Ouch, I did not know that we cannot trade the "Compensation picks". Is that right??
Here is a good bio on Josh Caddy to date (online search)
Josh Caddy is one of the rising Suns in the AFL and will be one of the hottest properties going during trade month (formerly trade week) if he requests a trade home to Victoria as he did last year. Having captained the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup, Caddy was drafted by Gold Coast at pick 7 in the AFL draft of 2010. He is still in the early stages of development but is already regarded as one of Gold Coast’s most valuable players going forward.
In 2011, the Suns’ inaugural season, Caddy struggled with a navicular bone injury and only managed to play the last two games of the season – the first against Melbourne where got ten disposals in a thirty point loss, and the second against Hawthorn where he garnered sixteen disposals and kicked two goals in a nine point loss. With the Suns not making the finals, Caddy returned home to Victoria to visit his father who was suffering from a heart condition, and informed the Suns’ management that he wished to be traded to Essendon after just one year up north. The Bombers offered pick 19 and a player (reported to have been Cale Hooker) for Caddy hoping that Gold Coast would accept their offer on the grounds of compassion, but the Dons instead saw the Suns emphatically knock their offer back. Several other Victorian clubs were interested in recruiting Caddy, but the midfielder refused to talk to any other club. This led to many questioning how serious Caddy really was to return home to look after his dad if the only club he was willing to talk to was Essendon, and by the end of trade week, no trade occurred and the man who likens himself to Dustin Martin was stuck with the Suns for another year.
After an impressive pre-season and solid NAB Cup, Caddy was named in the starting line-up for the Suns in round 1 and has played every game so far this season. The hard in-and-under midfielder has been used in as a rover by the Suns, and the 19 year old has begun to display the skills he showed when finishing first in the clean hands challenge at the 2010 draft camp. He can also take a good contested mark and is not afraid to take the game on. In round 2 against St Kilda he finished with eight tackles, whilst in round 4 against the Bombers, he kicked a 60 metre goal on the run in a match the Suns nearly won. He can find the ball, as seen by his 27 disposals against the Bulldogs in round 8, although is not being utilised by the Suns as the type of player who accumulates numerous uncontested possessions. Against Geelong in round 15 he pushed forward more and kicked three goals in a fourteen point loss. Despite having played sixteen matches, Caddy is yet to have played in a winning side.
In keeping with the rules the AFL established for them, Gold Coast must have reduced their senior playing list from 46 players to 42 by the third and final list lodgement this year on November 29. On top of the four players they already have to cut to reduce their numbers at the end of this season, the Suns have to cut at least another three players to be allowed to participate in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, and another player to allow for the pre-listed Jaeger O’Meara to move on to the senior list. If they wish to upgrade any of their four rookies then even more players must be cut. If the Suns wanted to trade to bring anyone to Metricon Stadium or have more than three picks in the draft, further cuts would be required. As it currently sits the Suns have 27 players contracted beyond this season including Ablett, Rischitelli, Bennell and Swallow. Despite looking to clear room, the Suns are still very much desperate to retain Caddy, although must realise that he could walk for nothing in the pre-season draft if he wanted (Caddy has not played enough football to be a free agent). This could also backfire on Caddy as it is almost certain that Gold Coast and GWS will have pre-season picks earlier than Essendon or any other Victorian club.
Not long after his trade to Essendon collapsed, Caddy told the Gold Coast media that he could see himself being with the Suns forever, but as we know from previous situations with certain 20 year olds that front the media, what a player says and what a player does can be two very different things. With the Suns and Bombers unable to strike a deal last year with pick 19 and a player on the table, the chances of them working out a deal this year are even slimmer as the Bombers’ first round pick is being used under the father-son rule to acquire Joe Daniher. This means that the Bombers will either have to offer one of their top 10 players, or both of the clubs have to use a third club to do a three-way trade. Due to how many players the Suns have to delist they are not keen on a player exchange. It is believed that the Suns are most keen on regaining some of the compensation picks should they be forced to give up Caddy, but are content with early draft picks.
With a deal between Essendon and Gold Coast looking unlikely, Caddy may have to open up his options and allow other Victorian clubs to approach him if he really is desperate to be home with his father. Geelong is known to be looking for a young hard at it midfielder as they prepare for when their ageing midfielders retire, and although Travis Boak is their first priority, should he not leave Alberton the Cats may well try and target Caddy. Geelong remains the only Victorian club to hold a compensation pick, which puts them in the best position in terms of negotiating with the Suns. The Demons are another club also looking for skilled midfielders and have money to splash to try and lure Caddy to AAMI Park, although there is some doubt as to whether the Demons can offer anything to the Gold Coast in return for Caddy as they have already activated both of their compensation picks for this season and once they are activated they cannot be traded. The Demons first pick (most likely pick 3) may also be end up being used to acquire father-son recruit Jack Viney, although the Demons are hopeful that GWS and Gold Coast won’t bid the first or second pick in the draft for him just to force Melbourne to use the third pick in the draft for the youngster. This would then allow the Demons to recruit Viney for a pick in the early 20’s and leave pick 3 available. Even if this did eventuate, it would not help the Demons get Caddy as there is no way the Dees would consider parting with pick 3 for Caddy. The Blues may also have a look at recruiting Caddy as they will be able to free up money if they decide to delist Brock McLean who is commanding a decent salary and was a big flop for Carlton until a few weeks ago. If Lenny Hayes retires at the end of this year, then the Saints may also make a bid for Caddy, although funds are tight at the Junction Oval. Richmond may also take a look at him whilst Kangaroos could also be a suitor to Caddy as his grandfather played for North Melbourne and the Suns player is said to have been a mad Kangaroos fan.
So what will become of the Josh Caddy? An article in The Age a few weeks ago reported that Gold Coast would be willing to trade off one of its young ruckmen (although not Zac Smith) along with Caddy if a club was willing to offer a very good draft pick or an elite player. The Suns are also short of key defenders and would accept a trade that saw them get a decent player in that area. As it currently stands there are no solid key defenders on the market and thus will make it even harder for Caddy to leave. If Caddy does what he did last year and refuse to talk to anyone but Essendon, he will almost certainly find himself stuck at the Suns again. With trade week now going for a month, clubs will have more time to work out a deal but if Gold Coast and Caddy do not shift their stance, this could become very ugly.
