Bombers and Power strike last minute deadline deal in AFL trade chaos
A blockbuster deal between two clubs went right down to the wire with only a matter of minutes left on the clock before it was locked in.
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AFL fans, pat yourselves on the back, we’ve made it through another AFL Trade Period.
The final day didn’t deliver any high-powered fireworks like the league would have been hoping for but plenty of moves were made.
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Hawthorn were one of the most active clubs on the day with six deals, while Port Adelaide landed their final deal with only seconds left on the clock.
A deal between the Power and the Bombers went down to the absolute wire but the move that was signalled in the early stages of the trade period got over the line.
It sees Brandon Zek-Thatcher and multiple picks find a home in Port Adelaide while Xavier Duursma will land in Essendon.
Every completed Trade Deadline deal
Ivan Soldo
Port Adelaide get: Soldo and pick 50
Richmond get: Pick 41, 49, future 2nd and 4th round pick
Jack Ginnivan
Hawthorn get: Ginnivan, pick 39, future 2nd and 4th round pick
Collingwood get: Pick 33, future 2nd and 3rd round pick
Jordon Sweet
Port Adelaide get: Sweet
Western Bulldogs get: Pick 50
Esava Ratugolea
Port Adelaide get: Ratugolea
Geelong get: Picks 2, 76 and 94
Jack Billings
St Kilda get: Future 3rd round pick
Melbourne get: Billings
Jacob Koschitzke
Tigers get: Koschitzke
Hawks get: Pick 49
Jack Gunston/Brandon Ryan
Lions get: Ryan, picks 39 and 54, future 4th round pick
Hawks get: Gunston, picks 47 and 61, future 2nd round pick
Mabior Chol
Hawks get: Chol, pick 62
Suns get: Future 2nd round pick
Xavier Duursma/Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Port get: Zerk-Thatcher, pick 73, two future 4th round picks
Bombers get: Duursma
Massimo D’Ambrosio
Hawks get: D’Ambrosio
Bombers get: Pick 61 and future 4th round pick
6:15pm - Three club trade on the brink
Brisbane, Hawthorn and Gold Coast are reportedly on the verge of agreeing to a deal that will see Jack Gunston and Mabior Chol end up at Hawthorn with Brandon Ryan heading to the Lions.
6pm - Bombers reject Power’s latest offer
The haggling between Essendon and Port Adelaide has taken a dramatic twist with the Bombers knocking back the Power’s latest offer.
The clubs have been going back and forth over a potential deal involving Xavier Duursma and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.
SEN’s Tom Morris reports the Power were seeking Zerk-Thatcher along with a future second pick in order to let Duursma go to join the Bombers.
5pm - Port snare Cats defender
Three down, one to go for Port Adelaide after the deal to capture Esava Ratugolea was officially confirmed.
The trade looked highly unlikely to take place after Geelong elected to play hardball with the Power.
Their hardline stance drew heavy backlash with many calling out the Cats for over-valuing a player they didn’t rate too highly when he was on their own list.
4.20pm - Saints open to dealing Jack Billings
Rumours swirled early on Wednesday that St Kilda utility Jack Billings was on the move to join Melbourne.
Saints list boss Stephen Silvagni shut down those rumours stating they hadn’t spoken to the Demons about a potential move.
He did however confirm the club is open to moving Billings on if the right deal can be struck.
3.45pm - Resurfaced clip exposes star’s true desire
Jack Ginnivan has achieved his childhood dream. The 20-year-old officially became a member of Hawthorn on Wednesday after Collingwood traded him away.
The livewire forward grew up a Hawks fans with photos flooding social media after the deal went through, but it was a video that really caught the eye.
In a clip from 2022 Ginnivan is asked by Hamish McLachlan what he wanted to do as a youngster and he gives the response: “I wanted to play for Hawthorn”.
Jack Ginnivan in July last year.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 18, 2023
How things can work 😅 pic.twitter.com/Llqs9KAzH3
2.15pm - Pies bid farewell to Ginnivan
Jack Ginnivan is officially a Hawk with Collingwood announcing the news with a statement farewelling the 20-year-old.
“We appreciate and accept Jack’s decision to seek further opportunity at Hawthorn,” Pies GM of football Graham Wright said in a statement.
“Jack’s contribution over the last three years has been significant and includes being a member of the 2023 Premiership team, which he’ll always be a part of.
“Jack is still only 20-years-old and has a lot of football ahead of him.
“On behalf of everyone at Collingwood we wish Jack well in all his future endeavours.”
12.10pm AEDT - Ginnivan set for new colours
Well, that didn’t take long. Less than two days after Magpies football boss Graham Wright declared they “see Jack as a part of what we’re doing, he’s contracted for next year, and we haven’t taken any calls at all,” Ginnivan is on the move.
“As of this morning he has agreed to be traded to Hawthorn,” reporter Riley Beveridge said on AFL Trade Radio. “Both teams met last night to hash out the deal.
“Both clubs agreed to swap future second round picks as the basis of the deal. Ginnivan hadn’t requested a trade, but has now agreed to be traded.”
