AFL trades: North Melbourne wins out for Dockers tall Griffin Logue
Fremantle have told Rory Lobb that he won’t be traded to the Western Bulldogs, but could Griffin Logue play hardball with the Dockers to help his mate?
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North Melbourne has held off Richmond’s strong interest to win a commitment from Griffin Logue, who wants to become a Kangaroo.
Logue requested a trade in his exit meeting on Thursday despite teammates trying at the weekend to convince him to stay, with North Melbourne understood to be his choice.
Logue requested a trade to North in his exit meeting on Thursday despite teammates trying at the weekend to convince him to stay.
He found himself out of the Dockers’ senior side on occasion this year – given the club’s defensive depth – then was used as a forward for much of the second half, but has played his best football down back.
Logue is an ideal fit for new coach Alastair Clarkson’s Roos, who desperately needed more support for Ben McKay, an intercept specialist also tasked with minding the best opposition forward.
The trade request to the Kangaroos gives Logue’s management firm, Corporate Sports Australia, significant leverage in talks with Fremantle.
Fellow Corporate Sports Australia client Rory Lobb has already asked for a move to the Western Bulldogs but at this stage the Dockers have told him they plan to hold him to his contract.
Fremantle football boss Peter Bell confirmed the Herald Sun’s report that Logue wanted a trade but said the club would hold Lobb to his deal for next year.
He said the Dockers were prepared to consider a trade for flanker Darcy Tucker, contracted to 2023, if it was “mutually beneficial” to both parties.
Tucker is also considering a move to North Melbourne.
“(Logue) informed us he would be looking to seek other opportunities,” Bell said.
“He said he had only just come to that decision in the past 24 hours ago. He mentioned it was the toughest decision he had made in his life. He loves the club and loves his teammates.
“But he sees opportunities elsewhere. We will look to work with the club he would like to move to in the upcoming trade period.
“Blake (Acres) also indicated he would be seeking a trade during the trade period. He has enjoyed his time here but sees his future elsewhere. Rory indicated he is seeking a trade. We informed him due to his contracted status and the importance he has for our structure we wouldn’t be able to facilitate a trade for Rory.”
Fremantle made clear it would only trade key forward Lobb if Logue stayed, given both have played a key role in the club’s finals campaign in attack.
The threat of Logue going to the Roos in the pre-season draft for no compensation will hang over the trade.
That means the Dockers will likely have to play ball on Logue and Lobb to secure maximum compensation, which they could then pass on to Melbourne for Luke Jackson.
Lobb was told last year when his trade request to GWS fell over that if he played in 2022 and had a strong year it would enhance his value and a deal would be brokered.
The Dogs could offer their current second-round pick in the late 20s for Lobb, or their second-round selection next year.
Logue’s value lies in his versatility but also excellent stopping ability and elite speed to play on athletic forwards like Charlie Curnow.
He had 17 intercept possessions playing as a key back in round 9 against Gold Coast, then the following week was thrown forward against Collingwood and kicked two valuable goals.
The Tigers have already convinced Giants midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper to request a trade to Punt Road on respective seven-year deals.
It would have been a huge task for Richmond list boss Blair Hartley to add Logue on top of that duo, with only picks 12, 19 and 30 as major currency this year and the ability to offer a future first-round selection.
North Melbourne holds the first pick in the pre-season draft, so attempting to snare Logue that way was not an option for the Tigers, but they were in the race for a long way.
They are thrilled with the progress of young swingman Noah Balta and first-year top-10 pick Josh Gibcus, so still have significant building blocks for the future.
Pies set to land next Will Brodie
— Jon Ralph
Gold Coast’s pitch to lure utility Ben Long north is a four-year deal that will see him display his renowned physicality as a rebounding defender.
It comes with the Suns prepare to trade midfielder Brayden Fiorini to Collingwood and are actively exploring options that could see them shedding salary cap space to retain their band of elite youngsters.
The Suns are desperate to retain cap space to keep their list together, with homesick wingman Jeremy Sharp a strong chance to get back to a WA-based club.
The Herald Sun revealed on Wednesday that Long had chosen Gold Coast as his preferred home, having been played all over the ground at St Kilda but recently as a pressuring half forward.
Gold Coast is in desperate need of tough half-backs with Lachie Weller, Wil Powell and Connor Budarick all recovering from ACL tears and Oleg Markov and Rory Atkins do not have the requisite physicality.
Long’s four-year deal is something of a risk given the 25-year-old hasn’t been able to establish himself as a regular game-altering contributor despite playing 19 games this year.
He has never averaged more than 12 possessions or 69 ranking points in a given season but is being recruited to fulfil a specific need.
The Suns believe he has real upside at only 25, while Jason Johannisen was asking for a three-year deal at Gold Coast and at 30 might have played his best football.
The Dogs are understood to have offered Johannisen a two-season contract, so it is now unlikely but not impossible he will still move to the Suns.
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew lauded Fiorini’s impeccable character this week but he has fallen out of selection favour and is due as much as $600,000 next year on a back-ended deal.
The Suns are open to the kind of trades that saw them moving on Will Brodie’s $600,000 contract this year in a deal that saw him move to Fremantle in a pick swap that saw the Suns handing over extra picks.
The Suns secured the Dockers’ future second and fourth-round picks and gave up pick 19, 61 and 69, with that future pick now slotted in at pick 31.
So, in effect, the Suns went down the draft order 12 slots while giving up a player who has emerged as a quality midfielder, but is is the price they will pay to retain the likes of Ben King, Jack Lukosius, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson for the long-term future.
The Dockers turned Brodie’s $600,000 deal into a two-year $300,000 contract.
