The penultimate day of the AFL's trade period proved to be a busy one, with a number of marquee deals going through at last.
Jacob Hopper sealed a switch to Richmon, while Brodie Grundy made his way to Melbourne to join Max Gawn in a fearsome ruck duo.
Jack Bowes's controversial move to Geelong, alongside pick seven, from Gold Coast also went through, while Jack Gunston joined Brisbane and Billy Frampton joined Collingwood.
There were also press conferences for Jason Horne-Francis and Izak Rankine, who completed moves to Port Adelaide and Adelaide respectively on Monday
A number of key moves remain in the offing, including deals for Josh Dunkley, Ollie Henry, Tom Mitchell and Rory Lobb.
Look back at our live blog of the day for all the info and analysis.
Key events
To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
That's where we leave it today
So that's that for today's blog, but be sure to rejoin me tomorrow as we take you right up to the deadline and see how many of these deals can be done before the window slams shut.
You can head back through the blog to catch up on everything that went down today and get our analysis of the big deals of yesterday too.
Thanks for your company, we will hopefully see you again tomorrow. Could be a big one...
By Dean Bilton
What's left?
Things are winding down on the penultimate day of the trade period, so what's left to look out for tomorrow?
Here's a selection of deals still waiting to be completed. How many of these will actually get done?
- Josh Dunkley from the Bulldogs to Brisbane
- Ollie Henry from Collingwood to Geelong
- Tom Mitchell from Hawthorn to Collingwood
- Rory Lobb from Fremantle to the Bulldogs
- Lloyd Meek from Fremantle to Hawthorn
- Esava Ratugolea from Geelong to Port Adelaide
- Aaron Francis from Essendon to Sydney
- Sam Weideman from Melbourne to Essendon
- Brayden Fiorini from Gold Coast to Collingwood
- Jaeger O'Meara from Hawthorn to GWS/Fremantle
By Dean Bilton
The Mega-Deal: GWS verdict
The final player in the Mega-Deal was the last to get involved, the key to making it all happen, and probably the easiest to analyse.
- Giants gained: Pick 1, 53, 57
- Giants lost: Picks 3, 12, 2023 second-round pick (tied to Collingwood)
The Giants have a squillion early picks this year, but were keen to move up to the number one pick. The assumption is that move is due to their desire to draft Aaron Cadman, an athletic key forward considered to be the best big man in the draft.
Giving up 3, 12 and a second-round next year is a pretty small price to pay for that, considering they still have 15, 18, 19 and 31 in the locker.
Verdict: A no-brainer really for the Giants. They'll get the player they want and still have plenty in reserves to top up later in the first round.
By Dean Bilton
Grundy: 'Time to dream a different dream'
Brodie Grundy has put an emotional statement on social media in the wake of his move from Collingwood to Melbourne.
By Dean Bilton
Jacob Hopper has been traded to Richmond
The Tigers get their (second) man! Jacob Hopper joins Tim Taranto in moving from GWS to Richmond. The deal shakes out at:
- Tigers get: Jacob Hopper, pick 53, pick 63
- Tigers lose: Pick 31, future first-round pick
A great result for Richmond, but a pretty even equation when both the Hopper and Taranto deals are accounted for. Those are two massive gets for the Tigers though. Two extremely talented players, still young enough to improve further, to immediately freshen up the midfield.
Also worth noting the lack of Ivan Soldo in this deal. Not sure whether the Giants' interest will be followed up in a separate deal, but he has not been included in the Hopper trade.
By Dean Bilton
The Ollie Henry impasse
Ollie Henry's move from Collingwood to Geelong is starting to look increasingly difficult, with the Pies not accepting the pick 25 offered up by the Cats.
Collingwood's list manager Graham Wright was speaking to Trade Radio a short time ago:
"We were really clear from the beginning we didn't want to let him go. We were really reluctant to entertain a trade, and it had to be at a certain level for us to consider it to be honest. We were really clear with Ollie, his management and Geelong about that.
"At this stage we are no further advanced than we were last Friday when they offered pick 25, which we won't accept."
By Dean Bilton
The Mega-Deal: West Coast verdict
The third Mega-Deal party to assess is West Coast, who have opted for quantity over quality in terms of this year's draft order.
- Eagles gained: Picks 8, 12, 2023 second-round pick (tied to Port Adelaide), 2023 third-round pick (tied to Port Adelaide)
- Eagles lost: Junior Rioli, picks 2, 40
Clearly the Eagles looked at the very top of this draft and didn't see anything that dropped their jaws. Worries about George Wardlaw's hamstrings, Harry Sheezel's potential homesickness and Elijah Tsatas's contested ability may have prompted them to look lower down.
