Round six AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Collingwood Magpies at Etihad Stadium.
Collingwood AFL premiership forward Chris Dawes wants to be traded to Melbourne.
The Demons had been among several clubs, also including the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Carlton, vying to attract the 24-year-old.
Dawes’ manager Ben Niall said yesterday that the 71-gamer had settled on Melbourne as his preferred destination.
His relationship with Demons coach Mark Neeld, a former Collingwood assistant, was a factor.
“If you go somewhere where you know your boss a bit better obviously you feel more comfortable,” Niall told the AFL website, adding the idea of playing a key role at a rebuilding club also appealed.
“He came into Collingwood which already had a terrific culture in place. Now he can go into a club and be responsible for building a culture and standards, that really appealed to Chris,” Niall said.
The Demons now need to come up with a trade to satisfy the Magpies, where Dawes remains under contract.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn’s AFL grand final selection victim Tom Murphy has joined Gold Coast.
The 26-year-old defender played 95 games with the Hawks but was dropped for this year’s grand final.
He was also left out of Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership side after playing most of that season.
The Hawks’ recent recruitment of key backman Brian Lake would have made it even more of a battle for him to earn consistent senior selection.
Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said Murphy, who has spent the past four seasons in the Hawks’ leadership group, would play a major role guiding Gold Coast’s emerging defenders after joining the club as a free agent.
“Tom not only brings great experience from Hawthorn to the club, but we believe he will play a vital role in continuing to develop our group on and off the field,” Ashcroft said.
Murphy said he would be forever grateful to the Hawks but relished his new opportunity.
“I’m rapt to be joining the Gold Coast Suns, they’re a club with a heap of talent and I can’t wait to join the team and help them take their next step,” he said.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said Murphy left with the Hawks’ admiration and respect and would be an excellent leader for Gold Coast youngsters.
In other trade news, Melbourne midfielder Brent Moloney’s move to Brisbane was completed yesterday after the Demons officially confirmed they would not match the Lions’ offer for the restricted free agent.
AAP
