Mystery behind Demons’ four-club bombshell as Grundy, Adams sent to Sydney

The Demons have made some big moves on day three, making an inspired move up the draft board and moving on a two-time All-Australian.

Harley Reid, Alastair Clarkson and Adam Simpson. Photos: Getty Images

The third day of the AFL trade period has finished in an absolute frenzy of six deals in less than two hours igniting the annual signing spree.

As news dropped on a four-team trade involving, the Demons trading picks 14, 26 and 35 to the Gold Coast for pick 11, before the Suns forwarded on pick 14 and Chris Burgess to the Crows, and pick 18 to North Melbourne for a future first round pick from the Roos’ assistance package from the AFL, the Swans dropped the news they’d signed both Melbourne’s Brodie Grundy (for pick 46 and a 2024 second rounder) and Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams (for pick 33).

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While two of the three trades have been completed in the four-team draft pick trade-a-thon, the Kangaroos also landed Carlton small defender Zac Fisher as well as pick 17, in exchange for picks 21 and 25.

It means the Roos have five of the top 20 picks — 2, 3, 15, 17 and 18 — as the trade was made late in the day.

The Suns have picks 23, 26, 27, 31, 35, 37, 61, 65, 70 and 73, and potentially enough draft points to ensure they can hang on to highly-touted Academy players.

These deals would see Gold Coast end up with picks 23, 26, 27, 31, 35, 37, 61, 65, 70 and 73 this year to match the quartet of Academy bids.

But in 2024 they will also hold their own first-round pick, the Dogs' future first-round pick and North's future pick 20. Huge hand. https://t.co/UCoPhhpfMr

— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) October 11, 2023

But arguably the most interesting thing is the Demons, who now have picks 6 and 11 as they try to potentially have a play at the No. 1 pick and Harley Reid.

Now holding picks 6 (via Fremantle) and 11 (via the Bulldogs, through Gold Coast) along with a future 1st, the Melbourne Demons are expected to enter the conversation with the West Coast Eagles for pick 1@FootyRhino#AFL || #AFLTrade || #DemonSpiritpic.twitter.com/sEeTtrQ7pW

— AFL Trade Hub (@AFLTradeHub) October 11, 2023

While North Melbourne offered picks 15, 18, 21 and an end of first rounder next year, choosing to hold back pick 2 and 3, for West Coasts’ No. 1 pick — which was rejected by the Eagles — it’ll be interesting to see if the Demons can interest the Eagles with their growing bag of picks.

Unless of course they have another draft pick or trade target in mind …

AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey said: “The Demons have been looking to use two picks at the draft so spending the second-rounders to shift up was worth the price. Now clubs expecting Dees to try and push up again using 6, 11 and potentially a future first-rounder. They tried similar for Bailey Humphrey last year.”

Humphrey was drafted at No. 6 last year by the Gold Coast and the 19-year-old settled in well at the Suns, playing 19-games in his debut season.

But it was a huge day for the Swans, who moved on former No. 5 draft pick Dylan Stephens to the Roos, while landing their coveted All-Australian duo of Adams and Grundy.

Pies vice-captain officially a Swan

The Swans have landed another big name with Taylor Adam joining the club.

The move cost the Swans pick 33.

Magpies footy boss Graham Wright paid tribute to Adams.

“Taylor has been an outstanding leader during his time with Collingwood and the professionalism and support he has shown to his teammates despite facing his own injury challenges should be commended,” Wright said.

“We understand Taylor’s aspiration to seek opportunity at another club that will provide him with more opportunity.

“We wish Taylor and his family all the best with his next venture at the Sydney Swans.”

The Swans have had a massive day, trading out Dylan Stephens, but bringing in Brodie Grundy and Adams, adding them to free agents James Jordon and Joel Hamling who signed late last week.

All-Australian moves to Swans

Just under a day since the Demons rejected the Swans’ pick 46 offer for Brodie Grundy, the Demons have relented after Sydney added a 2024 second round pick to the deal.

It sees the two-time All-Australian land in Sydney, his third club in three years after the Demons had “shut down emphatically” the Swans’ first offer.

Grundy was seen as the big trade coup this time last year, after Collingwood offloaded him to free up salary cap space in exchange for pick 27.

Grundy’s desire of a move to Sydney is proving more difficult than first thought. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

But after just one season at Melbourne, where he was dropped and finished out the year in the VFL, Grundy has sought a trade to the Swans to reignite his career.

