Geelong wingman Jordan Clark has made a testy exit from Geelong, with the Dockers snaring the contracted wingman and keeping their prized No.19 pick in the process.
Clark, who still had one more year to run on his Geelong deal, made it clear to the Cats he wanted out after struggling for opportunities over the past two years.
It was even reported Clark hung up on Geelong list manager Stephen Wells at one point as negotiations stalled.
Geelong wanted either pick No.19 from Fremantle, or pick No.22 and a future third-round selection to make the deal happen with Clark.
In the end, the Cats got pick No.22 and a third-round selection, but had to send a fourth-round selection back to Fremantle along with Clark.
Pick No.19 holds special value because it will be the first pick on the second night of the two-day trade period.
It means Fremantle will have almost 24 hours to analyse the remaining talent left in the draft field.
More importantly, rival clubs are likely to come thick and fast at Fremantle with attractive trade offers for pick No.19 if a player they highly valued went undrafted in the first round.
Clark is believed to have signed a four-year deal at Fremantle.
The 20-year-old was taken by Geelong with pick No.15 in the 2018 national draft and was an instant hit in his first year, playing 18 games in 2019.
But he managed just 14 over the past two seasons and was desperate to land at Fremantle in order to return to his home state and also earn greater playing opportunities.
