Fremantle’s decision to hand Blake Acres to Carlton has been labelled a genuine list management error.
It comes as Acres, 27, stamped a strong debut season for the Blues with a starring performance in Carlton’s Elimination Final win over Sydney.
The wingman played three seasons at Fremantle after originally joining from St Kilda to become a consistent cog in the Dockers’ best 22.
2022 was his best season in the league, with a hamstring injury holding him back from potential All-Australian wing considerations.
But Acres was essentially forced out of the Dockers with a lowball contract offer, with Carlton only too happy to swoop on the first day of last year’s trade period. A future third-round selection (pick 52 this year) was all that was required.
Speaking after Acres’ heroics and his fingertips saw the Blues advance to the second week of finals, Mark Duffield got stuck into Fremantle.
“Of the players who left Fremantle at the end of 2022, Blake Acres might have made smaller headlines than Griffin Logue and Rory Lobb, but he has turned out to be the one who was the genuine list management error,” Duffield began on SEN WA Mornings.
“Acres was superb for Carlton in their win against Sydney… he made two goal-saving lunging touches near the line, he executed a brilliant and desperate kick and chase in the final term and he got forward to kick the goal that iced the game for the Blues.
“Griffin Logue left for more money, Lobb was always going to find a way out, Darcy Tucker and Lloyd Meek left for more opportunities – as they should have – and they’ve been marginal players at their new clubs.”
Acres is averaging career highs in disposals and rebound 50s in 2023 and enjoyed seven inside 50s, five clearances and a goal from 26 possessions on Friday.
He was also among Fremantle’s best in last year’s Semi Final loss to Collingwood, gathering 27 disposals, nine marks and five inside 50s.
In what was a busy 2022 trade period, the Dockers gained three players while losing five. But Duffield believes Fremantle’s list management team were too cautious and have cost themselves a player who would have been entrenched in Justin Longmuir’s team in 2023.
“Fremantle’s concern about leaving cap space available to bring Luke Jackson in and still have the money to re-sign guns like Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Hayden Young cost them Acres, who would have stayed for the type of contract Fremantle offered Nat Fyfe this year, of course Fyfe has been signed for two years,” Duffield continued.
“Fyfe is going to have to play as well next year as Acres has played this year to reduce the damage from the decision.
“The feeling at Fremantle was that the wing role Acres played was teachable and he could be replaced. But the bloke they replaced him with, Liam Henry, has also asked to leave and they will probably be turning to a youngster like Ethan Stanley to play the role next season.”
Henry has nominated St Kilda in a trade request.
Acres and the Blues are now gearing up for a do-or-die final with Melbourne on Friday night as a Preliminary Final berth awaits.