Port Adelaide clears out six players but not all the salaries in busy AFL trade period
PORT Adelaide has moved on six players in a busy AFL trade period - but not all their salaries.
Port Adelaide
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PORT Adelaide has traded out six of the 25 players who were on the team sheet for the final game of its 2016 AFL season.
But the Power is not moving out all of the salaries by trading Brendon Ah Chee, Logan Austin, Jarman Impey, free agent Jackson Trengove, Aaron Young and, most importantly, ruckman Matthew Lobbe who played his last AFL game in the 2016 season-closer at the Gold Coast.
Under contract – at $500,000 a season – until the end of 2019, Lobbe moves to Carlton where list manager Stephen Silvagni says: “We are getting a competitor - and adding to our ruck stock.”
But the Blues are not taking all of Lobbe’s salary from Alberton – just as Port Adelaide is not absorbing all of Jack Watts’ salary as it converts the 2008 No. 1 draft pick’s two-year contract from Melbourne to a three-year deal at Alberton.
Power list manager Jason Cripps left the trade talks at Etihad Stadium on Thursday declining to reveal if Port Adelaide had executed a “salary drop” on Carlton with Lobbe.
“It is not appropriate to comment – (salaries) are confidential,” he said.
Port Adelaide’s trade plays closed with the Power;
GAINING Watts and free agents Tom Rockliff (Brisbane) and Steven Motlop (Geelong).
LOSING four players – Austin, Lobbe, Trengove and Young – who 12 months after playing in the second closer against Gold Coast were not part of the Power’s elimination final team this year.
Port Adelaide on Thursday traded Lobbe to Carlton, Young to Gold Coast and, the late surprise, contracted defender Logan Austin to St Kilda. It also shuffled draft picks in a late trade with North Melbourne and St Kilda.
None of the yesterday’s trades by the Power delivered significant draft bounty.
Lobbe went for draft pick No. 91.
Austin allowed Port Adelaide to advance from the fourth to third round of next year’s draft. Young puts the Power earlier in the fourth round of next year’s draft.
Port Adelaide has opened up five spots on its list with its trades and the retirements of Nathan Krakouer and Angus Monfries. It has draft picks Nos. 46, 49, 59, 62, 63, 86, 95 and 104 at next month’s draft in Sydney.
Critically with the gains of Watts, Rockliff and Motlop – while giving up just draft pick No. 31 – the Power list-management team has met coach Ken Hinkley’s wish for more midfield power and more scoring options to support key forward Charlie Dixon.
Port Adelaide football chief Chris Davies noted the Power’s trade strategy was long in its planning.
“And Jason Cripps and his list management team were able to execute the deals they planned for,” Davies said.
PORT ADELAIDE’S 2017 AFL TRADE PERIOD
OUT
Brendon Ah Chee (West Coast)
Logan Austin (St Kilda)
Jarman Impey (Hawthorn)
Matthew Lobbe (Carlton)
Jackson Trengove (W Bulldogs)
Aaron Young (Gold Coast)
Nathan Krakouer (retired)
Angus Monfries (retired)
DRAFT PICKS: 46, 49, 59, 62, 63, 86, 95, 104.
VERDICT: MAJOR winners with solid refit of list to advance in 2018 premiership race.
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