DONE DEAL: Bombers officially acquire forward, Saints satisfied with compo – AFL trade news

St Kilda is satisfied with the compensation it is receiving for the departure of hybrid Jade Gresham after Essendon officially lodged the required paperwork for the restricted free agent on Friday morning.

This year’s free agency window opened last Friday, with little movement on Essendon’s front regarding putting a contract in front of Gresham, who had yet to indicate his desire to become a Bomber.

Come Monday, though, reports surfaced that Gresham had revealed his intention to depart Moorabbin for the Hangar, with the subsequent onus resting on Essendon’s hierarchical leaders to construct a deal for the Saint by Friday’s free agency deadline.

The Bombers thrust themselves into action hours out from the deadline; penning Gresham to a contending contract and, in doing so, forcing St Kilda’s hand.

After deciding not to match Essendon’s bid, the Saints are set to receive a desired return as compensation.

St Kilda will receive a draft selection that falls at the end of the first round of next month’s count; currently No. 21.

AFL House on Friday morning confirmed Essendon’s lodged deal for Gresham, with the Saints since declaring they would not be matching the Bombers’ contending offer.

“Jade has been an important part of this football club for eight years, including a significant contribution throughout the 2023 season,” St Kilda list boss Stephen Silvagni stated on Friday afternoon via Saints.com.au.

Gresham will reportedly receive a three-year deal at Tullamarine.

The 26-year-old, who offers Brad Scott’s Bombers forward and midfield versatility, as well as occasional game-changing ability, has struggled with inconsistency as a Saint over the course of the past couple of seasons.

While St Kilda will officially farewell Gresham via free agency, the Saints are expected to facilitate multiple trades through to next Wednesday evening’s dealing deadline.

Wantaway Blue Paddy Dow is touted to become a Saint after expressing his desire to depart Princes Park, while luckless St Kilda defender Nick Coffield is eagerly anticipating becoming a Bulldog by next Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: TRADE NEWS & RUMOURS HUB

On the other side of the ledger, the Bombers are also navigating multiple prospective exchanges; including the likely offloading of key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to Port Adelaide, as well as the potentially-corresponding arrival of Power wingman Xavier Duursma.

This year’s player movement period concludes on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:30 PM (AEDT), following the closure of the free agency signing period on Friday at 5:00 PM (AEDT).

READ MORE

The 2023 free agency deadline is near, with the signing window closing at 5:00pm (AEDT) today, and St Kilda’s Jade Gresham is the biggest name yet to know where his future lies.

Essendon are expected to lodge the paperwork to acquire Gresham from Moorabbin, leaving the Saints to then decide whether to match the bid for the restricted free agent or receive compensation instead.

Band two compensation (end of first-round) could be on offer to St Kilda and would likely satisfy the club for the loss of the 26-year-old, while a matched offer could be tabled if the Sants believe their return will be anything lower.

The Bombers could threaten to not get involved in a forced trade if their offer to Gresham is levelled by the Saints, with the Pre-Season Draft an avenue that Essendon could go down and therefore see St Kilda walk away with nothing.

The Saints will have three days to decide whether to make the offer, and with Gresham’s talent and value it’s likely he’ll join Crow-turned-Lion Tom Doedee in earning a deal valued at band two compensation.

A finalised move for the South Morang junior would then free up both clubs to place a focus on their trade plans ahead of next Wednesday’s trade period deadline, with the Bombers needing to settle deals with several other clubs that will involve defensive pair Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Massimo D’Ambrosio, who are hoping to get to Port Adelaide and Hawthorn respectively.

A deal with the Power for Zerk-Thatcher could include Victorian wingman Xavier Duursma, who has requested a trade to Tullamarine.

The Saints are also set to see players coming in and out of Linton Street over the next few days, with Fremantle’s Liam Henry looking to make the switch east while St Kilda defender Nick Coffield has requested a move to the Western Bulldogs.

And while those deals could also land as early as Friday, the free agency window’s expiry is quickly closing in.

A total of 21 players are still eligible to exercise their rights as free agents before 5:00pm, with Gresham the only player under the restricted band still remaining unsigned.

As well as Gresham’s expected move to Essendon, Richmond tall Bigoa Nyuon could land at Arden Street following strong links to North Melbourne over the past week.

Nyuon, 22, is eligible for free agency given he was previously delisted by the Tigers and then re-listed via the Rookie Draft two years ago.

Others who are also eligible after previously being removed from the senior list are Brisbane’s Rhys Mathieson, Essendon’s Will Snelling, Suns recruit Jake Stein, Hawks forward Fergus Greene, journeyman Tom Campbell, West Coast’s Zane Trew and Bulldog Roarke Smith.

Former Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko is also still yet to cement his future, while premiership Geelong pair Tom Hawkins and Rhys Stanley are expected to recommit to the Cats for another year.

GWS veteran Lachie Keeffe is in a limbo state after being told to wait until after the trade period to know where his position with the Giants sits, as the New South Wales club plans to lure Elliott Himmelberg from Adelaide.

St Kilda’s Dan McKenzie is another who faces an uncertain future, with the wingman heading overseas to undergo special medical treatment after a season sidelined by soft tissue injuries.

Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett is also treading water for the next week as the Power look to attain ruck pair Jordon Sweet and Ivan Soldo from the Bulldogs and Tigers respectively.

If Soldo, who is under contract, doesn’t head to Alberton, then Lycett will be a strong chance to earn a new deal. If Soldo does move, then the aforementioned Nyuon may be a required player at Punt Road and could land an extension at Tigerland.

Players who aren’t offered new deals prior to the end of this month can still find new homes via delisted free agency, which opens on November 1. They can also be re-listed via the Rookie Draft if they haven’t already served the maximum three years on the rookie list.