Essendon and Collingwood have dropped a bombshell late on the third day of the AFL trade period, with The Age’s Sam McClure and Michael Gleeson reporting the parties may be working out a trade for Mason Cox.
The American ruckman/forward struggled to replicate his preliminary final heroics from a season ago and ended up missing the last two months of the season with an eye problem.
But with the Bombers potentially losing star forward Joe Daniher to Sydney this offseason, Cox could fill the key forward, second ruck hybrid role Daniher performed in 2017 before missing most of the last two seasons with injury.
Cox was reportedly spotted at Essendon headquarters during grand final week.
The Bombers were at the forefront of the third day of player movement, with rumours of Orazio Fantasia’s departure also picking up steam.
Fantasia had been linked with a move back to his native state of South Australia – most likely with Port Adelaide – earlier this season, but personally moved to quash those rumours quickly.
While he’s yet to officially request a trade, the small forward today raised eyebrows by hiring Michael Doughty – who is based in Adelaide – as his new agent. Multiple outlets are reporting he is set to request a move to the Power in the coming days.
He is contracted to the Bombers until 2021 and, like with Daniher, list manager Adrian Dodoro previously vowed to play hardball over any potential move.
Daniher’s move may hold up talks between Port and Essendon over Fantasia and, while no progress was made on the Daniher front today, Tom Papley’s manager Scott Lucas caused a stir when he claimed “all options [were] open” in regards to the small forward’s move to Victoria.
Papley has nominated Carlton as his destination of choice, but it has been reported for some time that he doesn’t really mind where within Victoria he plays next season. While Lucas could have simply been driving up Papley’s value, the possibility of a shock trade to Essendon or North Melbourne can’t be ruled out.
It was an otherwise very slow day on the trade news front, with precious little information regarding the futures of Tim Kelly or any other big-name trade targets coming forward.
Player manager Nick Gieschen did drop some interesting updates on behalf of some of his clients, the biggest being the news that Ollie Wines will not be leaving Port Adelaide despite rumblings to the contrary throughout 2019.
He also knocked back any suggestions that West Coast would part with Jack Petrucelle to get any deals done, while also suggesting Hawthorn duo Paul Puopolo and Ryan Schoenmakers were increasingly likely to continue their careers at other clubs.
Other tidbits included Lions boss David Noble acknowledging the club was working with Sydney to get a deal done for Lewis Taylor, while also looking at options for Tom Cutler.
Earlier in the day, a schism between the Adelaide Crows and Western Bulldogs emerged over defender Alex Keath. The former cricketer was advised by both the Bulldogs and St Kilda to seek surgery over a stress fracture uncovered during medicals, despite the Crows insisting the issue didn’t require it. The Bulldogs are still the frontrunners to land Keath, but the parties have moved further apart over the issue.
That news followed free agency moves from last night, with Adam Tomlinson finalising a move from GWS to Melbourne on a four-year deal and Jamie Elliott resisting lures from the Demons and Lions to re-sign with Collingwood for two years.
sven
Roar Rookie
if i followed wce i'd be wrapt with the deal they got with kelly, gun player with plenty of miles left in him..keeps em right up there in premiership contention
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Can't believe were trading him, he's a star.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I'd like to see Bassett but who would know? What has wines actually done in his 7 years at the club? He's had what one reasonable season in his first year and then what? Never made even an AA squad, scores bugger all brownlow votes and rarely gets in the best players. Jonas should have been the sole captain, we should never have had two in the first place.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'd be very surprised if he gets more than a year. It may not even be that.
Pelican
Roar Rookie
Howard can hit a target. Ollie not so much. One more year of this bungling to go. Who will be the coach in 12 months Brendon.
Gee
Roar Rookie
The Bulldogs are looking good for next year. Bruce is a top forward who can play down back if needed and Keath will add to their depth if he is okay.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
The Port supporters are up in arms about Howard
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Their forward line isn't as good as it has been. Kennedy looks done, Rioli is never playing AFL again. As good a chance as any team this year though.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Very silly to compare recent drafted to Hurn, Shuey etc those blokes took time and at times looked over awed when younger. Very naive to compare them, it's like comparing petrucelle to lecras, no comparison ATM but lecras didn't even manage a full season in his first or second year at AFL but petrucelle had but no surprise you'd say lecras is better due to volume of work he created. I couldn't believe when you said Freo should trade picks 6&7 for Kelly but when you thought it still could happen you where so into it.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
There is not one worthy replacement in those scrubbers to replace all the old stars who are on there last legs. Last chance next year and that looks remote, especially after the effort in such a vital game against the Hawks. The loss of Rioli will really hurt. Selling the farm for a flag for Nic, Gaff and Brad. will put you back 10 years.I cant believe the Eagles would go down this path.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Got a premiership, what's Fyfe got team wise? Good thing about wce is we take the ore and spin it to gold, Cox, Fletcher, priddas, McGovern all rookie lists jonboy I reckon were fine, what was the wce reserves finish at end of WAFL season made up of apparently b grade youth and amatuer league players? Mustn't be to bad or you don't rate the WAFL or Tim Kelly.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Lot of B graders there.......especially Cole.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
And kept Allen, petrucelle, brander, Cameron, rotham, Watson, Brayshaw, Williams, fatty X, Liam Ryan, Duggan, Cole, Jackson, Venables, Ainsworth and the many others we've picked up last few years. Jackson and robErtson will be gone by those picks so getting a 25yo who got 31possesions and kicked 3 in a preliminary vs Richmond and came fifth in Brownlow is sound not the dramatic hoo-ha you are trying to spread now.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Since When? Players get medical way before signing on aka Keath with the Bulldogs and St Kilda.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Pushing Howard forward when he dropped Dixon was a mistake, actually dropping Dixon was mistake full stop. I'd rather lose Wines than Howard.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Yattuzzi- your laughing mate . your'e lost one player you get Jack Steven and two more to come. Your opposition have gave away there future and stuck with old age men.
Richo
Guest
That is standard you can only pay a standard for first two years for all draftees. Mandated by AFL not geelong
Richo
Guest
They are saying that all total picks equivalent to just under 3000 points which is between pick one and two. I think that is fair
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
So he wasn’t offered a new contract in the two years?
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
They spend two weeks saying he is not worth much and he basically goes for the first rounders that are so high they can be second. Then they gloat saying they got him for air compensation and start talking premierships. And wonder why people are peeved.