Former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes has declared that the 2020 AFL trade period will be the “busiest we’ve ever seen”.
With a number of drastic changes expected at club land in the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, such as a list sizes being slashed, players will be hunting long-term deals and bigger pay days more than ever.
Speaking on Channel Nine's Footy Classified, Cornes proposed seven hypothetical trades for players searching for long-term security.
West Coast Eagles trade Josh Kennedy to Collingwood on a two-year deal
“Josh Kennedy is 33 in August. If I’m Collingwood, how’s a two-year deal looking for them if they need a forward? Do West Coast need Josh Kennedy and can they carry him? Two years at Collingwood looks good.”
A three-way trade that would see Zach Merrett join Carlton, Ollie Wines join Essendon and Carlton’s top-10 pick move to Port Adelaide
“I like Merrett and I don’t think he’s really feeling the love at Essendon, voted out of the leadership group," Cornes said.
"Can someone approach Zach Merrett and make him feel the love? Maybe do what Hawthorn did for Tom Mitchell from Sydney to Hawthorn. Ollie Wines, will he end up finishing his career at Port Adelaide after looking around at the end of the year? And Port Adelaide might want a draft pick.”
GWS Giants' Jeremy Cameron signs with Geelong as a free agent
“Can the Giants carry him on another long-term deal with Coniglio and Whitfield and Greene and Kelly and the players that they’ve signed up?”
Adelaide Crows' Brad Crouch signs with North Melbourne as a free agent
“Is Brad Crouch in Adelaide’s next premiership? He’s 26 years of age, he’s got issues with his body – are they better getting a draft pick for Brad Crouch?”
Essendon's Joe Daniher signs with the Sydney Swans as a free agent
"Same with Joe Daniher (as Brad Crouch) at Essendon. I think that will happen"
Collingwood's Darcy Moore traded to Richmond
"Darcy Moore has been linked to Richmond."
Does Melbourne trade Luke Jackson?
“The last one is ruckmen. If lists are cut to 35, Melbourne have invested a No. 3 draft pick in Luke Jackson – can they afford to have him sit behind Max Gawn and develop for four years? Because Max Gawn’s going to be playing. I don’t know if they can afford do that. So do they trade him out, get a couple of first-round draft picks for him and turn that into that? Because clubs can’t carry two ruckmen into the future.”
