AFL trade period deadline: Follow every move on the final day of dealing
Giants small forward Bobby Hill was reduced to tears as his request to move to Essendon on compassionate grounds fell apart. RECAP DEADLINE DAY
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Bobby Hill will surround himself with family in Western Australia in the coming days as he ponders his next move after a failed bid to get to Essendon.
The Giants small forward nominated the Bombers as the club he wanted to get to for compassionate reasons, with his partner, Georgia, due to give birth to their first child in December.
SCROLL DOWN TO RECAP THE FRANTIC FINAL HOURS OF THE TRADE PERIOD BELOW
Hill may not report for pre-season training until January next year because of his personal circumstances.
His request set in motion a drama-filled few days that saw him break down in tears at one point as he pleaded for Greater Western Sydney to free him from his contract and send him to Essendon.
TRADE GRADES:EXPERTS RATE EVERY CLUB’S HAUL
But Giants list boss Jason McCartney said on Wednesday night they never considered trading the 21-year-old, in large part because of the small forward shortage at the club.
Exacerbating that problem is that superstar Toby Greene will miss the first five rounds of next season serving the rest of his suspension for intentional umpire contact.
“I’ve just been speaking with the family and it’s something when it comes up so late and you’re in contract like that, it’s really hard to facilitate,” McCartney said.
“We weren’t contemplating doing any trading and moving out Bobby. We rate him as a player, he’s got a year to go and he’s really important … we’re in the business of winning football (games).
“We know Bobby has been fine at our football club – there are no issues – and this came up only last Friday or Saturday and it was the first we’d heard of it, so we weren’t willing to do anything.
“He’s got to manage that, we’ll put our arms around him, put support mechanisms in place and we’re confident he’ll be fine.”
At the same time, the Giants were aware of the Hawks’ strong want to offload senior players for high draft picks, so they sounded out Chad Wingard and Luke Breust as potential recruits.
Breust spoke to GWS officials multiple times on deadline day, and Hawthorn had as-good-as ticked off on the deal.
The Hawks would have sent Breust, picks 24 and 59 and a future fourth-round selection to the Giants – while paying a huge chunk of Breust’s salary – in exchange for pick 13 and a future third-round pick connected to Port Adelaide.
The Bombers effectively waved the white flag on a deal for Hill being done two hours before the deadline, when list manager Adrian Dodoro told him they had done their best to broker a deal.
Hill’s agent, Colin Young, who looks after him along with his Corporate Sports Australia colleague Andrew McDougall, said it was a bitter result.
“You’re given the job by your clients and you want to achieve the right result for all parties, so it’s very deflating, it’s very upsetting,” Young told Fox Footy.
FINAL DAY RECAP
The trade period is officially over and a host of players have found new homes after several last-minute moves.
However, two will be forced to return to their former clubs.
Recap all the deals and drama from deadline day below.
7.25PM: BIG PIE BECOMES A HAWK
The ruck merry-go-round is complete with Collingwood big man Max Lynch joining Hawthorn.
The two clubs agreed to a deal just minutes before the trade deadline, following moves of Darcy Fort from Geelong to Brisbane and Jon Ceglar from Hawthorn to Geelong.
Lynch, 23, played just three games for the Pies as he was stuck behind Brodie Grundy and Darcy Cameron in the ruck pecking order.
Trade paperwork lodged.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) October 13, 2021
Hawthorn trade a Future Round Three Selection (tied to Brisbane Lions) and its Future Round Three Selection to Collingwood for Max Lynch, its Future Round Three Selection (tied to Fremantle) and its Future Round Four Selection (tied to Gold Coast SUNS).
7.20PM: SWANS GET THEIR MAN FROM PORT
— Matt Turner
Ruckman Peter Ladhams is officially a Sydney player.
Port Adelaide traded the 23-year-old and pick 16 to the Swans for selections 12 and a future third-round pick very late on deadline day on Wednesday.
Ladhams has played 32 games for the Power since debuting in 2019.
