The player trade window has closed but the deals to move picks has continued with Richmond and Collingwood doing a deal over pick 27.
Club sources said the Pies have traded pick 27 for the Tigers’ picks 38 and 40 in this year’s draft and their third-round pick in next year’s draft. The AFL confirmed the trade on Monday afternoon.
Under theAFL’s complicated draft points system,Collingwood’s trade has netted them nearly 200 more points in this year’s draft to match any bid that comes for father-son selection Nick Daicos,as well as yielding them another third round pick next year.
For Richmond,the trade means they now have five picks in the top 30 in this year’s draft,which is a strong hand for the recent premiers. Richmond has been trying to leverage their hand to get deeper into the draft as part of a rebuild on the run while still being a flag contender.
Richmond now have picks seven,15,26,27,28 and 83 this year,while the Pies have 36,38,40,46,48,55,58,78 and 79.
“We are continuing to look for ways to strengthen our hand in this year’s and next year’s draft. Today’s trade has allowed us to do this,” Collingwood football manager Graham Wright said.
The Western Bulldogs,who anticipate an early bid for father son selection,Sam Darcy are similarly likely to trade their current first pick in the draft,pick 23,for multiple later picks,which will generate more picks for them.
North Melbourne on Monday cut four players,including veteran Shaun Atley after 234 games. He missed just 11 games across 11 seasons.
“You couldn’t get a more committed and popular club man than Shaun,” North Melbourne general manager of football Brady Rawlings said.