AFL Trades 2022: Follow all the moves on day one of the exchange period

Tim Taranto is officially a Tiger – but what does the deal mean for Jacob Hopper? Plus, Bobby Hill and all the news from a huge first day of the AFL Trade Period.

Jack Bowes of the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Richmond will turn its attention to brokering a deal for Jacob Hopper after securing his ex-GWS teammate Tim Taranto on the opening day of the trade period.

The Tigers and Giants agreed to complete the trades separately, given Hopper being contracted until next year complicates the matter.

Richmond presented seven-year offers to both midfielders that blew other suitors away.

Taranto, 24, cost Richmond two top-20 picks – currently 12 and 19 – leaving the Tigers’ highest remaining selection this year at No.30 but still with a future first-round pick up their sleeve.

That modest draft hand means Richmond may need to sweeten its offer for Hopper with a player, with Canberra-raised ruckman Ivan Soldo one potential option.

Taranto was the No.2 pick in the 2016 draft and was Greater Western Sydney’s club champion in his third season but has split his time between the forward line and midfield rather than being a full-time on-baller.

The Sandringham Dragons product is likely to see a significant spike in centre-bounce opportunities at the Tigers, who were keen to add youth and quality to their midfield group.

Tim Taranto has officially joined the Tigers. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos

Taranto averaged 23 disposals, five tackles and four clearances and kicked 48 goals in 114 games as a Giant.

Richmond’s general manager of football talent, Blair Hartley, was thrilled to secure Taranto’s signature.

“Tim is a player we admire because of his obvious on-field ability and also his work rate, high standards and leadership traits,” Hartley said.

“At only 24 years of age, Tim has a lot of very good football ahead of him, and we are delighted that he will have the opportunity to do that in yellow and black.

“We think Tim will be a very popular player among his new teammates, coaches, staff and, of course, our supporter base.”

Taranto said he was “so excited” to join the Tigers.

“I can’t wait to run out in the Yellow and Black next year in front of all the fans,” he said.

“I honestly can’t wait to run out in the Yellow and Black.”

💬 @tim_taranto14’s message for the Tiger Army. pic.twitter.com/AbGSfyRXui

— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) October 3, 2022

The Tigers’ on-ball rotation promises to be very different in 2023, especially if they can complete a trade for Hopper.

Dion Prestia, Shai Bolton, Trent Cotchin, Jack Graham, Jack Ross, Jayden Short and even Liam Baker on occasion went through the middle this year.

Richmond convinced Graham to stay at the club after he briefly considered a move to Port Adelaide.

Fringe Demons forward Toby Bedford requested a trade to GWS at the weekend but the Giants are so far not linked to any other players after missing out on Brodie Grundy.

They also traded Bobby Hill to Collingwood for what amounted to a future second-round pick and are also set to do a deal with Geelong to send Tanner Bruhn to the Cats.

DONE DEAL: BOBBY HILL BECOMES A PIE

Goalsneak Bobby Hill has been traded from GWS to Collingwood in the first deal of the 2022 trade period.

Hill was traded for a future second-round draft pick, while the Pies also received pick 40 in this year’s draft and sent pick 43 to GWS.

Hill kicked 34 goals in 41 games for the Giants. He is the first of Collingwood’s four trade targets to sign on, with the Pies also hoping to land Dan McStay from Brisbane, Billy Frampton from Adelaide and Brayden Fiorini from Gold Coast.

“Those who know me understand that Collingwood is the right place for me to take my career,” Hill said on Monday.

“There is a special dynamic with this group, and I am really looking forward to meeting the boys and being guided by Craig (McRae) and his coaching side.”

Bobby Hill has joined the Magpies. Picture: Collingwood FC

Pies football boss Graham Wright said while Hill had played as a small forward in his AFL career so far, he had the potential to play other roles.

“We identified a need in our group and Bobby compliments what we already have in the forward/mid area of the ground,” Wright said.

“I am confident Bobby will add great value to our squad. We are really pleased to welcome him and his family to our club.”

Bobby.

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 3, 2022

EAGLES LAND DEES SPEEDSTER

West Coast has wasted little time addressing its need for speed, signing unrestricted Melbourne free agent Jayden Hunt.

The defender-wingman played 40 games for the Demons over the past two seasons, and 114 in total after being drafted at pick 57 in 2013.

Paperwork was lodged late on Monday and Melbourne will receive a third-round draft selection as compensation for the 27-year-old.

“We’re thrilled that Jayden has opted to join our club as a free agent,” Eagles recruiting boss Rohan O’Brien said.

“We believe he has some attributes that will complement our list and look forward to him joining the boys for the start of pre-season.”

Hunt missed the drought-breaking premiership with an ankle injury, but was a significant contributor during his nine years at Melbourne.

“We are rapt for him that he has the opportunity to continue his career at West Coast and we wish him all the best in the next chapter,” Dees list manager Tim Lamb said after the deal was done.

“Jayden has been an excellent contributor to our club over a sustained period.”

Welcome to the West, Jayden!