6.52PM: CATS TRADE CLARK, GAIN CEGLAR
— Jay Clark
Geelong has poached veteran ruckman Jon Ceglar from Hawthorn to help address its greatest on-field weakness and stay in the premiership mix next season.
Despite calls for the Cats to invest in more youth, Geelong showed it was unwilling to deviate from its list strategy as it welcomed 30-year-old Ceglar in exchange for a future third-round draft pick on Wednesday night.
Rhys Stanley has been Geelong’s No.1 ruckman with mixed results, but Ceglar will attempt to take over that mantle over pre-season after signing a two-year deal.
The Hawks will also chip in a significant part of his salary, believed to be worth more than $100,000 a season.
The Cats also secured pick 22 and a future third-round selection for Jordan Clark, who will sign a four-year deal at Fremantle.
In addition, the Dockers secured a fourth-round pick along with Clark at the end of some drawn-out negotiations which went down to the wire on the final day of the AFL trade period.
Clark, 20, was contracted at the Cats for next season, and list manager Stephen Wells maintained all week the club would only release him for either pick 19 or 22 and a third-round choice from the Dockers.
Geelong lost tall Darcy Fort to Brisbane as back-up for Oscar McInerney and will now pick up livewire small forward Tyson Stengle as a delisted free agent.
The Cats are facing a delicate list management balance with the oldest squad in the competition, but the club is determined to remain in top-four contention in 2022. Ceglar will turn 31 in February.
The Cats will have four picks in the first two rounds of next month’s draft – 22, 30, 32 and 34.
Geelong is expected to try and package up some of those picks to try and advance in the draft order.
Clubs are permitted to trade draft picks after today’s player movement deadline.
Clark gets to Freo. 22 and a future third. But with a future fourth back from Geelong. Everyone goes home happy https://t.co/IBzKlQEqwF
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) October 13, 2021
6.28PM: THE RUCK MOVES ARE ON
— Jon Ralph
The AFL’s ruck merry-go-around has finally started spinning with Jon Ceglar, Darcy Fort and Max Lynch finding new homes.
Brisbane sent pick 50 and its third-round draft pick to Geelong for Darcy Fort and the Cats’ pick 41 to get the deal going.
It means the Cats can now broker a separate trade with Hawthorn for Jon Ceglar, with haggling over recent days in how much of the deal they paid.
The Hawks were prepared to pay as much as $200,000 of his $350,000 deal but he might end up signing a new two-year deal at Geelong.
Ceglar’s move to Geelong will then free up picks and a list spot for a separate trade of Collingwood’s Lynch to the Hawks.
Ceglar finished the season in barnstorming fashion and would likely be the club’s first ruckman in a battle with newly re-signed Rhys Stanley.
TRADE TRACKER: SEE EVERY 2021 DEAL
Geelong was then able to agree to terms on a two-year deal for Jon Ceglar that will see the Cats send a late pick to the Hawks.
Hawthorn is expected to pay a significant portion of that deal – up to $200,000 in the first season – after days of haggling.
Ceglar has found a new home at Geelong as a significant ruck upgrade on Darcy Fort.
Hawthorn will in effect turn at 30-year-old ruckman into a 23-year-old from Collingwood in Max Lynch with real upside.
Trade paperwork lodged.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) October 13, 2021
Hawthorn trade Jonathon Ceglar and its Future Round Four Selection to the Geelong Cats for its Future Round Three Selection (tied to the Brisbane Lions)
6.25PM: GIANTS SCUTTLE HILL TRADE PLAN
— Jay Clark
GWS has dashed any hope of trading goalkicker Bobby Hill to Essendon or Collingwood, saying the forward will not be off-loaded.
GWS Giants’ footy boss Jason McCartney on Wednesday night said the Giants never entertained the prospect of permitting his trade request to Tullamarine.
McCartney said the club would wrap its arms around the 21-year-old over the next few months as he prepares for the birth of his first child.
“It has never been live (the trade request), to be honest,” McCartney said on 3AW.
“He is a required player at the Giants, he has a year to run on his contract and we are respectful and understand what has been presented, which has only happened four or five days ago.
