The Brisbane Lions today lodged paperwork for trades that will see Jared Polec, Elliot Yeo and Sam Docherty depart the Club.
Polec was traded to Port Adelaide in a complicated three-way deal that also involved Greater Western Sydney.
In short, the Lions will receive the Giants’ second and fourth round selections (Picks 22 and 48 overall) and Port Adelaide’s second round selection (Pick No.34 overall) in exchange for Polec (to Port) as well as the Club’s second and third round selections (Picks 29 and 45 overall), which are headed to the Giants.
Docherty is set to join Carlton next season in return for the Blues’ second round selection (Pick No.33 overall), while Yeo is headed West for the Eagles’ second round selection (Pick No.28 overall).
The Lions now boast five selections inside the first two rounds at the 2013 AFL National Draft – Picks 7, 22, 28, 33, and 34.
Polec departs the Lions after playing 16 games across three seasons with the Club.
The wingman was the Lions first pick (No.5 overall) at the 2010 AFL National Draft, but a range of knee, groin and ankle injuries conspired against him playing regular senior football.
He requested a trade back to his home state of South Australia at the end of the 2013 season.
Yeo was drafted to the Lions with Pick No.30 overall at the 2011 AFL National Draft.
He played eight senior matches in a promising debut season, before becoming a more permanent fixture of the Lions’ senior side in 2013.
Yeo played 19 of a possible 22 matches this season, playing predominantly across half-back.
Docherty also spent two seasons with the Lions after being selected in the first round (Pick No.12 overall) of the 2011 AFL National Draft – but missed most of his debut season after requiring hip surgery upon his arrival.
The 20-year-old made his senior debut against North Melbourne in Round 4 earlier this year, and went on to play a total of 13 senior matches.
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr said the Club was disappointed to be losing Polec, Yeo and Docherty, who had all expressed a desire to return to their home states.
“We were incredibly keen to retain Jared, Elliot and Sam, and are disappointed that neither will be part of the Brisbane Lions’ future,” Kerr said.
“The compensation received from the respective clubs was the best on offer, and we believe that these selections will help us deliver some more quality young players to the Lions.
“Although complicated, our priority in the Polec deal was to get as far up the draft order as possible.”
The Lions are currently in the process of finalising a number of other trades before Friday’s 2pm deadline.
