AFL Trades Day 3 live: Monster four-club move confirmed

The Melbourne Demons has traded back into the first round of this year‘s AFL Draft following a monster four-club picks swap.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 30: Luke Dunstan of the Saints handballs during the round 20 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium on July 30, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Welcome to our coverage of Day Three of the AFL Trade Period.

Deals are being done with players and coaches alike, with Jeremy Finlayson heading from GWS to Port Adelaide while the recently retired Eddie Betts has landed a coaching gig at Geelong.

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AFL confirms monster four-club move

The Melbourne Demons has traded back into the first round of this year‘s AFL Draft following a monster four-club picks swap with Western Bulldogs, Adelaide and St Kilda.

From the deal, the Bulldogs have traded out pick 17 for more points to secure father-son prospect Sam Darcy.

It also complicates Jordan Dawson’s path to Adelaide.

Melbourne
Receives: 17, 37, 49
Gives: Future first, 33, 45

Western Bulldogs
Receives: 23, 44, 45
Gives:17, 75

Adelaide
Receives: Future first (Melbourne), 33, 75
Gives: 23, 37, 44, 62, 66, future fourth

St Kilda
Receives: 62, 66, future fourth (Adelaide)
Gives: 49

The deal was officially lodged on Wednesday afternoon.

Dumped Saint signs for reigning premiers

Former Saints midfielder Luke Dunstan has officially signed with the Melbourne Demons as an unrestricted free agent.

Dunstan was axed by St Kilda after averaging 25 disposals in 12 games this season.

“We came into this trade period looking to re-stock the midfield area and Luke fits the bill perfectly,” Melbourne List Manager Tim Lamb told Melbourne Media.

“We are really happy that Luke has chosen to make the move to our club.

“With Nathan Jones retiring and Aaron vandenBerg moving on, we have lost a considerable amount of experience out of our midfield group.

“Luke is a proven performer at the highest level and finished this season in exceptional fashion polling 11 votes in the Brownlow Medal.

“We think Luke’s best football is ahead of him and just as importantly, Luke is a terrific cultural fit for our club.“

Luke Dunstan could make Melbourne’s midfield somehow even better. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

First player deal of Day Three gets done

GWS’ forward Jeremy Finlayson has been traded to Port Adelaide for a future third round pick.

The 25-year-old has struggled for consistency and will be hoping to develop some solid form at the Power.

Eddie Betts lands coaching role

Recently retired Eddie Betts has landed an assistant coaching job at Geelong just months after calling time on his playing career.

The legendary small forward kicked 640 goals across a 350-game career at Carlton and Adelaide.

It’s believed Betts will take up a development coaching role at the Cats next year.

“I can confirm that Eddie Betts will be on the Geelong coaching staff next year,” former Essendon forward Matthew Lloyd told AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday.

Out of favour St Kilda midfielder weighing up his options

St Kilda’s Luke Dunstan is reportedly closing in on a deal with premiers Melbourne, with Essendon said to be out of the race for the inside midfielder.

The low-profile 26-year-old remarkably polled 11 votes in the Brownlow Medal from just 12 games this season.

He hasn’t been delisted by the Saints but has been told to seek a new deal at another club.

Dunstan is believed to be weighing up joining the Demons or the Gold Coast Suns.

Following the retirement of Nathan Jones, Melbourne is eager to add even more experience to its midfield, which is already stacked with the likes of Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney and Angus Brayshaw.

Channel 7 AFL reporter Tom Browne believes a deal could be done with the Demons very soon and “Melbourne could officially announce Dunstan as soon as today”.

The Suns, who have struggled down the bottom of the ladder for several years, could offer Dunstan a slightly more lucrative deal with long-term security.

SEN’s Sam Edmund reports a two-year offer from Melbourne to Dunstan is expected to be formalised today.

‘Ridiculous’ offer for Carlton youngster

Carlton would like to be offered a higher draft pick for former top-10 draftee Sam Petrevksi-Seton, who wants to be traded to West Coast.

The Eagles have reportedly said they want to offer pick 49 in exchange for the 23-year-old but have been accused of lowballing the Blues.

West Coast currently has picks 10, 29, 35, 49 and 65 at its disposal.

But Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes believes the Eagles need to cough up a better draft pick for Petrevski-Seton.

“I think pick 49 is ridiculous,” Cornes told SEN.

“I think the suggestion of a caller, (pick 61 and Petrevski-Seton for pick 35), even that is a little bit light on I would’ve thought.

“Carlton would’ve wanted a bit more, but that is fairer than 49.”

Power ruckman Peter Ladhams has met with the Swans and Hawks. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide ruckman meets with two clubs

Hawthorn and Sydney have met with Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams as both clubs look to bolster their big-man depth.

According to afl.com.au, the Hawks and the Swans both had discussions with the 23-year-old over Zoom last week after he was told to explore opportunities elsewhere during the Trade Period.

Ladhams is Port Adelaide’s backup ruckman behind Scott Lycett and has one year remaining on his contract.

Hawthorn is looking for a long-term replacement to veteran ruck duo Ben McEvoy and Jonathan Ceglar, while Sydney is hoping to recruit another ruckman to support Tom Hickey, who enjoyed a successful first season with the Swans in 2021.

Ladhams has a back-ended contract and the Power is likely to ask for significant compensation for the 202cm ruckman, which could prove a stumbling block in negotiations.

Hawthorn has now said it will not pursue Ladhams.

“Peter Ladhams was one we inquired about last year when we were looking for a ruckman, (but) we were able to secure Tom Hickey who has come in and been excellent, he’s had a fantastic year,” Swans general manager of football Charlie Gardiner told SEN.

“His management has reached out … I don’t think it’s progressed much further, but that’s something we’ll consider.”

Originally published as AFL Trades Day 3 live: Monster four-club move confirmed