Trade guide: Every club’s targets and potential departures in 2022
The Hawks shopped Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell around last year, but could he find a new home 12 months on? See who every club is chasing in our club by club guide.
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The action on the field is over for another year – now for the off-season.
The off-field frenzy is about to ramp up as attention turns to free agency and the trade period.
Clubs will soon begin negotiating, with several big deals already set to define the upcoming month in what is shaping as one of the biggest player movement periods in years.
One name who won’t be moving is Jason Johannisen, who has re-signed on a two-year deal days from the opening of this year’s free agency period.
Johannisen, who won the Norm Smith Medal in the 2016 grand final, was an unrestricted free agent and had been chased by Gold Coast after playing just eight matches largely in attack this season.
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Which big names will your club snare and who might be out the door?
More importantly, will the moves they pull the trigger on make them a better team come round 1 in 2023?
ADELAIDE
The Crows will get some serious firepower when Izak Rankine arrives from Gold Coast.
The young gun will give the Crows the classy small forward they have arguably been lacking since Eddie Betts returned to Carlton. Along with star draftee Josh Rachele, the much improved Darcy Fogarty, young gun Riley Thilthorpe and with Taylor Walker still performing outstandingly despite his age, the recruitment of Rankine gives the Crows a forward line to match most in the league. It is likely to be the only real addition by the Crows this trade period, but it is a big one and definitely improves them come round 1.
LIKELY INS: Izak Rankine
LIKELY OUTS: Billy Frampton, maybe Matt Crouch, Lachlan Sholl, James Rowe.
BRISBANE LIONS
The Lions are set to land one of the biggest names this trade period with Josh Dunkley wanting to come to Brisbane from the Western Bulldogs. Dunkley will add toughness and ball-winning ability to the Lions midfield and will be a perfect support act for superstar Lachie Neale. Dan McStay wants to go to Collingwood, which will hurt the Lions forward line, but his loss could be offset by the potential addition of Jack Gunston. With the Dunkley addition the Lions will be a better outfit, at least on paper, than the one that was smashed by Geelong in the preliminary final.
LIKELY INS: Josh Dunkley. Maybe Jack Gunston
LIKELY OUTS: Dan McStay, Mitch Robinson
CARLTON
Blake Acres should arrive on a three-year deal worth approximately $1 million in what would be a nice pick-up as a hard-running wingman. Elsewhere, the Blues are likely to be settled. Their focus is on the national draft after a heavy recruiting drive in recent seasons which landed Adam Saad, Zac Williams, George Hewett and Adam Cerra.
LIKELY INS: Blake Acres
LIKELY OUTS: No one yet.
COLLINGWOOD
Brodie Grundy is off to Melbourne barring a trade catastrophe. The issue is whether the Pies receive a late first-rounder or only a second-round pick. Brisbane free agent Dan McStay should be a Pies player by Friday afternoon. No other suitor has emerged for Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini, so he seems Collingwood-bound. And lock in Adelaide’s Billy Frampton and GWS forward Bobby Hill. The issue is none of these four players are game-changers. With OIlie Henry considering whether he wants to leave for Geelong, if they lost potential A grader Henry and dual All-Australian Grundy, would their list be getting better than it was this year?
LIKELY INS: Dan McStay, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton, Brayden Fiorini
LIKELY OUTS: Brodie Grundy, maybe Ollie Henry
ESSENDON
The Bombers pursued Ben King, Angus Brayshaw and Izak Rankine this season but didn't land any of them. But they still have about $3 million to splash and will surely be able to poach someone. The retirements of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Michael Hurley and Devon Smith contributed to that war chest although there are a few murmurs Darcy Parish could emerge as a possible target for rival clubs wanting a midfielder.
LIKELY INS: No one yet
LIKELY OUTS: Aaron Francis
FREMANTLE
The Dockers will land one of the best young players in the game with Luke Jackson wanting to return to Western Australia after emerging as an outstanding ruck/forward prospect at Melbourne. He should improve the Dockers immediately but they are facing a bunch of fringe players leaving. Rory Lobb also wants to go to the Western Bulldogs, and while he has been inconsistent, his departure on top of players such as Blake Acres and Darcy Tucker would weaken the Dockers for next year.
