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An out-of-favour Gold Coast utility is being ‘pushed out’ of the club — and there is a “disaster” his biggest suitor must avoid. Meanwhile, an untried GWS swingman has reportedly requested a trade amid interest from a Victorian club. Stay up to date with all the latest player movement developments with AFL Trade Whispers! Watch every game until the 2024 AFL Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo.
New to Kayo? Start your free trial today > THE LUKO ‘DISASTER’ CROWS MUST AVOID First-year Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick is said to be “on a warpath” this off-season regarding his first lot of Suns exit interviews — and out-of-favour utility Jack Lukosius is considered one in the firing line. The Adelaide Crows are thought of as the likeliest landing spot for the South Australian product, but there is a “disaster” they must avoid if they do wind up orchestrating a trade for the 24-year-old swingman. And while the contracted Lukosius might actually want to stay in Carrara, he might not be left with much of a choice, according to Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph.
“I think Gold Coast will push him out,” Ralph told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night. “He’s a man in a hurry, coach Damien Hardwick, so I think he (Lukosius) is going to eventually get the message even though he would like to stay. “Adelaide is the better fit in terms of them saying ‘eventually you’re our third forward — we’ve got (Riley) Thilthorpe there, we’ve got (Darcy) Fogarty, (and), yes, Taylor Walker for another year’.
” However, the fit at Port Adelaide also makes plenty of sense. “But he’s such good mates with Connor Rozee, so does he want to play with his mate Connor Rozee?” asked Ralph. “I think it’s interesting, too, the Todd Marshall situation.
I think (he’s had) five concussions in recent history, so all of a sudden is there more of a premium for Port Adelaide to say: ‘With (Charlie) Dixon retiring, we probably need another forward there’. “So, neither of those clubs (the Crows nor Power) have any real idea of which club he wants to go to — in fact, they think he wants to stay, but very rarely does a bloke who’s been pushed very strongly out the door say ‘no, I’m going to stay at all costs’ and have to take a pay cut.” If the Crows were hypothetically Lukosius’ preferred destination club, the panel broke down what a possible trade could look like.
“Here’s the problem, nobody’s really got any picks that are available,” began Ralph. “Adelaide’s got Pick 4 — they’ll get a star midfielder in — they have Pick 26, which is the second-rounder which they will use (in a trade with Melbourne for) Alex Neal-Bullen. “So, it’s not ideal, but what are you giving up? Are you giving up a future first-rounder for Lukosius? Argue the case — he’s 24, he’s durable, he’s got 200 games ahead of him, you ask for a second-rounder back.
” Jay Clark thought a first-rounder was too steep a price, while Josh Barnes explained how the value of Adelaide’s first selection could shift depending on its improvement next season. “You have to be sure you’re going to be a better team than you were this year,” Barnes said. “If you finish where you finished and have Pick 4 again and you’re handing that over for Lukosius, that’s a disaster — and we’ve seen teams do that in the past.
“But if you believe they can get that to Pick 12, or 14, add some Academy (picks and) it gets up to 18, that’s probably about right.” Ralph reminded that while he might not be worth a premium first-rounder, the selection can’t be too low or else Lukosius would likely remain in Carrara next year. Clark added: “It’s somewhere in the middle — it’s around Pick 20, I think.
I mean, Jack Lukosius, I’m not so sure he was in Gold Coast’s best 22 by the end. He was dropped by Damien Hardwick ..
. Where does he play? I don’t think he set the world on fire.” UNTRIED GIANT REQUESTS TRADE GWS utility Wade Derksen has reportedly informed the club he would like to be traded to a Victorian club for family reasons.
That is according to AFL.com.au’s Callum Twomey , who reported the news on Tuesday afternoon.
The 23-year-old Derksen, who is yet to play a senior game at GWS, is contracted until the end of next season and is thought to be garnering interest from Melbourne. Herald Sun journalist Josh Barnes had previously reported on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle that Derksen, who the Giants picked in the 2022 mid-season draft, was on the radar of a number of clubs but might be leaning towards a Victorian relocation. “Wade Derksen’s probably not on the lips of many footy fans, but he is on the lips of recruiters and he’s going to be in the trade market,” Barnes recently told Fox Footy.
“He has multiple suitors in Victoria, and WA clubs are after him as well. He’s playing at GWS in the VFL this year, he’s played defence all year — he also thinks he’s a forward, he kicked six goals (in three games) late in the year for GWS. “The Demons are one club that are after him, he’s about to have twins this week so he’s after a bit more family support — he has that both in WA and Victoria, but Victoria’s probably his preference (as) he has a bit more family support there.
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