However, it didn’t take long, or much, for the deal to be done. But judging from the Demons’ other moves on day three, they may have bigger fish to fry.

Demons mystery erupts over four team trade bombshell

The Melbourne Demons are expected to try to enter the conversation for No. 1 Draft pick Harley Reid after moving up to pick 11 in the draft.

The Demons traded picks 14, 26 and 35 to the Gold Coast for pick 11.

The Suns then forwarded on pick 14 and Chris Burgess to the Crows, and pick 18 to North Melbourne for a future first round pick from the Roos’ assistance package from the AFL.

It means the Roos now have six of the top 25 picks — 2, 3, 15, 18, 21 and 25 — while the Suns have 10 picks between 23-73 plus three first round picks in 2024.

Specifically, the Suns have picks 23, 26, 27, 31, 35, 37, 61, 65, 70 and 73, and potentially enough draft points to ensure they can hang on to highly-touted Academy players.

These deals would see Gold Coast end up with picks 23, 26, 27, 31, 35, 37, 61, 65, 70 and 73 this year to match the quartet of Academy bids.

But in 2024 they will also hold their own first-round pick, the Dogs' future first-round pick and North's future pick 20. Huge hand. https://t.co/UCoPhhpfMr

— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) October 11, 2023

But arguably the most interesting thing is the Demons, who now have picks 6 and 11 as they try to potentially have a play at the No. 1 pick and Harley Reid.

Now holding picks 6 (via Fremantle) and 11 (via the Bulldogs, through Gold Coast) along with a future 1st, the Melbourne Demons are expected to enter the conversation with the West Coast Eagles for pick 1@FootyRhino#AFL || #AFLTrade || #DemonSpiritpic.twitter.com/sEeTtrQ7pW

— AFL Trade Hub (@AFLTradeHub) October 11, 2023

While North Melbourne offered picks 15, 18, 21 and an end of first rounder next year, choosing to hold back pick 2 and 3, for West Coasts’ No. 1 pick — which was rejected by the Eagles — it’ll be interesting to see if the Demons can interest the Eagles with their growing bag of picks.

Unless of course they have another draft pick or trade target in mind …

North Melbourne lock away a former Swan

A trade that has been confirmed on Wednesday is the Kangaroos officially securing the services of Swans midfielder Dylan Stephens.

The Swans took Stephens with pick No. 5 in the 2019 AFL draft and he made 43 appearances for the club.

Sydney's Dylan Stephens (right) is officially on the move. Photo: Phil Hillyard

The 22-year-old was never quite able to consistently get into Sydney’s first-choice side, playing 13 matches in 2023 before requesting a trade.

North is giving up pick 44 and a first-round pick in next year’s draft to get its hands on Stephens plus Sydney’s pick 25 this year.

“We are excited to welcome Dylan to Arden Street,” North football manager Todd Viney said.

“We’ve been tracking him for a while and believe he has some great attributes to add to our midfield with more opportunity at AFL level.

“He’s got some great athletic attributes, and we think he’ll complement our group enormously with his footy nous and professionalism.”

North Melbourne has also committed to reviving the AFL career of another former Swan, Toby Pink.

A former forward and ruckman, Pink didn’t play a senior game over three seasons in Sydney, but has revived his career as a defender in the SANFL with Glenelg.

Why would you leave out the part where we also handed over pick 25? Not a good deal whatsoever!

— McFlyy.eth (@mcflyyeth) October 11, 2023

The fight for a generational talent intensifies

Harley Reid has been wowing AFL talent scouts for some time now, playing in a variety of positions and with a number of clubs.

A powerful youngster who has held his own against grown men, Reid is considered a generational talent with the ability to eventually transform an AFL club.

As a result of finishing last on the ladder this year, a West Coast side desperate for talent holds the key card in the Reid sweepstakes, the No. 1 overall pick.

So why would the Eagles even consider giving up that card?

Harley Reid, Alastair Clarkson and Adam Simpson. Photos: Getty Images

The short answer, for most, is that they won’t. They will pick Reid first and continue the long process of getting back to AFL respectability.

Yet the longer answer, according to some, is the ability to get even more talent into the club at a quicker pace.

That leads us to North Melbourne. Ben McKay’s move from Arden Street to Essendon on day two of the trade period gave the Kangaroos pick three in return.

