Five years after landing restricted free agent superstar Patrick Dangerfield in a trade, could Geelong repeat the trick to snare another Crow?
Brad Crouch has interest from a handful of clubs, including Geelong and Richmond, with Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield espousing the club in conversations with his former teammate throughout the year.
Should Crouch nominate Geelong as his club of choice, would the Cats be tempted to part with some of their draft pick goldmine to get the midfielder in the door at Kardinia Park?
It’s a thought likely to see the Geelong faithful scoff, but it’s a strategy the crafty Cats know will give them the best chance to have their cake and eat it too, during this upcoming trade and free agency period.
The premiership-contending Cats also have an interest in Jeremy Cameron and Shaun Higgins. Yes, the likes of Nakia Cockatoo, Quinton Narkle and Charlie Constable could move on, but Cameron and Higgins would demand handsome remuneration and the salary cap will need to be carefully managed.
There isn’t a dollar to waste.
Adelaide wants first round compensation for losing Crouch, the 2019 best and fairest who is 26 and in the prime of his career.
The problem for the Crows is that Geelong don’t just splash the cash. It is highly unlikely that any Cats contract for Crouch would be enough to trigger the sort of compensation the Crows desire, regardless of how spicy the AFL might make their secret herbs and spices formula.
Instead, like Dangerfield before him, would it be more likely Crouch will become a Geelong player via a trade? The Cats have picks 10, 15 and 16 in this year’s draft.
This way, not only are the Crows happy, it gets Crouch in the hoops in what could be a contract that is lower on guaranteed cash, but heavier on incentives. If Crouch really wants to get to Geelong, he backs himself in for 2021 and reaps the rewards.
Meanwhile, the Cats still have the coin to acquire Cameron – if he decides to come – and Higgins, who we’re told is highly like to come.
For the record, the Cats landed Dangerfield and pick 50 in exchange for picks 9, 28 and the now-delisted Dean Gore.