Oliver steps towards the Giants; Blues, Swans at a stalemate over Curnow

3 hours ago 3

Clayton Oliver has taken important steps towards becoming a Giant after productive discussions between the four-time Melbourne best-and-fairest winner and GWS.

While Oliver has not yet officially nominated the Giants as his preferred destination, sources familiar with the discussions, speaking anonymously, said Oliver was happy with the prospect of moving to Sydney and playing in the midfield alongside Tom Green, Finn Callaghan and Josh Kelly.

Clayton Oliver’s new football home could be north of the border.

With the Giants ticking off Oliver’s medical examination, and also keen to land the 2021 premiership star, the only potential hurdle to a deal appears to be the amount of money that the Demons will still have to pay of Oliver’s contract of approximately $1.3 million per season over the next five years.

There have been suggestions that the Demons are willing to pay upwards of $600,000 per year, but this has not been confirmed by any discussions between the parties. The Demons have made clear that they are willing to pay a portion of Oliver’s deal, but GWS have perennially tight player payments.

The Giants are the clear frontrunners ahead of Collingwood, in part because of Oliver’s initial interest in a move north.

The Giants believe Oliver, 28, will fit in well to their midfield, and that the club has demonstrated a capacity — as seen with Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer – to successfully manage players who have had off-field issues.

The Magpies have been less aggressive in their pursuit of Oliver. Their list manager Justin Leppitsch had indicated he would meet with Oliver in Sydney.

Sam Flanders is delighted to have crossed to St Kilda.

St Kilda, meanwhile, insist they have made another recruiting splash by securing midfielder Sam Flanders, while the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle also confirmed deals on day three of the AFL’s trade period.

However, little progress has been made over a trade that would see Carlton’s dual Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow join either Sydney or Geelong.

Flanders, 24, will join a new-look Saints line-up after the Gold Coast Suns received pick No.7 in exchange for him.

The Fish Creek product, a small dairy farming community in Gippsland, played with injury in the back half of this season, but will add run and carry for the Saints. The Suns, however, are delighted by the pick they received, as they look to secure Melbourne premiership player Christian Petracca via a trade.

Graeme Allan, the Saints’ head of talent and acquisition, said Flanders “brings a real competitive edge”.

“He’s shown he can win the ball, work both ways and impact the scoreboard, and we believe he’s only just beginning to tap into his potential,” Allan said.

“Importantly, he sits right in the age and experience bracket we’ve been looking to bolster. He’s already proven at AFL level but still has plenty of growth ahead of him, which makes him a perfect fit for where our list is at.

“He was a valued part of Gold Coast’s side, so to have him choose St Kilda speaks volumes about the direction we’re heading. Our members should be excited - Sam’s hunger to compete and grow fits perfectly with what we’re building.”

Flanders joins a team already buoyed by the signings of Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni from Carlton. West Coast forward Liam Ryan and Greater Western Sydney defender Leek Aleer have also requested trades to the Saints.

The prospect of Flanders being traded to St Kilda started with Graeme Allan mentioning casually to a Suns’ official fairly early in the season that the club might be interested in him.

“Joining St Kilda feels like the right move at the right time,” Flanders said.

“This group has shown it’s ready to take the next step, and I’m eager to grow with them. I’m confident the Saints’ environment will bring out the best in me as both a player and a person.”

The Dockers have handed Melbourne pick 23 for Judd McVee, the West Australian believing he had more to offer his new club.

Dual Brisbane Lions premiership player Brandon Starcevich, 26, has found the West Coast pathway he wanted, this coming to fruition in a complex three-way trade also involving the Dockers.

The Eagles received picks 12, 33 and 52, along with Starcevich. The Dockers were given picks 19, 23 and 46, while the Lions receive picks 16, 22, 44 and 50.

Starcevich, 26, was a free agent but the Lions and Eagles agreed to a trade, ensuring the Eagles’ pick No.2 compensation for losing Oscar Allen was not diluted.

While the robust defender has a history of concussions, the latest in last month’s grand final, but the Eagles have said they are not concerned about this. Starcevich had been weighing up whether to stay at the Lions or return to his home state, where he has signed a four-year deal.

Eagles list manager Matt Clarke said Starcevich would be a “significant addition” to the backline.

“He is also an outstanding team-first player and leader who will help drive our developing squad forward and impart his knowledge about what it takes to be successful,” Clarke said.

The Blues and Swans, meanwhile, continue to debate Curnow’s future. The Blues have not had players offered up by the Swans as yet for Curnow, with any discussions to date having focused only on draft compensation for Curnow, who is open to joining either the Swans or Cats.

Curnow has yet to settle upon one of those clubs as his preference, according to a source familiar with the discussions, although the view for some time has been that Sydney is the club with the better draft position.

Geelong’s wish to land St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall is a further complication since they would potentially need a decent draft pick to prise Marshall out of the Saints.

Curnow, 28, has a further four years remaining on his hefty contract. The Blues are firm in their position that they will only trade Curnow for a deal that benefits them.

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