Port Adelaide claims West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett in free agency on five-year deal
BREAKING: PORT Adelaide has secured West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett with free agency after the Eagles on Tuesday morning passed on matching the Power’s offer to the restricted free agent.
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UPDATE: PORT Adelaide has its man — West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett.
The Eagles have ignored matching the Power’s five-year, $3 million offer to Lycett, a restricted free agent.
West Coast will score a compensation pick — at the end of the first round of November’s AFL national draft — for releasing Lycett to the Power. This pick would fall at in the early 20s when all draft picks are re-assigned.
West Coast could work this pick in a trade for contracted Geelong playmaker Tim Kelly.
The 203cm ruckman said it was a difficult decision to leave West Coast but was excited to be moving back to South Australia and returning to Alberton where he was an SANFL-based player with the Magpies until 2010.
“I had eight great seasons with the Eagles and won a premiership, and the club has been fantastic to me and my family,” Lycett said.
“I can’t thank West Coast enough for making me a better player and person.
“But I am excited to be coming home to South Australia and to the club that I supported since my childhood.
“I can’t wait to get back to Adelaide and want to help the Power achieve some success.”
On Monday, at the start of trade talks in Melbourne, West Coast football boss Craig Vozzo noted the Eagles’ pressing need for ruckmen — while Nic Naitanui recovers from his second serious knee injury — would force the AFL premiers to consider matching Port Adelaide’s bid.
But Lycett’s manager Colin Young did not expect a late hitch and told the Power that reports of Lycett had reconsidered a free-agency move to stay with the Eagles were incorrect.
On Monday, Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies said his club would either have Lycett on Tuesday — or move on to a Plan B trade strategy to find support for lead ruckman Patrick Ryder.
“It is up to West Coast to decide its move, but Scott has made it clear to us he wants to be at Port Adelaide,” Davies told The Advertiser on Monday . “When we asked about those reports he has reconsidered, we got a two-word response — ‘complete rubbish’.”
Port Adelaide’s trade plays continue to focus on scoring early draft picks to take advantage of the strong crew of SA juniors nominating to be AFL players in the November 22-23 national draft.
This will come with conceding uncontracted wingman Jared Polec to North Melbourne, but less and less likely with contracted midfielder-forward Chad Wingard.
Port Adelaide had none of Wingard’s noted suitors, in particular the Western Bulldogs, to use — the Power’s term — “come hard” in Monday’s trade talks at Etihad Stadium.
“We have had nothing that compels us to consider letting Chad go (before he becomes a free agent at the end of next season),” Davies said of 25-year-old Wingard.
“Nothing has changed. Chad is a contracted player — and he will be with us next season unless he tells us he wants to go.”
Port Adelaide had sound talks with the Kangaroos who have a five-year, $3.5 million deal with Polec. He should deliver a first-round draft pick to the Power in a trade.
“That could be done in the next few days,” Davies said.
Port Adelaide’s other potential trades will take more time.
Defender Jack Hombsch’s move to Gold Coast hinges on the Suns losing co-captain Steven May. Small forward Jake Neade could be a late trade, as will be midfielder-forward Karl Amon who has family reasons to return to Melbourne.
Contracted defender Jasper Pittard also could draw interest late in the trade period that ends at 8pm next Wednesday.
Port Adelaide has not moved on Brisbane’s eagerness to trade South Australian defender Sam Mayes who needs to return to Adelaide for family reasons. The Crows have shut down any talk of Mayes’ move to West Lakes in a trade.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au