If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Fremantle has Western Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton and Port Adelaide young gun Mitch Georgiades on its radar, according to Western Australia journalist Ryan Daniels.
Coming off an impressive rise to finish fifth in 2022, the Dockers had a busy off-season of player movement that saw the likes of Luke Jackson and Jaeger O’Meara join the club after Jordan Clark and Will Brodie arrived the year prior.
But Freo’s bid to add more talent reportedly won’t stop there, with Naughton, 23, and Georgiades, 21, who’re both from Western Australia, seemingly in the club’s sights in a bid to bolster its forward line that was a weak point last season.
Naughton is contracted at the Dogs for two more seasons, while Georgiades, who was linked to West Coast last year as part of the Junior Rioli trade and other clubs, is on an expiring deal at Alberton.
Speaking on Triple M, Daniels revealed the Dockers were pursuing moves for the two key forwards.
“I know for a fact there’s two names very firmly on the radar,” he said.
“Aaron Naughton … and Mitch Georgiades … West Coast and Fremantle are right into this kid. If he plays more than a couple of games in the SANFL, that phone is going to be ringing hot, just watch that space all year.
“Naughton’s a bit more difficult because he’s under contract for this year and next. But as we know, things change in footy.
“I have it on very good authority that watch those two blokes. Do not be surprised if one of them ends up in purple as soon as next year.
“These things can happen, just watch this space. There was a lot of very subtle noise about Naughton last year ... just an under current. Just watch that space.”
Naughton is coming off a career-best season where he booted 51 goals and 47 majors the year prior. Georgiades meanwhile regressed slightly last season with 23 goals and played several games in the SANFL after kicking 32 majors in his second year.
It comes after Fremantle football boss Peter Bell even confirmed to Daniels during an interview on Channel 7 the list profile is “never finished” and that it’d continue to look at trade, free agency and the draft.
Asked about potential interest in Naughton and Georgiades, Bell said: “We have a lot of conversations with player managers ... we have an extra interest in West Australian players for very obvious reasons, just like Victorian list managers would have an extra interest in our Victorian players.
“The names you mentioned are certainly players we look at.
“But I think as a club we’re at a stage with the environment we’ve created, where there are players who are expressing interest – and sometimes that’s just it – and sometimes they express interest for a whole variety of reasons. But expressing interest in potentially moving to Western Australia and playing for Fremantle.
“That wasn’t the case a while ago. So things have changed a little bit.”
Wasn’t Georgiades linked to a move last off season? Bringing Naughton up with him kinda seems like a trick by Freo to approximate their value for when they do land him.
- I'm a visionary - Only here to confirm my biases -
It's not surprising that a club from the Western Australia would be interested in Naughton. I'd imagine all clubs would be asking his manager if he is looking to make a move.
Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"
Short of pick 1 and pick 2 it's hard to imagine us trading him this year
I reckon Naughts is at least worth 2 first round draft picks, one of those being an early pick (1 to 5). I’d hate to see him leave us. Based on his positive demeanour I think he’ll stay with us for a good while.
Josie :)
Our day will come
And we'll have everything.
We'll share the joy
Just like '54 again.
We have 2, maybe 3 untouchable players and one of them is Naughton. Go and jam it Freo!
Hi Comrade - Bont & Naughts for sure. I’d also say Darcy. Who is your 3rd untouchable? B. Smith? English? Marra? Macrae? Might be a good thread discussion with a poll where we can choose 3 untouchables.
Josie :)
Our day will come
And we'll have everything.
We'll share the joy
Just like '54 again.
Comment