Collingwood and Gold Coast have undergone a pick swap that is set to benefit the Pies at this year’s AFL National Draft.
In what is the first move of the 2021 AFL Trade Period, Collingwood will give up their future second, third and fourth-round picks to Gold Coast in return for picks 22, 46, 58, 79, and a future fourth-rounder.
The Pies need enough draft points to match a bid for father-son Nick Daicos, who is expected to go in the top five of the draft, while also gaining currency for trades for Nathan Kreuger and Patrick Lipinski.
The Suns have limited list spots available for next season with all their players currently contracted for 2022 and are therefore happy to part with picks this year which they were unlikely to use.
Pick 22 is now Collingwood’s highest pick, and the trade also gives the club a total of six picks inside the top 50.
Trade paperwork lodged.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) October 4, 2021
Collingwood trade its Future Round Two Selection, Future Round Three Selection and Future Round Four Selection to the Gold Coast SUNS for its Round Two (22), Round Three (46), Round Three (58), Round Five (79) and Future Round Four Selection.
Upon hearing of the news, veteran list manager Stephen Slivagni told AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade Collingwood should now be comfortable with where they sit.
“They’ve got enough points now because it looks like he won’t be bid on at pick one … If he is bid on at two or three, I think they may have enough points,” Silvagni said.
“The other thing is they can still go into deficit next year, where if they’re short by 100 or 200 points, they might only slip back one or two spots in the first round.”
The trade period opened on Monday morning and will run through to next Wednesday.