AFL Trades 2024: Richmond free agent Jack Graham to join West Coast Eagles, turns back on Tigers

Dual Richmond premiership player Jack Graham has decided to join West Coast on a four-year deal as a free agent.

The West Australian can confirm that Graham made a decision on Monday afternoon after weighing up similar deals between the Eagles and Tigers over the weekend.

Graham, 26, is the first big signing for West Coast this off-season, with his good friend and fellow Richmond premiership star Liam Baker also set to land at Mineral Resources Park.

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A premiership player in 2017 and 2020, Graham played 131 games for the Tigers since being drafted out of North Adelaide with pick No.53 in 2016.

Graham was in WA last week where he toured West Coast’s facilities before returning to Victoria to ponder his decision, with the Tigers also offering him a four-year deal to remain at the club.

He reunited with former Richmond midfield coach Andrew McQualter who was last week appointed as the seventh coach in the Eagles’ 38-year history.

The AFL will now decide on the compensation Richmond will get for Graham based on the length of the contract, salary and player’s age, with the paperwork set to go through on Tuesday.

The midfielder thanked the Tigers for getting his career underway.

“I’m just so grateful for the Richmond Football Club for giving me the opportunity eight years ago,” he said.

“I have met some amazing people along this journey, and it is tough... but it is something that I thought I needed for myself. A new chapter and a new challenge.

“Jordy and I are very excited by that, but at the same time, it is sad to say goodbye to so many good people.

“(They are) people that have helped me along the way to get where I am today as a player, but more importantly, to help shape me as the person I am today.”

Graham is known for playing in a premiership in only his fifth game, kicking a game-high three goals in their grand final victory over Adelaide in 2017.

He was unlucky to not be a three-time premiership player, with a dislocated shoulder costing him a place in the 2019 grand final-winning side.

The speedster played 14 games this season for the Tigers, averaging 17 disposals and four tackles.

Baker is likely to join Graham at Richmond after requesting a trade to the Eagles, but the deal is likely going to have to wait until West Coast move on Tom Barrass to Hawthorn.

The Hawks are set to stump up at least pick No.14 for the premiership defender, which the Eagles will then likely on-trade to Richmond in exchange for the dual premiership player despite Baker being out of contract.

Baker has played 128 games for the Tigers since being taken in the 2017 rookie draft, including in the 2019 and 2020 premiership sides.