‘That’s garbage’: Eagles great explodes as wild West Coast theory emerges

An AFL great has called for heads to roll at West Coast as a bombshell theory emerged about the club’s shock trade.

West Coast fans have been left searching for answers as the club’s trade moves caused outcry on Tuesday.

The club has been accused of giving up far too much in the highly contentious deal that has secured Richmond’s Liam Baker.

The Eagles have split their No. 3 pick, which has gone to Carlton.

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Footy commentators, including Kane Cornes, slammed the Eagles for letting the prized No. 3 pick go so cheaply.

However, a theory has now emerged the Eagles are playing a long game with the club’s list management — and have their eyes set on Swans star Chad Warner.

Reports have swirled in recent weeks that Warner will consider a move back to West Australia when his contract with the Swans expires at the end of the 2025 season.

With Warner still under contract this year it was speculated the Swans may look to trade the midfielder this trade period in order to get more back than what the club would potentially be able to command in any trade with Warner in 12 months’ time.

Fremantle football boss Peter Bell last week poured cold water on the prospect of the Dockers making a play for Warner in the current trade period.

Chad Warner and teammates have to pick themselves back up after the grand final nightmare. Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Eagles great Will Schofield theorised on Tuesday that a massive play for Warner is the only thing that explains the deal that was struck on Tuesday.

The West Coast premiership player wrote on X: “What the hell is happening? As far as I can tell there is a lot of I’ll scratch your back, if you scratch mine.

“Only thing that makes sense. West Coast are all in on Chad Warner.

“West Coast land 2 future firsts for 2025 draft for Barrass. They take their top 5 pick next year, package with above 2 and land Warner over Fremantle.”

Barrass is stuck in limbo after the proposed deal between the Eagles and Hawthorn fell apart last week.

According to reports, the Hawks’ latest offer is a future first round and a future second round pick in exchange for Barrass and the Eagles’ future third round pick.

Liam Baker trade

West Coast receive: Liam Baker, Matt Owies, picks 12, 73

Richmond receive: Pick 14

Carlton receive: Picks 3, 63, 68

The reactions from most Eagles fans to the Baker trade has been outright anger.

Former Eagles and Essendon full-forward Scott Cummings was also left blowing up when the deal was announced on Tuesday during his SEN Breakfast show in Perth.

In a somewhat slapstick meltdown, Cummings stood up and threw his headset away as co-host Tim Gossage announced the deal.

“Are you kidding me? That’s ridiculous,” he said.

“Oh my god. Everyone should be sacked. I’m out. It’s garbage.”

The Eagles, however, happily spruiked the deal.

“We are delighted to get a deal done for Liam and we believe he can make an immediate impact for us in 2025 and in the years ahead,” Eagles list manager Matt Clarke said.

“He is an outstanding character in the prime of his career who has a strong relationship with our new coach Andrew McQualter and he is eager to get to work.

“Liam’s skill and dynamic playing style makes him a valuable asset for us as we embed a new gamestyle.”

West Coast CEO Don Pyke said on SEN WA: It’s all part of it. I understand it.

“If you look at the deal in isolation — the slide from No. 3 to No. 12 and using 14 to get Liam Baker — (it) looks a bit odd, but for us it was part of a bigger play around Liam and the commitment we made to him to bring him to the club.

“We’re fulfilling and honouring that commitment as well as sliding back in a draft that we believe has got some depth.

“Pick 12 won’t replace Pick 3 — we know that — but we still believe that at 12 there’s going to be a lot of high talent players still in the draft that will fit our needs and our list build.”

Richmond gun Liam Baker is heading to West Coast. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The deal gives Richmond a third pick inside the top 25, with more draft assets expected to come in before the trade period ends.

But Kane Cornes believes West Coast will regret giving up pick 3 for Baker.

In 2022, the Eagles split pick 2 and instead drafted Reuben Ginbey at pick 8 and Elijah Hewett at pick 12. North Melbourne took Harry Sheezel at pick 2, who was the AFL Rising Star in his first season and looks a ready made superstar.

“West Coast fans are losing their minds about that,” Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.

“Considering they did split a pick a couple years ago and that ended up being Harry Sheezel.

“I just don’t understand why they would even entertain splitting pick 3 for that, just to get Liam Baker.

“He’d be nice to have, but he’s not the re-build-type player that West Coast need. They need to be getting as many top ten draft picks as they possibly can to start rebuilding this club, which they should have done three years ago.

“If West Coast fans are losing their mind over this, this should go to the West Coast board and it should sit in front of them and they should assess it and they should say, ‘Nup we’re not having this’. That is what boards should be doing.”

The AFL Trade Period concludes on Wednesday at 7.30pm AEDT.

Originally published as ‘That’s garbage’: Eagles great explodes as wild West Coast theory emerges