With picks 8 and 12, they will have lots of options. Homegrown WA players like Reuben Ginbey, Jedd Busslinger and Elijah Hewett are strong options, but if they are more bold then players like Mattaes Phillipou, Bailey Humphrey and Cameron McKenzie may appeal just as much, if not more.
Verdict: The Eagles are starting from a long way back, and have opted to attack an even draft with two selections rather than one. It's a risk, and perhaps they could have tried to force more out of Port or GWS, but there is logic to it. Add in some picks next year for Rioli and it's a probably a minor victory.
By Dean Bilton
More from Jason Horne-Francis
JHF spoke about the Showdown, his time at North, his reasons for leaving and his future at Port Adelaide.
"I'm really grateful for North giving me the opportunity they did. I was just really keen to be back in SA.
"I wanted to make sure I was in a stable environment, and I think it might be another unstable year at North. Coming back home would be best for me.
"It's been tough, and there have been challenges throughout the year. And for my part, I probably haven't done everything right either. As a 18yo kid moving out of home to Melbourne, it was tough and I didn't get everything right. I think it's going to help me going forward.
"It's really exciting, you always watch the Showdowns as an Adelaide kid and dream of being out there playing. I'm really excited."
By Dean Bilton
Jason Horne-Francis has spoken
Port Adelaide's new man has fronted the media alongside Port's GM of football Chris Davies. As you would expect, both are pretty chuffed with the events of the last couple of days.
Jason Horne-Francis:
I turned my phone off for a week or so, it was a big thing. I'm a big family person and I love my family. I feel like having my family and friends around me will create an environment for me to play my best footy.
Chris Davies:
These opportunities don't come along very often. To be able to secure Jason is fantastic, and the feedback we've received suggests our people are pretty excited too. It's the biggest deal of my time at the footy club, and from my standpoint, to be able to secure someone of Jason's character and calibre, it's a really exciting day for the club.
Jason is a generational-type talent. This is a 19-year-old guy who we hope can play for our footy club for the next 15 years.
By Dean Bilton
Billy Frampton has been traded to Collingwood
Two in a row! The Pies have picked up the big fella from Adelaide, in what could be the first of a few acquisitions for them over the next day and a bit.
- Collingwood get: Billy Frampton
- Adelaide get: A future third-round pick
Another key defensive/ruck option for Collingwood.
By Dean Bilton
Jack Bowes (and pick 7) has been traded to Geelong
The controversial deal that has been in the works for some time has been completed. Geelong get a promising young player and a top-10 draft pick, and Gold Coast get rid of a contract they were keen to lose.
- Geelong get: Jack Bowes, pick 7
- Gold Coast get: Future third-round pick
On paper, it's an incredibly lop-sided deal and one that is too good to be true for the reigning premiers. And look, it kinda is. But the Suns were desperate to get rid of the rest of Bowes's contract, which would have cost them about $1.6 million over the next two years.
By Dean Bilton
Jaeger O'Meara on the move?
The rumour machine is in full swing today as we wait for the expected confirmation of a couple more trades. The latest reports suggest GWS is after Hawthorn midfielder Jaeger O'Meara, as are... Fremantle.
Channel Seven's Ryan Daniels is reporting that the Dockers are in talks with the Hawks regarding O'Meara, albeit at "early stages".
Could he be involved in a potential Lloyd Meek deal? Would be yet another signal of intent from Freo if that was to come off.
By Dean Bilton
Brodie Grundy has been traded to Melbourne
The Demons get their man, and Collingwood get a significant contract off the books. The deal is:
- Melbourne get: Brodie Grundy
- Collingwood get: Pick 27
So there you have it! Melbourne will be rocking a Gawn-Grundy ruck combo in 2023, which is quite something.
Here's what Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb had this to say about the deal:
"We are ecstatic to have secured the services of Brodie, it's not often you can bring such a talented player into the club.
"Brodie has had an outstanding career to date, and is a proven finals performer. We have seen from afar what he is capable of."
By Dean Bilton
'Mum was in tears': Rankine has flown home
New Crow Izak Rankine has spoken to the media today after completing his trade from Gold Coast yesterday, and it's all very wholesome stuff.
"Mum was in tears, happy for me to be back home.
"My family is very proud of me and happy to have me around again. Being comfortable and being around family will just help me play my best footy.
"I went for the Crows growing up, I was a big fan, I went to all the games and all of that, so to finally put on a jumper is pretty special and it's very exciting for me.
"A lot of fans have a lot of expectations and I think that's just going to drive me to play even better and be better as a person and as a footballer.
