A frenetic final thirty minutes has seen big names Dylan Shiel and Dayne Beams get to Essendon and Collingwood respectively in the 2018 AFL trade period, but Tim Kelly will remain at Geelong next year after the Cats and Eagles failed to broker a deal before the deadline.
» VOTE: Grade every player for our 2018 AFL trade period report card
After a lengthy stand-off Essendon eventually gave in to GWS’ demands and traded two first-round picks to the Giants for Shiel: pick 9 this year, and Essendon’s 2019 first-round pick.
However, the Dons did get a little something back in the deal, with the Giants sending their 2019 second-round pick to the Bombers alongside Shiel.
Brisbane received two first-round picks from Collingwood in return for Beams’ departure – pick 18 this year, and Collingwood’s first-round selection in 2019.
The Lions also got pick 56 in the deal, and gave picks 41 and 44 to Collingwood.
Tim Kelly however will have no choice but to see out his contract with the Geelong Cats in 2019 after talks between Geelong and West Coast broke down with only minutes to go.
West Coast reportedly upped their offer to include picks 20 and 22 this year as well as their 2019 second-round pick, but the Cats refused to blink on their demand that the deal include a 2019 first-round selection.
There were late rumblings that Fremantle were willing to offer pick 14 for Kelly if he would agree to join the Dockers, but nothing ultimately came of this.
Some of the less-discussed names of the trade period also saw their moves finalised in the final minutes.
Marcus Adams got his wish to join the Brisbane Lions with just half an hour left on the clock, as the Lions shipped pick 32 and a 2019 third-rounder originally belonging to the Gold Coast Suns to Whitten Oval to get the deal done.
Meanwhile, Jordan Roughead joined Collingwood from the Western Bulldogs for the low price of pick 75, and Travis Colyer was traded from Essendon to Fremantle for a future fourth-round pick.
Nic Newman joined Carlton from Sydney for the same price.
Dayne Beams was traded back to Collingwood with only minutes left on the clock (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
The day opened with a trade which saw Chad Wingard and Ryan Burton change places – Wingard moving to Hawthorn, and Burton returning home to play for his childhood club Port Adelaide.
The Hawks traded picks 15 and 35 along with the 2019 fourth-rounder they took from the Bulldogs for Taylor Duryea to Port along with Burton to get their man, and acquired Port’s 2019 third-rounder back the other way.
Only moments later Port pushed through another deal with the Brisbane Lions which saw them bring in a former top-ten pick in Sam Mayes and upgrade pick 6 to pick 5, passing on pick 35 and the 2019 third-round pick they received from Fremantle earlier in the trade period to the Lions.
Shortly afterwards Brisbane completed a pick swap with Gold Coast which then set them up to bring Lachie Neale into the club.
The Lions gave their 2019 first-round pick to Gold Coast in order to gain pick 19 this year, and Gold Coast’s 2019 second-round selection, as well as Hawthorn’s 2019 third-round selection.
Brisbane were then able to move picks 6 and 19 from those deals, as well as pick 55, to the Fremantle Dockers in exchange for Lachie Neale and pick 30.
As had been forecast from a long while out, the Neale deal proved to be a domino kicking off a flurry of trade movement.
Having finally made the decision to move on Neale, Fremantle fired off a series of quick shots from the hip which saw them land both Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb in the space of about five minutes.
The Dockers gave picks 6 and 23 to Melbourne in order to land Jesse Hogan and got pick 65 back the other way with him, then moved picks 11 and 19 to GWS to get Lobb, 14, 43 and 47 back.
Notably the Dockers confirmed via their website that they have signed Hogan to only a three-year contract, after talk earlier in the week that Hogan’s management had requested an eight-year, $8 million contract.
Melbourne then moved that pick 6 on over to the Gold Coast Suns in a relatively uncomplicated swap for Steven May and Kade Kolodjashnij.
The Demons were also able to move up the draft order by passing on picks 36 and 46 to St Kilda in exchange for pick 28, giving them two picks in the top 30.
The Suns had a May replacement lined up ready to go: shortly after they brought Jack Hombsch into the club for the low cost of a 2019 fourth-round pick, originally belonging to the Adelaide Crows.
They finish this stage of the trade period holding three of the first six picks in the draft: 2, 3 and 6.
With that row of dominoes having fallen to completion, the activity quickly slowed as deals for the remaining big names on the table dragged on late into the night.
North Melbourne completed a minor pick swap with Fremantle in that time giving them pick 31 for picks 47, 49 and 55 in that time, while the Sydney Swans brought threw us a minor curveball bringing in Jackson Thurlow for the low cost of pick 70.
Clifford Cowaramup
Roar Rookie
Let Tim come home with his wee folk.
Clifford Cowaramup
Roar Rookie
Kool Jon Boy,i am an eagle,like your thinking.just hope Ballantyne gets a chance too harass Geelong again,he goes alright the little warrior.
Clifford Cowaramup
Roar Rookie
Geelong will get what they deserve,NOTHING,Brad Scott hopeless coach walked in on a premiership,failed ever since,tried to buy it with Paddy some carlton defender or two,his players don't play for him,why the recognise a hoax.
