Free agency is one of the most contentious concepts in the AFL in recent times, with such inequities as Tom Lynch walking to the powerful Richmond club from an expansion franchise seemingly powerless to prevent it. Or were they?
What if the Suns had matched the bid on their co-captain, forcing the Tigers into a trade?
That was the scenario facing the Greater Western Sydney Giants when Geelong came calling for former local junior and 2019 Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron, but they didn’t flinch, matching the offer and figuratively punching the bullies of free agency with a straight left they never saw coming.
The Cats had been the trade aggressors in negotiations with West Coast in 2019 over the Tim Kelly trade, earning a windfall of future picks that would embolden the Giants to do what no club had done before and match a free agency offer.
Geelong was filthy and the standoff lasted right up until the trade deadline in a fascinating negotiation that saw the Cats giving up three first-round picks and only getting back only a pair of future second-round picks along with their very expensive prize recruit.
Can you imagine the tension in the room when GWS said that it wasn’t enough and they wanted the Cats’ future fourth-round pick as well? Seriously?
The Cats went away to lick their wounds, having moved out Lachie Fogarty to be able to secure a trade for Shaun Higgins, signed Issac Smith as an unrestricted free agent and shifted injury-plagued ingenue Nakia Cockatoo to Brisbane for a future third-rounder.
They got the better of a pick trade with Gold Coast, giving up their future third-round pick tied to Melbourne while getting back into the draft order in the second round.
In the week before the draft, Geelong tempted up-and-coming basketballer Paul Tsapatolis into a code switch to join as a Category B rookie as an experimental ruck-forward, with Troy “Bunnings” Selwood responsible for bringing another local into a system with a great track record with project players.
Draft night was looking promising for the Cats and their first pick slid back into the mid-30s with all the bid matching in the first round, but then they pulled a shock trade with a straight swap of their future first-rounder for Richmond’s Pick 20.
Not only was Geelong’s plunge into the first round surprising, but it was also bewildering because they used their pick to select Max Holmes from the Sandringham Dragons, a raw speedster who only came into calculations late because of his excellent combine results.
As their second-rounder from the Gold Coast eased to Pick 33, Geelong picked another athlete in South Fremantle’s Shannon Neale, a ruck-forward projected to go right about where he landed.
Stephen Wells is renowned for finding talent on the later rounds, which has underlined Geelong’s ability to continually remain competitive near the top of the table, so their selection of Greater Western Victoria Rebels and Geelong Grammar defender Nick Stevens, a prototypical Cats-style tall rebounding halfback, is one to watch in coming seasons.
That completed Geelong’s draft as they bypassed the rookie draft having filled out all remaining positions open on their roster, after three retirements, two trades and only three delistings.
The Cats are obviously in win-now territory, with ten players on their list over 30 (nine of whom are best 22 unless Josh Jenkins comes in) and the acquisition of star talent instead of spending four picks that landed between 15 and 36 on premium draft talent.
The flat-track bullies of free agency copped a beating from an opponent that appeared to be easy pickings at first blush, but they ended up paying a heavy toll for their ambition to form a premiership forward line.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
have no idea what you are say mate but you and Cuz need to get straight....
Seymorebutts
Guest
Not since 1987 they dont.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Only thing clear here is your lack of knowledge of AFL. Edited
WCE
Roar Rookie
Edited you must be prouder edited lol
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Yeah Hawkins does seems to be getting smarter and stronger in his position as he gets older, going to be interesting to see him playing out of the goal square in 2021 and how teams double team him or drop a player in front of him, but I think your right, watching him in 2021 should be exciting.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Sorry WCE but English not my first language, but please enjoy your fun in taking the piss out of me for that, sorry for being different. Eagles have a clear history of cheating to win their flags, sad I know and lots of clubs have gone down this path, Carlton in salary cheating Brisbane with their special injections at half time, Essendon at win at every cost drug issues/salary cap issuees, we have lots of explanations , but at the end of the day if you don't win the premiership then you won nothing, is that true or not? please just answer the question what do you get for second in the AFL???? or is your argument that about me speaking or about the fact coming runners up the same as winning the premiership?
2dogz
Roar Rookie
After game showering would have been interesting on all that Crack :/
WCE
Roar Rookie
You okay Cracka you don't make much sense. Struggle with logic and words? Edited..... Always edited lol WCE on Crack still won a flag not bad effort lads LMAO Not to be picky but crack isn't a powder us Eagles know all about this subject hahaha apparently
Cracka
Roar Rookie
…..so how is it the same as coming last and winning the premiership? you need to explain how that is the same, if I place a bet on a horse to win race and it doesn’t do I get my money back? Nope, I get what ever other punter gets back nothing. Please explain how you think coming last is the same as winning or did you grow up with a house full of participation trophies. You must be so proud…… :laughing: I think we all know WCE premierships are built on getting a little help from those little white powders.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
So at the end of the day your saying the Geelong players should be happy with their season? Why, they didn’t win the premiership and not sure if you understand the point of having a premiership. Who cares if you came last or runners up, as the result is the same both didn’t win the flag. Well the draft pick is the difference, but result is the same, once the premiership game is completed.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Don’t mess with me Maan! I know ninja
WCE
Roar Rookie
Stop living in the past maaan!
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Carlton have more premierships than the Eagles so they’re a better club
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Yeah maan!
WCE
Roar Rookie
Your the one who talked about our last game maan That's also the past right maan???
2dogz
Roar Rookie
I didn’t see the Crows having any respect against Richmond
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Stop living in the past maaan!
WCE
Roar Rookie
Remember 2018 Trent??? What a game 2 great clubs there buddy.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Nope not at all it sucks to lose but Collingwood were way better on the day that's football you win you lose but coming last is just pathetic and WCE don't accept coming last which is what a good club should be like
WCE
Roar Rookie
Always been happy with my clubs success and would never consider not making the finals the same as coming last thats just pathetic and I'd hate to support such a team where u need that mentality. Sorry Cracka but nobody would agree with you on this nonsense. Also on another note what team rebuilds for 9 years and only hopes to possibly make the finals after the rebuild. Very sad that is but I guess no point trying unless your guaranteed to win the flag cause last is way way better than second. Coming last is terrible second is very respectable also considering Geelong came up against Richmond but you think it's better to be last lol loser talk