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by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Jarrad Waite has left Carlton and signed with North Melbourne as a free agent. Waite, 31, was drafted by the Blues as a father-son selection in 2001 and debuted in 2003. Injury restricted him to 184 games in which he kicked 252 goals. He was named Carlton's best first year player in 2003 and ran third in the best and fairest in 2007. His father Vin played in Carlton's 1970 and 1972 Premierships. Waite opted to sign with North Melbourne for two years after Carlton only offered him a one year deal. Although several other clubs showed interest, North was the most serious. Carlton will not receive a compensation draft selection as Waite was an unrestricted free agent.

Bulldog Shaun Higgins told the club he felt it was in his best interests to find a new home. As a restricted free agent, the Bulldogs did not take the option of matching offers made by rival clubs which left Higgins free to sign with North Melbourne. The Bulldogs will receive a second round draft selection as compensation unless they secure another player during the free agency period. Higgins was offered a two year deal by the Bulldogs earlier in the year but refused and put all contract talks on hold until the season ended. Higgins, 25, was drafted in 2005 and played 129 games and kicked 128 goals for the Bulldogs.

Source: theage.com.au, Loretta Johns, Carlton Media Release, afl.com.au

Young Giants' midfield gun Jono O'Rourke has told the club he wants to return home to Victoria. It is believed that North Melbourne, Hawthorn and St Kilda are all interested in securing his services. O'Rourke, 20, was a top ten draft selection in 2012. O'Rourke, who can also play as a medium-sized defender, battled hamstring troubles in his first season, managing just one game in 2013. He played eight games this season.

GWS will also be losing key position player Kristian Jaksch who wants to return to Victoria. St Kilda and Carlton are interested. Carlton may only consider trading its first-round draft pick for him if there is another player tied into the deal, or another first-round draft pick coming back to them. The Blues are also interested in the Western Bulldogs' Liam Jones who is a talented contested mark but has battled due to a lack of endurance.

Melbourne's Mitch Clark, who has decided to come out of retirement, has nominated Geelong as his club of choice. Clark retired at the start of the season citing injury and depression. Collingwood was also interested in Clark, but Geelong told Clark they could provide an environment which would suit him with a less intense spotlight than in Melbourne. Geelong Coach Chris Scott has a relationship with Clark from their playing days at Brisbane. Clark was originally drafted by the Lions and played one season alongside Scott. The Cats have acknowledged the inherent risks in recruiting Clark, given his foot injury and the depression that prompted his retirement. Clark, 26, played only 15 games in three seasons at Melbourne. The Cats are confident that they can manage Clark properly. Clark, should he manage a successful return, would be a second tall forward to support Tom Hawkins and the ruck.

Collingwood's Heritier Lumumba has officially nominated Melbourne as his club of choice after being told by Collingwood he would be better off elsewhere. Melbourne defender James Frawley has left the club as a free agent. The club will receive a compensation draft selection for his departure. The club said it would be willing to give up several high draft picks in exchange for Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield but the Crows - and Dangerfield's manager - quickly quashed that notion. Demon defender James Frawley is also on the move with the Cats and Hawthorn among the clubs interested.

Gold Coast ruckman Dan Gorringe has told the club he wants to return home to South Australia and is keen to join Port Adelaide. Gorringe, 22, is contracted to the Suns through next season. In four seasons at Gold Coast, Gorringe has managed just 20 games due to hamstring, ankle and Achilles injuries. He played only three games in 2014. The Adelaide Crows are believed to be interested as well.

Irishman Paddy Brophy as been signed by West Coast for two years as an international rookie. Brophy, a dashing defender, at 6'2 and 185 pounds, showed impressive speed and agility at an AFL draft combine held earlier in the year in Dublin. He was also a dominant player for the Irish U-18 team against Australia. He recently traveled to Australia to take part in the draft combine in Melbourne. Brophy, 20, finished equal first in the "clean hands" test and third in the goal kicking with four goals from five shots. He is the second international player to join the Eagles behind former USA baseball player Corey Adamson.

The Eagles have delisted utility player Ashley Smith and defender Jacob Brennan. Smith, who joined the club through the 2008 national draft, played two games this season to take his career tally to 45, while Brennan, the club’s first genuine father-son selection, joined the club in 2010. He also played two games this season, often minding dangerous small opposition forwards, and providing run out of defense. Both played for East Perth in the WAFL Grand Final.

Source: Anna Carew-Reid, theage.com.au, Loretta Johns, Carlton Media Release, afl.com.au, perthnow.com.au

Fremantle rookies Sam Menegola and Michael Wood have been delisted. They join retirees Kepler Bradley and Scott Gumbleton. Menegola, 22, began his career as a rookie at Hawthorn in 2011 before Fremantle picked him up in the 2012 Rookie Draft. He played two games in the WAFL in 2013 before a season-ending knee injury. He never played a senior game for either club. Wood, 20, was rookie listed in 2014 but never played a senior game. Jacob Ballard has agreed to a one year extension to his contract. He was rookie listed last year.

Source: Luke Morfesse, Fremantle Media Release

The Sydney Swans have delisted senior players Jordan Lockyer and Matthew Dick, while Tommy Walsh has advised the club that he will return home to Ireland. Walsh was recruited to Sydney via a trade with St Kilda at the end of the 2011. He debuted in 2012 and played three games that year. He played only two games in 2013 due to a serious hamstring injury. Lockyer was drafted in 2011 and Matthew was drafted in 2012. Neither played a senior game.

Source: Jordan Laing, Sydney Media Release

Several clubs have nominated father-son selections for the upcoming draft:
Josh Clayton (Sandringham Dragons), nominated by Brisbane Lions, son of Scott (160 games for Fitzroy 1981-90)
Zaine Cordy (Geelong Falcons), nominated by Western Bulldogs, son of Brian (124 games 1981-88)
Darcy Moore (Oakleigh Chargers), nominated by Collingwood, son of Peter (172 games 1974-82)
Billy Stretch (Glenelg), nominated by Melbourne, son of Steven (164 games, 1986-93)
Alec Waterman (Claremont), nominated by West Coast, son of Chris (177 games, 1988-98)

Under the rules, rival clubs can offer draft selections equal to or higher than the original club's designated selection. The original club has the option to match the offer or not. If the original club chooses not to match the offer, then rival clubs are free to draft the player. If the original club does match the offer, they are then committed to use that selection on the player.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release, author note

Article last changed on Tuesday, October 07, 2014 - 10:12 AM EDT


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