The GIANTS have created history as the first club ever to secure three first-round draft picks as part of the 2020 AFL trade period.
The historic trade saw the GIANTS receive picks 13, 15 and 20 from Geelong for Jeremy Cameron, the first time a player has been exchanged for three first-round draft picks in addition to the first time a club has matched a restricted free agency offer.
HISTORY MADE: We've received three first-round picks from Geelong for Jeremy Cameron. #AFLTrades pic.twitter.com/XWWi8LohTf
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) November 12, 2020
Jye Caldwell then joined Essendon with the GIANTS receiving pick 29 and a future second-round pick. The future second-round pick was then on-traded to Geelong as part of the historic trade.
Along with the compensation pick received for Zac Williams’ departure as a free agent, the GIANTS now hold picks 10, 13, 15 and 20 in the first-round of this year’s draft.
GIANTS General Manager Jason McCartney was thrilled with the outcome for the club.
“We obviously rate Jeremy very highly and felt it necessary to ensure we received fair value for a player of his calibre,” McCartney said.
“We utilised the mechanisms available to us the restricted free agency framework to get the best possible result for our club.
“In addition to this trade, we were able to complete a valuable trade for Jye Caldwell that helped secure the return from Geelong.
“To be able to secure three first-round picks puts us in an incredibly strong position to maintain long-term success.”
Caldwell, the 11th pick in the 2018 national draft, played 11 games over the past two seasons after making his AFL debut in round 21, 2019.
TRADE DONE: Jye Caldwell, pick 44 and pick 74 head to the Bombers for picks 29 and a future second-round pick.
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) November 12, 2020
The future second-round pick was then sent to Geelong to facilitate three first-round picks for the GIANTS. pic.twitter.com/U6nOihWgAY
Prior to the AFL trade period commencing, Geelong lodged a bid for Cameron as a restricted free agent, but the GIANTS became the first club ever to match the offer.
After a decade at the club, Cameron decided to return to Victoria to be closer to family and continue his career at Geelong.
Out of contract second-year midfielder Jackson Hately expressed a desire to return home to Adelaide however a suitable trade was unable to be facilitated before the deadline.
Earlier in the trade period, the GIANTS also welcomed power forward Jesse Hogan and ruck Braydon Preuss to strengthen the club’s list for the immediate future.
Hogan, 25, becomes a GIANTS after 90 AFL games at Melbourne and Fremantle while Preuss, 25, also comes to his third club following stints at the Kangaroos and North Melbourne, playing 18 AFL games so far.
The GIANTS now hold picks 10, 13, 15, 20, 29 and 52 in the draft which will be held next month.
