Moneyball trade column: Is Patton the Roughy replacement? Would GWS dare let him go?

They already have a couple of Curnows and are desperate to add another Walsh. But the Carlton love affair with having brothers play side-by-side doesn’t stop there. Patrick Cripps’ younger brother has emerged as the latest sibling draft prospect.

GWS Giants player Jon Patton at an announcement today he has signed on for a further 3 years with the club. Picture. Phil Hillyard

AFL TRADE NEWS:

Could Jon Patton to Hawthorn be the answer for the forward line issues of two AFL clubs?

A thinned-down Patton is making excellent progress in his return from a third torn ACL after his latest injury last July.

He is in exceptional shape and is keen to play several kilograms lighter as Melbourne clubs including Hawthorn ponder trade bids.

Patton has consistently been linked to clubs including the Hawks despite a lucrative contract expiring in 2020 that makes him one of the club’s highest-paid players.

The GWS forward line is humming along without Patton, who was in and out of form before his latest knee injury.

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Jeremy Cameron is flying, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson are playing key roles alongside Toby Greene in the most efficient forward line in footy.

Meanwhile at Hawthorn the club is desperate to find a new key forward for the next generation with Jarryd Roughead — who was sensationally dropped on Thursday night — likely in his final year despite eight goals in six years.

Patton moving on would clear a heap of cap space for the Giants given their commitments and allow the Hawks yet another injury prospect.

But would GWS dare to trade him before they secure the signature of Jeremy Cameron, a free agent at the end of 2020?

All of it makes his progress in the back half of his season critical as the Giants try to make progress on a Cameron deal

Patton is still some time away after his third ACL but having dropped weight and travelled to the US for specialist coaching is in exceptional shape as he awaits a return.

Jon Patton during GWS Giants AFL training at Spotless Stadium, Pic Brett Costello

GOOD NEWS FOR DOGS

IF a week is a long time in football a month is an eternity.

Not too long ago the Dogs were pondering their key position stocks as $2 million of horse flesh went around in the VFL in the form of dumped Jackson Trengove and Josh Schache and the returning Tom Boyd.

Now the Dogs not only have a contested marking phenom in Aaron Naughton, they might have their ruckman for the next decade too.

Tim English is an intriguing player - at 21 still rating “poor” with Champion Data for hitouts, hitouts to advantage and clearances and only average for possessions.

But as shown by his exceptional display against the Tigers - 103 ranking points, 26 hitouts, eight score involvements - the top-20 pick could be anything.

Naughton is tucked away until the end of 2024 and while English is signed only until the end of next year, surely the long-term offer will come soon.

Officially there is nothing doing on that front but it won’t be long in an era when clubs love to watch rivals draft rucks then pinch them as they approaching their peak.

The Dogs have put an offer in to Josh Dunkley and can’t be too far away from closing a deal on Caleb Daniel given his exceptional form.

Boyd is on the comeback trail after three goals in his latest VFL game, Jackson Trengove is back with a vengeance after stifling Tom Lynch last week and Schache will have to force his way back into the side.

Aaron Naughton of the Bulldogs

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

HAWTHORN might have lost out on the rights on Noah Anderson when it traded his dad Dean to get some forward line support because of an ageing Dermott Brereton.

But the kid they do have rights to - Scott Maginness’ son Finn - has started the season on fire.

The Sandringham Dragons midfielder has had two cracking games in three NAB League contests, his latest against powerful Oakleigh a 134-ranking point, 24-possession, 17 contested-possession, one goal effort.

Port Adelaide not only has the third-most cap space of any club entering 2020 it has two live father-son options.

Darren Mead’s son Jackson is playing excellent football in the SANFL reserves, while Peter Burgoyne’s son Trent is a live prospect and has siblings Jase and Rome following on in coming years.

The Power squirrelled away a handful of late picks this year to ensure they had the points to secure one or both players - currently holding picks 14, 32, 56, 59, 64 and 68.

