AFL Clubs Trade Activity Part One

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

NOTE: Draft details from Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release

Updated list of Free Agents

Restricted:
Josh Drummond* (Brisbane Lions); Heath Scotland (Carlton); Travis Cloke, Harry O’Brien (Collingwood); Angus Monfries (Essendon); Brent Moloney (Melbourne); Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide); Luke McGuane (Richmond); Brendon Goddard, Jason Gram (St Kilda).

Unrestricted:
Chris Knights (Adel); Simon Black, Ash McGrath (Brisbane); Jordan Russell, Bret Thornton (Carlton); Ben Johnson (Collingwood); Ricky Dyson, Dustin Fletcher, David Hille, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Henry Slattery (Essendon); Luke McPharlin (Fremantle); Shannon Byrnes, Paul Chapman, Corey Enright, Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett*, David Wojcinski* (Geelong); Chance Bateman*, Thomas Murphy, Michael Osborne, Clinton Young (Hawthorn); Matthew Bate, Lynden Dunn, Jared Rivers (Melbourne); Michael Firrito (North Melbourne); Brett Ebert, Steven Salopek, Jacob Surjan (Port Adelaide); Shane Tuck (Richmond); Jason Blake, Raphael Clarke, Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda); Jude Bolton, Jarred Moore** (Sydney Swans); Andrew Embley, Daniel Kerr, Quinten Lynch, Mark Nicoski (West Coast); Will Minson (Western Bulldogs).

*retired
**delisted

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release & author notes

The AFL trade period took place for three weeks in October with the following trades being completed. This included the new free agency agreements.

GWS snared five of the first 13 selections in the draft with some shrewd trading during the first day. They traded their first pick of the mini-draft (Jack Martin) to Gold Coast in return for selections 2 and 63 at the national draft. They then traded Tom Lee and selections 24 and 43 in the draft to St Kilda in return for selection 12 (see below). Their third deal saw them trade their second mini-draft selection Jesse Hogan and selection 20 in the draft and NT Zone selection Dominic Barry in exchange for selections 3 and 13 at the draft. List manager Stephen Silvagni said the Giants were focused on securing the best talent available to continue to build their list.

Hogan, a 17 year old from Western Australia, won’t be eligible to play for Melbourne until 2014, as he is a pre-listed selection. Hogan is a tall key position forward who tested very well in the sprint and 3km time trials at the recent draft combine. He also attended the AIS-AFL Academy and represented WA in this year's Under 18 tournament. Barry also did well at the combine with some impressive results in the agility test, the shuttle run and repeat sprints. He is a midfielder with excellent evasive skills, speed, endurance and an accurate kick. Martin, a tall midfielder/forward, attended the Clontarf Academy in WA and represented WA at the Under 18 tournament.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release, afl.com.au

Fremantle picked up restricted free agent Danyle Pearce from Port Adelaide after the Power opted not to match the offer. Pearce, 26, played 154 games at Port after being elevated from the rookie list. He is also the first rookie-listed player to win the Rising Star Award (2006). He was a member of Port's 2004 Premiership team and was the inaugural winner of the Wanganeen Medal as Port’s best Under 21 player in 2006. Pearce said it was a difficult decision for him and his family but that he was looking forward to making an impact with the Dockers. He also thanked Port and his teammates as well as Docker Coach Ross Lyon.

General manager of football operations Chris Bond said Pearce was a quality player who was very durable and capable of playing in a number of positions. Bond said that although Pearce had been primarily a defender recently, the Dockers believe there is a place for him in the midfield and forward line. "We think it’s a great opportunity for him and a great asset for the club. His strengths are his speed and his ball use and we think that he’s going to fit into the culture of our team. It’s an exciting time for us and it’s going to be an exciting time for Danyle.”

Source: Luke Morfesse, Fremantle Media Release

Essendon signed Brendon Goddard after St Kilda elected not to match the offer made by the Bombers. No sooner had the free agency period started - the week after the Grand Final - that Essendon put an offer to Saint Brendon Goddard and he accepted. It had been widely speculated in the media for weeks that Goddard would exercise his right as a free agent. He signed a four-year deal believed to be worth over $3 million. The Saints had the option to match the offer, but refused to budge on the three-year deal they had offered their star. The Dockers were also interested but Goddard wanted to stay in Victoria.

St Kilda football director Chris Pelchen said the club was disappointed to lose Goddard, but the Saints were committed to a "team first" philosophy in retaining and recruiting players. Goddard's agent, Dan Richardson, said his client felt the move was in the best interest of his career. He also hinted that the Bombers were better placed for Finals than the Saints and said Goddard's decision was made for a "host of reasons".

Source: The Australian

Richmond signed Adelaide's Chris Knights as an unrestricted free agent. Knights originally hails from Victoria and had been with the Crows for eight seasons. He had his best season in 2009 with 43 goals in 20 games, averaging 18 possessions per game. He said he felt he needed a fresh opportunity and is delighted to be joining the Tigers. He acknowledged Adelaide, saying they had been fantastic. Richmond general manager Craig Cameron said the Tigers were delighted to gain Knights, believing he would be a valuable acquisition for the club. "Chris has the all-round talent, versatility and experience to really help us, and we feel that he’ll thrive with the opportunities”.

