Trade scene-setter: Dees’ Grundy solution, how Port pulls of trade bonanza

The silly season is almost here and there are plenty of questions to be answered at the Hawks, but where do they turn after missing out plenty of times? Jon Ralph previews the trade period.

Trade and free agency is nearly upon us. Jon Ralph looks at the key questions ahead of one of the most frantic periods in the AFL off-season.

WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE TRADE PERIOD?

Sydney bringing in a ruckman of Brodie Grundy’s calibre to actually play ruck – not forward in the VFL – shapes as the most meaningful improvement a club will make through the free agency and trade period.

Especially given Collingwood will still be on the hook for $250,000 of his wage and they only might only give up one of their second rounders – currently at pick 22 and 30.

They could turn it into a triumph by securing interceptor Tom Doedee, but with Brisbane and Collingwood in the hunt his destination remains unknown.

Brodie Grundy will be the trade period’s biggest prize it seems. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

ARE THERE ANY BLOCKBUSTER TRADES ABOUT TO SNEAK UP ON US?

Maybe, but the four names who would enliven trade period are Dustin Martin, Tarryn Thomas, Bailey Smith and Sean Darcy.

And as we speak Smith is pledging he will stay, Thomas has looked around and told the Roos he will honour his contract and Martin is staying put too.

Geelong wants Fremantle pre-agent Darcy but would prefer to wait a year until he actually hits free agency rather than give up what would need to be their pick 7 selection and another later pick.

The Cats have continually shown an interest in Sean Darcy. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

WHICH TRADE WILL GO DOWN TO THE WIRE?

Esava Ratugolea.

Geelong is upset about him being poached, even though they had a dozen players on their list who had started their careers elsewhere this year.

They believe he’s worth a future first — and the market tells them he just might be.

Port Adelaide are scoffing at that request.

It should get done despite Geelong’s threats to trade him elsewhere, but it might take the entire trade period.

Ratugolea has requested a move to Port Adelaide. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

WHO NEEDS TO GET BUSY?

Hawthorn has missed out on trade targets Liam Henry, Esava Ratugolea and Ben McKay and will lose Jacob Koschitkze (Richmond) and Tyler Brockman (West Coast).

They didn’t score more than 80 points in rounds 1-6 (and won only one game) without key forward Mitch Lewis and gave up 101, 112 and 85 points in the three losses when James Sicily was suspended from rounds 15-17.

Consider their issues if either Lewis or Sicily went down long-term next year?

So while they are adamant they will be careful and considered, they must find help for Sicily and a foil for Lewis with Koschitkze almost certainly gone.

Time for Sam Mitchell to get on the phone to rival coaches as he did in his first season and pull a rabbit out of the hat.

What will Sam Mitchell and the Hawks do? (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

WHO IS THE BRODIE GRUNDY REPLACEMENT?

Melbourne has to get cracking given they have gone from Luke Jackson as Max Gawn’s back-up to Brodie Grundy to uncapped 19-year-old Will Verrall.

List boss Tim Lamb will clearly have a list of names but the list of actual available forwards who can play ruck is short to non-existent.

What would the Demons give for a Tom De Koning or even Darcy Fort type who can split time between ruck and midfield?

Still can’t understand why Nick Bryan signed at Essendon as Sam Draper’s back-up only for the Dons to add Todd Goldstein, pushing him further down the ruck pecking order.

Who will the Dees get to help Max Gawn? (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

WHY WILL IT BE A QUIET TRADE PERIOD?

List spots are at a premium because clubs are keeping on their 30-plus year olds, have two less spots anyway post-Covid and save for the Roos and West Coast have less list cloggers to purge.

So Richmond will sign Jacob Koschitzke (and might trade Ivan Soldo to the Power) but do little else, Carlton will hope to add Elijah Hollands but back its list and GWS will hope to add Elliott Himmelberg but nothing else.

Jacob Koschitzke has asked for a move to the Tigers. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

WHO HAS THE MOST TO DO?

Port Adelaide needs to orchestrate trades for Ratugolea, Jordon Sweet, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and potentially Ivan Soldo.

Their draft hand is currently pick 37, 43 and 70.

List boss Jason Cripps and footy boss Chris Davies brilliantly orchestrated the Jason Horne Francis and Willie Rioli deals last year but this time apart from back-up Tom Clurey they have little trade collateral.

Xavier Duursma is seen to be off limits so how do they get it done without compromising their 2024 draft hand?

Originally published as Trade scene-setter: Dees’ Grundy solution, how Port pulls of trade bonanza