A busy 2022 trade period for our GM of Football Graham Wright and his football staff has officially concluded.
First up on day one, it was Bobby Hill who arrived at the AIA Vitality Centre. He joined the club alongside pick 40 in this year's draft as a part of a deal that saw our future second round pick and pick 43 go to the GWS Giants.
An exciting small forward, the 22-year-old will compliment a growing group of promising young talent.
“We identified a need in our group and Bobby compliments what we already have in the forward/mid area of the ground,” Wright said.
Bobby was quickly joined by new utility Dan McStay. A player with many strengths, his ability to make an impact across multiple positions will compliment Craig McRae and his coaching staff's desire to have good depth across all positions.
Arriving as a free agent, McStay will reunite with a familiar face at the Pies having started his football career under the guidance of Justin Leppitsch who was senior coach of the Lions from 2014 for three campaigns.
Graham Wright welcomed McStay to the club. “We identified we needed more key position support, and Daniel’s attributes suit the way Craig and our coaching group want to play,” Wright said.
After a few days break over the weekend, it was straight back into it for Wright and his team. With just three days left of the trade period, there was some building pressure to land the deals they wanted.
Unfortunately, we had to say farewell to Brodie Grundy who was traded to the Melbourne Football Club for pick 27 in this year's draft. Across 10 seasons, the two-time All Australian ruck played 177 games for Collingwood and kicked 60 goals.
Wright thanked Grundy for his contribution to Collingwood. “We thank Brodie for his great contribution to our football club over the past decade,” Wright said.
“Brodie has been an outstanding club person in his time with Collingwood and he should be commended for his professionalism and the support he’s shown to his teammates despite facing his own injury challenges this season."
Quickly after the news broke about Brodie, we welcomed Billy Frampton to the Collingwood family.
Frampton, a tall key defender (201cm), arrived from Adelaide for a future third round selection in next year's draft. Originally from Western Australia, the 25-year-old was drafted in 2014 to Port Adelaide where he spent five seasons before being traded to the Crows in 2019.
The defender will slot nicely into the role left by Jordan Roughead who retired during the season.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, there was still one name on everyone's lips... Tom Mitchell.
The 2018 Brownlow medallist expressed an interest to come to Collingwood, following in the footsteps of his Father Barry, who played one season in the black and white stripes in 1993. As the clock ticked towards 7.30pm, Wright worked his magic in a deal that saw forward Oliver Henry join Geelong and picks 41 & 50 head to Hawthorn.
An excellent way to cap off a busy 2022 trade period, by bringing in arguably the highest profile player the club has signed in many years.
Across his 10-year career Mitchell has played 171 games, kicked 76 goals and won two best and fairest awards at the Hawks.
“We are pleased to have Tom on board, and we look forward to welcoming him to our football program," Wright said.
To summarise:
Who arrived: Tom Mitchell, Dan McStay, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton
Who left: Brodie Grundy, Oliver Henry
2022 NAB AFL Draft picks: 16, 25, 27, 51
Future picks: Traded out a future second-round (Greater Western Sydney for Hill) and third-round pick (Adelaide for Frampton).