LIKELY INS: Luke Jackson
LIKELY OUTS: Rory Lobb, Blake Acres, Darcy Tucker, Griffin Logue. Maybe Liam Henry
GEELONG
It was vintage Joel Selwood on Saturday and he might be the most complete footballer Geelong has seen. It might also be the last we see of Selwood the warrior after 355 bloodied games, four flags and a leader like few others. But it’s hard to see the Cats losing anyone else. They lost out on Jacob Hopper, but that’s OK. Tanner Bruhn will get there and cost far less while runners Max Holmes, Mitch Knevitt and premiership medi-sub Brandan Parfitt could all be best 22 next season. Oliver Henry is also a chance to join brother Jack, which would give Geelong three of the top 20 picks from the 2020 draft – Bruhn (pick 12), Henry (17) and Holmes (20).
LIKELY INS: Tanner Bruhn. Maybe Ollie Henry
LIKELY OUTS: No one yet
GOLD COAST
The salary dump is on. Expect all of Brayden Fiorini (Collingwood), Jeremy Sharp (Fremantle), Josh Corbett (Fremantle) and Jack Bowes (multiple suitors including St Kilda and Essendon) to move on. Ben Long will find his way to the Suns on a four-year deal. The departures will be short-term pain for long-term gain in the capacity to recontract Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and have cap room for a targeted acquisition next year, not just overpaying for kids who aren’t in their best 15 players. It won’t make them a better team next year, but it will help in the long run. St Kilda is desperate to get back into the draft, so if they could secure Bowes as a midfielder and pick 7 it would be a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
LIKELY INS: Ben Long
LIKELY OUTS: Jack Bowes, Josh Corbett, Brayden Fiorini, Jeremy Sharp
GWS GIANTS
For new coach Adam Kingsley it will be a bitterly tough pill to swallow losing Jacob Hopper (Richmond), Tim Taranto (Richmond), Tanner Bruhn (Geelong) and Bobby Hill (Collingwood) to Melbourne clubs with little coming back the other way so far except draft picks. The Giants should reap three first-rounders at least from Richmond and a second-rounder for Hill. Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea should be the first player the Giants ask about in the Bruhn trade after making similar inquiries two years ago. He can ruck, play key forward, was tried back late in the year and won’t get games at Geelong. Ivan Soldo is a Tiger who could be in the mix.
LIKELY INS: No one yet
LIKELY OUTS: Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Tanner Bruhn, Bobby Hill
HAWTHORN
The Hawks will get free agent Karl Amon from Port Adelaide to add some class on the outside. But it will be interesting to see what else they do this trade period. Tom Mitchell and Jack Gunston are linked with moves away, in Mitchell’s case a year after the Hawks tried to find a new home for him last trade period. Hawthorn is rebuilding and is very likely to go backwards before moving forward, in terms of their list.
LIKELY INS: Karl Amon
LIKELY OUTS: Maybe Jack Gunston and Tom Mitchell
MELBOURNE
The Grundy-Gawn ruck duo looks certain for next year as the Demons attempt to secure two first-rounders for the departing Luke Jackson, and hand back one first-rounder at most for Grundy. Jackson is Fremantle-bound despite West Coast not officially being ruled out. Simon Goodwin is already spruiking pacy forward Toby Bedford’s improvement next year but he has to sign him amid rival interest. Adam Tomlinson has been linked to the Dogs but he has two more years at $500,000 a season on his contract. Jayden Hunt has been linked to West Coast, while Michael Hibberd and Jake Melksham will re-sign.
INS: Brodie Grundy
OUTS: Luke Jackson. Maybe Adam Tomlinson.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Former coach David Noble was part of the presentation to Fremantle’s Griffin Logue, which shows North Melbourne’s interest traces back several months. Versatile teammate Darcy Tucker is also a chance to land at Arden St, and the Dockers are open to trading both players. Logue would be a great addition to play alongside intercepting defender Ben McKay. Next season the club’s No.1 focus will be on re-signing No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis. Cam Zurhaar and Todd Goldstein have re-signed, although the wildcard this off-season is what impact new coach Alastair Clarkson’s clouded future has over the deals made.
