Melbourne has yet to offer Sam Frost a deal for next season, confident three of its other defenders can form a strong defensive trio in 2020. ROLLING FOOTY NEWS
Hawthorn's decision to lure Melbourne full back Sam Frost on a multi-year deal came after the Demons had so far declined to offer him a deal.
Melbourne believes Oscar McDonald can fill the third defensive tall option alongside high-priced recruits Steven May and Jake Lever, even though Frost was ninth in the Demons best-and-fairest this year.
Hawthorn holds picks 11, 30, 47, 84 and 89 in this year's national draft, with its third selection looming as the most likely to be exchanged for GWS forward Jon Patton.
Former Crow Lever has only played 19 games in the past two years since crossing to the Demons, while May managed eight matches in his first year at the club.
Former GWS player Frost featured in 22 games in 2019, averaging 13.5 disposals and four marks.
Last year's preliminary finalist had the second-worst defence in the league this year as it slumped to 17th on the ladder, conceding an average of 90.7 points per game.
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The Cats have released a brief statement:
"Tim Kelly has asked that the club trade him to Western Australia, with his preference being to play with the West Coast Eagles.
"Tim is out of contract but is not a free agent.
"The club will explore all options in regard to Tim’s request."
In more Geelong news, the Cats have appointed Richmond premiership player and former Blue Shaun Grigg as a development coach.
Can he solve the Cats' ruck problems?
– Jon Ralph
Tim Kelly has officially requested a trade to West Coast.
As the Herald Sun reported in early September, Kelly has put family ahead of his premiership ambitions at the Cats.
Now it's over to the Eagles to come up with a deal to satisfy Geelong for the star onballer who finished fifth in the Brownlow Medal.
– Jon Ralph
Tim Kelly has officially requested a trade to West Coast.
As the Herald Sun reported in early September, Kelly has put family ahead of his premiership ambitions at the Cats.
Now it's over to the Eagles to come up with a deal to satisfy Geelong for the star onballer who finished fifth in the Brownlow Medal.
– Jon Ralph
Essendon livewire Orazio Fantasia is expected to request a trade to a South Australian club after cashing in on a Bombers deal in which he was paid a significant chunk of his wage up front.
Fantasia believes he can secure a trade to his home town of Adelaide, with Port Adelaide in front of the Crows but both clubs interested in his services.
The Herald Sun understands Essendon was happy to put a large slice of the money owed to Fantasia into the early years of his contract in a deal that helped the Bombers’ salary cap needs.
But if he was to ask for a trade — after signing a two-year extension last August — he could secure a bigger wage at Port Adelaide than he would have received in the next two years at Essendon.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
– Jon Ralph
Essendon livewire Orazio Fantasia is expected to request a trade to a South Australian club after cashing in on a Bombers deal in which he was paid a significant chunk of his wage up front.
Fantasia believes he can secure a trade to his home town of Adelaide, with Port Adelaide in front of the Crows but both clubs interested in his services.
The Herald Sun understands Essendon was happy to put a large slice of the money owed to Fantasia into the early years of his contract in a deal that helped the Bombers’ salary cap needs.
But if he was to ask for a trade — after signing a two-year extension last August — he could secure a bigger wage at Port Adelaide than he would have received in the next two years at Essendon.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
Richmond dual premiership wingman Brandon Ellis has confirmed he will leave the Tigers as a free agent.
As the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph reported this morning, Ellis met his manager today to finalise the five-year deal that will send him from the premier to the bottom-placed Gold Coast.
Richmond has the option of matching the deal but won't try to compete with the Suns' $3 million offer.
Ellis played 176 games over eight seasons at Richmond after being recruited with pick 15 in the 2011 national draft.
“Brandon has been an outstanding contributor to our team and our club for a long period of time, and we respect his rights as a free agent,” Richmond list manager Blair Hartley.
“Brandon and the club have been in constant communication throughout the season, and we would like to acknowledge the way he has conducted himself throughout the year.
“As always, Brandon has put the team first, and he is now a dual premiership player for Richmond.
“The club will work through the process with Brandon and his management when the free agency period begins on Friday.”
Richmond dual premiership wingman Brandon Ellis has confirmed he will leave the Tigers as a free agent.
As the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph reported this morning, Ellis met his manager today to finalise the five-year deal that will send him from the premier to the bottom-placed Gold Coast.
Richmond has the option of matching the deal but won't try to compete with the Suns' $3 million offer.
Ellis played 176 games over eight seasons at Richmond after being recruited with pick 15 in the 2011 national draft.
“Brandon has been an outstanding contributor to our team and our club for a long period of time, and we respect his rights as a free agent,” Richmond list manager Blair Hartley.
“Brandon and the club have been in constant communication throughout the season, and we would like to acknowledge the way he has conducted himself throughout the year.
“As always, Brandon has put the team first, and he is now a dual premiership player for Richmond.
“The club will work through the process with Brandon and his management when the free agency period begins on Friday.”
The Western Bulldogs played seasons without a recognised key forward but they will start three of them in Round 1, 2020.
The Dogs have offered Josh Bruce a lucrative deal to leave St Kilda with a plan to start him inside 50 alongside Josh Schache and Aaron Naughton.
But that might spell trouble for one of the Dogs' most reliable goalkickers.
Bruce played as a defender early in his career and Naughton was drafted as a backman, but Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains says coach Luke Beveridge has a clear plan for the three talls.
"He's specifically being recruited as a forward," Bains said on SEN.
"Obviously, selection decisions are more for Bevo and the coaching staff, but I know there is a want to play him alongside Aaron and Josh as well.
"With Josh (Bruce) able to play a deeper anchor forward role it frees Josh Schache to play up the ground a bit more. He's got a natural tank, he's quite a smart forward particularly with his leading patterns, so the prospect of all three playing together … is very much on the cards."
Bains responded to comments from St Kilda coach Brett Ratten this morning that Bruce was still a required player at the Saints.
"With any contracted player clearly a club's got to agree to release them and that's certainly the case with Josh, but Josh does want to come and play at the Bulldogs so Sam Power and our list management team will continue our discussions with the Saints on what that looks like.
"Being a contracted player we have to satisfy St Kilda."
Tory Dickson, who kicked 24 goals in 17 games this year, is yet to be offered a contract for next season after turning 32 two days before the Grand Final.
"As is unfortunately the way at this time of year, clubs just need to be patient as they make some of these decisions and that means some of the players have to wait as well."
The Israel Folau experiment wasn't exactly a raving success but GWS could be about to poach another code-hopping star.
Cooper Cronk, who will end his rugby league career after leading the Sydney Roosters into Saturday night's NRL grand final against Canberra, has offers on the table from the Roosters and former club Melbourne Storm for key off-field roles next year.
But The Australian reports the Giants are also making a pitch to lure the rugby champ to western Sydney.
St Kilda players raved this year about the impact of former Storm superstar Billy Slater who was recruited to help improve the Saints' leadership and culture.
Could Cronk do the same for the beaten Grand Finalist?
