‘I’m not coming back’: AFL trade drama explodes

A Geelong star has reportedly turned on his own club in a heated phone call as he forced his way out after a bitter trade crisis.

Jordan Clark of the Cats. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

An explosive phone call has seemingly done the trick as Geelong’s Jordan Clark forced his way to Fremantle.

Clark has been traded along with a fourth round pick to the Dockers while the Cats get pick 22 and a future third rounder.

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The drawn out drama reach a boiling point earlier today when it was reported that Clark let the Cats know his frustrations in a heated phone conversation.

Clark last year also attempted to force a trade through with Geelong, but is again being held to his contract.

SEN’s Sam Edmund said on Wednesday Clark recently had a “heated phone conversation” with Cats recruitment boss Stephen Wells.

Jordan Clark in full flight. Pic: Michael Klein

“Things are reaching boiling point between Geelong and Fremantle over a deal for the half-back, winger that is desperately wanting to get to Fremantle,” Edmund told SEN Mornings.

“I can tell you in the last few days Jordan Clark and the list manager at Geelong Stephen Wells had a heated phone conversation where Jordan Clark told Stephen Wells in no uncertain terms, ‘I want this deal done’. Words to the effect of, ‘I’m not coming back. I’m desperate to get to Fremantle. Please make this happen’.

“To which Wells responded, again, with words to the effect of, ‘If we can find a deal suitable for both parties, we’ll orchestrate a trade. If we can’t, then you are contracted here, and you will be coming back to Geelong’.

“I’m told that shortly thereafter Jordan Clark hung up on Stephen Wells.

Edmund said it is an “awful” situation for Clark, given he may have to return to Geelong for pre-season training with relationships strained with some sections of the club.

Fremantle is reportedly refusing to hand over the No. 19 draft pick the Cats want in exchange for letting Clark break his contract one season early. Fremantle reportedly has a four-year contract on the table for Clark, but isn’t budging on the reported offer of pick No. 22.

Clark struggled to break into the Cats’ side in 2021, but was a first round draft pick in 2018.

The report indicates Clark hung up on Wells when told the club will only trade him if an attractive offer is made.

Every confirmed deal since start of trade period on October 4

— Collingwood gains picks 22, 46, 58, 79 and a future fourth-round pick in a trade. Gold Coast gains the Magpies’ future second, third and fourth-round picks.

— Collingwood gains Nathan Kreuger and pick 55 in a trade. Geelong gains pick 41.

— Port Adelaide gains Jeremy Finlayson in a trade. GWS gains the Power’s future third-round pick.

— Melbourne signs Luke Dunstan as an unrestricted free agent from St Kilda. St Kilda receives no compensation.

— In a four-team trade, Melbourne gains picks 17, 37 and 49, Adelaide gains the Demons’ future first-round pick plus 33 and 75, St Kilda gains 62, 66 and the Crows’ future fourth-round pick, the Western Bulldogs gain 23, 44 and 45.

— Collingwood gains Pick 27 and a future third-round pick. Fremantle gains Pick 22.

— Fremantle gains Will Brodie, Picks 19, 61 and 69 in a trade. Gold Coast gains a future second-round pick and future fourth-round pick.

— Carlton gains Adam Cerra in a trade. Fremantle gains Pick 6 and a future third-round pick.

— Western Bulldogs sign Tim O’Brien as an unrestricted free agent from Hawthorn.

— In a three-team trade, West Coast Eagles gain Sam Petrevski-Seton, Carlton gains Lewis Young, Western Bulldogs gain Pick 52.

— North Melbourne gains Callum Coleman-Jones, Picks 42 and 47 and a future fourth-round pick in a trade. Richmond gains Robbie Tarrant, Pick 40 and a future second-round pick.

— Collingwood gains Patrick Lipinski. Western Bulldogs gain No. 43 draft pick.

— Adelaide gains Jordan Dawson. Sydney gain a future first round pick tied to the Demons’ ladder position in 2022.

— Brisbane gains Darcy Fort and pick 41. Geelong gains pick 50 and Brisbane’s future third-rounder.

— Geelong gains Jonathan Ceglar and a future fourth rounder. Hawthorn gains the future third rounder it just traded for in the Darcy Fort trade from Brisbane.

— Fremantle gains Jordan Clark and a future fourth round pick. Geelong gains pick 22 and a future third round pick.

— Hawthorn gains Max Lynch and a future round three pick tied to Fremantle and a future round four pick tied to the Suns. Collingwood get a future round three pick tied to Brisbane and the Pies’ future round three.

— Sydney gains Peter Ladhams and pick 16. Port Adelaide gains pick 12 and a future third-round pick.

— reported with foxsports.com.au

Originally published as ‘I’m not coming back’: AFL trade drama explodes