The Hay-maker
By Stephen Reilly
and Michael Gleeson
October 5, 2005
. . . and Hawthorn gets two first-round draft picks plus one second-round pick.
THE first blockbuster deal of the trade period was nearing completion last night, a complicated four-club exchange involving Jonathan Hay, Daniel Motlop, Byron Pickett, Steven Armstrong and a host of draft picks.
A deal created out of the impasse surrounding Hay and Motlop, the arrangement is expected to mean the Hawthorn full-back crosses to the Kangaroos, Motlop gets his way and makes Port Adelaide his new home, Byron Pickett starts over with Melbourne and Armstrong leaves the Demons to join Motlop at Alberton. Hawthorn will receive the two first-round draft picks it has demanded for Hay and another in the second round.
The new deal became the most viable option late last night when Melbourne introduced itself into negotiations with its interest in Pickett. To that point, Fremantle had been unable to put a satisfactory offer to Hawthorn for Hay and a Brisbane Lions delegation to Darwin had failed to convince Motlop that his future lay at the Gabba.
The Dockers unsuccessfully offered draft selection 10 for Hay yesterday afternoon and refused to sweeten the offer with Ryan Murphy, the 20-year-old Victorian the Hawks wanted included in the deal. A day earlier, Hawthorn had rejected a similar offer from the Kangaroos of pick 13.
Hours after Fremantle's bid was turned down, Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews, assistant coach Craig Lambert and star player Chris Johnson flew to Darwin to meet Motlop, who had been considered singularly crucial to the Kangaroos' plans of acquiring Hay.
The trio, joined by former Brisbane player and Top End icon Michael McLean, met Motlop on a Darwin beach for more than an hour, but were unable to persuade him. The Kangaroos had been hoping to trade Motlop to Brisbane for the Lions' first-round selection, pick nine, which they believed was necessary to secure Hay.
The Kangaroos are expected to decide this morning whether to release Motlop to Port and give over picks 13, 14 and 29 to Hawthorn in exchange for Hay and pick 22. If they do so, Pickett will cross to Melbourne in exchange for Armstrong and pick 28, which will be on-traded to Hawthorn.
Fremantle is not expected to make an improved offer. It is believed the Dockers were reconsidering their commitment to acquiring Hay last night after it became apparent they would either have to give over more draft picks or act on the risk of trading a potential star such as Graham Polak or Murphy.
Adelaide's decision yesterday to accept pick 17 from St Kilda for Fergus Watts and conclude the first deal of this year's trade period immediately raised the prospect of the Crows on-trading the selection for Brisbane flanker Troy Selwood, who flew to Adelaide last night for a meeting today.
"He's on our radar but we haven't yet committed in any form. We're still thinking that one through," Adelaide football manager John Reid said of the 21-year-old Lion.
Brisbane's Llane Spaanderman, 19, also is being linked with the Crows, who met Western Bulldog Patrick Bowden in Adelaide yesterday but are understood to have decided against pursuing a trade for him.
According to coach Grant Thomas, the Saints are considering a versatile role for Watts, the 20-year-old who was a first-round selection in the 2003 draft.
The Kangaroos met West Coast yesterday to discuss a trade for Daniel McConnell, 19, who wants to return to Victoria. Carlton also has an interest in McConnell and has hatched an ambitious plan of moving Trent Sporn to Adelaide for pick 17 and on-trading that selection to the Eagles. Sporn, like Selwood, flew to Adelaide last night to meet Crows coach Neil Craig this morning.
Essendon defender Ted Richards wants to take his career to Sydney but the Dons are exploring deals elsewhere, including a swap with Carlton for Scott Camporeale. The Western Bulldogs are also keen on Richards but are not prepared to give up anything more than pick 27 for the 22-year-old.
By Stephen Reilly
and Michael Gleeson
October 5, 2005
. . . and Hawthorn gets two first-round draft picks plus one second-round pick.
THE first blockbuster deal of the trade period was nearing completion last night, a complicated four-club exchange involving Jonathan Hay, Daniel Motlop, Byron Pickett, Steven Armstrong and a host of draft picks.
A deal created out of the impasse surrounding Hay and Motlop, the arrangement is expected to mean the Hawthorn full-back crosses to the Kangaroos, Motlop gets his way and makes Port Adelaide his new home, Byron Pickett starts over with Melbourne and Armstrong leaves the Demons to join Motlop at Alberton. Hawthorn will receive the two first-round draft picks it has demanded for Hay and another in the second round.
The new deal became the most viable option late last night when Melbourne introduced itself into negotiations with its interest in Pickett. To that point, Fremantle had been unable to put a satisfactory offer to Hawthorn for Hay and a Brisbane Lions delegation to Darwin had failed to convince Motlop that his future lay at the Gabba.
The Dockers unsuccessfully offered draft selection 10 for Hay yesterday afternoon and refused to sweeten the offer with Ryan Murphy, the 20-year-old Victorian the Hawks wanted included in the deal. A day earlier, Hawthorn had rejected a similar offer from the Kangaroos of pick 13.
Hours after Fremantle's bid was turned down, Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews, assistant coach Craig Lambert and star player Chris Johnson flew to Darwin to meet Motlop, who had been considered singularly crucial to the Kangaroos' plans of acquiring Hay.
The trio, joined by former Brisbane player and Top End icon Michael McLean, met Motlop on a Darwin beach for more than an hour, but were unable to persuade him. The Kangaroos had been hoping to trade Motlop to Brisbane for the Lions' first-round selection, pick nine, which they believed was necessary to secure Hay.
The Kangaroos are expected to decide this morning whether to release Motlop to Port and give over picks 13, 14 and 29 to Hawthorn in exchange for Hay and pick 22. If they do so, Pickett will cross to Melbourne in exchange for Armstrong and pick 28, which will be on-traded to Hawthorn.
Fremantle is not expected to make an improved offer. It is believed the Dockers were reconsidering their commitment to acquiring Hay last night after it became apparent they would either have to give over more draft picks or act on the risk of trading a potential star such as Graham Polak or Murphy.
Adelaide's decision yesterday to accept pick 17 from St Kilda for Fergus Watts and conclude the first deal of this year's trade period immediately raised the prospect of the Crows on-trading the selection for Brisbane flanker Troy Selwood, who flew to Adelaide last night for a meeting today.
"He's on our radar but we haven't yet committed in any form. We're still thinking that one through," Adelaide football manager John Reid said of the 21-year-old Lion.
Brisbane's Llane Spaanderman, 19, also is being linked with the Crows, who met Western Bulldog Patrick Bowden in Adelaide yesterday but are understood to have decided against pursuing a trade for him.
According to coach Grant Thomas, the Saints are considering a versatile role for Watts, the 20-year-old who was a first-round selection in the 2003 draft.
The Kangaroos met West Coast yesterday to discuss a trade for Daniel McConnell, 19, who wants to return to Victoria. Carlton also has an interest in McConnell and has hatched an ambitious plan of moving Trent Sporn to Adelaide for pick 17 and on-trading that selection to the Eagles. Sporn, like Selwood, flew to Adelaide last night to meet Crows coach Neil Craig this morning.
Essendon defender Ted Richards wants to take his career to Sydney but the Dons are exploring deals elsewhere, including a swap with Carlton for Scott Camporeale. The Western Bulldogs are also keen on Richards but are not prepared to give up anything more than pick 27 for the 22-year-old.
