MELBOURNE has secured pick No.7 and hard-at-it utility Tomas Bugg from Greater Western Sydney.
The Demons used selections No.10, No.43 and No.64 to gain No.7 and Bugg on Wednesday afternoon.
It means Melbourne – at this stage – has four selections in the November NAB AFL Draft (picks No.3, No.7, No.46 and No.50) given it has four vacancies on its primary list.
That could change, with the first list lodgement still to come on October 30.
Along with Bugg, the Demons have acquired Ben Kennedy (Collingwood) and Jake Melksham (Essendon) so far during this year’s trade period.
General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said the trade improved Melbourne’s standing considerably in the draft.
“This deal further strengthens our drafting position in 2015 and brings in Tomas Bugg, who is a player we targeted during the trade period and someone who can make an immediate impact at AFL level for us next year,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“Bugg is a super competitive midfielder who is an elite runner and plays with an aggressive streak. He fits into our age bracket profile, as he is turns 23 next year and has played 65 games at AFL level for the Giants.
“By bringing in the likes of Bugg, Kennedy and Melksham during the trade period, we have acquired three players who are all competitive in nature, which is a trait we have clearly targeted and will make us a better football team in 2016.”
Bugg, who played 65 matches for the Giants, played all four seasons for the AFL’s newest club. He sits seventh in GWS’ games record holder.
Bugg played in GWS’ first AFL match, notching up 27 disposals against the Sydney Swans in round one, 2012. Only Adam Kennedy (28 touches), had more disposals for the Giants in that match.
In his second last match for GWS, in round 22 this year, Bugg received a Brownlow Medal vote against Carlton for his 22 disposals and two goals at Spotless Stadium.
The 22-year-old joined the Giants as a 17-year-old access selection player in 2011, when the club was allowed to sign up a dozen 17-year-old players born between January 1 and April 30, 1993.
Along with Bugg, the other players selected under that scenario were Jeremy Cameron, Sam Darley, Tim Golds, Josh Growden, Jack Hombsch, Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar, Gerald Ugle and Nathan Wilson.
Bugg also received a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in 2012.
For the record, he holds cap No.1 at GWS.
Meanwhile, Melbourne has traded big man Jack Fitzpatrick to Hawthorn and received selection No.94.
Fitzpatrick played 22 matches and kicked 24 goals for the Demons from 2011-15, after being drafted at No.50 in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft.
He was delisted at the end of the 2015 season by Melbourne, but after the Hawks had earmarked him as a delisted free agent, the Demons helped facilitate a trade earlier to ensure his arrival at the Hawks. The Dees won’t use pick No.94 in the draft.
