AFL trade news: GWS ruckman Matt Flynn on the move, Lachie Keefe’s future uncertain
West Coast are set to have a new ruckman in 2024, while Lachie Keefe’s future is uncertain as he awaits to see how the Giants’ play for Elliott Himmelberg pans out.
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Off-contract ruckman Matt Flynn has officially requested a move to the West Coast Eagles.
The 26-year-old ruckman has been at the GWS Giants for the past eight seasons after being picked up in the 2015 draft.
He only made his AFL debut in 2021 and has played 33 games across the past three years. He was the Giants’ No.1 ruckman for the first nine rounds of this season before the emergence of Kieren Briggs saw him relegated to the VFL.
Flynn was a member of the Giants’ Academy since the age of 12, but the club opted not to offer him a new deal. The Eagles had been strongly connected with him and he heads west hoping to challenge the likes of Bailey Williams for a regular starting spot.
“Matt’s a wonderful person, he’s come through our Academy,” Jason McCartney, the Giants’ footy manager, said on AFL Trade Radio on Monday.
“But we haven’t been in a position to offer Matt a contract so him and Scott Lucas (his manager) have done the right thing and explored options.”
It’s the first piece of the puzzle to fall for a number of off-contract talls at GWS.
Lachie Keeffe’s future is still uncertain as the Giants look to make the most of their limited list spots.
The 33-year-old played 14 matches for GWS this season, including each of their three finals, in a versatile forward/second-ruck role.
The club has not ruled out re-signing Keeffe, but it could depend on the potential arrival of Elliott Himmelberg from Adelaide.
Himmelberg, 25, has been strongly linked with a move to the Giants to join up with his brother, Harry. The Crows are set to land Chris Burgess from Gold Coast and his arrival will likely set in motion Himmelberg’s move to GWS.
One tall that is set to stay at the Giants is Braydon Preuss. The club will look to sure up their ruck stocks after Flynn’s departure which means Preuss will get a new deal.
The 28-year-old missed the entirety of 2023 with a back injury but did play in the final VFL round of the year for the Giants’ reserves.
He has only played 10 games in three seasons for the Giants but will provide an experienced backup option for Briggs following his breakout year.
Originally published as AFL trade news: GWS ruckman Matt Flynn on the move, Lachie Keefe’s future uncertain
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