"I'm just going to take it day by day. Get in, work hard and earn the respect of the people at the club and the boys in the team.
"I'm excited to get to work."
By Dean Bilton
The Mega-Deal: Port Adelaide verdict
If any of the four teams involved in the Mega-Deal could claim to have won it (whatever that means), Port Adelaide would probably be that team.
- Port gained: Jason Horne-Francis, Junior Rioli, 2023 second-round pick (tied to Collingwood), 2023 future third-round pick (tied to Fremantle)
- Port lost: Picks 8, 43, 53, 57, 2023 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick, 2023 third-round pick
At the end of the day, just about any price was worth it for Port to complete the deal for Jason Horne-Francis, and to secure Junior Rioli for effectively a future second is a great result too. Ken Hinkley and his side are all-in on the here and now, and have effectively written off the next two drafts as a result, but they have lost no key players (Karl Amon aside, but that's a separate matter) and brought in two clear best 22 players.
They also managed to hang on to pick 33 somehow, which will likely be used to bring Esava Ratugolea in from Geelong.
Verdict: They're up and about at Alberton today, and why not? It's a heavy price, but with JHF's almost limitless potential and Rioli's here-and-now class and creativity, it's one worth paying.
By Dean Bilton
The embargo
An embargo on clubs competing deals on the final day of trade period will be back tomorrow, according to Seven News's Mitch Cleary.
Clubs will not be able to formally lodge deals until 3:00pm AEDT, giving them a window until the trade period ends at 7:30pm AEDT to force through all the required paperwork.
Representatives of all 18 clubs will also speak to the media throughout that period, giving their take on it all.
By Dean Bilton
Luke Jackson's Freo aspirations
The other big deal completed yesterday was Luke Jackson's move from Melbourne to Fremantle. The full breadown of that deal was:
- Fremantle recieve: Luke Jackson, pick 44, pick 67
- Melbourne receive: Pick 13, future first-round pick, future second-round pick
Jackson spoke to the media yesterday about his Flagmantle dreams:
"Hopefully we can bring a flag to Fremantle. The first one would be pretty nice.
"With a young core and all really good players that are really driven for success, hopefully I can fit right in there.
"I think every team plays to win, and if it was next year that would be unreal.
"There's a lot of hard work to go, but it's good to be aiming for."
By Dean Bilton
Rawlings: 'We are comfortable in what we've done'
Speaking to RSN Radio, North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings have his own verdict on the mega deal and reflected on the drafting of Jason Horne-Francis.
"We were really keen to get two picks inside three, rather than one, so we're comfortable in what we've done.
"All year we've had three players at the top of the draft we can't split.
"All coaches love the top-end talent but we really want to bring strong characters into our football club.
"We've brought in Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker (both from Fremantle), who are definitely that."
On Horne-Francis:
"We reflect on our decision all the time, and with all the background we did on Jason, none of this came out at all - it was actually quite the opposite.
"All the information in front of us was extremely positive.
"His form in the first six, seven weeks was probably better than it was in the back end of the year when he probably wasn't happy and struggling away from home.
"The pull home for Jason is extremely strong ... but we think this is a bit of a one-off case."
By Dean Bilton
The Mega-Deal: North Melbourne verdict
Did you hear the good news? The mega-deal went down yesterday. And for all the jokes and fun we had, it was actually fairly mega - it's very rare that that many picks and players are exchanged between that many clubs, all for one deal. So let's go through it club-by-club to assess the damage.
First up, North Melbourne:
- Roos gained: Picks 2, 3, 40, 43, 2023 future first-round pick (tied to Port Adelaide)
- Roos lost: Jason Horne-Francis, draft pick number 1, 2023 third-round pick (tied to Fremantle)
So North's hands were somewhat tied by Jason Horne-Francis's trade request. The 2021 number one pick had already become a bit of a distraction throughout his debut season, and had the Kangaroos dug their heels in and forced him to see out his contract, you could easily imagine a situation where his presence is more disruptive than helpful.
With that in mind, though you can't say North Melbourne were clear winners here, they've ended up in a reasonably strong position. The trade of pick one looks weird on paper, but if they have no interest in the player the Giants clearly want with that selection (more on that later), a deal to lock in picks two and three is pretty shrewd. Then they can spend 2023 death-riding Port Adelaide and hoping that future first-round pick turns into something really valuable in what looks like being a very strong draft.
Verdict: From a tough position, they've worked a pretty decent result. They will quite likely leave the draft with both George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, plus another first-rounder next year, and that's probably close to making the best of a bad situation.
