AFL trade news: Esava Ratugolea requests trade to Port Adelaide
Geelong defender Esava Ratugolea has officially requested a trade to Port Adelaide – but the Cats won’t let him go cheaply. Here’s the latest.
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Geelong will target Port Adelaide’s future first-round draft pick in a trade with the Power for Cats’ defender Esava Ratugolea.
The key backman on Wednesday requested a trade to Port Adelaide after Ken Hinkley’s men pipped Hawthorn in the race for his services.
While the move had long been expected, it is a massive boost for the Power as the club attempts to bolster its back half to support one of the best up-and-coming midfield units in the game.
Ratugolea, 25, was ranked above average for intercept marks and spoils across 16 games this season but was dropped to the VFL in the back end of the year.
It means the Hawks will have to zero in on North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay to secure the key defender the Hawks require to beef-up the back line after missing out on Ratugolea.
It is a huge win for North Melbourne as Sydney Swans, Essendon and Hawthorn are locked in a race for McKay, likely driving up McKay’s price.
If his wage surges past $800,000 a year at a new club North Melbourne will likely receive pick three as free agency compensation.
The Kangaroos already have pick two in the draft order and could receive pick three as compensation for McKay, meaning the club could easily upgrade to pick one in a trade from West Coast for top talent Harley Reid.
As this masthead reported last Wednesday, the Cats have been bracing for a trade request from Ratugolea following year-long interest in him from Port.
The Cats want a future first-round draft pick for the 25-year-old key defender as Port has already given away its first, second and third-round picks in this year’s draft last year.
But Port remain confident it can pull off a second-straight mega trade period as the club circles Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy, Ratugolea and Essendon backman Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.
But the trade games are about to begin as the Bombers will be reluctant to let go of Zerk-Thatcher in the event McKay chooses Hawthorn or Sydney Swans to reignite his career after eight fruitless years at North Melbourne.
One option for Port is to split its future first-round pick into two second-round choices in a bid to satisfy the Cats for Ratugolea and Essendon on Zerk-Thatcher.
But Melbourne could also ask for a second-round pick for Grundy, complicating the picture for the Power as they attempt to remain in the premiership picture next year.
Ratugolea is from Griffith in New South Wales, and has previously warded off interest from GWS Giants for him.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has long maintained faith in Ratugolea but there was a belief the Cats’ defence was better without him after he was dropped to the VFL twice this year.
He is one of the most athletic defenders in the game and could also be inserted in the ruck due to his jumping power, although his around-the-ground fitness has been questioned.
Port is expected to move on veteran ruckman Scott Lycett this year.
The Cats already have pick eight in this year’s draft and are looking to bolster their engine room in this year’s trade period.
However, the club has missed out on Essendon free agent Darcy Parish and Western Bulldogs’ linebreaker Bailey Smith.
Smith is out of contract at the end of next year, meaning the Cats could make another play for him next season.
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Originally published as AFL trade news: Esava Ratugolea requests trade to Port Adelaide
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