AFL world blows up as Cats pull off daylight robbery to land Jack Bowes

Football fans have been left seeing red after the AFL’s reigning premiers pulled off a broad daylight heist to land a young star.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies celebrates a goal with teammates during the 2022 AFL Round 06 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

With just two days left of the AFL trade period there are still several major deals that need to be done.

Several big name stars are still holding out hope of joining new clubs as teams engage and work out the best deals to get trades done.

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On Monday, Melbourne ruckman Luke Jackson signed a seven-year deal with Fremantle worth up to $900,000 per season.

The go-home factor also played a part in North Melbourne youngster Jason Horne-Francis joining Port Adelaide on a lengthy contract as part of a four-way mega deal.

Horne-Francis has signed a six-year deal with Port Adelaide, tying him to the club until the end of 2028.

Tigers add another Giant

Richmond have added the second Giant to their midfield.

After securing Tim Taranto in the opening stages of the trade period, Richmond have secured a deal with the Giants to add Jacob Hopper to the mix.

The Giants will get a future first-round pick along with pick 31 from Richmond, the Tigers get Hopper along with late picks in the draft.

‘Most lopsided trade of all time’

Geelong have pulled off daylight robbery at the trade table after securing Gold Coast Suns star and former top 10 draft pick Jack Bowes along with the seventh pick in the draft.

In return, the 2022 AFL premiers had to part with a future third round pick.

That’s correct, a future third round draft pick to land a former top 10 pick and the seventh pick in the upcoming draft.

The Cats take on Bowes’ salary, owed $1.6m over the next two years. The Suns have been keen to get their salary cap in order, but the one-sided nature of the deal left footy fans across the country seething.

AAP’s Oliver Caffrey labelled it: “Unquestionably one of the most lopsided trades of all-time”.

Geelong Advertiser’s Matt Forrest said: “Jack Bowes and pick 7 for a future third round selection seems so wrong, especially with Geelong extending the contract and minimising any impact of a salary dump”.

Triple M’s Rudi Edsall said: “This is the most lopsided trade in the history of commerce.”

When you take control of another team on your career mode during a transfer period https://t.co/ju8k4ZsDyz

— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) October 11, 2022

GC Suns football department be like https://t.co/xmfYP3DAr1pic.twitter.com/OAQKibPeAj

— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) October 11, 2022

And that gets the all clear? 😂 https://t.co/mHwvoK5OfA

— Darren Parkin (@Darren_Parkin) October 11, 2022

Star Pie next trade domino to fall

Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy has been traded to Melbourne for pick 27.

There had been a stalemate after the Magpies initially rejected Melbourne’s offer of pick 27, and the Demons rejected Collingwood’s proposal of picks 13 and 27 in exchange for Grundy and pick 16.

The breakthrough likely means Melbourne will foot the bill for a significant amount of Grundy’s big-money contract.

The 28-year-old still had five more years left on a deal at Collingwood worth more than $4.5 million.

It’s a huge breakthrough for the Demons, who now have the challenge of fitting Grundy and premiership ruckmen Max Gawn, both All Australians, into the same line-up.

Grundy played only six games this season because of a knee injury and stress fracture in his ankle. He played 177 games for Collingwood and is a two-time club best and fairest and All Australian.

Brodie Grundy has been traded to the Demons. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The trade now opens the door for gun Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell and Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini to join Collingwood.

Adelaide ruckman Billy Frampton has also been traded to Collingwoof for a future third round pick.

‘Ridiculous’ Horne-Francis deal slammed

The length of Jason Horne-Francis’ new contract with Port Adelaide has raised eyebrows.

Fremantle Dockers great Paul Hasleby couldn’t believe the Power signed Horne-Francis to a six-year deal considering his issues at the Kangaroos during his first season.

“That’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous,” Hasleby said SEN.

“He had one year, a troubled year, and now you’re giving him a six-year deal? Hopefully the homesickness thing sort of works itself out because he is going home to family in South Australia, but he was challenged on a number of fronts by teammates and coaches and he spat the (dummy) on occasion.

“You don’t want to be giving six years to a player like that. You want to be confident that he is 100 per cent going to see out that six-year deal.”

Port Adelaide 300-gamer Kane Cornes told AFL Trade Radio: “I detest long term contracts. They rarely work for clubs.

“I can see why they have done this one. One year is part of his 2nd year of his rookie contract. So it is essentially a 5 year deal. He is 19, he will be 25 when this contract ends.”

Last year’s No. 1 draft pick and West Coast’s Junior Rioli will go to the Power while the GWS Giants claim pick No. 1 in the upcoming draft.

It also gives West Coast a strong draft hand.

Jason Horne-Francis has left North Melbourne after one seas (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Horne-Francis has signed a six-year deal with the Power.

The full details of the four-way trade are below:

— North Melbourne GETS picks 2, 3, 40, 43, Port’s future first and GIVES Jason Horne-Francis, pick 1 and Freo’s future third

— Port Adelaide GETS Jason Horne-Francis, Junior Rioli, Collingwood’s future second and Fremantle’s future third and GIVES picks 8, 43, 57, future first, future second and future third

— West Coast GETS picks 8, 12, Port’s future second and future third and GIVES Junior Rioli picks 2 and 40

— GWS Giants GET picks 1, 53 and 57 and GIVE picks 3, 12 and Collingwood’s future second

AFL premiership star’s defection confirmed

Three-time premiership player Jack Gunston has been traded to the Brisbane Lions.

On Tuesday morning, Hawthorn traded the key forward to the Lions in exchange for a round three selection (Pick 48) and a future round four selection.

Hawthorn now holds picks 6, 24, 48, 52 and 65 in the upcoming draft.

“Knowing that Jack wanted to head to Brisbane, we worked with the Lions to secure a suitable trade for our club, and we’re excited to take a strong hand into this year’s draft to continue to add to our group,” Hawthorn National List and Recruiting Manager Mark McKenzie said.

“I would like to thank Jack for his contribution to the Hawks over the past 11 seasons, he has been an incredible servant for our club.

“We wish him all the best for the future.”

Gunston played 211 games and scored 410 goals for the Hawks, finishing as the club’s leading goal-kicker in 2015, 2016 and 2020.

The All-Australian, who managed one appearance in 2021 due to a back injury, will join Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood in the Brisbane forward line.

Jack Gunston of the Hawks. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Other trades still to be done

Elsewhere, Josh Dunkley’s move to Brisbane is at a stalemate and could well go down to the wire when trade period ends on Wednesday night.

The Western Bulldogs want two picks inside the top 20 from the Lions in exchange for Dunkley after the GWS Giants received similar compensation from Richmond for Tim Taranto.

Deals for Ollie Henry to Geelong, Esava Ratugolea to Port Adelaide and Jacob Hopper to Richmond still need to be done.

Fremantle ruckman Lloyd Meek is also expected to get to Hawthorn.

Josh Dunkley of the Bulldogs celebrates kicking a goal during the round 21 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Fremantle Dockers at Marvel Stadium.

Originally published as AFL world blows up as Cats pull off daylight robbery to land Jack Bowes