As it happened: Bruhn to join Geelong; Horne-Francis deal still in play, clocks tick on Dunkley move to Lions

Thanks so much for joining us today as we worked through Friday of AFL trade week.

While only one player moved clubs on Friday, the stage is set for several moves to be completed next week as teams move through the final few days of the trade period.

Brisbane now appears to be in a position to have the points to cover father-son picks Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher who are expected to draw bids from other clubs early in the draft while Geelong may also be able to use pick 25 to lure Ollie Henry from Collingwood.

Geelong has also snared Tanner Bruhn after two years with GWS Giants.

Please join us again on Monday as our trade blog continues and keep an eye on The Age Sport and SMH sport this weekend for more AFL coverage.

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has called his club’s grand final performance as the best game the team has played in his time at the Cats.

Dangerfield admitted he has watched the replay of the game twice since Geelong’s premiership win.

“I reckon, since I came to Geelong, it’s the best game that we’ve played in terms of facing a really good opposition and everything we tried to execute worked,” Dangerfield told AFL trade radio on Friday.

Dangerfield also joked he was let down that he wasn’t voted the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground which went to Isaac Smith who had 32 possessions and three goals.

“I think it is hard to go past 30 [touches] and three goals but someone has to get it [the ball] out to those guys,” Dangerfield joked.

Geelong’s head of list management Andrew Mackie has thanked GWS Giants for their ‘respectful’ approach to talks allowing for the trade of Tanner Bruhn home to Geelong for pick 18 in the draft.

Mackie said Bruhn was happy to be home in Geelong.

Tanner Bruhn.Credit: AFL Photos

“We are thrilled to welcome Tanner to our football club,” Mackie said.

“Tanner is a very talented player, who will add to our midfield stocks while also having the versatility to play other positions.

“Tanner had a number of options available to him and we’ve been impressed with the way he has handled himself throughout this period and we’re looking forward to seeing him wearing the hoops in 2023.

“We thank Jason McCartney and the Giants for the respectful and positive discussions between our clubs.”

Bruhn said he was ready for his next chapter.

“I’m excited to be joining the Cats and getting back home to Geelong and continuing the next chapter of my career,” Bruhn said.

“I’d like to thank the Giants, players, staff and supporters for my time at the club, I thoroughly enjoyed my two years and I wish everyone at the Giants every success.”

Two years and 30 games after he arrived at GWS Giants from Geelong, Tanner Bruhn has headed home to join the Cats.

Giants general manager Jason McCartney admitted he was disappointed to see the young midfielder leave so soon but he was happy with the club’s long list of picks for this year’s draft.

Greater Western Sydney football boss Jason McCartney.Credit: Getty Images

“We’re excited to bring in another first-round draft pick to add to what will be an incredibly strong draft hand across both this season and next,” McCartney said.

“It’s disappointing, particularly given the disruptions of the past two seasons, to lose Tanner back to Victoria only two years after drafting him.

“But ultimately, we’re pleased to add another top pick and we wish Tanner well in the future.”

Geelong has another 30 pick and the Brisbane Lions have pulled in a slew of picks to put towards bids for father-son selections Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher.

AFL House has tweeted that a deal has been lodged with the league for a pick swap between the two clubs.

The Lions would get pick 38, 48 and 55 this year plus a round two and round four pick in 2023 from Geelong while Cats would get pick 25 from Brisbane in this year’s draft.

Could pick 25 go from Geelong to Collingwood for Ollie Henry?

Now we wait to see if this picks deal gets the tick of approval.

As Peter Ryan reported earlier today, Tanner Bruhn will move from GWS Giants back home to Geelong after two seasons in Sydney.

The Cats will send pick 18 in this year’s draft to the Giants.

The AFL has now confirmed this trade has been locked in.

The AFL has locked in the final round of the AFLW season after releasing the game times and dates today.

The AFL said the round will begin on Friday, October 28 with Carlton hosting the Western Bulldogs at IKON Park before ladder-leaders the Brisbane Lions face Collingwood at Metricon Stadium in a match that may potentially shape the top four.

Adelaide’s Anne Hatchard celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Women’s football general manager Nicole Livingstone said the round would be followed by the league’s first top-eight finals series.

“The round 10 fixture is a fitting conclusion to a remarkable home and away season and a perfect lead to week one of the AFLW finals series,” Livingstone said.

“If the matches are anything like we witnessed last weekend, with four matches decided by four points or less, then I am sure it will be one of the best rounds of the season.”

AFLW Round 10

Friday, October 28

Carlton v Western Bulldogs, IKON Park 6:10pm
Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, Metricon Stadium 8:10pm

Saturday, October 29

Melbourne v West Coast Eagles, Casey Fields 1:10pm
St. Kilda v Adelaide Crows, RSEA Park 3.10pm
Geelong Cats v Sydney, GMHBA Stadium 5:10pm
Fremantle v Hawthorn, Fremantle Oval 7:10pm

Sunday, October 30

Port Adelaide v Essendon, Alberton Oval 1:10pm
North Melbourne v Richmond, Arden Street 3:10pm
GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns, Henson Park 5:10pm

Much of Victoria has been lashed by rain and storms today but Moorabbin looks in good shape ahead of its AFLW game between St Kilda and Carlton at 6.10pm.

Saints communication manager Clair White has tweeted a video of the ground bathed in sunlight and looking in good condition despite concerns it could be a muddy night for the players.

Football Australia has banned for life a supporter of the Sydney United 58 club who was filmed making a Nazi salute during last weekend’s Australia Cup final. Here was old mate, arm erect, amid a mob who, just in case anyone held any doubts about their intentions, also booed the welcome to country and Australia’s national anthem before launching into songs associated with the 20th century Croatian fascist group the Ustase, the Third Reich’s staunch friend in the Balkans.

Why anyone would choose a football game in Parramatta in 2022 as their moment to salute Hitler is for them to explain, but they can’t claim ignorance. They weren’t signalling for more beers or putting their hands up for a vacant AFL club CEO’s position. They can’t hide behind the protection of free speech. No loopholes, no contorted arguments over democracy, no Sky News high school debating clubs arguing for the affirmative. Just a life ban.

Oh, for the simple things.

You could say they performed a social service. It’s almost refreshing to be reminded that free speech is not a limitless right purchased unconditionally with the entry ticket to a football match. And that anyone who bans a fascist is not a fascist too. No. Some gestures, whatever the vacancy of the brains rattling around behind them, are beyond tolerating.

Click here to read the story.

Channel Seven is reporting that the Cats and Suns have met with the AFL over the “complex financial terms” of the Jack Bowes’ trade and his re-structured contract with the Cats.

Seven’s report says both clubs are confident the deal will be finalised today or early next week.