Giant McCarthy wants AFL trade to Dockers

Cam McCarthy’s manager has promised the GWS forward will try again in 12 months to secure an AFL trade to Fremantle.

McCarthy was a rarity in this trade period, with the player seeking a move and the two clubs involved failing to reach a deal.

His manager Colin Young and Fremantle official Brad Lloyd said the Giants would not budge.

Lloyd said the Dockers offered pick No.22 and their first-round selection next season.

But Young said McCarthy remained determined to join the Dockers.

“He’ll go back (to GWS) and do his job,” Young said.

“We’ll be here next year to fight the same war.

“Fremantle did an outstanding job through the period to try and get GWS to engage in a trade.

“They did everything possible.”

Lloyd said it was always going to be a challenge to pry McCarthy from GWS, given the WA native had two years left on his contract.

“GWS decided early on that they had no interest in trading him, so that was how it panned out,” Lloyd said.

“He’s a contracted player, so that’s up to GWS and what they want to accept for him.

“It’s their choice … he’s a valuable player for them.”

The Dockers traded with Gold Coast on Thursday, with the deal giving them an extra second-round pick in next month’s national draft.

McCarthy would have been a handy addition for Fremantle, given their obvious need for another forward.

But Lloyd was rapt they secured midfielder Harley Bennell from Gold Coast.

Despite the obvious risk, given Bennell’s history of off-field troubles, Lloyd said Fremantle were confident the move would work.

“We feel like he gives us a lot of flexibility in our playing group,” Lloyd said.

“We’ve done a lot of work with Harley – we’re well aware of his background.

“But he is a quality person, Harley, and a quality player.

“The club can’t wait to embrace him and see him play his best footy for us.”

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