The AFL trade period has picked up momentum, with speedy defender Adam Saad finally achieving a move from Essendon to Carlton, and Shaun Higgins leaving North Melbourne for Geelong.
Key points:
- Saad’s move from Essendon to Carlton could unlock some key deals in the final stages of the AFL trade period
- North Melbourne traded Shaun Higgins to Geelong for pick 30 in the national draft
- The AFL trade period ends at 7:30pm AEDT on Thursday
The Saad deal involves Essendon trading the 26-year-old and picks 48 and 78 to the Blues, in exchange for picks eight and 87.
The Cats gave the Kangaroos pick 30 in the draft as part of the Higgins trade.
Following the completion of Saad’s move to the Blues, the Bombers now have picks six, seven and eight in this year’s AFL draft.
“We now have three top-10 draft picks for this year’s AFL national draft, which is a very strong position to be in, particularly with the calibre of this year’s draft class,” Essendon’s general manager of list and recruiting Adrian Dodoro said.
Saad began his career at Gold Coast, and played three seasons for the Suns before being traded to Essendon at the end of 2017.
He has played 109 games and will now be at his third AFL club for the 2021 season.
Loading
With the trade period ending at 7:30pm AEDT on Thursday, the Saad deal could allow a series of trades between clubs.
Essendon could use one of its top picks to secure Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley, with reports that the Bulldogs have their eye on Collingwood’s Adam Treloar.
Also on the list of potential deals to be completed are GWS forward Jeremy Cameron — who has declared Geelong as his chosen destination — and Demons forward Ben Brown, who wants to join North Melbourne.
Higgins off to the Cattery
Higgins, whose sister Danielle is a member of Geelong’s AFLW squad, played 237 senior matches for the Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs, and earned All Australian honours in 2018.
“We have always liked Shaun as a player and we are happy that we could work with Shaun, his management and North Melbourne to get this trade completed,” Geelong recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells said.
The Cats had only secured pick 30 through an earlier trade that saw the club offload Lachie Fogarty to Carlton.
The Cats had traded Fogarty and pick 38 in exchange for picks 30 and 51.
Geelong also traded Nakia Cockatoo to the Brisbane Lions in exchange for a future third-round pick.
Port Adelaide added defender Aliir Aliir in a trade with the Sydney Swans for a future second-round pick.
Loading