Details: https://t.co/fqc1dPBeWWpic.twitter.com/xn8KhT5WFY

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) October 3, 2022

WHERE PIES SIT ON MAJOR TARGET CHASE

Collingwood is well progressed on a deal for Brodie Grundy to be traded to Melbourne as the Pies sealed GWS small forward Bobby Hill’s acquisition in the first deal of the annual player meat market.

Collingwood on Monday afternoon traded their future second-round selection to GWS for Hill, with the Pies swapping their No.40 selection for the Giants’ pick 43.

The Pies believe Hill, who beat testicular cancer this year, is capable of pinch-hitting in the midfield as a clever medium forward with pace and quality ball use.

Collingwood finally officially confirmed its interest in Brisbane’s Dan McStay, with talks well advanced for Grundy.

Collingwood will also secure Billy Frampton from Adelaide as a key position defender and seems likely to secure Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini.

Collingwood football boss Graham Wright said on Monday the Pies saw a very specific need for Hill.

“We identified a need in our group and Bobby complements what we already have in the forward-mid area of the ground,” Wright said.

“We feel he has scope to play other positions and is committed to working on his game in all areas to get the most out of his career going forward.

But Wright sounded cool on the prospect of trading for Hawthorn Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell, saying after early talks he expected him to remain at the Hawks.

The Demons and Pies have not only agreed they will move on the Grundy trade they aren’t too far apart on the pick it would take.

“Will he be a Collingwood player? We have had a conversation about moving across to Melbourne and we are a fair way down the track with that so it’s likely,” Wright said.

“We have had conversations for 12 months, it’s more a medium and long term plan.

“Player movement is really difficult from a club perspective. It’s heavily weighted towards the players and it makes it hard without having open and honest conversations with Brodie and we are comfortable with where it sits.

“He has been great. His professionalism through all of this has been fantastic. Those conversations have been had, we met with him last week. He is in a good space.”

Brodie Grundy is set to get to Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

The Pies are open to bringing in another young ruckman but Wright said they had enough coverage in the centre square for next season, not keen on Port Adelaide’s Sam Hayes.

On Mitchell, he said it was less likely that he would find his way to the club.

“He is a Hawthorn player and contracted at Hawthorn. I heard (Hawks list boss) Mark McKenzie’s comments last week. We have had preliminary conversations and it’s not to an extent where we think anything will get done.”

“We had real specific targets around Dan McStay and Bobby Hill and Billy Frampton and pleasingly for us we are hopeful of getting them in and they are specific needs we have got

We need another key defender, a small forward who can go through the midfield and Dan can play a number of positions. He can play forward and go back and pinch hit in the ruck as well.”

RATUGOLEA TO REMAIN A CAT + HENRY UPDATE

Geelong says Esava Ratugolea will remain at the Cats next year despite exploring a trade to Port Adelaide.

Cats list boss Andrew Mackie said Monday morning Ratugolea had agreed to remain at the club given their faith in his ability.

The Cats are the favourite to secure Jack Bowes from Gold Coast with Mackie revealing Gary Ablett had huge wraps on the former top 10 pick.

Geelong and Collingwood have had early discussions on a trade for Pies medium forward Ollie Henry, with the Pies prepared to trade him for the right pick.

But if the Cats secured Bowes from the Suns and their pick 7 in a cap dump from Gold Coast it will hand them valuable collateral to use on GWS midfielder Tanner Bruhn and Henry.

“It is great when guys like Ollie want to get to our club,” Mackie said.

“Getting a trade done has a bit to work through. It’s always hard with guys like that to work out a common value for both clubs. We will continue those chats. We have met with Jack. He is a ripping kid. We feel like he would be a ripping kid for us.”

Esava Ratugolea wants to stay at Geelong. Picture: Michael Klein

LIONS OPEN TO GUNSTON TRADE TO PRESERVE FA PICK

Brisbane is open to a trade for Jack Gunston to preserve its free agency compensation for Dan McStay as the club said Chris Fagan’s indefinite leave had not impacted players wanting to arrive at the club.

The Lions will lose Tom Berry to Gold Coast in the coming days but have had a sensational lead-up to the trade period with Bulldogs Josh Dunkley nominating the club.

Fagan is on a leave of absence but the club is still checking in with him and he can have some influence in guiding the direction of the week, with the AFL not mandating that he have no contact with the club.

Football boss Danny Daly said the club was on track and would have to make some decisions in the next six weeks about the training program if it became apparent the investigation would drag on into December.

But he said both Dunkley and Gunston were keen to follow through on their requests.

“Fages is a major part of our footy club and the culture he had built but one thing about our football club is we pride ourselves on the people we have and the culture,” Daly said.

“With Jack Gunston and Dunkley, there is no dramas with them about still wanting to come so it’s all good from our end and their end.

“It’s only early doors but as a footy club we have spoken about a few what ifs but once we know where the investigation lands and how long it might take we work through what we need to do.

“Everyone has gone on holidays in terms of our players and staff for six weeks so we have a little bit of time to work through what we need to do if Fages isn’t back so that will be a decision made by the board and we will see where it all lands.”

