AFL trade news – Luke Jackson and Jason Horne-Francis finally on the move; still no movement on Ollie Henry or Jack Bowes deals

Ben Jensen AFTER a weekend in which no trades could be lodged, but were in all likelihood agreed between clubs and players, today saw six trade deals completed. Most were bilateral with two clubs involved but the hype was all about a ‘mega trade’ involving four clubs: Port Adelaide, GWS, North Melbourne and West Coast. The biggest trade of the day and arguably of the draft so far was Luke Jackson traded by Melbourne to Fremantle; the ruck-forward appearing to be filling a hole that may soon be left by Rory Lobb. Lobb was traded for pick 13 and future first and second-round picks, while the Dockers also gained picks 44 and 47. As a ‘supplemental duck’ GWS got in on the deal and gain Toby Bedford from the Demons. Geelong had no trades today, their pursuit of Ollie Henry and Jack Bowes continues.

WHEN DOES A TRADE BECOME A ‘MEGA-TRADE’?
For a trade to be a ‘mega-trade’ it has to anointed as such by Croc Media’s ‘AFL Trade Radio’. Usually it involves three or four clubs. In this case two players, Willie ‘Junior’ Rioli (West Coast) and Jason Horne-Francis (North) have new homes in Port Adelaide while a number of 2022 and ‘future’ draft picks have changed hands between the other clubs. GWS have managed to secure the number one draft pick and gave up this season’s pick three along with number 12 and a 2023 second-round pick. They also gained pick 53 and 57. For their part West Coast lost Rioli and pick two and 40; gaining picks 8 and 12 for 2022, and 2023 second and third round picks.

Port Adelaide gains the two players along with a 2023 second-rounder; they gave up picks eight, 43, 53, 57 and a heap from 2023: their first, second and third round picks. Geez. North for their part gave up a player in Horne-Francis along with the number one draft pick; on first glance hard to see what they gain here. But they of course do gain picks two and three plus 40, 43 and a 2023 third-rounder. They lose the number one pick but get the next two so should be able to gain some talent.

TODAY’S OTHER DEALS
Young but popular forward Izak Rankine left Gold Coast to join Adelaide, the Suns also giving pick 46 to the Crows. The Suns pick up pick five along with future third and fourth rounders. Rankine, 22, is apparent walking into a $4million deal at the Crows. Big bucks for a player fairly unknown until this season and yet to play a final. Another deal today saw Will Setterfield leave the Blues for one-time rivals the Bombers.

WHAT ABOUT JACK BOWES AND THE RIDICULOUSLY ONE-SIDED DEAL WITH THE SUNS?
Nope, sorry no deal just yet. The deal is said to be 80-gamer Bowes, a top 10 draftee in 2016, heading to the Cats in exchange for just a future second-round pick. And the deal gets better, the Cats also set to be handed pick 7 in this year’s draft. “How does that happen?” you may ask? It’s apparently part of a ‘salary dump’ with the Suns needing to make room in their salary cap, with Bowes reportedly on $1.6 million over 2023 and 2024.

AND HOW ABOUT OLLIE HENRY? COLLINGWOOD FANS ON TWITTER ARE STILL CRACKING IT
Also note. Perhaps we’ve found some of the Magpie list management’s alt-accounts? Reminder of the ‘deal’: Ollie Henry is another trying to get to the Cats to join his brother Jack, a deal not yet done and possibly won’t be. Ollie was dropped by the Magpies for the finals series and reportedly hasn’t been offered a new contract so if a trade can’t be struck the 20 year old 25-gamer from St Joseph’s may find himself going into the draft. The Cats have reportedly offered pick 38 and the Magpies are holding out for more.

HOW ABOUT POOR OLD ESAVA RATUGOLEA AND OTHER CATS IN THE POUND?
We are becoming like a broken record here, nothing has happened. A reminder; the only certainly after a CEO’s death warrant after receiving the ‘full support of the Board’ is an AFL player being in ‘required player’ status; which is where Esava Ratugolea finds himself. The ruck/forward who late in the season converted himself into a useful tall defender but could only manage one game in this role and didn’t feature in finals. The 24 year old has been linked with Port Adelaide and St Kilda. Geelong list manager Andrew Mackie, until recently understudy to Stephen Wells, is so far not blinking but don’t be surprised if the deal is done shortly. You can’t blame Ratugolea for seeking greener pastures; the link to Corey Enright at the Saints, who still lives in Geelong, will no doubt be on his mind along with regular senior games.

CATS DELISTINGS
Players confirmed as delisted by the Cats so far include the following; those ‘delisted’ are presumably seeking another club via a trade or the draft, but so far none have been picked up:
Quinton Narkle (delisted)
Francis Evans (delisted)
Nick Stevens (delisted)
Zane Williams (delisted)
Paul Tsapatolis (delisted)
Luke Dahlhaus (retired)
Joel Selwood (retired)
Shaun Higgins (retired)