Tom Rockliff’s move to Port Adelaide could help Brisbane acquire Charlie Cameron
BRISBANE will not match Port Adelaide’s four-year offer of nearly $3 million for Tom Rockliff and could use the compensation pick to acquire Charlie Cameron.
Lions
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BRISBANE will not match a four-year offer of nearly $3 million for Tom Rockliff and could use the compensation pick to acquire Charlie Cameron.
The Lions will in coming days make official their decision to pass on Rockliff, offered a deal on around $650,000 a season by Port Adelaide.
Brisbane’s offer was under $600,000 a season, with the four-year tenure making Rockliff’s decision to move easier.
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The Lions already have draft picks No.1, 12 and 18 and will almost certainly secure pick No.19 as free agency compensation.
A player needs to be on a salary that puts him in the top 5 per cent of players over 25 to secure first-round free agency compensation.
But the Lions can still put the top-20 Rockliff compensation pick to good use.
They are likely to in coming days offer one of their first-round picks in exchange for Adelaide midfielder Charlie Cameron.
If Adelaide eventually relent on trading the contracted Cameron they might end up asking for pick No.12 for a player they secured as a rookie.
But Brisbane would be more likely to hand over 18 or 19 as a fair price for a player taken as a rookie.
Adelaide’s decision to hold him against his will has seen his manager Colin Young say he will never re-sign at the Crows.
Brisbane could even secure him in the pre-season draft next year for nothing if they again finish in the bottom reaches of the ladder.
Rockliff gives Port Adelaide another potent weapon as one of the best clearance players in the competition.
He is also adept as a marking forward, with Robbie Gray and Rockliff, 27, expected to swap between midfield and attack.
His manager Tom Petroro said he did expect the Lions to stand in the way of Rockliff’s move.
“After all my discussions with Brisbane, I’d be surprised if they match. Brisbane has to do its due diligence. But I don’t see any hold up.”
Brisbane could end up with an extra top-20 pick, not ruling out trading their number one overall pick for multiple top-20 picks.
The Lions denied they had attempted to subvert the AFL’s free agency compensation system by waiting until Luke Hodge was officially retired to recruit him, thereby preserving Rockliff’s compensation.
If Hodge had been a free agency acquisition his recruitment could have in theory cancelled out the pick 19 the Lions will receive as compensation for Rockliff.
But the Lions believe Hodge’s age and salary mean the Hawks would have received no compensation anyway, meaning Rockliff’s pick wouldn’t have been pushed back in the draft or cancelled even if Hodge was a free agent.
Despite speculation about ruckman Stef Martin requesting a trade to Victoria he seems happy to stay as their lead ruckman.
Rockliff played 154 games over nine years at Brisbane and served two years as Lions captain.
They will continue to push for midfielders who can run both ways and have a bevy of draft picks to acquire them.
Port Adelaide’s Angus Monfries announced his retirement on Tuesday after 13 seasons and 211 games.
Originally published as Tom Rockliff’s move to Port Adelaide could help Brisbane acquire Charlie Cameron
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