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Geelong could be gearing up for a massive trade period heist.
Plus pundits have questioned the big-money price tag for a wantaway Sun.
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CATS EYEING ‘STUNNING’ GRUNDY/HOPPER HEIST
SEN’s Sam Edmund reports Geelong is “right in the running” for Brodie Grundy and believes the Cats could be gearing up for a massive trade period heist of both the star ruckman and Jacob Hopper.
It emerged earlier this month that Hopper was Geelong’s number one target despite the Giants midfielder having a year to run on his contract as GWS faces salary cap pressure, with a number of other guns linked to trades.
The premiership favourite Cats are also among the clubs with interest in Grundy as the Pies weigh up off-loading his lucrative $1 million salary until 2027 and potentially contribute as much as $300,000 of his annual salary at a rival club.
Edmund says he “wouldn’t rule out the possibility” of Geelong getting both stars into the club and to “watch this space”.
“I just wonder if the Cats might be orchestrating another stunning trade period, another anti-ageing jab if you like as they define the equalisation process,” Edmund said on SEN.
“Jacob Hopper and Brodie Grundy are the two names that keep coming up at Geelong. It’s been hard to decipher how substantial that interest (in Grundy) is.
“But the ruck position has ling been an itch they can’t scratch, and according to a couple of sources, they are right in the running here for Brodie Grundy.
“Could the Cats even back-end a Grundy deal, coinciding with the eventual retirements of Tom Hawkins, Joel Selwood, Isaac Smith and the like?”
Broadcaster Gerard Whateley added: “Imagine if they did that as the defending premier.”
PUNDITS QUESTION RANKINE PRICE TAG
Izak Rankine isn’t worth $800,000 per season, according to AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson, as the wantaway Sun seeks a move to the Adelaide Crows.
Gold Coast confirmed on Tuesday that Rankine had requested a trade to the Crows on a deal reportedly worth around $8000,000 a year over five seasons.
The former Pick 3 has shown flashes of brilliance across his 48-game career including a career-best 29-goal 2022 season, but Robinson wasn’t yet convinced the 22-year old was worth such an inordinate price tag.
Robinson added that he thinks Rankine is only worth one first-round draft pick in a trade, with the Crows holding the fifth overall selection.
“My reluctance to jump up and down with excitement about this is — right now he’s not worth $800,000,” Robinson said on AFL 360.
“He’s a small forward with tricks at $800,000. Cyril Rioli is the best small forward I’ve ever seen, and he wouldn’t be (worth) anywhere near that — I know the wages have gone up — but my god that’s a lot of money.”
Fellow AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley questioned why the rebuilding Crows are set to spend a lucrative sum on a small forward after forking out a big-money deal to winger Jordan Dawson last off-season.
“It’s a lot of money to tie up in that position and up to Jordan Dawson and the money they’ve spent there,” he said.
“It just makes you wonder, in the picture of a rebuild, to use your money in these two positions rather than explosive midfielders and key forwards, it defies things.
“It is rough for Gold Coast — Pick 3 three years ago, they’ve nursed him through a lot. He made a good start then had a really poor stretch, where they’ve taught him football I suspect, and won’t get any of the benefits for it.
“The Crows will want to compensate them well.”
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