Adam Saad talks to Essendon’s website after the Dons completed a deal with Gold Coast to acquire the speedy half-back’s services. Picture: BOMBER TV
The Trades – Day 8: Another big tick for the Bombers
It seems the wheels of the AFL trade period kept turning over the weekend, as the deals commenced fairly quickly come Monday morning.
Essendon continued adding ticks to its list, securing the services of Gold Coast speedster Adam Saad. The Bombers only had to part with a future 2018 pick to get the deal over the line, which seems like monumental unders.
Adrian Dodoro showed once again that he isn’t going to indulge the Western Bulldogs in conversations regarding Jake Stringer that the club don’t see as realistic.
Were Essendon to trade a future second-round pick, it would leave them unable to trade any more future picks, including the first-round choice the Bulldogs would have had their eyes firmly on.
With many believing that the Stringer deal will still happen, Essendon shapes as a big winner of the trade period thus far, behind only Port Adelaide.
“It’s really exciting and humbling to finally be on Essendon’s list, I’m really grateful for the opportunity they have given me,” Saad said after the deal was announced. “As soon as I spoke to Essendon, I felt at home straight away.”
Essendon coach John Worsfold said he was thrilled Saad had joined the club. “Adam is a strong defender of his opponent with excellent speed and ball-handling skills, which allow him to take the game on from the backline,” Worsfold said. “We believe Adam will complement the style of game we are developing.”
Former North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow, meanwhile, has indicated he would “love to be traded” to join his brother, David.
Swallow, who is contracted until the end of 2018, seems more likely than not to make his way north.
The potential for a three-way trade involving the former North Melbourne captain is also growing, as Footyology understands Geelong midfielder Darcy Lang toured North Melbourne’s facilities earlier in the trade period.
A trade that would see Swallow go to Gold Coast, Gary Ablett to Geelong and Lang to North with the accompaniment of a number of draft picks seems to be much more than a rumour now.
North Melbourne football manager Cameron Joyce says the club is interested in exploring potential trade scenarios that will see Swallow playing at the Gold Coast in 2018.
In more good news for the Suns, Fremantle youngster Lachie Weller, who showed promising signs in the 2017 season has rejected a four-year contract extension from the Dockers and instead requested a trade to Gold Coast.
The Tasmanian-born midfielder spent some of his teenage years with his family on the Gold Coast and was part of the Suns’ academy.
There’s potential for another three-way trade here, too, as Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney have reached a stalemate in conversations surrounding rebounding defender Nathan Wilson.
Gold Coast list manager Scott Clayton says it’s good to see some player traffic headed towards Metricon Stadium rather than in the other direction, as has been the case all too often in recent times.
“It is appealing to us, clearly, he’s very committed to Gold Coast as a destination,” Clayton told SEN. “He was in our academy for at least three years. He did a lot of work in development but he didn’t qualify under the residential rule.
“We’re very keen to get something done.Fremantle know what we’ve got, quite a bit of currency and even a player who wants to go the other way in Brandon Matera.”
Marty Pask, the manager of in-demand Richmond midfielder Anthony Miles, told AFL Trade Radio on Monday it was more likely the inside ball winner would remain at Richmond in 2018.
The former Giant is understood to have a one year offer from the Tigers in front of him, the club believing that, while his senior opportunities were limited this season, Miles is a grade above the VFL, where he spent most of 2017.
Make sure you stay with Footyology for all your trade updates!