They have the luxury of having a crack at a free agent or uncontracted player or again backing themselves at the draft after success last year.

Finn Maginness in action during the NAB League

END OF THE LINE FOR HODGE

LUKE Hodge will likely retire at year’s end feeling his time at the Lions was a total success.

Hodge was lured out of retirement and would have felt playing only a single season might have taken some of the glint off his status as a one-club player.

But seven weeks into his second season he has played all seven games and while his past two haven’t been his best, his form is holding up well enough.

He is almost certain to retire at year’s end, saying in the pre-season he wanted to be pushed out of the side in a sign the kids were overtaking him.

He played 19 serviceable games last year and this week hits 332 AFL games in total and so far is playing well enough to avoid the scrutiny his good mate Jordan Lewis has been hit with at Melbourne.

Luke Hodge is set for retirement 2.0

ST KILDA FEELING GOOD

ST KILDA’S brilliant start to the season has secured Jade Gresham and will ultimately convince Jack Billings that Moorabbin is the place to be if they can show him the money.

It means the club doesn’t have too many priority signings left this year.

Jack Newnes is a restricted free agent and the club and his management have agreed to put off talks until later in the year, with Newnes having played every game in the last five seasons.

Jake Carlisle and Jarryn Geary have game-based triggers in their contracts, so might have to do some negotiating to tidy up new contracts after serious injuries.

Luke Dunstan and David Armitage are bashing the door down in the VFL but unable to play consistent AFL football, while Rowan Marshall is in talks on a new deal after excellent early-season form.

Jack Billings is having a standout season for the Saints. Picture: Getty Images

BIG BUCKS FOR CAMERON

JEREMY Cameron is set to become one of the highest-paid players in the game next season.

The Greater Western Sydney goal kicker is enjoying a career-best season and has shot well-clear in the Coleman Medal race.

Next year, Cameron is expected to cash-in on a back-ended deal worth in excess of $1.3 million in the final the season of his five-year contract.

It is expected to put the Dartmoor product and 196cm spearhead in the top two or three earners in the league in his free agency season.

Geelong is interested in Cameron as a long-term replacement option for gun veteran spearhead Tom Hawkins, but won’t be caught up in a bidding war.

Cameron was already one of six players to earn more than $1 million a year in 2018, but his biggest payday comes next season.

The Giants want to keep him beyond 2019, but whether they can afford him is another thing.

GWS is trying to fit-in big deals for Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield and Cameron.

If GWS put Cameron up for trade this year, like Dylan Shiel at the end of last season, he would command two first-round draft picks, as a minimum, in any trade deal.

Jeremy Cameron is set for an even bigger payday. Picture: Getty Images

MINI CRIPPS HAS BLUES EYES

PATRICK Cripps’ younger brother, Joshua, has emerged as the latest sibling draft prospect at Carlton.

The 198cm ruckman is a developing big man at Aquinas College in Perth who played his first game of ‘firsts’ football as a year 11 student last weekend.

Recently, he got to pick Matthew Kreuzer’s brains on a visit to Ikon Park about ruck craft.

Patrick said his younger brother was a late bloomer who had grown as much as 15cm within the past year.

“He’s all arms and legs, but he’s handy,” Cripps said.

“If he gets over 200cm and can catch it he might get on an AFL list.

“There’s a bit of pressure on him, but I just tell him to have a bit of fun and relax.”

He joins Sam Walsh’s brother, Henry, another ruckman from the Geelong Falcons, and Paddy Dow’s brother, Thomson, from Bendigo, as likely draft prospects.

DRAFT RACE IS ON

THE race to claim this year’s top draft prospects has been won by two management stables.

Hard-bodied midfielder Matthew Rowell has signed up with the TLA crew, while goal kicking ball winner Noah Anderson has joined Paul Connors and Robbie D’Orazio.

The duo are expected to be taken with the first two picks in this year’s draft, with some insiders claiming both are ahead of last year’s top selection Sam Walsh.