There was a quick response to the news on social media over a figure that has divided opinion throughout his time at Olympic Park.
Jack Ginnivan has agreed to be traded and a deal between Hawthorn and Collingwood is essentially done.
— Riley Beveridge (@RileyBev) October 18, 2023
The Hawks and Pies will each swap their future second-round picks as the basis of the deal, with some other selections mixed in. @AFLcomau@traderadio
“Surely pies aren’t giving back a future 2nd. If so, WTF??” wrote one user on X.
“Looks as though the Pies have had enough of him a la Jaidyn Stephenson,” wrote another.
“For a player who kicked 40 last year, this is not a good deal for collingwood,” was another comment.”
“He’s hawthorn’s problem now,” wrote another. “You won’t be missed at Collingwood.”
Another felt the 20-year-old wouldn’t get the same affection from Hawks fans that he has enjoyed from the Collingwood faithful to date.
“Well he has felt the love & warmth of Collingwood supporters...now he will feel the other side!” they wrote.
11.40am AEDT - Soldo deal leads to Sweet
As reported earlier, Ival Soldo has secured a move from Richmond to Port Adelaide.
That deal is now the first domino in the eventual move of another ruckman, the Western Bulldogs’ big man Jordon Sweet, to Alberton Oval.
Tom Morris unwrapped all the details on X, explaining that the full move for Soldo involves the 27-year-old and pick No. 50 being sent to Port.
In return, the Power are sending picks 41 and 49 to the Tigers, plus a future second-round and fourth-round selection.
That pick 50 is then the selection the Dogs will receive in exchange for Sweet.
9.50am AEDT - First deal of the day appears done
Speculation over Richmond’s back-up ruckman Ivan Soldo emerged around two weeks ago, with Port Adelaide confirming it was interested in his services.
“Ivan is in the situation where he wants to be a first ruck. We have a need in that area,” Port list manager Chris Davies said earlier this month.
“If he is in a situation where he wants to leave Richmond we would be willing to bring him in. We are in the market for that type of player.”
Stuck behind Toby Nankervis at Tigerland, the 27-year-old Soldo was said to be in favour of the move, with the Tigers reluctant to lose the 204cm giant.
A deal has now been agreed on deadline day, however, with the Power sending a future second-round draft pick and its current pick No. 41 to the Tigers.
Richmond premiership winner Ivan Soldo will be traded to Port Adelaide today. A future second-rounder and pick 41 will head to Richmond as well as a swap of other selections. The deal is agreed. @AFLcomau@traderadio
— Callum Twomey (@CalTwomey) October 17, 2023
Initial reaction to the deal has been mixed, but most felt it was a great deal for the South Australian club.
Soldo won a premiership with the Tigers back in 2019 and has played 57 games to date.
“Let’s go, Ivan! Welcome to PAFC,” wrote one user on X.
“Why would they let him go for a couple of third rounders?” asked another.
“Hate to say it, but good work from Port. Was a huge hole for them last year,” wrote a third.
Draft expert Callum Twomey has also suggested the early deal for Soldo will give the Power ample time to pull off their other identified targets, Esava Ratugolea from Geelong, Bomber Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and the Dogs’ Jordon Sweet.
It will be interesting to see if the club does still pursue Sweet, another ruckman, after adding Soldo to the books.
9.15am AEDT - Speaking of the versatile Cat
Port Adelaide and Geelong have progressed in talks for Esava Ratugolea to be traded on Wednesday, David Zita from Fox Sports is reporting.
Talks had stalled on a deal, with the utility said to be keen on the move, while the Cats were in no rush to agree to any trade.
The Power's offer of pick No. 25 in the draft had been rejected by Geelong, a club notorious for playing hardball during trade periods.
But a thawing in dialogue between the clubs makes Ratugolea more likely to find a new home via trade while Port Adelaide also pursue deals for Zerk-Thatcher and Sweet.
Essendon wants Power winger Xavier Duursma to be traded in a straight swap for Zerk-Thatcher, according to Fox Sports, while the Power believe they should receive more.
7.30am AEDT - Jack Ginnivan details kick things off
As we reported earlier on Wednesday, Jack Ginnivan’s shaky future at Collingwood is a key plank in the trade period deadline.
The arrival of Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz to Olympic Park earlier in the trade period leaves the premiers with a glut of diminutive options in the forward line, with Jamie Elliott, Bobby Hill, Schultz and Ginnivan all more than capable.
Ginnivan is likely fourth choice out of that quartet for 2024 and beyond amid reports his manager, John Meesen from Kapital Sports, was in talks with the Pies over his future.
Hawthorn was tipped as the frontrunner for the 20-year-old’s services and that has now played out, with just the details to come.
The Hawks are also yet to finalise deals for Mabior Chol and Massimo D’Ambrosio, who have expressed their desires to join the club, and need to facilitate Jacob Koschitzke’s move to Richmond.
Veteran Lions forward Jack Gunston also announced he would like to return to his original club at Waverley Park.
But they jumped at the chance to get Ginnivan into the club.
Originally published as Bombers and Power strike last minute deadline deal in AFL trade chaos
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