Joe Daniher will leave Essendon to join Brisbane after the Bombers chose not to match the Lions’ offer for the key forward.
Key points:
- The Bombers are set to receive the number seven pick in the national draft as compensation for Daniher
- Daniher told the Bombers earlier this month he wanted to leave the club
- Three-time premiership Hawks Isaac Smith will join the Cats
The Bombers will receive a first-round draft selection as compensation, with the Lions currently holding pick seven.
Brisbane submitted its offer for restricted free agent Daniher late on Friday afternoon.
The Bombers had three days to decide whether they would match it and force a trade, however they decided not to stand in Daniher’s way, given what they are set to receive in return.
Daniher informed the Bombers earlier this month he wanted to leave the club, with the Lions his preferred destination.
Earlier on Friday, Hawthorn triple-premiership winger Isaac Smith departed the Hawks to join grand finalist Geelong as an unrestricted free agent on a two-year deal.
The Hawks confirmed Smith, 31, would depart after 210 senior matches with the club, a stint that included playing a crucial role in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 premierships.
Hawthorn was keen to keep Smith, while Melbourne was also in the race for his services before Geelong won out.
“It’s been a very difficult decision, incredibly hard and [I] probably had a few sleepless nights over the last three or four nights to be honest,” Smith said.
“The heart was certainly pulling me towards Hawthorn but in the end the head won and I’m up for a new challenge, a new journey and I’m very excited to be part of the Geelong Football Club.”
Hawthorn and Geelong enjoyed a fierce rivalry for much of Smith’s time at the Hawks.
“Certainly coming up against them, there was a real dislike between the playing groups and the clubs, but the other thing was, there was a hell a lot of respect,” he said.
Smith infamously missed a set shot after the siren in a two-point loss to the Cats in the 2016 qualifying final, while he went wide with another seconds before the final siren in a three-point loss the following season.
“I guess I’ve already won them two games of footy, so I’m guessing the Cats fans will be happy,” Smith joked.
Greater Western Sydney’s Williams is one step closer to joining Carlton, with the Blues lodging paperwork for the restricted free agent with the AFL on Friday.
Williams, 26, expressed his desire to join the Blues in September after 113 matches for GWS.
The free agency window opened on Friday morning, with Gold Coast kicking off proceedings by lodging a contract offer to Adelaide’s Rory Atkins.
As an unrestricted free agent, Atkins can join the Suns immediately, with the AFL confirming the Crows will receive an end-of-second-round draft pick as compensation.
Atkins played 101 matches for Adelaide, including the 2017 grand final loss, but made just four AFL appearances this season.
AAP/ABC
