AFL trade news: Mitch Georgiades signs four-year deal with Power

The Power have locked away one of the most important pieces of their future, giving the club a big boost before they head to Brisbane to take on the Lions.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 19: Ken Hinkley and Scott Lycett of the Power celebrate their win during the 2023 AFL Round 10 match between Yartapuulti/Port Adelaide Power and Narrm/Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval on May 19, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

High-flying forward Mitch Georgiades has rejected rival approaches and re-signed at Port Adelaide on a four-year deal.

Clubs in Victoria and his home state of Western Australia had shown interest in luring Georgiades during the final season of his contract, but he opted to remain at Alberton.

The 21-year-old has been sidelined since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the SANFL in April.

He played the first two games of the season at AFL level, before being dropped in round 3.

Port Adelaide had long been confident of retaining Georgiades, who it drafted with pick 18 in 2019.

Mitch Georgiades has committed to the Power. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He figures to be a significant part of the Power’s attack in 2024 and beyond, as spearhead Charlie Dixon, 32, nears the end of his career and Todd Marshall, 24, and Jeremy Finlayson, 27, enter their prime.

Georgiades has kicked 65 goals from 49 games, playing a career-high 21 during Port’s run to the 2021 preliminary final.

Dixon is set to re-sign with the Power on a one-year deal.

Georgiades follows fellow young gun half-back/wingman Miles Bergman in turning his back on rival clubs and staying at Alberton.

Grundy in, Lycett out? Port big man to join merry-go-round

- Jay Clark, Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane

Port Adelaide’s Scott Lycett could loom large for Melbourne as a ruck replacement for Brodie Grundy in the event the former Collingwood big man departs the Demons.

Lycett, 30, is a free agent and open to offers after falling out of favour at Port Adelaide.

The Power need salary cap room to pull off big moves for Esava Ratugolea, from Geelong, and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher from the Bombers.

But Melbourne won’t be the only club to consider Lycett as Geelong could also inquire as support for Toby Conway and Rhys Stanley and Essendon if Nick Bryan departs.

Geelong strongly considered Lycett in the 2010 draft when the club had pick No. 23 and weighed up Cameron Guthrie and Lycett at that pick.

Lycett looks to be an option for the Dees if Grundy departs. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Cats settled on Guthrie and Lycett ended up going to West Coast at pick 29, before joining Port Adelaide, but he has played only 12 games this season amid some knee trouble.

Lycett, who won a premiership at West Coast in 2018, was subbed out of his last appearance against Collingwood in Round 19 when the big man had only five disposals and 21 hit-outs.

Port won’t need Lycett anymore as Ken Hinkley could have Grundy to lead the ruck as well as Dante Visentini, Brynn Teakle and potentially Sam Mayes, if he stays.

He is out of contract at season’s end could continue his career in a back-up capacity, to support veteran Gawn, Bomber Sam Draper or Cats’ duo Conway and Stanley.

Melbourne has made clear it does not want to trade Grundy but the big man may yet request a trade on the basis the plan to share the ruck duties has been binned.

It has left Grundy languishing in the VFL in the hope of a change-of-mind from coach Simon Goodwin.

Originally published as AFL trade news: Mitch Georgiades signs four-year deal with Power