AFL Trades 2024: Report card from the penultimate day of trading as massive deals go through

West Coast’s chief executive, Don Pyke, has spoken to SEN to provide some context on the club’s trade decision.

• Says looking at the deal in isolation may be considered ‘a bit odd’ but it’s all part of the bigger picture
• Splitting pick three was necessary to bring in Liam Baker, with last week’s Hawks-Blues pick swap causing the need for an ‘alternate solution’
• Eagles keen to address the ‘recognised gap’ between 23-year-olds and 27-year-olds on the club’s list
• Walking people through the pre-season draft is ‘not how we’re going to do business’ as it has other long-term ramifications with relationships with rival clubs
• Confirms West Coast are interested in bringing in Brisbane’s Deven Robertson
• Says a Tom Barrass deal isn’t a certainty just yet... ‘we want to make sure we get fair compensation’. Return from Hawks likely to involve future picks

“West Coast fans have been left fuming... and the only way to calm them down might be luring Chad Warner west this time next year.”

Mitchell Woodcock dives into some analysis of what the Eagles’ trade move could lead to.

On the opposite side of the coin, here’s what the Blues had to say about the deal, through their list management boss Nick Austin.

“Today’s trade means our club will access the top-end talent in the country in a really strong draft pool,” he said.

“We were really transparent coming into this period that we wanted to attack the top end of this draft. To be able to turn picks 12 and 14 into a top-three pick overall is an outstanding result for us.

“In addition to this, we’ve also been able to acquire additional draft points courtesy of our bundle of later picks. This places us in a strong position heading into the next month, knowing we have been able to execute the strategy we set out to achieve to this point.

“We are looking to balance our strong core of senior players with a quality group of emerging talent coming through – by doing this we will have our list well-placed to not just contend in the short term, but for an extended period.

“It is always difficult farewelling players, however it is a reality at this time of year. Matt has been a great football story from where he has come from, and we want to thank him for his contribution to the club. He has brought energy and positivity to our forward line over six years, and we wish him all the best over in the west.”

West Coast’s list manager Matt Clarke has spoken on the club’s big trade.

“We are delighted to get a deal done for Liam and we believe he can make an immediate impact for us in 2025 and in the years ahead,” he said on Baker, who joins the Eagles on a five-year contract.

“He is an outstanding character in the prime of his career who has a strong relationship with our new coach Andrew McQualter and he is eager to get to work.

“Liam’s skill and dynamic playing style makes him a valuable asset for us as we embed a new gamestyle.”

Owies has a three-year deal at the Eagles.

“It’s exciting to bring Matt across to the west after two really strong seasons for Carlton,” Clarke said.

“Matt is a proven goalkicker who brings pressure at ground level and we think he can complement our talented forward line.”

It’s fair to say plenty of Eagles fans aren’t thrilled at the club’s move this morning.

Here’s a taste of some of the supporter reaction in the wake of the big trade, with some labelling it a ‘disgrace’ and an ‘absolute joke’.

The deal is officially done.

West Coast get Liam Baker, Matt Owies, pick 12 and pick 73... and give up pick 3, 63 and 68.

The other parties? Carlton receive pick 3 while giving up picks 12, 14, 73 and Owies, while Richmond get pick 14 in exchange for Baker.

2018 premiership Eagle Will Schofield has also expressed his shock at his former club’s move...

There’s plenty of fan backlash out there for the Eagles in the midst of the impending trade - and incoming Seven analyst Kane Cornes hasn’t missed the club either.

​Cornes has likened West Coast to the carcass of a wildebeest in the jungle​, with other clubs feasting on them, as he tries to make sense of the deal.

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Here’s the wrap on the West Coast trade that’s about to be made official in the coming hours.

A refresher: The Eagles receive Liam Baker, Matt Owies, pick 12 and pick 73... while giving up pick 3.

Casual Eagles fans may not know too much about Matt Owies, who will form a part of the impending blockbuster trade.

The 27-year-old has played 72 games for Carlton, and has booted 60 goals in the past two seasons.

He kicked 33 this year, which is more than any West Coast small forward has achieved in a season since Jamie Cripps in 2018.

With the deal about to go down, it also begs the question of Tom Barrass’ potential path to Hawthorn: Will the Hawks be forced to give up more for Barrass now that the Eagles have secured Baker?