The Swans have moved Robbie Fox and Sam Gray to the rookie list under the new AFL Rules. Both will be listed as Category A rookies for the 2021 season. Under the new rules, the club does not need to wait until the rookie draft period and the pair will be available for senior selection without having to be elevated back to the senior list.
Adelaide, Melbourne and North Melbourne have placed several senior players onto their Category A rookie lists. The Crows moved forward Ben Davis and winger David Mackay. Davis, 23, was drafted in 2016 but a foot injury delayed his debut. He played one game last year and one game in 2020. Mackay, 32, was drafted in 2006 and has played 220 games.
Melbourne moved defender James Jordan and midfielder Aaron Nietschke to their rookie list. Jordan, 19, was drafted in 2018 but has yet to debut. Nietschke, 20, was drafted in 2018 but ruptured his ACL just six games into the VFL season in 2019, then again just before Christmas.
North moved midfielder William Walker to the rookie list. Walker, 21, was drafted in 2017 but his debut was delayed by a bout of glandular fever. He made it back to play four games but a serious knee/tibia injury kept him out for all of 2019. Just before preseason training, he developed a stress reaction in the tibia and managed just two games in 2020.
The Western Bulldogs moved forward Ben Cavarra and midfielder William Hayes to the rookie list. Cavarra, 24, was drafted in 2018 but has played just one game - in 2020. Hayes, 25, was drafted in 2018 and has played nine games.
The window for trading selections will open again at the start of December 9th's draft period but some clubs are striking deals ahead of time to improve their draft order and bidding potential. The Bulldogs were the first to strike a deal in an effort to improve their chances of securing their Academy player Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. They traded their selection 26 to GWS for the Giants' selections 29 and 52. Under the AFL's draft valuation rules, it gives the Dogs 170 points to strengthen their bidding in case another club wants to draft him. Viewed as an exciting talent, Ugle-Hagan is expected to garner plenty of interest. Adelaide, North Melbourne, Sydney and Hawthorn are all in the mix to bid on him.
Geelong concluded a trade with Gold Coast to climb up the draft order. The Cats received the Suns' selection 27, which they were not planning to use due to a full list, in exchange for a future round three selection. It sees the Cats change their starting position at this year’s pool from selection 51 into the early part of the second round. It is the second pick swap the Suns have made in as many weeks after last week moving out pick 37 in a deal for future picks. If not traded the Suns would not have used the picks at all given their list squeeze. It is believed the Suns may have to use points to match ids on Academy players by 2021, so they have stocked up on points and will be able to roll them forward until the AFL makes a decision on when the list concessions end.
Brisbane also gave up two round four selections to Collingwood in exchange for Collingwood's selection 70 and a future round four selection.
Source: afl.com.au
Article last changed on Wednesday, January 06, 2021 - 5:58 PM EST
