Discarded North Melbourne veteran Drew Petrie joined West Coast at Monday’s AFL rookie draft, but Sydney forward Xavier Richards is out of a job.
After playing in their losing grand final side, the 23-year-old Petrie turned down a two-year deal to stay with the Swans to seek an opportunity in his home state of Victoria.
But he went through the trade period and both drafts without attracting a suitor to see his AFL career stall on 12 games.
Eagles defender Mitch Brown also turned down a contract in the hope of moving back to Victoria but the 94-game veteran’s career appears over after he went undrafted.
With 316 games under his belt, 34-year-old Petrie shapes as a short-term fix for the Eagles with star ruckman Nic Naitanui out for the season with a knee injury and Scott Lycett set for an interrupted preseason.
The rookie draft provided some surprise lifelines with delisted Fremantle midfielder Tendai Mzungu joining teammate Matt de Boer, who was selected at Friday’s national draft, at Greater Western Sydney.
Carlton selected ex-Docker Alex Silvagni and after being delisted by Essendon Shaun Edwards – who started his career at GWS – was picked up by Sydney.
Former Western Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson had been linked with a move to Collingwood but was reported to have announced his retirement shortly before the rookie draft got underway.
A host of players were re-drafted by the clubs that cut them just a few weeks ago, including Shaun McKernan (Essendon), Jack Fitzpatrick (Hawthorn), Josh Prudden (Western Bulldogs) and Fraser McInnes (West Coast).
Adelaide’s Sam Shaw and the Giants’ Joel Patfull were also re-drafted by their respective clubs but the retired pair still won’t play next year, with the move purely administrative for salary cap purposes.
After missing out on selection at the national draft, Ben Jarman, the son of Crows and Hawthorn great Darren, and Sam, the son of 114-game Cat Sean, joined Adelaide and Geelong respectively.
The Bombers used the first pick of the rookie draft on South Adelaide ruckman Sam Draper.
