AFL Thursday Trade Wrap

The final day of the AFL trade period saw several high profile trades pushed through, with stars Jeremy Cameron, Ben Brown and Adam Treloar all finding new homes.

Here's a wrap of the final day of the 2020 AFL trade period.

KANGAROO BECOMES A DEMON

Melbourne has landed key forward Ben Brown from North Melbourne after both parties agreed to a trade.

The Kangaroos receive picks 26, 33 and a future fourth-round selection (tied to the Brisbane Lions) with the Demons receiving pick 28 and a future fourth-rounder.

The two metre giant comes to Gosch’s Paddock after playing 130 games kicking 287 goals for North Melbourne in seven seasons, where he was a 4-time club leading goal kicker, including kicking 60 goals or more from 2017 to 2019.

Brown adds a focal target up forward for Melbourne who in the last two seasons have struggled to find a reliable avenue in front of the big sticks.

FROM TIGER TO A SAINT

Richmond livewire Jack Higgins has got his wish to become a St Kilda player in 2021 – the team he barracked for growing up.

The Saints gave up pick 17 and a future second-round selection to the Tigers, in exchange for pick 21 and a future fourth-round selection.

The energiser bunny burst onto the scene in his debut season in 2018 kicking goal of the year against Collingwood in Round 19 where we went on to play 20 games in an experienced Tigers outfit.

2019 would be a year of adversity for the bubbly character whose season came to a screeching halt mid year when he suffered a brain bleed which required two rounds of surgery.

He departs Punt Road after 43 games in three seasons.

EAGLES SWOOP ON YOUNG LION

West Coast has its Shannon Hurn half-back replacement for the future: Alex Witherden trading for him despite the 22-year-old having two-years left on his contract at the Brisbane Lions.

Witherden moves West after playing 59 games for the Lions, but only six in 2020 falling behind the pecking order of Brisbane’s half-backs with the acquisitions of Grant Birchall, Callum Ah Chee and the emergence of Brandon Starcevich.

The Eagles gave up a third-round pick and a future third-round selection, in return receiving a fifth-round selection.

The rebounding half-back flanker had a career-year in 2018 averaging 22.4 disposals where he finished third in the NAB Rising Star Award behind runner-up Tom Doedee and winner Jaidyn Stephenson.

POWER IGNITION

The enigmatic Orazio Fantasia has gotten his wish returning home to South Australia where he will be at Port Adelaide next season.

Essendon gets a second-round currently pick 29 and a future third-round selection, with the Power receiving pick 73 along with the electric forward.

Last season, Fantasia was close to coming back home before backflipping to stay at Essendon.

The 25-year-old leaves Essendon after 80 games kicking 111 goals, including a career-high 39 goals in 2017.

PAIR OF MAGPIES OFF TO ARDEN STREET

Youth is the focus of the future at Arden Street with North Melbourne nabbing Collingwood pair Jaidyn Stephenson and young speedster Atu Bosenavulagi.

Both players come to the Shinboners due to the well-documented squeeze of the Magpies salary cap.

Stephenson, the 2018 NAB Rising Star winner has endured a torrid 12 months that saw him banned for 10 games for betting on the team’s matches and a loss of form that made him a shadow of the player from two years ago.

By joining the Kangaroos, this will give the exciting youngster a chance to hit the reset button on a new chapter in his footballing career.

Bosenavulagi managed only three games in 2020 due to the Magpies depth adds an injection of pace of the Kangaroos forward line.

The Kangaroos give up two second-round selections (No.26 and 33) as well as a future fourth-round selection, receiving pick 39 in return.

JEZZA IS FINALLY A CAT

Finally after more than a couple of weeks of haggling on the Giants end, both Geelong and GWS agreed to a trade in the last few seconds that sees Jeremy Cameron a Cat after nine seasons with the inaugural side.

Discussions for the 2019 Coleman Medallist reached a stalemate a few days earlier, before Geelong in the end decided to give up it’s three first round picks (No.13, 15 and 20) to GWS.

Cameron’s new contract at the Cattery is five years worth $900,000 a season.

The 27-year-old finished his nine seasons at GWS kicking 427 goals from 171 games leading the club’s goal kicking each year since it’s inception in 2012.

YOUNG MIDFIELDER NOW A BOMBER

Essendon has landed former Giant Jye Caldwell.

The former 11th overall selection in the 2018 Draft requested a trade at the end of the season before Essendon and GWS settled on a deal to suit both teams.

The highly-touted midfielder, regarded as one of the best midfielders in his draft class hasn’t so far being able to get out on the park consistently managing only 11 games as multiple hamstring setbacks delayed his progress.

GWS in exchange receive pick 29 and a future second-round selection for the 20-year-old with Essendon getting picks 44 and 74.

On top of acquiring Caldwell, St Kilda speedster Nick Hind is returning home to Bomber land where he played in the side’s VFL affiliate Team.

Hind brings an injection of speed to Essendon’s forward line to offset the loss of Orazio Fanatasia who left for Port Adelaide.

The pacy forward taken 54th overall in the 2018 Draft, played 21 games across two seasons.

St Kilda gets picks 67 and 74 with Essendon receiving pick 77.

THE WAIT IS OVER: GUN MAGPIE HEADS TO THE KENNEL

The long wait on whether Adam Treloar would remain at Collingwood or elsewhere is over with the ball-magnet off to the Western Bulldogs.

The trade was done in the frantic final moments with Collingwood receiving pick 14 and a future-second round selection, with the Dogs getting picks 26,44 and 42 in exchange.

Treloar who amassed over 25 disposals on average during his five seasons at the Magpies leaves after playing 94 games in the Black and White, lifting his career games tally to 173.

His arrival to Whitten Oval gives the Dogs an array of midfield options to choose from after it managed to keep Josh Dunkley.

HAWKS SECURE ENDURANCE MACHINE

The mass exodus of Collingwood players continues with Hawthorn grabbing running machine Tom Phillips.

Phillips will fill the void on the wing left by the departure of Triple-Premiership player Issac Smith who joined Geelong in Free Agency.

The Magpies gave pick 65 to the Hawks.

A mainstay in Collingwood’s best 22 since 2017, the 24-year-old lost his preferred wing position as the emerging Josh Daicos made the spot his own.

Phillips played 89 games in black and white, and was a member of the Pies 2018 AFL Grand Final side.