AFL trade: How pick-swap can kickstart mega deal involving Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar, Josh Dunkley, Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia
A pick swap between Essendon and Geelong could help kickstart a seven club mega-deal, involving all of this trade period’s biggest names. See all the details here.
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Essendon and Geelong could strike a first-round pick swap to help clinch crucial deals for Jeremy Cameron and Jye Caldwell and potentially clear paths for Adam Treloar and Josh Dunkley to swap clubs.
The Bombers are determined to secure pick No.8 from Carlton for defender Adam Saad and could on-trade that selection to Geelong for No. 13 and No.20.
The agreement could help kickstart a seven club mega-deal which could send Orazio Fantasia to Port Adelaide, Dunkley to Tullamarine and Treloar to Western Bulldogs.
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However, the Bulldogs loom as the stumbling block as they entertain the prospect of keeping Dunkley despite his desire to play in red and black next season.
The other alternative is for Essendon to ask for a future-first round pick from the Blues for Saad, and then give pick No.7 to the Cats for No. 13 and No. 20.
Essendon could offer No.13 and a future selection to the Bulldogs for Dunkley and then No. 20 to GWS for Caldwell, helping satisfy all parties.
Western Bulldogs remain determined to keep Dunkley, but are also eyeing Collingwood’s Adam Treloar as a perfect onball replacement in the event they receive a favourable deal involving multiple selections.
The Magpies are set on offloading Treloar and are still keen to prise Jack Gunston from Hawthorn to help improve their forward-half connection for a premiership tilt.
The Hawks want a first-round pick for Gunston, who is coming off a best-and-fairest season.
But they are only mildly interested in Collingwood midfielder Tom Phillips and, at this point, are unlikely to welcome him on big money.
The Cats could then use the No. 8 pick they gain from Essendon, plus another later selection (No. 38), to trade to GWS for Cameron.
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Geelong has entered negotiations with the Giants in good faith but have been frustrated by the lack of communication about the Cameron deal outside of talks between chief executives Brian Cook and Dave Matthews.
The No. 8 pick would be a prized selection for GWS because the club could package it with No.10 (Zac Williams free agency compensation) and offer it to North Melbourne for No.2.
The Roos could be tempted to trade No.2 for two later selections in the top-10 as they look to replace as many as 13 players who are on the way out.
The prospect of a Geelong and Essendon trade is a significant concern for the Giants.
If GWS does not accept pick No.8 from Geelong, the Cats could attempt to walk Cameron through to the pre-season draft.
The Giants are banking on the Bombers threatening to take Cameron there.
But if the Giants don’t accept pick No. 20 from Essendon for Caldwell, the Bombers could declare they are not interested in taking Cameron, leaving him open to walk through to the Cats for nothing.
While the Cats have said they are prepared to do a deal with GWS, they have also started work on whether the pre-season draft is a feasible option for Cameron.
Geelong may also want something else from Essendon if it is to send No. 13 and No. 20 to Tullamarine for pick No. 8.
That could see Essendon give the second-round pick (No. 29) it receives from Port Adelaide for Fantasia back to Geelong.
The Power have earmarked pick No. 29, but may have to swap future picks to help sweeten the deal for the Bombers.
Carlton also want the deal improved for Saad.
It means the Bombers could give the Blues pick No. 48 and No. 67 in exchange pick No. 51.
Separately, Carlton wants Geelong fringe forward Lachie Fogarty - that transfer could happen for a late second-round pick.
If the Essendon-Geelong deal falls over, the Cats and Blues could also consider a pick-swap which sees Geelong receive pick No. 8 from Carlton in exchange for pick No. 15.
Fogarty, a hard nut forward and midfielder, would help ramp up the tackle pressure at Carlton after 23 games - six this year - in his first three seasons.
The ballwinner has endured a nightmare run of injuries including ankle, hip, hamstring and calf problems, after being taken at pick No. 22 in the 2017 national draft.
The 180cm livewire averaged 14 disposals, five contested possessions and 3.2 tackles per game in 2020, including a 23-possession effort against North Melbourne in Round 10.
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Originally published as AFL trade: How pick-swap can kickstart mega deal involving Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar, Josh Dunkley, Adam Saad and Orazio Fantasia
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