AFL trade news: Adelaide free agent Tom Doedee wants Brisbane move
Brisbane has moved a step closer to securing a highly rated Adelaide defender as a free agent, but one obstacle remains.
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Grand final runner-up Brisbane is poised to strengthen its defence in 2024 with the addition of Adelaide interceptor Tom Doedee as a free agent.
Doedee, 26, confirmed his wish to join the Lions on Wednesday, telling Adelaide he would be exercising his rights as a restricted free agent.
The 190cm defender’s restricted status means the Crows can match any rival bid to retain him when the free agency window opens on Friday, and they refused to rule out doing so.
A club statement on Wednesday said the Crows would pursue “the best possible outcome” regarding the future of their vice-captain.
“The Crows have the opportunity to match any rival offer for Doedee, who is a restricted free agent, when the AFL’s free agency period opens on Friday, October 6,” the statement read.
“Crows general manager list management and strategy Justin Reid said the club would assess its options in order to secure the best possible outcome during the free agency window.”
Doedee, a Victorian who has played 82 games since he was drafted with a first-round pick in 2015, would replenish Brisbane’s key defensive stocks after losing Marcus Adams to retirement following a battle with concussion.
Brisbane preferred a tall defensive combination of co-captain Harris Andrews, Jack Payne and Ryan Lester in 2023 as experienced stopper Darcy Gardiner’s start to the season was derailed by injury.
Gardiner, 28, returned for four senior games including the grand final after Payne suffered his own ankle injury, and has two years remaining on his contract.
Lester, 31, played 19 games in arguably a career best season, and will enter 2024 on his sixth one-year deal in seven seasons.
Their potential new recruit would face a delayed start to the season at the Lions after suffering a ruptured ACL early in a round 12 clash against Gold Coast.
Doedee has struggled for continuity in his eight seasons but played 41 games in 2021 and 2022, recording the fifth most intercept possessions in the competition in 2021.
He was overlooked for the Adelaide captaincy at the start of the season in favour of second-year recruit Jordan Dawson when Rory Sloane stepped down from the role.
He had previously filled stand-in duties for Sloane in only his 27th game when the longtime skipper was injured in 2020.
Originally published as AFL trade news: Adelaide free agent Tom Doedee wants Brisbane move
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