wouldn't be shocked if that transpires
XI
Roar Guru
Anyone see the Damian Barrett story? Either he's got some proof of major corruption or he should just hand in his credentials now. Either way, I hope that he doesn't try that "Sliding Doors" schtick anymore.
Andrew
Guest
If we get 2 first rounders, it will be a steal Gibbs' value is only going to drop from now on so to maximize picks for him we can both lower draft age and hopefully use the draft to build young solid mids. Very little down side to this apart from maybe a little more short term pain for better gain.
damo
Guest
See ya Bryce, wish it wasn't so but hope the Crows win the flag next year just so I can cheer for you n Eddie, it might be a while before we get there again but no hard feelings when I boo the tv next year ok.
Mic
Guest
Couldn’t argue with two first round picks, but will leaves us even thinner in midfield stocks for 2018. What’s the intel on Kennedy and Lang, presuming they get to Carlton. Will they be able to fill the void Gibbs will leave?
Pieman
Guest
I think i will support Port or Gold Coast......i like their ferver in the trade time this year. They are for real. What ashame know all Mr Ed and little nathan lost our chance to have Stuart Dew as coach. Gold Coast WILL finish above Collingwood next season ...go suns. Just until Mr Ed and little nathan leave.
Cat
Roar Guru
Draft is no guarantee of success. Ask Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne.
Jack
Guest
If blues can get two first round picks for Gibbs , one this year one next it will be a brilliant move. Will be 4 huge years in the draft and a flag list no doubt at all. I reckon we can pick Kennedy up in the pre season draft or pick 38 another steal
Cat
Roar Guru
So you just make the assumption that it is Carlton and Silvagni that have caused it to allegedly breakdown? Isn’t as likely to be Adelaide’s fault? Why assume it’s either side, maybe it’s both?
Stephen
Guest
Staggered to think Carlton and Adelaide - after 12 months to think and plan the Bryce Gibbs trade, could have such a material oversight or miscommunication and potentially bring the negotiations to a sudden halt. Big fan of Stephen Silvagni's, but he runs the risk of out-smarting himself yet again. The best operators in the AFL for mine, keep it simple and don't get greedy.