Grigg a Tiger, Collins a Blue Emma Quayle, Jon Pierik
October 10, 2010 YOUNG Richmond forward Andrew Collins yesterday agreed to a three-year contract with Carlton, enabling uncontracted Carlton midfielder Shaun Grigg to make his way to Punt Road.
The Blues will turn their attention to finding new homes for Andrew Walker and Sam Jacobs, but have expressed only minor interest in Jack Anthony, the Collingwood player who was considered some chance to feature in a three-club deal between the Blues, Magpies and Fremantle late last week.
Richmond and Carlton yesterday completed their straight swap of Grigg and Collins, who were drafted at the top and bottom ends of the 2006 draft, Grigg a priority selection at pick 19 for the Blues and Collins the No. 73 pick who broke through to play 15 games this year.
After his name was raised earlier this week, Collins took a look around the Blues' headquarters and spoke with coach Brett Ratten on Friday.
The 21-year-old's manager, Anthony McConville, said that while Collins was surprised that his name came up, his meeting with Ratten had assured him of his place in his new club's plans. Collins is a nephew of 1979 Carlton premiership player Peter Francis.
''It's been agreed to today. Andy will go to Carlton and he's happy about it. It was obviously unexpected - he wasn't expecting to go anywhere - but Carlton made a good pitch for him,'' said McConville.
''He met with Brett Ratten and came away extremely impressed with what they had to say. Basically from there we nutted out a deal for him and now it's all agreed to.''
Richmond's general manager of football, Craig Cameron, said Grigg's ''inside'' abilities would help release the Tigers' classy ball-movers, such as Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio. ''Andrew is a quality, young player, but at the end of the day you have to give up something decent to get something decent, and that's what happened with this trade,'' Cameron said.
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