“We have got things in place around Bobby and his partner, Georgia, for when they return and the baby is due on the 20th of December, which is a really exciting time for both.
“We will continue to work closely with Bobby and his family to make sure he has got all the support around him in Sydney.”
Regarding his conversations with Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro this week, McCartney said “there hasn’t been a (trade) negotiation, to be honest”.
McCartney said the Giants needed Hill on the field in 2022 and suggested the club was blindsided by Hill’s trade request last week.
“We do not have a lot of small forwards and Toby Greene isn’t playing for the first games,” he said.
“We can’t go backwards.”
The Giants have picks 2 and 13 and have been unable to land either of Hawthorn pair Chad Wingard and Luke Breust.
McCartney said the Breust bid had failed.
“I don’t think that will be happening but Hawthorn’s strategy has been very clear about trying to improve a draft position,” he said.
“Our money is invested in our playing group, so to facilitate any of these deals we are happy to move picks around but we need some support with the salary piece.
“You get close on a couple but things haven’t eventuated there.”
5.37PM: GIANTS WON’T BUDGE ON HILL
— Jay Clark
GWS forward Bobby Hill has broken down in tears this afternoon with his trade request to Essendon hanging by a thread.
The stress of the situation has clearly taken a toll on the Giants’ forward and his pregnant partner, Georgia, who are seeking a move to Melbourne on compassionate grounds to be closer to family.
News Corp understands Hill, 21, shed tears this afternoon while on the phone to football officials connected to the deal, desperate to start afresh in Melbourne next season.
Collingwood has spoken to Hill and is keen to get involved, however the electric Giants’ forward – who averaged nine possessions a game this season – is adamant he wants to wear red and black in 2022.
Hill and his partner were planning to move to Melbourne in the coming months as they prepare for the birth of their first child.
He has two cousins in Melbourne, Bradley Hill (from St Kilda) and Courtney Ugle (Essendon VFLW).
But the deal has hit a major snag as Essendon’s offer of a future-second round draft pick has been knocked back by the Giants.
The Bombers are adamant their future-second round pick is their best offer.
5.35PM: HOW BREUST COULD UNLOCK HILL MOVE
— Marc McGowan
Convincing Luke Breust to become a Giant remains the only way Bobby Hill will be a Bomber next year.
As News Corp revealed earlier on Wednesday, GWS rejected Essendon’s offer of a future second-round pick for Hill.
The Bombers have improved their proposal three times, but that is not the sticking point in negotiations.
The Giants were adamant since the contracted Hill’s weekend request to be traded to Essendon that they would grant his wish only if they bring in a small forward replacement.
Hawthorn approached GWS to see if it was interested in Chad Wingard, but the dual All-Australian emphatically said no to any move.
The two clubs engaged again in trade talks about triple premiership player Breust, who turns 31 in November. He is originally from NSW.
The proposed deal for Breust was for the Giants to give up pick 13 and the Hawks offload pick 24 along with the veteran Hawk.
It’s believed one of the key reasons behind the 441-goal sharpshooter’s hesitancy is Sydney’s higher cost of living.
The Giants will be without superstar Toby Greene for the first five rounds of next year, because of his suspension for intentionally contacting umpire Matt Stevic in their elimination final victory.
Hill’s potential exit would leave GWS with only Brent Daniels, outside of Greene, as a genuine small forward.
WHY HILL WANTS TO LEAVE GIANTS
— Jon Ralph
GWS has been urged to trade Bobby Hill to Essendon for compassionate reasons by tonight’s trade deadline.
Essendon will not improve upon its offer of a future second-round pick, which has been knocked back by GWS after its failure to secure another small forward as a replacement.
Both Chad Wingard and Luke Breust have made clear they have no interest in playing for GWS next year despite the Giants’ interest.
Hill’s management company Corporate Sports Australia says his expectant partner is likely to give birth in Melbourne in coming months.
The couple have friends in Melbourne and little support in Sydney.
He returned to be with his partner in Sydney mid-year then later returned to be with the club, playing in the losing semi-final.