Clifford Cowaramup
Roar Rookie
What a disgrace,Wells and Brad spin,they weren't interested in helping Tim Kellys family,have there children near direct family,as Tims wife said not looked after at all.Shame Wells and Brad karma will bite your ass soon in some form.All the best Kelly family the quicker you depart these ruthless thugs,the better life will be.(hate to say it the pox on you both.Bradley and Stephen).
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Huge call, John. Would he make the Eagles a better side? Absolutely! But I suppose you can say what you like after winning the flag. Mid field still a slight worry for mine.
John
Guest
Tim Kelly would not make a difference to West Coast backing up or not. He would be fighting with Dom Sheed for the 5th best mid at the Eagles. Hes a mid tier player who has been massively overated by Vic media. He is good player no doubt. But he is not a gun or elite or an A grader. He is Michael Barlow Mk2 , will have a good but ultimately forgettable career.
Klompy
Roar Rookie
The more I look at this year trade period, the more I understand what the Eagles did to keep their picks for the draft. I just hope Tim Kelly will come back to the Eagles next year. The best thing for the Eagles was that they Kept Jarrod Brander a great young talent and Up coming promising forward for the Eagles. I guess we want our teams to have the best players in our teams. Maybe developing them from the draft is the best way and not going for a trade which could cost a team the best draftee. I still believe that the mighty Eagles will go back to back in 2019.
User
Roar Rookie
Maybe/maybe not, I don't see it as an issue, hogan didn't deal with wce in any way and was never going to and as money was the driving force in Lobb decision his meeting with wce was cursory at best, I think ppl are over reacting to this as players blanket banning other clubs is exactly what happened in every trade this year. Judging from Stephen wells statements and wce stance it was unlikely to happen so can't blame a bloke for trying to get where he wanted to but if not I'll fulfill the last year of my contract because I enjoy my employer ATM
User
Roar Rookie
The go home card was if you can facilitate a trade to wce then great but if not I will see out the other year of my contract. Which is exactly what will happen now.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Surely the Players and Player Managers by now realise that pulling the "homesickness" card has been way overused and no fan/member actually believes that is a reason that a player wants to move Clubs? Why is it only the AFL players that can't just come out and be honest and say "I want to move to (insert city here) and play for (insert club here)"? The Tim Kelly situation case in point - just say you want to play for West Coast. It is borderline ridiculous that men in their 20's-30's can't move a few hours by plane away from their families (in the same country with no issues about culture, food differences etc.) to get paid obscene money to kick a footy. When you look at other sports around the world like football where kids are joining academies at 11-12 years of age, US Sport where 18 year olds leave home to go to college anywhere in the country to chase their sport dream, tennis players, golfers etc. it makes you realise just how pampered and demanding the modern day AFL player really is.
Rissole
Guest
Do you realise they have spent the majority of their careers in different positions to one another? You could be opening your own salt mine by now.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Not really. If u wanted to move home but your only choices of work were cleaning toilets or test driving ferraris, what would u be wanting to do?
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Wingard hits the scoreboard, Shiel doesn't. Dons tried to cheap*rse their way thru that trade (as usual) but ended up having to cough up 2 first rounders even if they got a second rounder back.
me too
Roar Rookie
it was probably more, 'i want to go home, but i really don't want to play for freo!'.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I reckon the manager had a fair influence on his decision. Van der Wielen is not the most professional in the AFL player-manager business. He's a part-time manager/agent and part-time real estate broker and seems to want to get real involved in his client's lives. He's also the manager of Schloithe, who was not at all happy about being cut by Freo and irresponsibly bad mouthed Freo for far too long. A decent manager would not have allowed him to do that as it damages his prospects with other clubs.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Lets face facts, sad that Lachie wanted out but we are way better off because of his departure. Yes a new coach will take us places instill a new game plan and structures. Ross is past it and to defensive, but the new rules will at least help the new look forward half.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I get the sense that may be sarcasm and a not so subtle dig at Freo hahahah. Of course anyone would rather win a flag the have a good trade period.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Not a bad forward line for Peel. I think McCarthy may actually benefit from playing as a third tall/medium forward and May see some AFL footy next season.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I thought what you were offering was very very reasonable for Kelly. Considering he has been in the AFL system for 1 year for Geelong to get back 2 picks in the 20s plus a future 2nd rounder I think they were crazy not to go for it. You'll get him for less next off season
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Good trade period from the Dockers. Looked shaky for a while but Peter Bell pulled it off. Hogan and Lobb add a huge amount to the side as it finally has a forward line. Conca and Colyer are depth players but they cost very little so no issue there either. Losing Neale is of course a blow but one that I think I'm happy to cop as it effectively netted us Hogan and Lobb. I think we will now need to target some midfield depth in the draft. I'd be looking at trying to get Ian Hill with pick 14 then looking at nabbing Jye Bolton with pick 31 to potentially be the Tim Kelly of 2019. Good period from Belly! Next job on his to do list is to find us a new coach!