AFL Trade Period: Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis trade nears breakthrough
Jason Horne-Francis is edging closer to returning to South Australia as Port Adelaide grows in confidence it can satisfy North Melbourne in a trade.
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Port Adelaide believes it has made strong progress on a deal to secure North Melbourne’s No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis with flanker Riley Bonner part of a potential trade package.
The Roos and Power have held constructive talks over a deal for Horne-Francis with the Power’s pick eight and future first-rounder certain to be part of the deal.
Bonner, 25, is contracted for next season but it is felt he may slip down the pecking order at the club in 2023 and Port Adelaide is open to trading him.
Whether he is traded as part of the Horne-Francis package or to a third club with that pick then passed on to North Melbourne, it gives the Power more trade collateral to satisfy the Roos.
The Roos would significantly boost their backline stocks by bringing in Bonner and Griffin Logue, who is part of a separate trade with Fremantle.
Both clubs are keen to do a fair and responsible deal for Horne-Francis that maximises the Roos’ return and does not diminish the Power’s flag chances.
While Zak Butters’ name was floated in some reports the Roos could secure two high picks and then use them in trades for rival players if a deal was done relatively early.
Port Adelaide has no interest in trading any of its young guns.
The Power still holds out hope that Geelong will relent in a deal with Esava Ratugolea even as the Cats rule out a trade.
Port Adelaide believes the 24-year-old has little chance of getting a regular senior game at the Cats in 2023 so are hopeful Geelong will have an open mind by the end of the trade period next week.
Ratugolea, who played mostly in defence in the VFL this year, met with Port Adelaide officials on Thursday.
The Power believe he has little chance of getting a regular senior game in the Geelong side next year so are hopeful the Cats will have an open mind by the end of the trade period next week.
Port Adelaide was happy to let Karl Amon move on because it is loaded with running defenders and wingman types, such as Darcy Byrne-Jones, Dan Houston, Kane Farrell, Jase Burgoyne, Xavier Duursma, Lachie Jones and Miles Bergman and Josh Sinn, ensuring a selection squeeze for Bonner to get a regular game.
Farrell moved into defence late in the season, Burgoyne showed plenty of promise in his seven games down back and Jones should return there after playing as a makeshift half-forward
in 2022, given the pending arrivals of Junior Rioli and Francis Evans, and availability of Orazio Fantasia.
Bonner has played 82 matches over the past seven seasons, including 17 in 2022.
He was sidelined this year with an ankle injury, a fractured cheekbone and Covid.
If a deal comes from a rival club and Bonner is keen to leave, the Power will certainly consider it.
The Power drafted Bonner from West Adelaide with pick 37 in 2015.
The Power on Tuesday swapped No. 27 to Melbourne for 33, 43 and 53, giving it two more selections to potentially use in deals for Horne-Francis, West Coast goalsneak Junior Rioli or Geelong big man Ratugolea.
TRADE DEMANDS REVEALED: WHAT EAGLES WANT FOR RIOLI
– Marc McGowan
West Coast wants Port Adelaide’s Karl Amon compensation at minimum to seal Junior Rioli’s move to Alberton.
The AFL awarded the Power a second-round selection, which is currently No. 27, after Amon exercised his unrestricted free agency rights to sign a four-year deal with Hawthorn.
Port Adelaide’s biggest priority this trade period is satisfying North Melbourne in a deal for last year’s top draft pick Jason Horne-Francis but it is also committed to bringing in Rioli.
Roos list manager Brady Rawlings made clear on Monday they expect more than the Power’s pick eight this year and a future first-round selection.
But the Eagles’ demands for Rioli mean pick 27 is unlikely to be part of the sweetener for North, with Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies also ruling out Victorians Zak Butters, Miles Bergman, Josh Sinn and Xavier Duursma.
West Coast was disappointed Rioli requested a trade after the support club officials provided him throughout his ASADA ban and expect good compensation for a player who has kicked 60 goals in 51 games.
The Power’s next-best draft selections this year are both in the 50s.
Port Adelaide has also not given up on luring versatile big man Esava Ratugolea out of Geelong despite Cats list manager Andrew Mackie emphatically stating he would not be traded.