It means there is a chance the Pies could absorb Fiorini’s salary and spread it over two seasons and have to give up little to nothing for a player taken with pick 20 in the 2015 national draft.
Sharp was asked to play as a defensive midfielder and was even trialled at half-back in the VFL at times this year with limited success.
Fremantle is at the head of the queue and while he could move there, the Dockers have plenty on their plate from a trade perspective.
Their challenge will be securing a worthy draft selection to trade for Sharp rather than convincing him to move home or the Suns to release him despite a contract for 2023.
Collingwood’s Ollie Henry has strong interest from Geelong, who are desperate to secure his services as a quality third marking tall.
But he has not yet asked for a trade and has told his management he wants to finish his season before considering the rival interest from clubs including the Cats.
The Pies are certain to land GWS running half forward Bobby Hill and, despite some interest from St Kilda, Billy Frampton is expected to move from Adelaide to Collingwood.
Collingwood is still a chance to retain Henry, but Geelong is very keen to secure a player who would complement their current forward line of Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, Tyson Stengle, Brad Close and Gryan Miers.
It remains to be seen how the Cats could land both former pick 17 Henry and former pick 12 Tanner Bruhn, who has officially asked to be traded to Geelong.
The Cats’ first and second round picks could land as late as 18 and 36, and while they have Carlton’s third-round selections, Geelong players might have to be involved to land both of those deals.
Why Bulldogs are trading for Rory Lobb
– Jay Clark
The Western Bulldogs want to combine Rory Lobb, Aaron Naughton and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in attack next season as part of plans to rejoin the premiership contenders.
Lobb, 29, is determined to land at the kennel in next month’s trade period after productive conversations with Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge.
The ruck-forward remains contracted at Fremantle for one more season but is eager to continue his AFL career at a third club in 2023.
The Dogs will have to pull-off a trade deal with the Dockers to secure Lobb and could offer a future second-round draft pick to begin talks with Fremantle.
Lobb would provide another dynamic marking target in the forward half next year to star centre half forward Naughton and No. 1 pick Ugle-Hagan.
Sam Darcy could be switched back into defence alongside former Blue Liam Jones who will slot into a full-back role.
The Bulldogs are determined to stiffen their defensive operations for next season after bowing out in the elimination final on the back of a Grand Final last year.
Lobb bolsters their goal scoring power and helps lighten the load on Naughton who carried a huge responsibility in the forward half this year.
Fremantle has indicated it does not want to lose both talls Rory Lobb and Griffin Logue in this year’s exchange period.
However Lobb was hopeful of making a move this year after failing to secure a trade out of Fremantle last year when Greater Western Sydney showed some interest.
Lobb was under the impression the club would entertain a trade deal this year if he delivered for the team on the field this season.
Fremantle needs to be able to afford a blockbuster deal for Luke Jackson from Melbourne on a long-term contract worth more than $800,000 a season.
The Dockers are also dealing with the potential exits of Darcy Tucker, Blake Acres, Lloyd Meek and Logue.
Make me a Sun: Saints hard nut wants out
— Jon Ralph and Jay Clark
Gold Coast looks set to land St Kilda utility Ben Long to bolster its finals quest next season.
Long has told the Suns he wants to play for them next season and will pursue a trade from St Kilda in next month’s exchange period.
Long, 25, is out of contract this year after playing 19 games for the Saints as a hardworking forward.
He averaged 12 disposals and kicked eight goals for the year.
North Melbourne has also been linked to Long but his finals prospects are brighter at the Suns next season where the club will strongly target its first finals appearance.
Saints list manager James Gallagher confirmed Long’s trade request on Wednesday morning.
“Ben has had a contract offer from the club for a number of months now, so we’re naturally disappointed to receive this news, particularly as we believe Ben has a lot of good football in front of him,” Gallagher said.
“While the option to stay at the Saints remains, and we would be disappointed to see Ben go, we will work with the Suns to see if an appropriate trade can be reached.”
Gold Coast is also eyeing Western Bulldogs’ defender Jason Johannisen.
The Suns will begin talks with St Kilda on a suitable deal for Long.
The deal could be sealed for a mid-round or late pick.
Long did not finish inside the top-10 of the best and fairest and has been unable to secure a contract extension at St Kilda this year.
Cats out to snare double trade steal
Geelong has ambitious plans to continue improving its stellar list with Tanner Bruhn making clear he wants to be traded to the Cats as they chase Collingwood’s mid-sized forward Ollie Henry.
The Cats are only early in their trade preparations, but having missed out on GWS midfielder Jacob Hopper have intensified their interest in 2020s No. 12 draft pick Bruhn.
Bruhn played 17 games in his second year for the Giants but given he has shown strong signs of development GWS is unlikely to let him go for a pick much later than a first-rounder.
Collingwood has yet to come to terms with No. 17 draft pick Ollie Henry as it becomes apparent he might struggle for opportunities with free agent Dan McStay arriving and GWS forward Bobby Hill set to nominate the Pies this week.
Henry has kicked 21 goals this year in his 13 games (plus two as an unused medisub) and is a dangerous mid-sized marking target.
The brother of Geelong swingman Jack Henry would also require a solid draft haul to land him, given he has shown so much potential in two years at the Pies.
He wants to finish his season at Collingwood before assessing his options.
Brisbane and Geelong continue to play down their own chances of securing Irish ex-Dons defender Conor McKenna, but he is likely to choose one of those two clubs and would be an unrestricted free agent.
The Cats will re-sign Isaac Smith, Zach Tuohy, Tom Hawkins and Zach Guthrie but are yet to make a decision on Shaun Higgins and Luke Dahlhaus.
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