How the big deals of the AFL trade period get done
It’s your turn to be an AFL list manager. Check out our verdict on how the major trades of 2022 will get done and then have your say on what each club should swap.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It is set to be a bumper trade period.
But how will the deals get done?
Players are starting to tell their current clubs of where they would like to play in 2023.
But that is only the start of what is about to happen.
Here are some of the deals that are already underway, and how they might get done.
Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldgos) to Brisbane
This could be one of the hardest deals to get done.
Dunkley wants to go to the Lions, but Brisbane’s draft hand is going to be a complicated one.
The Lions currently have picks 15, 33, 44 and 69 and could secure second-round compensation for Dan McStay when he joins Collingwood.
But the Lions will need to match picks for father-son prospects Will Ashcroft, who is expected to go No. 1, and Jaspa Fletcher - with a bid likely to come in the teens.
Right now the Lions draft hand gives them 2086 points and if a bid comes in for Ashcroft from North Melbourne at No. 1 they will need 2400 points to take him.
If the Lions get pick 34 for McStay, that plus 15, 33 and 44 would give Brisbane enough points for Ashcroft.
They then need to find points to match a bid for Fletcher and then have a draft hand big enough to get Dunkley.
The Dogs will want more than a first-round pick for Dunkley and the Lions could be in points deficit with their 2023 first-rounder.
The Lions are going to have to get creative and either will have to shed players or split a pick such as 33.
Verdict: Brisbane’s 2023 first-rounder and a 2022 second-round pick either 33 or if it is part of the Ashcroft points haul another that the Lions will have to find.
Izak Rankine (Gold Coast) to Adelaide
The Crows might not want to, but their first round pick looks like it will have to be at the centre of any deal with the Suns for Rankine.
As well as No. 5 the Crows have picks 23 and 77 but they do need to have enough points to secure a father-son prospect of their own in Max Michalanney.
There was hope that the Crows could include Matt Crouch in a deal, but there isn’t the interest from the Suns, so Adelaide will have to cough up picks.
The Suns have access to highly-touted key forward in Jed Walter next year so they might want 2023 picks to secure him in the draft, which could allow the Crows to keep their first pick in this year’s draft.
Either way, it is looking like a first and a second-round pick from the Crows, with the years of those specific picks to be determined, will be what is required to get a deal done.
VERDICT
Option 1: Crows first pick in 2022 (currently 5) and a 2023 second rounder.
Option 2: Crows second round pick in 2022 (currently 23) and first round pick in 2023.
Luke Jackson (Melbourne) to Fremantle
Has requested a trade back to Western Australia and while West Coast have the better draft hand, Fremantle are in the box seat to get the young gun ruck/forward.
Melbourne wants two top 10 picks for the 2021 Rising Star winner but right now Fremantle’s first pick is at No. 13.
The Dockers’ next pick is at 72 but their draft hand is set to be bolstered considerably with five players set to depart.
But the Demons are unlikely to want the later picks the Dockers will likely get for some of their fringe players.
They might not get two top 10 picks for Jackson, but the Demons should be able to make Fremantle pay up for the young star.
Verdict: Dockers first-round pick in 2022 (currently 13) and 2023 first-round pick.
Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) to Melbourne
Another tough one, especially since there has been no indication of what Collingwood might want for the gun ruckman.
Grundy is a two-time All-Australian, but the Pies want his big contract off their books so they shouldn’t be able to demand a big haul for Grundy.
It means the Demons could get the 28-year-old at a cut-price deal from a pick perspective, given they will still have to pay some of Grundy’s big salary, despite the haul they should get for Jackson.
Maybe one of the first round picks Fremantle will give the Demons for Jackson could be the best the Pies get, but this might be overs for a player they want off their books.
The Demons do have picks 32, 41, 50, 63, 68, 86 and those first two could be what gets the deal done.
VERDICT
Option 1: Fremantle’s 2023 first-round pick
Option 2: Melbourne’s 2022 second-round pick (currently 32) and third-round pick (41 tied to Adelaide)
Junior Rioli (West Coast) to Port Adelaide
The Eagles might be fuming that Rioli wants to go to the Power, despite West Coast standing by him during his two-year suspension for tampering with a urine sample.
But it is a good opportunity for a rebuilding West Coast to get an extra decent draft pick.
The Eagles already have the Power’s second-round pick this year, but Port should get another when Karl Amon goes to Hawthorn as a free agent.
That should be enough to get Rioli to Alberton, with the Eagles premiership player not worth anything more than a second-round pick at 27-years-old.
The Power need a small forward with Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop retired, combined with Orazio Fantasia’s injury issues.
Giving up the pick they get for Amon should be a no-brainer for the Power given this hole on their list.
Verdict: The Karl Amon compensation pick Port Adelaide will receive, likely in the second round.
Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper (GWS) to Richmond
The Giants want to get two first rounders, and that is just for Hopper let alone a player in Taranto who won GWS’ Kevin Sheedy Medal in 2019.
Hopper is still under contract, which does explain in part the Giants high price, while Taranto is out of contract.
The Tigers have 12, 19 and 30 in this year’s draft but are likely to have to give up more to get the two Giants to Melbourne.
A player might have to head to Sydney, while Richmond’s 2023 first-round pick might have to be on the table.
It is likely going to be a substantial package the Tigers have to stump up to get the two Giants, but they would be thinking it will be worth it.
Verdict: 12, 19 and Richmond’s 2023 first-round pick and a player.
Tanner Bruhn (GWS) to Geelong
The 12th pick from the 2020 Draft wants to return to the Geelong region and the Cats should get the young gun without too much trouble.
The Giants are likely to ask for the one first-round pick for Bruhn, who has shown upside as a midfield-forward hybrid.
The Cats first-round pick for this year is at No. 18.
The Giants might try and get the Cats’ first-round pick from next year, and hope Geelong doesn’t make the grand final again.
Verdict: Geelong’s 2023 first-round pick
Rory Lobb (Fremantle) to the Western Bulldogs
Lobb needs to convince the Dockers to let him go to the Bulldogs despite a year on his contract.
If he can then it shouldn’t be too hard of a deal for the Bulldogs to get done with a second-round pick, either this years or next years, likely to secure Lobb.
The 2022 selection is at 29 and could slide into the 30s.
But the Dockers will need picks this year to help them get Jackson and this second-round pick could be a valuable one for them.
Verdict: Bulldogs 2022 second-round pick (currently 29).
Billy Frampton (Adelaide) to Collingwood
Frampton wants to go to Collingwood, which would be his third AFL club.
He is out of contract so the Crows are willing to let him go.
This will ease the list squeeze the Crows currently have and would also help them match a bid for Michalanney.
Collingwood has three picks in the third round - 42 (tied to Hawthorn), 47 (tied to the Bulldogs) and 48 (tied to Richmond).
One of those should get the deal done.
Verdict: Pick 47
More Coverage
Originally published as How the big deals of the AFL trade period get done
AFL great admits attempted cover-up
The AFL commentator called an industry colleague a disgusting name and asked his mates in the media to keep it quiet.
Why not Port, Ken? Swans show exactly why with finals lesson
Ken Hinkley asked his side pre-game, why not us? The answer was shown on the field at the SCG, which is as simple as they’re not good enough to take that last step, writes Matt Turner.