Geelong has given up its first pick in next year’s AFL National Draft – and farewelled Jack Bowes – to land one-time Essendon best-and-fairest Jordan Ridley.
The Cats have also given up a second-round selection in 2028, but gained pick 60 in this year’s draft and a 2028 fourth-round selection.
Ridley, who turns 28 later this month, played 111 matches for the Bombers after being drafted with pick 22 in the 2016 National Draft.
The defender won the Crichton Medal as best-and-fairest in 2020, having played just 26 career games at the time.
He was also named in the All-Australian squad that year.
Since playing 17 matches in 2023, he has managed just 26 games, including seven this year.
Bowes joined Geelong as part of a salary dump by Gold Coast that also netted the club pick 7, which they used on Jhye Clark.
He played 69 matches for the Cats, including the 2025 grand final, but managed only nine games in 2026.
Ridley is the second addition to Geelong’s list during this trade period after Toby Greene’s arrival as an unrestricted free agent was confirmed last Friday.
Meanwhile, Gryan Miers’ manager says the star small forward won’t be joining West Coast.
The 27-year-old underwent a medical at the Eagles before heading overseas last week.
However, Liam Pickering hasn’t ruled out Miers not being in the Hoops next year.
“Gryan’s not going to West Coast, I can tell you that,” Pickering said Trade Radio.
“It’s not happening.
“He’s not going to be an Eagle, let’s put it that way. That’s what I’m just saying to you. He’s not going to be an Eagle.”
More to come
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