Adams and Grundy reunite in Sydney as Saints wait on Gresham

For Melbourne the future second round pick was more consequential in the trade than pick 46 this year, a selection that may not end up being used by the Demons.

Adams and Grundy played together at Collingwood from 2014 to 2022 with Adams’ first game at the Magpies being Grundy’s eighth career game. Adams played as an on-baller alongside Grundy for the bulk of the pair’s career, and they are good friends.

Taylor Adams began his career in Sydney with the Giants and will end it at the Swans after playing 175 games for CollingwoodCredit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

Adams would have played in Collingwood’s premiership team had he not hurt his hamstring at training in the week leading into the preliminary final while Grundy did not play finals with Melbourne after the Demons decided Gawn would ruck solo from late in the season. Remarkably, the Demons even preferred fringe player Josh Schache as the substitute in the semi-final loss to Carlton instead of Grundy.

The deals completed a busy day for the Swans as they look to bolster experience and make a tilt at the premiership in the remaining two years of John Longmire’s contract by recruiting four readymade players with Joel Hamling and James Jordon also coming into the club alongside Grundy and Adams.

Flashback: Then Collingwood teammates Taylor Adams and Brodie Grundy get busy in 2017.Credit: Getty Images

Sydney also traded out Dylan Stephens, who was selection No.5 in the 2019 national draft, to North Melbourne in a deal that saw the Kangaroos receive Stephens and pick 25 in exchange for pick 44 and a future end of round one special assistance pick, which will be selection 19.

The Kangaroos were keen to trade out those future end of round one picks as the AFL said the assistance package they received would be reviewed at the end of next season.

The 22-year-old Stephens, who played in last year’s grand final, played 43 matches for the Swans with the Kangaroos keen on his ability to play a hard running wing role.

The Swans now have picks 12, 44 and 54 in next month’s national draft as well as four experienced additions to strengthen their midfield with ruckman Tom Hickey retiring and Peter Ladhams battling to cement a spot.

Saints to trade if compensation for losing Gresham unsatisfactory

The focus of the AFL trade period will turn to whether Essendon’s offer for restricted free agent Jade Gresham will be enough to trigger the end of first round selection his former club St Kilda will need not to match the deal and force a trade.

The Bombers want to add Gresham to their two free agent acquisitions Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein without using any of the draft capital they have as they look to add young talent to their list while remaining competitive.

St Kilda star Jade Gresham wants to join Essendon.Credit: Getty Images

St Kilda football manager David Misson made it clear on SEN the club would match the offer if the compensation did not fall after their first draft pick, which currently sits at pick 13, while the Bombers are equally adamant they won’t entertain a trade.

The Saints re-signed Hunter Clark for two seasons and are confident of completing a deal to secure Blues’ midfielder Paddy Dow for a third or fourth round pick. However, discussions over Fremantle’s Liam Henry will take longer with the Saints unwilling to meet the Dockers’ demands of a first round pick.

Carlton also made a deal with North Melbourne that saw Zac Fisher and their pick No.17 depart for picks 21 and 25. The deal is likely to give the Blues room to move in negotiations with Gold Coast if they decide to trade in the Suns’ Elijah Hollands.

Zac Fisher will play under Alastair Clarkson at North MelbourneCredit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

The Gold Coast are moving closer to gathering enough picks to be confident of matching bids for their highly rated academy graduates’ Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Jake Rogers after being involved in a four-club trade with North Melbourne, Adelaide and Melbourne.

The complicated deal saw the Demons receive Gold Coast’s pick 11 in exchange for pick 14, 27 and 35. The Suns then traded pick 14 and forward Chris Burgess to Adelaide in return for picks 23 and 26. The Kangaroos then grabbed the Suns pick 18 and handed Gold Coast the second of their future end of first round assistance picks.

Gold Coast are confident the picks at their disposal give them enough points to match bids for their academy players and, if necessary, they can orchestrate trades up until and during the national draft to obtain the players without going into deficit for 2024.

The Western Bulldogs are also keen for draft points after father-son recruit Jordon Croft – son of former player Matthew Croft – nominated the club to give them priority access over drafting him this season. The Bulldogs hold pick 5 after swapping picks on Monday which allows them to secure a top five pick and Croft.

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