GWS is well within its rights to keep a contracted player who only weeks ago spoke about potentially extending his contract past 2022.
But while Hill would have to play out the final year of his contract – potentially with his partner in Melbourne over summer – it has been made clear he would be a significant flight risk for the Giants at the end of next season.
Essendon’s offer is fair given Hill averaged nine possessions a game this year and kicked only 14 goals from 17 games.
5.35PM: PORT, SWANS CLOSING ON LADHAMS DEAL
— Jon Ralph
Sydney and Port Adelaide are making solid progress on a deal for Peter Ladhams that could involve a first-round pick slide and a later pick heading back to the Power.
Sydney has a large collection of 2021 and future picks including 12, 31, 39 and two future first-rounders that will help seal a deal for 23-year-old Ladhams.
Port Adelaide wants Sydney’s pick 12 and would give back pick 16, but then is also requesting the Swans’ pick 31.
That deal would place Ladhams’ worth at somewhere between picks 22 and 23 given the combined worth of those components.
The Power are also open to accepting a future second-rounder from Sydney as well as that pick swap.
Both clubs are committed to making a deal work that will get Ladhams to Sydney.
Richmond’s Callum Coleman-Jones was traded to North Melbourne in a complicated deal that placed his worth somewhere between pick 30-32, so Port would be lucky to get the pick slide and pick 31.
But Ladhams is now determined to get to Sydney despite growing up a stone’s throw from Port Adelaide headquarters as a devoted Power fan.
He has been sold on the move to Sydney to play as a forward who can also play ruck behind Tom Hickey.
5.25PM: BLUES LOCK IN 2022 ROOKIE LIST
Carlton has committed to recontracting top-10 draft pick Lochie O’Brien and Matthew Cottrell in the rookie draft.
The Blues have also signed 2021 rookies Matthew Owies, Luke Parks, Oscar McDonald and Jordan Boyd to one-year deals.
4.05PM: DOGS VETERAN SIGNS NEW DEAL
Western Bulldogs vice-captain Mitch Wallis has ended trade speculation – for one more year at least – by signing a new deal with the Dogs.
The 28-year-old fell out of favour this year, playing just six games and none after Round 17.
His name was linked to a move but he has decided to re-sign for 2022 after limited interest from rivals.
“I’m going to embrace the challenge of improving elements of my game, as I feel I have a lot to contribute towards the on-field success of the club moving forward,” Wallis said.
Bulldogs list manager Sam Power said: “Mitch is not only a quality player, but also a quality person – his leadership and determination sets a great example for our playing group both on and off the field.
“We value his ability to hit the scoreboard, while his work ethic is second to none.”
3.25PM: HILL OFFER REJECTED, HAWK IN MIX
— Marc McGowan
Essendon will have to up the ante again for Bobby Hill, with the Giants rejecting the Bombers’ offer of a future second-round pick.
Hill remains desperate to leave Greater Western Sydney and play for Essendon next season, but is contracted for one more season at the Giants.
GWS was adamant once the 21-year-old requested a trade to the Bombers that the club would only grant his wish if they brought in a replacement.
Chad Wingard loomed as an early option but didn’t want to leave Hawthorn, while fellow Hawk Luke Breust – originally from NSW – is the latest player being discussed.
Breust is believed to be reluctant but hasn’t completed ruled it out, with the Giants’ pick 13 up for grabs.
Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro has already budged several times on his proposal to his Giants counterpart Jason McCartney.
They have a colourful history of trade dealings, including most recently Jye Caldwell’s trade from GWS to the Bombers.
McCartney was disappointed in how Essendon approached those negotiations.
The Bombers originally offered a third-round pick for Hill, then put the future second-rounder on the table – but wanted a later selection back – before presenting the future second-round pick on its own.
It’s unclear whether the Bombers are willing to improve their offer one more time to bring in Hill, whose pregnant partner, Georgia, is due to give birth to their first child in December.
