Fremantle have sealed a trade for Melbourne ruck Luke Jackson, delivering the Demons a strong hand of AFL draft picks in a three-way deal with GWS.
The Dockers coughed up this year’s top selection – currently pick No.13 – plus their 2023 first and second round selections in exchange for West Australian talent Jackson, picks No.44 and No.67.
Pick No.44 came via GWS, which allowed Melbourne small forward Toby Bedford to seal his move to the Giants.
Melbourne are expected to quickly move on to securing Collingwood’s two-time All-Australian Brodie Grundy as Jackson’s replacement.
Jackson requested a long-expected trade home to Western Australia last month.
The 21-year-old had said he was open to joining either WA club but West Coast never really appeared in the picture.
The No.3 pick in the 2019 draft, Jackson has played 52 games since his debut in 2020.
He teamed up with skipper Max Gawn in Melbourne’s 2021 breakthrough premiership, including turning the grand final on its head with a remarkable third-quarter burst in the ruck.
His fine second season in 2021 also delivered the AFL Rising Star award, though he struggled to reach similar heights this year, when Melbourne exited the finals in straight sets.
Bedford, 22, played 18 games for Melbourne across four seasons, kicking nine goals, which all came in his 16 games this year.
Luke Jackson. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Izak Rankine’s move from Gold Coast to Adelaide was also made official, with the deal for the goalsneak centred around Adelaide’s No.5 draft pick.
The Crows received Rankine, pick 46 and a future fourth-rounder tied to Fremantle, while the Suns secured pick 5 and a future third- and fourth-rounder from the Crows.
Carlton midfielder Will Setterfield also crossed to Essendon, with the Blues also throwing in pick 68 in exchange for the Bombers’ future fourth.
Fringe Melbourne forward Sam Weideman is reportedly poised to get a fresh start at Essendon under new coach Brad Scott.
The Bombers are set to part with a future third-round pick to land the 195cm target.
Key forward Weideman has shown glimpses of promise in his seven seasons with Melbourne since being taken at pick No.9 in the 2015 draft.
But he has managed just 59 games in that time and has not featured in the Demons’ last two finals campaigns.
The 25-year-old kicked 13 goals from 10 games this year.
If they land Weideman, Essendon will hope to draw similar improvement out of him to that shown by best-and-fairest winner Peter Wright since his arrival at Tullamarine.
© AAP
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