Danyle Pearce became a Docker today, after Port Adelaide chose not to match Fremantle’s offer for the restricted free agent.

 

Day 3 of free agency has concluded, and it was another quiet day from AFL HQ. One more move was finalised today, with Port Adelaide choosing not to match Fremantle’s offer for midfielder Danyle Pearce.

Power football manager Peter Rohde said today that to match the offer Fremantle put up was not an option.

“We think the offer they’ve given him is very generous” Rohde commented today, most likely pointing to the fact that Port Adelaide were not eager enough for him to stay on the list to offer him a big contract.

Losing Pearce is another blow for the Port Adelaide football club today, after Hawthorn assistant coach Leon Cameron looks like he will not be taking the senior job at Alberton after having meetings with Greater Western Sydney.

Pearce was rookied by Port in 2005, and played 154 games for the club. He was the NAB Rising Star in 2006 and part of the Power’s losing 2007 Grand Final side.

Rohde did not comment on the future of defender Troy Chaplin, who has an offer on the table from Richmond, and midfielder David Rodan. Both players are free agents.

In other news today, 2013 free agency candidate Hamish McIntosh, the North Melbourne ruckman, today announced his intentions to expedite a rumoured move to Geelong. His manager Tom Petoro pointed to the fact that the ruck combination of McIntosh and main man Todd Goldstein was not working as a reason for the move.

Meanwhile, at Collingwood, unrestricted free agent Ben Johnson and teammates Brent Mcaffer and Andrew Krakouer are expected to sign new deals this week, most likely removing from the equation during this free agency and trade period.

The Kurt Tippett and Josh Caddy sagas continued today in the lead-up to next week’s trade period, with Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft confirming the Suns are “very interested” in the former. However he maintained that the Suns would not be looking to give up quality young players if they were to do a deal.

He also said that despite reports, Caddy was yet to name which Victorian club he preferred a trade to.

Two former AFL ruckmen also might have their careers revived this year. The Giants expressed interest in ex-Geelong 2009 premiership ruckman Mark Blake, who played 99 games for the club before parting ways with the club. This comes as news that GWS out-of-contract ruckman Jonathan Giles may be leaving firmed.

The 27 year old ruckman won the club best and fairest at country club Mooroopna this season. His coach said that Blake “told me he was keen to do it (a return to the AFL), if the opportunity came about”.

Meanwhile, ex-Sydney ruckman Daniel Currie has been invited to the AFL state combine in November – the only ruckman to have scored an invite. Currie spent 5 years at the Swans but was plagued with injuries and departed the club last year. However, he excelled as the number one ruckman at SANFL club North Adelaide, missing only two games this year.

Tomorrow, on the fourth day of free agency, we’ll see Port Adelaide make their decision on whether to keep Troy Chaplin. BigFootyNews will have the wrap up in the evening.

Moves:

Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide, unrestricted) moved via FA to the Fremantle Dockers