Ratugolea, who showed promising signs as a key defender in the VFL this year but was starved of senior opportunities, would likely need to make his call in the coming days.
“We love Esava. He’s had some conversations (with rival clubs), such is the AFL world, but he’s contracted and we love him,” Mackie said.
“Esava will be staying with the Cats.”
Power pair Sam Hayes and Riley Bonner, who are both contracted until the end of next season, could both be on the move before the trade period ends, with the former drawing some interest from Collingwood.
Trade state of play: Another Cat in aggressive Power’s sights
– Matt Turner
Expect a relatively busy week for Port Adelaide as it reshapes its list for another finals tilt in 2023.
The Power has vowed to be aggressive during the trade period, which starts on Monday and runs until Wednesday, October 12.
Moves have already started.
On Friday, the Power officially farewelled Hawthorn-bound 124-game wingman Karl Amon, who left as a free agent.
After slumping from consecutive preliminary finals in 2020-21 to 11th this year, Port Adelaide has been seeking midfield talent and small forwards.
The losses of Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop to retirement, and Orazio Fantasia’s injury battles have made strengthening its half-forward stocks a priority.
But the club also has interest in a tall defender if the right one becomes available.
Here is the state of play for the Power:
JASON HORNE-FRANCIS
Jason Horne-Francis’ tumultuous first year with North Melbourne will almost certainly be his last, with the Kangaroos in negotiations with Port Adelaide about a blockbuster trade.
JOSH DUNKLEY
Port Adelaide made no secret that it wanted Dunkley to boost its midfield stocks but he instead preferred to join Brisbane.
The out-of-contract Western Bulldog is set to sign a six-year deal at the Lions.
JUNIOR RIOLI
Rioli wants to play for the Power, now the club has to strike a deal with West Coast.
The compensation pick for Amon, No. 27, is expected to be central to negotiations.
JACK GRAHAM
The South Australian met with Port Adelaide officials at Alberton on Wednesday but has since told Richmond officials he is locked in at Punt Road for next season
The arrivals of midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper had Graham considering his future but he is expected to trigger a clause in his contract that will take him through to the end of 2024 when he will qualify for free agency.
ESAVA RATUGOLEA
The ruck/forward met on Thursday with the Power, which was understood to be one of several clubs keen on him.
He is contracted to the Cats for next season so it will require a trade to snare him.
Port Adelaide liked the flexibility the 24-year-old could provide if he was to join.
KYSAIAH PICKETT
The small forward will complete the final year of his contract at Melbourne next season unless there is a major surprise.
Port Adelaide and the WA clubs have strong interest in the premiership player but he is not expected to move — not this year at least.
FRANCIS EVANS
Port Adelaide will secure the axed Geelong small forward when the delisted free agency period begins on November 3.
Evans, who played seven games with the Cats, including five this year, flew into Adelaide on Thursday and met with the Power.
His dad lives in SA.
AARON FRANCIS
The Power holds some interest in the Essendon defender but Sydney is said to be keener.
Francis, 25, is out of contract and wants to leave the Bombers, so it will be intriguing to see where he lands.
Port Adelaide has been assessing how he compares to the club’s backmen and if it is worth pursuing him.
SAM HAYES
It is looking less likely that the ruckman will leave the club during the trade period.
Port Adelaide is open to Hayes going and he has been linked to Collingwood, which is tipped to lose Brodie Grundy to Melbourne.
If the 23-year-old leaves, expect it to be for a later draft pick.
MITCH GEORGIADES
The high-flying forward will be staying at the Power. His name has been mentioned in rumours regarding Rioli’s move from the Eagles, but he is contracted until the end of next season and Port Adelaide is keeping him.
KARL AMON
Amon’s move to Hawthorn was confirmed on Friday, the first day of the free agency period.
The Power will receive pick 27 as compensation for losing the wingman and that selection is tipped to help the club secure Rioli from West Coast.
MATT CROUCH
Crouch has been shopped around the competition but the Adelaide midfielder will not be at Alberton next season.
He is not on the Power’s radar at all.
DRAFT PICKS
8, 27, 54, 57
Originally published as AFL Trade Period: Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis trade nears breakthrough
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