AFL Trade 2023: All news and fallout as Port Adelaide lands Esava Ratugolea, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet
The Power plunged and plunged hard to address their areas of need, but did it cost them their future, or is now the time to strike? Recap every big deal the Power made on deadline day.
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Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies says the club entered the trade period’s final day optimistic it would land its four targets so was thrilled to be able to do so.
And Davies did not believe the Power compromised its future to get the moves done, saying the club felt like it had to make them “in order to get better for next year”.
After being knocked out of the finals in straight sets this past season, Port is now without a pick until 73 in next month’s national draft or a first-rounder in 2024.
The Power recruited ruckmen Ivan Soldo (Richmond) and Jordon Sweet (Western Bulldogs), along with key defenders Esava Ratugolea (Geelong) and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Essendon) during a hectic conclusion to trading on Wednesday.
Soldo arrived with pick 50 for selections 41, 49 a future fourth-rounder and Fremantle’s 2024 second-round choice.
Selection 50 was then swapped for Sweet, before 25, 76 and 94 headed to the Cats for Ratugolea.
Then, in the final minutes, the Power parted with wingman Xavier Duursma to bring in Zerk-Thatcher with pick 73 and two 2024 fourth-round selections.
Davies said the day was not overly stressful because the club thought it was going to be able to achieve all of those trades.
“Yeah, it was late, but equally we didn’t feel like we were far away from the deal,” Davies told this masthead.
“We came into the last part of the season feeling like we needed to address a couple of areas on our list and we feel like we’ve done that, which will give us an opportunity to continue to strive for greater success than what we’ve had in the past next year.”
Port knocked back Essendon’s request for a simple Duursma for Zerk-Thatcher trade and was pleased to receive late pick sweeteners.
“It was never going to be a straight swap from our perspective,” Davies said.
“We went through a number of different options and the three extra fourth-round picks was what we thought in the end was reasonable.”
Davies described the deals as really good business and was not concerned about the club’s lack of early selections for next month’s draft.
“We’ve taken first-round picks over the last few years, we traded for a No. 1 pick last year (Jason Horne-Francis), so in terms of mortgaging our future, I don’t think that’s reality,” he said.
“Outside of our first-rounder next year, we’ve still got second, third and two fourths.
“We’ve got the capability to come up next year into the first round if we want to.”
Davies said the Power was likely to maintain its 2024 picks, rather than part with them to try to move up the order this year.
Power pulls off trade coup on frantic final day
Port Adelaide has addressed its achilles heel in the frantic final stages of this year’s trade period, bringing in its two tall defensive targets.
The Power secured Esava Ratugolea from Geelong for picks 25, 76 and 94 on Wednesday evening, before a last-minute swap sent wingman Xavier Duursma to Essendon for Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, selection 73 this year and two 2024 fourth-rounders.
Port had been desperate to boost its key defensive stocks after crashing out of the finals in straight sets with a banged up Trent McKenzie and Tom Clurey and the now retired Tom Jonas sidelined with injury.
Ratugolea, 25, finally got his wish to join the Power, 12 months after he first tried only for the Cats to keep him for the last year of his contract.
He and Zerk-Thatcher, also 25, being uncontracted gave Port leverage in their talks with Geelong and the Bombers.
But there was little progress in either deal until the past 48 hours and the possibility of both having to enter the draft to get to Alberton looked a realistic option.
That would have ensured a nervy wait for the two defenders and the Power, hoping another club did not select them before Port chose.
It never came to fruition.
Geelong gave up Ratugolea for pick 25 and two other draft selections that were unlikely to be used, while the Power got its wish of receiving a Zerk-Thatcher-Duursma deal sweetener just before the deadline.
Power list manager Jason Cripps was seen fist-pumping after securing the last-ditch trade.
He said Ratugolea was athletic and could play on some of the competition’s bigger key forwards.
“Esava’s size and skill set will assist with the improvement of our defensive group and our team defence overall,” Cripps said.
“Esava is an outstanding young man and is also the right age for our list profile, so we are delighted to welcome him to the club.”
Ratugolea played 75 games for the Cats from 2018-23, including 16 this past season.
The 197cm, 108kg recruit began his career as a forward/ruck before being converted into an intercepting defender in 2022, catching the Power’s attention.
He ranked above average this year for intercept marks (2.8 per game), one-on-ones (2.8), contested marks (1.4) and spoils (5.6).
Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said the club had hoped to receive more compensation for Ratugolea leading into the trade period but Port’s offer was not unrealistic or disrespectful.
“We’re not there necessarily to be friends, but we’re trying to get a good deal for our footy club and set it up for the future,” Mackie said.
Zerk-Thatcher, 25, is returning home to South Australia six years after heading to Essendon from Sturt with pick 66 in the national draft.
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— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) October 18, 2023
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is officially a Port Adelaide player âš¡ pic.twitter.com/ysodMUahCC
The 195cm, 91kg backman played every game for the Bombers this season, taking his career tally to 51.
He ranked above average for intercept possessions (6.6), spoils (6.4) and one-on-ones (3.5), and average for intercept marks (2.2).
Trading Duursma, who wanted a fresh start at Essendon, helped Port seal its four trades despite entering the exchange period with no early selections this year.
One of the club’s highly-touted three first-round picks in 2018, Duursma played 73 games for the Power but form and injury hampered him in recent seasons.
The 23-year-old lined up in 16 AFL matches in 2023, including both of Port’s finals.
Sweet deal: Power lands another big man
Port Adelaide has secured the second of its ruck targets, recruiting Western Bulldog Jordon Sweet for pick 50.
A few hours after landing Richmond big man Ivan Soldo, the Power brought North Adelaide premiership ruckman Sweet back to South Australia.
Sweet, 25, played 11 AFL games in five seasons at the Dogs having been stuck behind All-Australian Tim English.
He did not feature at the elite level in 2023 but was named in the VFL’s team of the year.
Power list manager Jason Cripps said Sweet had been one of the premier ruckmen in Victoria’s state league.
“Jordon comes to our club looking for more opportunity,” Cripps said.
“He is a mobile tall who we think will complement and develop with our young midfield, and has a mature body and enough experience to challenge to play regularly at AFL level.”
Bulldogs list boss Sam Power said the club was keen to retain Sweet but understand his decision to return home for more opportunities.
“Adding a third-round selection continues to strengthen our draft hand for the upcoming national draft,” Power said.
“We wish Jordon all the best as he continues his career with Port Adelaide.”
The additions of Sweet and Soldo leave Scott Lycett in limbo as he contemplates whether to retire or play on at another club.
Earlier, the Power traded picks 41, 49, a future second-rounder and a future fourth-rounder to the Tigers for Soldo and a future fourth-rounder and pick 50, which was later sent to the Dogs.
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