AFL trades 2020: Geelong confirm Jordan Clark not returning home to Fremantle or West Coast

The West Australian
VideoAFL: The future of multiple big AFL name's are still uncertain as trade talks continue onwards, while other players found their home.

Young West Aussie Jordan Clark won’t be returning home, despite interest from both West Coast and Fremantle this trade period.

The fringe Cat played just three games in 2020 but Geelong list manager Stephen Wells says Clark will be back to fight for his spot in the best 22 next season.

“Are you certain that Jordan Clark will stay?” SEN host Dwayne Russell asked.

“Yes I am,” Wells replied.

Clark played 18 straight games in 2019 after making his debut in round one before suffering a serious shoulder injury at training.

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The Cats are also adamant no players will be part of a deal with Greater Western Sydney for star forward Jeremy Cameron.

The clubs remain at loggerheads ahead of Thursday night’s trade deadline, with the Cats having already offered up two first-round draft picks.

Camera IconJordan Clark celebrates kicking a goal in just his second AFL game. Credit: Quinn Rooney/AFL Photos

“The Giants made some respectful enquiries but as it turned out, because it was after a free agency matching period, it was just too late to get things going with that,” Wells said on SEN.

“The only players that will be leaving us it seems are Nakia (Cockatoo) and Lachie Fogarty.”

Geelong currently hold selections 13, 15 and 20 in the first round of this year’s national draft.

Talented midfielder Brandan Parfitt was already off the trade table with Esava Ratugolea a required player at Geelong.

Wells said Charlie Constable is open to exploring other opportunities, but the fringe midfielder is of no interest to the Giants.

Geelong’s offer of two first-round picks is almost double what GWS would have received from the AFL as compensation for losing Cameron if they had not matched the Cats’ bid for the restricted free agent.

“We’ve had good discussions with GWS and I’d be surprised if it’s done today (Wednesday), but it could be,” Wells told SEN.

“We’re still working on it and both parties are hopeful that it can happen.

“It’s fair to say we want to try and make sure that GWS do better than they would have with the free agency compensation, so obviously our first-round draft picks are the ones that are going to be able to help in that scenario.

“There’s combinations available and then of course things coming back the other way as well.”

Wells said the Cats were unsure they would be able to secure Cameron via the pre-season draft if they end up needing to go down that route.

“We hope it doesn’t get to that,” he said.

Deals for Cockatoo (Brisbane) and Fogarty (Carlton) were struck on Wednesday, along with North Melbourne’s Shaun Higgins arriving for pick 30.

Meantime Jack Steven’s future remains up in the air, with the former St Kilda midfielder a chance to depart the Cats halfway through a two-year deal.

The troubled midfielder managed just nine games for Geelong.

“Jack’s taking some time to think about his future and I’ll leave it at that,“ Wells said.

“It’s up to him now as to what he wants to do, so we’ll talk that through a bit more once Jack’s had a good think.”

With AAP

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