Geelong beefs up 2020 draft hand by grabbing another first-round pick

A trade between Geelong and Gold Coast surprised some but both clubs are excited at their prospects in 2020, the draft-night deal ensuring the Cats can target some premium talent next year.

Geelong will head into next year’s trade and draft periods armed with its strongest hand in years after a draft-night deal with Gold Coast.

While the Cats made headlines by grabbing little-known ‘smoky’ Francis Evans on Thursday night, a move earlier in the evening has the club primed to raid next year’s trade and draft pools.

Gold Coast’s eagerness to snare Jeremy Sharp on Thursday night saw Suns list boss Craig Cameron call Geelong counterpart Stephen Wells.

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Geelong list boss Stephen Wells did a deal with the Suns. Pic: Getty Images

A deal was done, with the live trade seeing Gold Coast receive pick 27 from the Cats, which they then used to nab outside midfielder Sharp.

In return Geelong received a 2020 mid first-round pick – currently pick 11 – which the Suns had received as part of the AFL’s assistance package.

“Getting pick No.11 from Gold Coast in next year’s draft in a trade for pick 27 was exceptional,” revered list expert and Herald Sun columnist Gary Buckenara said of the deal.

“(Geelong are) always thinking ahead.”

The deal means the Cats now possess three first-round selections next year – their own, the one received from Gold Coast and the future first-round pick gained from West Coast through the Tim Kelly trade.

Wells said Gold Coast’s offer on the night meant the Cats had a “big decision” to make, and while his recruiting team had liked many players remaining in this year’s draft pool the Suns’ offer had been too good to refuse.

“In the end the deal was compelling and to give us three picks in next year’s first round sets us up for a good couple of years of drafting, we hope,” Wells said afterwards.

Jeremy Sharp is an outside midfielder with a penetrating kick. Picture: Michael Klein

“The picks will become very valuable to us whether we go to the draft or use them in the trade period.”

Next year’s draft is considered to be heavily compromised, with a host of academy and father-son selections poised to feature in the first round.

That means the Cats’ newly-acquired first-rounder will likely slide.

But last night some raised eyebrows at the Geelong-Gold Coast trade.

However Cameron is not nervous about the deal, revealing his club had rated Sharp among his year’s top 15 talents.

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“When you get to a point where you know you’re trading for a player, it’s not so much about the draft picks and points and all that sort of stuff,” he said.

“It’s whether you’d trade for that player and that’s the decision we made – we rated Jeremy highly enough to make the trade.

“We haven’t got crystal balls, we’ve made the decision on where it sits.

“We’re not that nervous. We’re very happy with Jeremy.”

Is this for real? pic.twitter.com/juyQNCiDZv

— SgtButane's Lonely Hearts Club Band (@SgtButane) November 28, 2019

Stephen Wells is always cooking something up...looks like this time it's going to be a slow cooked special. That pick swap with Gold Coast means Geelong will have three first-round picks in 2020 #AFLDraft

— Lachie Young (@lachie_young) November 28, 2019

Wtf?

— Jeppa (@JeppaDT) November 28, 2019

Who is Geelong getting with the 2 first rounders they trade?

— Tim Kay (@timkayy) November 28, 2019

A lot of people getting surprised by the Geelong / GC trade. With academy selections next year, it might end up getting bumped down by 12/14 places #AFLDraft

— Rohanct (@RohanCT) November 28, 2019

Originally published as Geelong beefs up 2020 draft hand by grabbing another first-round pick