Debuting in 2005, Knights has played a total of 96 games and kicked a total of 68 goals.

Source: Adrian Ceddia, Richmond Media Release

Richmond's offer to Port Adelaide's restricted free agent Troy Chaplin was not matched and the defender is now a Tiger. This came shortly after the Tigers secured Chris Knights from Adelaide. RIchmond's general manager Craig Cameron said the club had "identified Troy as a player who could provide significant benefit ... both on-field with his playing ability, and in a leadership capacity off-field ... We have a young, developing defensive group, and Troy is well-equipped to provide the necessary know-how and experience to assist the likes of Alex Rance, Dylan Grimes, Jake Batchelor and Ben Griffiths.”

Chaplin, 26, played 140 games for the Power since his 2004 debut, The key defender finished equal fourth in Port Adelaide’s Best and Fairest this year, after being runner-up in 2010 and third in 2009. He also won an AFL Rising Star nomination in 2006.

Source: Adrian Ceddia, Richmond Media Release

West Coast Premiership forward Quinten Lynch exercised his right as an unrestricted free agent to sign a deal with Collingwood. Lynch, 29, played 11 seasons with the Eagles. A life member at West Coast, Lynch said there were a number of things which appealed to him at Collingwood, "... to think that I could play for the biggest club in the game and challenge myself ... to play a flexible role ... the idea of playing on the MCG every second week was really attractive, too." He said he would always think well of West Coast but the chance to join Collingwood was too good an opportunity and would give him the chance to "... reinvigorate and extend my career in Melbourne".

Lynch played 209 games with the Eagles and kicked 281 goals. He led the club goal kicking in 2006 (65) and 2007 (52) and won the club Best and Fairest in 2008. Not only is Lynch a strong presence in the forward line, he can pinch-hit in the ruck. He played 21 games in 2012 and kicked three or more goals in three matches.

Football director Geoff Walsh believes Lynch will add flexibility to the team in 2013. "Another strong-bodied marking target up forward will really suit ... and Quinten can also play in the ruck ... And we know ... how valuable a player is who can play those two roles ... Quinten ... presented a hunger for a new start ... He was a good fit for us and keen. We think he will do very well.”

Source: Stephen Reilly, Collingwood Media Release

Melbourne has signed Geelong's Shannon Byrnes as an unrestricted free agent. A two-time Geelong Premiership player, the 28 year old played 108 games with the Cats since his 2004 debut. He played in Geelong's 2007 and 2009 Premierships as well as the 2006 and 2009 preseason Premierships. His best seasons were 2009 and 2010 when he played a total of 45 games. He played just four games in 2012, but was a member of Geelong's VFL Premiership team.

Melbourne list manager Tim Harrington said that having a player who has experienced this kind of success could assist the Demons, “We see Shannon fulfilling a specific on field role ... He’s not only a quality AFL player in his own right, but he’s a player who can help many players on our list realize their own potential.”

Source: Ryan Larkin, Melbourne Media Release

Port Adelaide exchanged its Round Three Selection to Essendon for Angus Monfries (restricted free agent).
Monfries played eight seasons with the Bombers but decided he wanted to return home to South Australia. Monfries said he enjoyed his time at Essendon and would miss the club, but was looking forward to the opportunity Port presented as well as playing in front of family and friends and the challenge of helping to rebuild the club. Port Adelaide general manager Peter Rohde believes Monfries could play a midfield role as well as forward to give the side more flexibility.

Essendon Coach James Hird thanked Monfries for his service to the club, saying "Angus has been a fantastic player ... and it’s always sad to see a player of his caliber leave ... Angus had an offer in front of him ... but he has made a decision to secure his financial future and we have to respect that."

Source: news.com.au

GWS Giants exchanged their Incentive Selection (number one) and their 2011 Compensation Selection End Round One (Rhys Palmer) to the Gold Coast Suns for their Round One Selection (currently number two), their Round Four Selection (currently number 69) and their 2010 Compensation Selection End Round One (Jarrad Brennan).

The Western Bulldogs traded defender Brian Lake and its Round Two Selection (currently number 28) to Hawthorn for its Round One Selection (currently 22) and its Round Two Selection (currently number 44).

Lake, a two-time All Australian, played 20 games in 2012 and needs just three games to reach the his 200 game milestone. Hawks general manager Mark Evans believes Lake will complement Hawthorn's defense very well and that his experience will be a great benefit to the young Hawk defenders as well as adding depth.

Lake was drafted by the Bulldogs in 2001 from SA club Woodville-West Torrens. He was named the Bulldogs most promising player in 2003 and club Best and Fairest in 2007, earned All Australian selection in 2009-2010 and was a member of the Bulldogs' preseason Premiership in 2010. Lake struggled in 2011 due to preseason hip, shoulder and knee surgery which restricted him to just five games. He was back to his best in 2012.

Source: Leah Mirabella, Hawthorn Media Release, AFL Record Season Guide