Crows and Port get active in trade period
The Crows have picked up an extra first-round draft pick in a four-club mega-trade but appear no closer to a deal for sought-after Swan Jordan Dawson, while the Power yesterday snared a bargain forward from GWS as the AFL trade period continued.
GWS forward Jeremy Finlayson will go to Port in one of the first moves in this year's trade period. Photo: AAP/Hamish Blair
Giants forward Jeremy Finlayson will join Port Adelaide on a three-year deal, citing family reasons for his trade.
The Power gave up a future third-round draft pick for the 25-year-old, who was recruited through the Giants’ academy and has played 66 senior games since his 2017 debut.
Finlayson was contracted to GWS until the end of 2023, but requested a move to South Australia for family reasons.
“Jeremy has impressed us during his time at the Giants as a dangerous tall forward due to his athleticism and ability to impact the scoreboard,” Power list manager Jason Cripps said.
“He was very influential as a forward for GWS in their (2019) grand final year and we believe he offers us great flexibility as a tall forward, second ruck option.”
Meanwhile, the Crows and Sydney continue to haggle over a trade for Dawson, who has asked to move to Adelaide after rejecting a new Swans contract offer.
Sydney had rejected a deal involving pick 17, which the Crows were looking to prise from the Western Bulldogs – but that option was yesterday removed from the table after Melbourne, Adelaide, St Kilda and the Dogs completed a complicated exchange of draft picks.
The deal could open up avenues for further player movement during the trade period, following a slow start this week.
It gave the Crows rights to Melbourne’s future first-round pick, which shapes as a potential key factor in their plans to settle the stand-off with Sydney.
The Bulldogs gave up their first-round selection (No.17 overall) to the Demons, who thrashed the Dogs in last month’s grand final.
In return, the Bulldogs received enough picks to improve their draft value index points tally as they seek to match an expected early bid for father-son prospect Sam Darcy at November’s national draft.
The Dogs will also likely gain more draft selections – and ultimately enough points to land Darcy – through deals to send fringe players Patrick Lipinski (Collingwood) and Lewis Young (Carlton) to rival clubs.
Also yesterday, legendary former Crows and Carlton small forward Eddie Betts joined Geelong’s coaching staff after recently calling time on his glittering 350-game AFL career.
The Cats also confirmed they are one of several clubs interested in recruiting dumped Adelaide goalsneak Tyson Stengle, with the presence of his former mentor Betts likely to give their pitch impetus.
– with AAP