1.15PM: BOBBY HILL TALKS GO DOWN TO WIRE
— Jon Ralph
Essendon’s chase for Bobby Hill will go into the final hours of the trade period with Greater Western Sydney still holding firm that the contracted player will remain with the Giants.
Essendon is keen to get a deal done in a negotiation that includes the club’s future second-rounder, but the Dons would like to receive a pick back from GWS.
They might eventually have to relent and only hand over the second-rounder with the deal still far from certain to be clinched before the 7.30pm trade deadline.
There has been no progress on the talks on Wednesday morning, which means the Giants will have to decide to trade him in coming hours.
The Herald Sun reported on Tuesday the Dons were determined to land their man with a deal including their second-rounder given he wanted to play at the same club as his cousin Courtney Ugle, who plays AFLW for Essendon.
Hill’s manager Andrew McDougall said on Wednesday his player was becoming increasingly stressed and would struggle to return to GWS.
But if Hill can put together a breakout season next year the Giants could believe holding their nerve would result in them keeping him long-term or trading him for a superior pick next year.
1.05PM: DAWSON A CROW AFTER SWANS BACK DOWN
One of the biggest fish of the trade period has been hooked with Jordan Dawson joining Adelaide after a trade with Sydney.
After over a week of tense negotiations, the Crows have handed the Swans Melbourne’s future first-round draft pick, which they acquired in a four-club deal last week.
“He is one of the most promising young players in the competition who is entering the prime of his football career,” Crows list manager Justin Reid said.
“We are pleased to have completed the trade with Sydney and that Jordan has the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends next year and beyond.”
The Swans demanded a higher price for Dawson but eventually relented rather than risking losing him for nothing via the pre-season draft.
“We made clear from the outset that we rated Jordan as highly as any player available in this trade period,” football boss Charlie Gardiner said.
“Throughout the trade period we worked extremely hard to reach a fair outcome in regard to Jordan, despite challenging circumstances. Ultimately, we have settled on a deal that we don’t think quite reflects Jordan’s true value but is one that, after extensive negotiations, we don’t believe we could improve upon.
“After strong consideration, we believed it to be in the best interests of the club to accept the deal available and move forward.
“Holding two first round selections for the 2022 draft does put us in a very strong position and gives us great flexibility to improve our list in the future.
“We thank Jordan for the contribution he has made to the club over the past six seasons,” he said.
LADHAMS POISED FOR SWANS MOVE
— Jon Ralph
Peter Ladhams is certain to be a Sydney player by Wednesday’s 7.30pm deadline with common ground established between the Power and Sydney in trade talks.
Sydney’s decision to accept Melbourne’s future first-rounder for departing wingman Jordan Dawson has handed them an array of picks to get the Ladhams deal done.
They have presented a range of scenarios to Port Adelaide to satisfy them as they let Ladhams move to a club where he will play more ruck time.
Accepting Sydney’s No.31 pick is the simplest scenario, but Sydney also has picks 12 and 39 in this year’s draft as well as its own future first-rounder, Melbourne’s future first-rounder and its own future second and third-rounders.
Any deal which established Ladhams’ worth at around pick 25-30 in the draft _ or its equivalent through draft points and pick swaps _ would be an equitable trade.
It is understood both clubs are now pushing hard to get a deal done for Ladhams, who is excited by the prospect of playing under John Longmire and assistant coach Dean Cox.
Former Eagles star Cox is considered the best ruckman of the modern era but Ladhams only trained with the forward group this year at the Power, which did not have an official ruck coach.
Port Adelaide was keen on a trade which saw it secure pick 31 and hand over its pick 16 for Sydney’s pick 12, but haggling continues on Wednesday.
Ladhams will accept a new deal at Sydney which will see him forgoing the last year of his back-ended contract at Port Adelaide but at only 23 has a bright future with the Swans.
WHO’S STILL IN LIMBO
CHAD WINGARD (Hawthorn)
“I’m not leaving!” After Jeff Kennett’s email to members, then again when News Corp Australia revealed the Giants’ interest in him, Wingard posted an Instagram story of Leonardo DiCaprio’s famous scene from Wolf of Wall Street. The Hawks discussed trading the star midfielder-forward and paying some of his contract, but he wants to stay at Waverley Park.