That means Alastair Clarkson’s club now holds picks two, three, 15 and 21 in next month’s draft, plus three first-round picks next year.

And that is enough draft stock to potentially tempt West Coast into one of the biggest trades the sport has seen.

“If I’m West Coast, coming out of the (testing at the AFL draft) combine, it would have to take something absolutely extraordinary to trade away Harley Reid. Extraordinary,” draft expert Callum Twomey said on AFL Trade Radio.

“If it is West Coast or if it is North (Melbourne), I would love to get in there and influence the team to turn them around and be a part of the process that puts them back into finals footy,” - Harley Reid on SEN

— giantroo (@giantroo) October 10, 2023

“You’d need something so special that it moves you so far because he is such a special talent.

“He didn’t even test and he had an amazing impression on that combine. We saw it.

“His popularity, his infectiousness, his star-factor, his presence among the group is significant.

“If you’re going to trade that away, you’d want something absolutely amazing to be coming back the other way.

“North Melbourne has the capacity to give them something amazing.

“They have pick two, pick three, pick 15, pick 21 and three first-round picks next year.

“It’s a hand that will make them shake if they want to.”

The reaction has been varied, with pundits suggesting both West Coast and North Melbourne could benefit from a trade.

Hawks try to push back on Kangaroos’ concession

Speaking of that No. 3 pick North Melbourne now holds in its possession after the McKay deal, that decision has a trickle-down effect for the rest of the competition.

The biggest loser out of that call from AFL House is Hawthorn, the club that finished third last on the ladder and initially had the right to that pick.

Instead, the Hawks will now pick fourth overall.

“What comes with finishing 16th is that you get pick No. 3 in the draft,” Hawthorn head of football Rob McCartney said on SEN.

The young Hawks are desperate to add more talent to the list for 2024. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

”Usually that ends up being a pretty good player and (pick three) gets shuffled back because of things like this (free agency compensation). There is a level of frustration.

“I must admit there is a lot of work to do in a footy club and controlling the controllables is one of them, which means you have to move on pretty quickly.”

Demons made late play for Tomahawk

Geelong power forward Tom Hawkins reportedly remains no closer to re-signing with the Cats.

The premiership winner is keen to play on, but former teammate Josh Jenkins on Tuesday revealed fresh details surrounding the ugly contract saga, noting Hawkins has been left “irritated”.

“He is a little irritated that it’s taken this long,” Jenkins said on AFL Trade Radio.

Tom Hawkins of the Cats. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“There’s some ground to be covered for both parties from the Cats’ point of view.

“I owed him a call … he was willing to tell me that he and the Cats are still a ways apart with his new contract. I thought it would be someone’s desk already signed off on.

“I don’t think there’s doubt on him playing in the Cats’ jumper. I was pretty surprised to learn there was still some ground to be covered.

“I think he got tired late in the season because he did play every game. He just loves to play the game. He’s got a thirst for training and playing.”

The Herald Sun on Tuesday night reported the Demons were considering cooking up an offer before it was made clear that Hawkins was not interested in leaving.

Demons knock back Swans’ Grundy offer

The Demons have reportedly rejected the Swans’ “far too modest” offer to out-of-favour ruckman Brodie Grundy.

The Age reports Sydney’s offer to lure Grundy north was “shut down emphatically” on Tuesday, believed to be pick 46.

Grundy was seen as the big trade coup this time last year, after Collingwood offloaded him to free up salary cap space in exchange for pick 27.

Grundy’s desire of a move to Sydney is proving more difficult than first thought. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

But after just one season at Melbourne, where he was dropped and finished out the year in the VFL, Grundy has sought a trade to the Swans to reignite his career.

When asked on Monday if pick 32 was on the table for Grundy, Swans list boss Charlie Gardner said the club was still working through a deal.

“We haven’t had any meaningful discussions as yet with Melbourne. We’ll do that over the next week or so,” he said on AFL Trade Radio.

“I don’t feel like giving a running commentary.

“We’ll have those discussions with Melbourne over the next few days.

“I don’t want to speak for (Brodie); my sense is it’s a football decision and Sydney is really attractive for him in terms of the group.

“We need some support around our midfield.”

Originally published as Mystery behind Demons’ four-club bombshell as Grundy, Adams sent to Sydney