Football Nation’s west coast correspondent CHRIS CANTATORE looks at how the Dockers and Eagles fared in the first weeks of the off-season.
BOTH the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers were active participants in this years’ player exchange period. How will these transactions change the dynamics of two teams firmly entrenched in a battle for a top four spot next season? Only time will tell, but for now a more detailed look at the weeks that were.
Free Agency
West Coast premiership player Quentin Lynch turned down the clubs one year contract extension and decided to seek out more playing time and job security by accepting a two year contract from Collingwood. Rumours had circulated in Western Australia for most of 2012 about the big man’s future at West Coast, some believing he was on the way out midway through the year.
The continued development of Jack Darling and the return of Josh Kennedy would make it difficult for Lynch to retain his spot in the Eagles forward line and with Dean Cox and Nic Natinui in control of the ruck combination, Lynch was looking at spending considerable time playing for West Perth in the WAFL.
Recruited by Collingwood to fill a major deficiency that was exposed upon the retirement of Leigh Brown in 2011, Lynch could be used as a forward and pinch-hitting ruckman to help out Darren Jolly. Essentially the signing cost the Magpies key forward Chris Dawes who had his nose put out of joint upon hearing of the former Eagles arrival to the Westpac Centre. Collingwood traded Dawes to Melbourne forcing the Pies to now use Lynch primarily along Travis Cloke in the forward line in the spot once held by Dawes.
Fremantle signed former Port Adelaide star Danyle Pearce to a four year contract after the Power declined to match the offer for the restricted free agent.
Pearce, who was the 2006 AFL Rising Star, played 154 games for Port Adelaide. He played in 20 games for the Power in 2012 and was considered a required player until the Dockers offered a contract Port Adelaide simply could not match.
At only 26, Pearce still has some currency and value to add to a contending team.
It remains to be seen where Pearce will play his football for Fremantle in 2013. He could be a nice addition to the forward line or could be used off the half back flank and through the midfield, similar to role coach Ross Lyon had Greg Broughton playing before injury cut short his season. Fremantle made their intentions clear throughout the year that they would target a big name star in the inaugural free agent period but after missing out on Brendon Goddard and Travis Cloke, the Dockers turned to Pearce.
Trade Period
The Eagles traded away their entire first and second round selections this year, notably pick 17 to Collingwood for WA born midfielder Sharrod Wellingham. The jury is still out on whether pick 17 was too high for Wellingham or if the Magpies got the short end of the stick. Time will tell but for now the Eagles have added a valuable piece to an already promising midfield.
Meanwhile, Victorian Koby Stevens requested a trade to the Western Bulldogs after the promising junior struggled to break into the West Coast line up.
The Bulldogs gave up pick 44 for Stevens and the Eagles then sent that pick along with number 44 to St. Kilda for pick 46 and another West Australian looking to return home in Jamie Cripps.
Out of favour defender Lewis Stevenson was traded to Port Adelaide for pick 88, the Eagles then traded that selection to Melbourne for Cale Morton- the number 4 pick in the 2007 AFL draft. Morton, who played 69 games for the Demons, was picked up for a bargain price as he had never really come close to fulfilling his potential.
Perhaps the big story during trade week for West Coast was Mitch Brown requesting a trade to St. Kilda.
The contracted defender has been unable to break into the West Coast backline and was seen as an insurance policy should one of the regulars go down or as an eventual replacement for Darren Glass who nears retirement. Brown was offered a three year contract by the Saints and the opportunity to play regular senior football in defense, however the Eagles refused to entertain a trade for most of the period.
During the final hours before the deadline a tentative deal was struck that would have sent Essendon’s Cale Hooker to West Coast and Brown to St. Kilda as part of the Cripps trade. Hooker’s reservations about returning to the west soured the deal and ensured Brown remains at West Coast for at least to 2013 season.
Fremantle made only one transaction during the trade period but it was enough to have heads turning with Greg Broughton and pick 60 traded to the Gold Coast Suns for pick 37.
Broughton played 68 games for Fremantle after making his debut in 2009. For the most part, he starred as a rebounding defender with a knack for finding the open space and cutting off the supply coming forward. In 2012 coach Ross Lyon had moved Broughton through the midfield and up forward in what returned mixed results.
A finger injury cut short Broughton’s 2012 campaign but was considered to be in Fremantle’s best 22 when fit and available. Reports began to circulate that a rift between Broughton and Lyon resulted in his trade to the Suns; however both Broughton and the club have denied any such rift between the player and coach.
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