AFL trades: West Coast execute massive trade to split pick three and land Liam Baker and Matthew Owies

West Coast have traded away the chance to draft one of the best few youngsters in the country, splitting pick No.3 in a three-club trade that will see out-of-contract duo Liam Baker and Matt Owies head west.

The Eagles have slid nine spots to get pick No.12 from Carlton, as well as pick No.73, to get Baker and Owies through the door in a big move which was made official just before 8am on Tuesday morning.

Carlton receive picks No.3, 63 and 68 from West Coast in the deal, while Richmond got their hands on pick No.14 for losing their vice-captain in Baker.

It is believed the Blues were keen to get their hands on the Eagles’ top pick as they eye the second cousin of midfield star Sam Walsh in Finn O’Sullivan.

Baker lands at the Eagles on a five-year deal, while Owies is signed until the end of 2027.

“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,” Eagles list boss Matt Clarke said.

“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.

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

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

The move has already been met with criticism by West Coast fans online, expressing their frustration that the club has parted with its top pick for two players they could have conceivably got for free.

Incoming Seven analyst Kane Cornes was particularly scathing of the move, likening the Eagles to the carcass of a wildebeest being feasted on by other animals.

“Every animal known to man is coming and just picking it off,” Cornes said.

“The Eagles are the wildebeest on the ground, and every other club - 17 of them - are just picking them off.

“I’m trying to work out what I’m missing here. Baker could have gone to them for free if they just had a slight hard edge... they could have got a better deal for pick three.”

West Coast were forced to get creative to get Baker — who has requested a trade back to WA after 128 games in seven seasons at Richmond — after Hawthorn traded pick No.14 to Carlton in a shock move on Friday.

The Eagles baulked at offers for defender Tom Barrass from the Hawks that centred around the first-round draft pick, which was set to be used on Baker.

Hawthorn got sick of waiting and traded the selection to Carlton for a future first and future second-round selection that they will now table for Barrass as they look to land the 2022 John Worsfold medallist before Wednesday’s trade deadline.

The Eagles had committed to Baker as Fremantle began to also target the Tiger in the wake of Friday’s pick swap, tabling their three first-round picks in 10, 11 and 18 for the two-time premiership player and his teammate Shai Bolton.

The Eagles had also held an interest in Owies who they could have recruited as a delisted free agent, with the Blues not offering the small forward a contract because of their squeeze on list spots.

Owies, 27, 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.

Top West Australian prospect Bo Allan could be a target for the Eagles with pick No.12 with the Peel Thunder premiership player tipped to fall around the mark after a strong combine performance earlier this month.