The only change in the form of the previous night’s deal was the addition of pick 50 to Port Adelaide’s pool, which came via Gold Coast.
Atkins had a year remaining on his deal with the Suns but was traded to remove his salary from their books as Gold Coast prepare to land Richmond best and fairest Dan Rioli in exchange for picks six and 23.
Collingwood’s arch-rivals Carlton went in the opposite direction as they convinced West Coast to trade pick three for the Blues’ picks 12 and 14 as well as small forward Matt Owies.
Eagles CEO Don Pyke defended the trade on the basis that it allowed West Coast to secure Liam Baker after making a commitment to trade him in, with Pyke saying they expected to still land a good player with pick 12.
Carlton list manager Nick Austin was rapt to have a top-three selection, which could see them draft the Oakleigh Chargers’ Finn O’Sullivan if he is still available at that pick. The club turned pick 12 and a first- and second-round future pick into that selection after trading with the Hawks.
Carlton’s Matt Owies and Richmond’s Liam Baker will both play with the Eagles in 2025 Credit: The Age
Hawthorn are expected to offer a future selection in the first- and second- rounds attached to the Blues or the Hawks as part of a deal for the Eagles’ Tom Barrass, while the Dockers have picks 10 and 18 on offer to Richmond for Shai Bolton.
If the Bolton and Rioli trades proceed as expected, the Tigers will finish the trade period with picks 1, 6, 10, 14, 20, 23 and 24 for second-year coach Adem Yze to develop after losing premiership Tigers Bolton, Baker and Rioli.
Smith deal to go to wire
The move of Bulldog midfielder Bailey Smith to Geelong is expected to go down to the wire on the final day of trade period. Geelong formally offered pick 17 for Smith to the Bulldogs last week, and the two clubs have been discussing the trade this week as the Bulldogs hope to gain a return that is roughly the equivalent of pick 10 for the 23-year-old. If a trade cannot be finalised by the deadline, Smith could enter the national draft and the Bulldogs would get nothing for losing the player.
Wanting a new home: Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith is planning on joining GeelongCredit: AFL Photos
The Bulldogs have expressed interest in Carlton’s Matt Kennedy and contracted Giant Xavier O’Halloran, and are in discussions with St Kilda, which is looking to add three-time All-Australian Jack Macrae to their list for pick 47.
North Melbourne remain interested in Bulldogs best-and-fairest winner Caleb Daniel with the player open to a move ahead of the trade deadline. The Kangaroos floated pick 25 in return for Daniel and pick 48 earlier in the trade period as they looked to zero in on the Bombers pick nine, which was eventually traded to Melbourne. Pick 25 could be the basis of a deal for the defender who is contracted until 2026.
Sharp deal for Demons
Brisbane running machine Harry Sharp was traded to Melbourne late on Tuesday for pick 49 and an exchange of future third-round selections, with the Lions receiving a future pick tied to Essendon and the Demons receiving the Lions’ future third-round pick.
The Lions had initially rejected the Demons’ pick 49 offer before Melbourne traded a suite of picks to Essendon for the in-demand No.9 selection. Brisbane would have accepted pick 40 but Melbourne traded it to the Demons.
Melbourne are keen to secure hard running Lion Harry SharpCredit: Getty
Sharp projects as now Crow Alex Neal-Bullen’s replacement on the Dees’ half-forward line, but the Lions’ did a pick swap with St Kilda on Tuesday in a signal they were willing to keep him.
Eventually, however, they came to an agreement with Sharp – who set the draft combine’s two-kilometre time trial record in 2020 – joining Melbourne on a three-year deal. The 21-year-old played 16 games for the Lions and was an emergency in the grand final.
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