LIKELY INS: Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker. Maybe Brad Hill
LIKELY OUTS: No one yet.
PORT ADELAIDE
The Power missed out on Josh Dunkley, but will get Junior Rioli from West Coast. With Orazio Fantasia not playing a minute of AFL footy because of injury issues in 2022, as well as the retirements of Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop, Port is crying out for a small forward.
Rioli can do a job for the Power, but they are unlikely to get Kysaiah Pickett this off-season. Karl Amon will go to Hawthorn, but the Power have depth in that wing position. But they will need some of their young players to step up and go to the next level to be a better side in 2023.
LIKELY INS: Junior Rioli
LIKELY OUTS: Karl Amon. Maybe Sam Hayes and Martin Frederick
RICHMOND
It’s the definition of going all in. Richmond will surely have to trade all of picks 12, 19, 30 and a future first-rounder and expend $1.5 million a year of cap space on Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper. But if they can land that pair their midfield fortunes are set until 2030. Riley Collier-Dawkins is yet to be offered a new deal and rivals could circle late. GWS hasn’t discussed players in the trade but Ivan Soldo has been floated. The Giants have enough half-backs so aren’t interested in Hugo Ralphsmith, who surely the Tigers must keep anyway. Jack Graham has rival interest but the Tigers would be mad to let him go under any circumstances.
LIKELY INS: Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto
LIKELY OUTS: No one yet. Maybe Jack Graham, Ivan Soldo and Riley Collier-Dawkins.
ST KILDA
The Saints haven’t given up hope of luring free agent Jordan De Goey, spooking the Pies into offering a fifth year to their star mid. North Melbourne’s strong interest in Hunter Clark would have Saints fans worried they will get little for the No.7 pick, who could immediately thrive elsewhere. On face value it makes little sense. Brad Hill has interest from the Roos but there has been zero progress so far on a trade. They are an interested party in the deal to get Gold Coast’s Jack Bowes plus pick 7 and the final two years of his deal on $1 million plus. Ben Long is off to the Suns, but surely for a late pick. Essendon has some interest in mid Jack Bytel.
LIKELY INS: No one yet, maybe Jack Bowes.
LIKELY OUTS: Ben Long, maybe Brad Hill.
SYDNEY
The big one – Buddy Franklin – is locked away and the Swans already hold two first-round picks in this year’s draft. But the improvement in 2023 is likely to come from grand final omission Logan McDonald and improver Will Gould along with organic growth from the likes of Dylan Stephens, Errol Gulden and Nick Blakey. Chad Warner was the one Swan who looked threatening against Geelong in the grand final and is already a legitimate star of the game.
LIKELY INS: No one yet.
LIKELY OUTS: No one yet.
WEST COAST
The Eagles will lose Junior Rioli to Port Adelaide. While they are upset, the Eagles are likely to get a decent draft pick for the small forward – which should help their rebuild after a shocker 2022. Given the Eagles’ list position and need to rebuild, you wouldn’t expect them to go after players in the trade and free agency period. Luke Jackson wants to go to Western Australia from Melbourne, but will end up at Fremantle.
LIKELY INS: No one yet
LIKELY OUTS: Junior Rioli
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Josh Dunkley is 25 and polled 14 Brownlow Medal votes after averaging 25 disposals, 6.1 tackles and kicking 18 goals this season. In 2018 Lachie Neale was traded at 25 after polling 11 Brownlow Medal votes and averaging 30 disposals, 4.2 tackles and kicking 10 goals. Neale and pick 30 were traded for picks 6, 19 and 55, and something similar is probably a fair trade for Dunkley, who wants to join Neale at Brisbane. Liam Jones will sign as a free agent and free agent Jason Johannisen is staying put. But Josh Schache, Stefan Martin, Zaine Cordy, Hayden Crozier and Jordon Sweet could all leave. Crozier and Sweet are contracted but might seek more opportunity elsewhere. Rory Lobb wants to come but Fremantle says it won‘t let him go. But plenty of tough talk in the past has softened before deadline.
LIKELY INS: Rory Lobb, Liam Jones
LIKELY OUTS: Josh Dunkley
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