Port Adelaide has snared Jason Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli as part of a “complex” trade deal between four AFL clubs.
Key points:
- Horne-Francis spent only one season with the Kangaroos
- He is contracted to the Power until the end of the 2028 season
- Rioli has signed a four-year deal with the Power
GWS will take North Melbourne’s number-one draft pick as part of the trade deal.
The Giants traded out picks three and 12 to shuffle up the draft order, while the Kangaroos coughed up the top pick and last year’s number-one selection Horne-Francis.
The Kangaroos have received picks two and three in return, as well as a future first-round choice that is tied to Port Adelaide.
Small forward Rioli leaves West Coast, who also traded out pick two and get picks eight and 12 back.
A raft of later draft picks have also changed hands in the convoluted deal, which was ticked off by league officials late on Monday.
It was initially blocked because of Port Adelaide’s bid to trade future first and second-round picks.
But the restructured deal — described by the Power as “complex” — now has the club receiving future second and third-round picks to satisfy AFL draft criteria.
South Australian product Horne-Francis has signed a deal tying him to Port Adelaide until the end of 2028.
He joins the midfield unit alongside Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines, Zak Butters and Connor Rozee.
“Jason is a highly talented player who we know will complement our developing and exciting midfield group,” Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps said.
“He is competitive and aggressive, and we like his power and explosiveness as well as his ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard.”
Rioli, who starred in West Coast’s 2018 premiership side, has inked a four-year deal with Port Adelaide.
“Junior certainly has some attributes that will strengthen our forward line, particularly given some of the players we have lost since the end of the season,” Cripps said.
“He has had a difficult couple of years but we feel a change of scenery and within the environment we have created at Alberton, we will see him return to the electrifying footy we know he is capable of.”
AAP/ABC
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