If the Lions could secure a trade with a later pick for Gunston it would allow them to retain their free agency compensation for McStay, who will find his way to the Pies.

Brisbane is open to a trade for Jack Gunston to preserve its free agency compensation. Picture: Getty Images

BLUES OPEN TO MOVING PADDY DOW

Carlton is open to granting Paddy Dow a fresh start after last year’s trade targets Adam Cerra and George Hewett demoted the No.3 draft pick to the VFL.

Dow, 22, remains contracted for 2023 but is exploring his options with the Blues’ blessing.

“Paddy’s contracted. We’ve been pretty open with Paddy and where he’s at and he’s free to explore his options during this period,” list boss Nick Austin said.

“He’s shown the level of footy he’s able to play at VFL level. Obviously our midfield has changed dramatically over the last 12 months, which has starved him of opportunity.

“Paddy’s a professional, he wants to play AFL footy and the opportunities haven’t been there at Carlton.

“Our midfield has changed a lot. Paddy’s an inside midfielder and Paddy’s got some weapons in there that he can use and hopefully he gets an opportunity somewhere else.

“If not we’ll have him back with open arms.”

The Blues have not yet tabled a new deal to Will Setterfield, but Austin said he was a “required player”.

Paddy Dow could be on his way out of Carlton. Picture: Getty Images

MCKAY SIGNS MASSIVE CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH BLUES

Carlton star Harry McKay has signed a massive seven-year contract extension with the Blues.

The 24-year-old put pen to paper on the deal that will keep him at the club until at least the end of 2030.

McKay won the 2021 Coleman Medal and has kicked 103 goals across the past two seasons.

“It is a dream job playing footy but to do it with this group, where a lot of us have grown up together in a way, it makes this a unique and special environment to be part of,” McKay said.

“To come to work every day as part of a group that has a clear vision of where we want to take our football club, that gives you every motivation you need as a player.

“Add to that the support we have from everyone at the club, as well as the most passionate supporter base in the country – to play for the Carlton Football Club really is something special.

“All those reasons make it obvious why I wanted to commit long term, now the focus is putting ourselves in a position at the end of each season to make a real impact.”

McKay’s signature follows Charlie Curnow (six years) and Sam Walsh (four years) who have made long-term commitments at the Blues.

Captain Patrick Cripps signed a six-year extension last year.

Harry McKay has signed a massive contract extension with the Blues. Picture: Getty Images

DETAIL THAT MAKES JACK BOWES TRADE DEAL EVEN SWEETER

Clubs clamouring to secure Gold Coast midfielder Jack Bowes and the Suns’ cherished No.7 pick could spread his $1.6 million salary obligation over four years in a major boost for teams with tight salary caps.

Geelong and Hawthorn head a pack of clubs chasing Bowes that also includes Essendon and North Melbourne. The Roos were expected to make their bid for the former No.10 pick over the weekend.

Gold Coast is prepared to trade Bowes and the No.7 pick to his club of choice, and if he arrived at the Cats he could be the centrepiece of deals that would also secure former first-round picks Tanner Bruhn (GWS) and Ollie Henry (Geelong).

The Cats could split the No.7 draft pick from the Suns to help satisfy the Giants and Pies with trade requests.

But the Herald Sun understands the AFL has made clear the Suns would need to secure a draft pick in return for the Bowes salary dump. That is likely be a future second-round pick.

While the AFL has given clubs greater flexibility over salary dumps, it would only give its stamp of approval to the complex deal if the Suns receive a player or pick in the exchange.

A future second-round pick is the most likely price, but a club’s ability to spread Bowes’ salary across more than two seasons would make the deal even more attractive.

At least four clubs are hoping to land Jack Bowes in a trade with Gold Coast. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Bowes is owed about $800,000 per season for 2023 and 2024 after he was happy to defer money in a five-year contract on a deal that averaged out at much less than that sum per year.

But turning a two-year $1.6 million contract into a four-year, $400,000 deal – likely with incentives to boost his salary – would be much more appealing for all potential suitors.

All parties could win if he was traded to his club of choice, he received the security of a longer-term deal and the No.7 pick that accompanied him allowed his new club to strengthen its list significantly.

St Kilda‘s interest in the Bowes deal cooled when it was revealed his salary obligation to his new club was so large.

Collingwood is likely to secure Gold Coast onballer Brayden Fiorini, pick 20 in the 2015 draft, for a pick shuffle and is expected to spread out his $600,000 salary for 2023 over up to three years.

Meanwhile, Adelaide and Gold Coast are determined to have respectful negotiations on Suns forward Izak Rankine that will involve their No.5 pick and a future third-rounder.

While there will be some haggling, if the Crows clinch an early trade it would allow them to move on to other priorities.

The Suns have been steadfast that they are prepared to accept a second selection much later in the draft, but their absolute priority is securing the No.5 overall selection because they are trading the pick 7 as part of the Bowes cap dump.

Originally published as AFL Trades 2022: Follow all the moves on day one of the exchange period