Verdict: No deal
JON CEGLAR (Hawthorn)
Hawthorn might be willing to pay up to $200,000 of Ceglar’s salary next year for him to become a Geelong player. He wants the move and the Cats will be on the lookout for a ruckman, with Darcy Fort set to join Brisbane.
Verdict: Deal
MAX LYNCH (Collingwood)
Lynch wants to be a Hawk and made that request official on Monday. The 200cm ruckman’s played only three AFL games since the Pies selected him late in the rookie draft five years ago. Collingwood might be keen to bolster next year’s draft cupboard in exchange for the uncontracted Lynch, but did want to keep him.
Verdict: Deal
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JORDAN CLARK (Geelong)
This deal should still get done given how close these two sides are to a resolution that helps out both Fremantle and Geelong.
Geelong wants pick 19 or 22 and a future third rounder while Freo only wants to hand over pick 22. Surely Clark doesn’t have to stay for another year when the gap is only three picks apart?
Freo has wanted this kid for two years, so maybe just get the deal done and move on to allow Justin Longmuir to round out his list build.
Verdict: Deal
BOBBY HILL (GWS)
GWS is being pragmatic, making clear to Essendon and Collingwood they would need to pony up to extract a talented small forward (which they don’t have many of) from Leon Cameron’s side. Essendon wasn’t desperately keen in the first place and Hill doesn’t really want to go to the Pies. But if he’s so keen to be in Victoria, maybe he can’t be fussy?
If the Pies can be confident the Roos won’t bid first on Jason Horne-Francis will that saving of nearly 400 draft points give them the chance to hand an attractive pick to the Giants to keep them happy?
Verdict: No deal
SAM POWELL-PEPPER (Port Adelaide)
West Coast showed some interest in Powell-Pepper, who would like to play more in the midfield, at the start of the trade period. But the Eagles prioritised the signature of Sam Petrevski-Seton from Carlton.
Verdict: No deal
JORDAN DAWSON (Sydney)
Sydney knew it wouldn’t get anything better than the Crows’ offer of Melbourne’s 2022 first-round selection for Dawson. And so, after a protracted negotiation, that is the deal it agreed to, amid the threat of the Crows walking him to the pre-season draft. Dawson gets his wish to come home and becomes a key cog in the Crows’ rebuild. The Swans’ attention turns to Ladhams.
Verdict:Deal done
RORY LOBB (Fremantle)
This deal is dead as a doornail. Or so both parties would have us believing. Lobb was on $700,0000 for two more years, his management wanted around $500,000 a year for him to get to GWS and the Giants couldn’t even get close to it. If Freo made a late dash for a star on the last day of trade period they might want the second rounder for Lobb to help seal that deal. But what’s the point of securing another big fish when you lose Lobb, one of only a few key forwards at Fremantle. So the very strong likelihood is he stays at Fremantle next year.
Verdict: No deal
PETER LADHAMS (Port Adelaide)
The Power wants more than pick 31 for the young ruck/forward. Fortunately, Sydney’s deal with Adelaide for Jordan Dawson paves the way for it to offer up a first-rounder. Maybe some pick swaps will sweeten the deal.
Verdict: Deal
TRISTAN XERRI (North Melbourne)
Xerri has requested a trade to St Kilda, which is planning for life after Paddy Ryder, who may be entering his final AFL season. The Roos’ trade for Callum Coleman-Jones pushes Xerri down the ruck depth chart and he sees a clearer path to opportunities at the Saints. But North is standing firm on his value.
Verdict: Deal
DARCY FORT (Geelong)
The Lions are keen on securing the ruckman but he is 28 and contracted for 2022 so they are haggling with Geelong over his value. Feels like it will get done with pick swaps.
Verdict: Deal
JARROD BRANDER (West Coast)
Brander’s manager has suggested there has been interest in him, including Carlton, but it is getting late for a deal to happen and he is open to returning to West Coast.
Verdict: No deal
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