Geelong could be preparing for a massive trade period heist.
Also, experts have questioned the huge price tag for a missing sun.
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GRUNDY/HOPPER HEIST “TAXABLE” OBSERVATION CATS
SEN’s Sam Edmund reports Geelong are “fairly in line” for Brodie Grundy and believes the Cats could be preparing for a massive trade period steal for the star ruckman. i Jacob Hopper.
Hopper was spotted earlier this month as Geelong’s number one target despite the midfielder having a year to run on his contract as GWS face salary cap pressure, with a number of ‘other Giants weapons linked to trades.
The top-placed favorites Cats are also among the clubs with an interest in Grundy, with the Pies looking to offload his lucrative $1m-per-season contract until 2027 and can contribute up to $300,000 of his annual salary at a rival club.
Edmund says he “wouldn’t rule out the possibility” of Geelong bringing both stars into the club and “watching that space”.
Gawn is proud of Zorko’s handling of the club | 01:11
“I just wonder if the Cats could be orchestrating another impressive trade period, another anti-aging strike if you like, as they define the process of equality,” Edmund told SEN.
“Jacob Hopper and Brodie Grundy are the two names that keep popping up at Geelong. It’s been hard to decipher how big that interest (in Grundy) is.
“But the ruck position has been an itch they can’t scratch and according to a couple of sources they’re right in the running here for Brodie Grundy.
“Could the Cats even do a deal for Grundy, coinciding with the eventual retirements of Tom Hawkins, Joel Selwood, Isaac Smith and the like?”
Broadcaster Gerard Whateley added: “Imagine if they did that as the defending prime minister.”
Speaking on radio on Wednesday, GWS football boss Jason McCartney admitted it was “difficult to answer” whether both Hopper and Tim Taranto would be at the club in 2023.
“Tim is out of contract so he has a call to make. We would like to keep Tim. Tim has been a wonderful player for our club over the last six years,” McCartney said WITHOUT
“He was the best and fairest winner not in a premiership year but in a big final year (2019) so we’d like to be able to retain Tim. Obviously the opportunity to speak to Adam’s new coach will be important Kingsley over the next few days.
“But Jacob is signed and that’s going to be something that we’ll have to sit down with Jacob and work with his management, whether that’s to retain him and play a really big role in our midfield, or whether he’s willing to explore some opportunities elsewhere .
“Those talks with management throughout the year, but with the players we’ve just finished some medicals and some of their season, but those in-depth contract talks haven’t been held directly with the players yet.”
McCartney said roster changes were imminent at the Giants after the club recorded just a 40 per cent win rate since their 2019 grand final.
“There’s speculation about our players almost every year, so we get used to it,” he said.
“We know we have to have some reset and balance on our roster.
“The reality is that we didn’t challenge this year … we’re very aware that some tweaks and some changes need to be made.”
PUNDICTS ASK RANKINE PRICE TAG
According to Izak Rankine, he is not worth $800,000 per season AFL 360 co-presenter Mark Robinson, as the missing Sun looks to move to the Adelaide Crows.
Gold Coast confirmed on Tuesday that Rankine had requested a trade from the Crows in a deal believed to be worth around $800,000 a year over five seasons.
The former Pick 3 has flashed flashes throughout his 48-game career, including a career-best 29-goal 2022 season, but Robinson still wasn’t convinced the 22-year-old was worth such an exorbitant price .
Robinson added he believes Rankine is only worth a first-round pick in a trade, with the Crows holding the fifth overall pick.
“My reluctance to jump up and down with excitement about it is that it’s not worth $800,000 right now,” Robinson said. AFL 360.
“He’s a small forward with tricks at $800,000. Cyril Rioli is the best small forward I’ve ever seen, and he wouldn’t be worth it, I know the wages have gone up, but my God, that’s a lot of money.”
Isn’t Rankine worth two 1st round picks? | 01:12
partner Co-host of AFL 360 Gerard Whateley questioned why the rebuilding Crows are willing to spend such a lucrative sum on a small forward after signing winger Jordan Dawson on a big deal last season.
“It’s a lot of money tied up in that position and at the expense of Jordan Dawson and the money they’ve spent on it,” he said.
“It just makes you wonder, in the picture of a rebuild, to use your money in those two positions instead of explosive midfielders and key forwards, challenges things.
“It’s tough for Gold Coast – Pick 3 three years ago, they’ve looked after him a lot. He got off to a good start and then had a really bad stretch where I suspect he’s been taught football and he’s not going to get any benefit from it.
“The Ravens will want to compensate them well.”
FRO AND WINGMAN ‘FAIR WAY APART’ ON OFFER
Blake Acres has enjoyed the best season of his career for Fremantle in 2022, but the 26-year-old could be on the hunt for a third AFL club as he remains “a fair way” with the club in a new agreement.
Acres is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to sign a new deal with the Dockers.
His switch to playing fullback under Justin Longmuir has sparked a new lease of life in his AFL career, after leaving the Saints with 75 games under his belt.
Acres was part of the deal to bring Brad Hill to the Saints on a big money deal.
SEN’s Sam Edmund said Acres is “on the radar” of some clubs, including Carlton and North Melbourne.
“He’s been offered a contract for next year at Fremantle which he doesn’t really like, he might even be asked to take less,” he told SEN.
“He was pretty well paid when he first came across and it took him a while to go to Fremantle. That’s changed this year.
“Whether he would deal with another move back to the east coast, whether it would be Carlton, if it would be North Melbourne, it could be a stretch, who knows.
“But the bottom line is that at the moment they are very separate, player and club.”
The 2022 trade period is shaping up to be a busy one for the Dockers, who are determined to lure young ruck Luke Jackson home to WA.
While Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said his club was not out of the running to secure the 2021 Rising Star, should he request a trade in Melbourne, the Dockers are seen in pole position .
But the imminent departure of Rory Lobb is another hurdle for the Dockers, with the tall forward expected to again ask for a switch, following his failed bid to join GWS in the last trade period in the days of death
Griffin Logue is another of the Dockers who is attracting interest as he remains unsigned beyond this season.