2m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 1:15am
Giants shed some light on the chase for Clayton Oliver
Here’s Adrian Caruso from the Giants on the link with Clayton Oliver.
“Still working through it,” he says.
“There’s no doubt there is a level of interest on our end, but Clayton has got a fair bit to work through on his end, and it’s the same for us.”
Caruso says the Suns “priority” is upping its midfield, which makes Oliver appealing.
He also confirms “a brief chat” with the Saints over a deal for Leek Aleer.Â
“We’re not going to be stupid about what we ask, but we’re not going to accept something we won’t use,” he says.
“We’re targeting probably something in the future.”
12m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 1:04am
What’s going on at… Essendon?
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Only one man to talk about, really.
It seems to me that Zach Merrett thinks he is leaving Essendon for Hawthorn. But the more you hear the Bombers talk, the less it seems like their “not for sale” stance is posturing. Essendon wants its captain to stay, but Merrett has other ideas.
This is going to rumble on and on and could get ugly unless one of the sides relents. I couldn’t tell you which way this goes, but I am excited to watch it play out.
The Dons have interest in Brayden Fiorini and have also acquired a strong suite of draft picks that could yet still be improved. Merrett is the key though, everything else the Dons do will revolve around that one.
20m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:56amGeelong not optimistic on landing both Curnow and Marshall
Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie doesn’t sound too optimistic about landing both Charlie Curnow and Rowan Marshall.
“We’ve got work to do. We’re under no illusions that he is a wanted man at Carlton,” he says on Curnow.
“It’d be hard work, we’ll see how we’ll go with the Rowan one. It’s going to be hard work to get both done. We know how the system works.”
Mackie says there’s “been a conversation” with Curnow’s management, although an official offer hasn’t been tabled just yet.
The Cats have had chats with Carlton’s list boss Nick Austin about what a potential deal could look like.
Mackie also says there is no interest in Clayton Oliver this time around compared to 12 months ago when Clarry was getting tours of various farms.
22m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:55am
What’s going on at… Collingwood?
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The Pies sit ready to act on whatever opportunities pop up, and that has led to them exploring moves for Clayton Oliver and Bailey Humphrey. The former seems a lot more likely than the latter, in what would be an interesting addition to a very good, albeit already somewhat one-paced midfield.
Jack Buller will also make his way to the Pies from Sydney in a boost to the key-position forward stocks. That is a necessary move, with Brody Mihocek on his way to Melbourne and Mason Cox’s future uncertain.
22m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:54amSuns say Bailey Humphrey revelations ‘made us scratch our head’
Craig Cameron from the Suns speaking very candidly on all things Gold Coast.
Here’s what he had to say on Bailey Humphrey.
“Damien [Hardwick] has, and we’ve made it really clear that we’re not trading him,” he says.
Cameron then gets asked whether he thinks Humphrey wants to be at the club and pauses like he’s been asked which of his children he loves the most.
“It’s a difficult question. I don’t think so, I think he likes our football club, but we saw things on Friday that made us scratch our head.”
MUY INTERESANTE!
He says the Suns have had “preliminary discussions” with the Demons over Christian Petracca.
Some interesting stuff from Cameron on the Suns’ interest in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan as well. He’s yet to have a medical, so still a fair bit of water to go under that bridge.
Cameron says there are “a number of things we’d like to investigate” about Ugle-Hagan.
“We’re considering it because he’s a phenomenal talent,” he says.
“He’s got to make a commitment to get himself right to play football, and we’re not blind to that.”
The Suns are also expecting Brayden Fiorini to make a call on his next club today.
34m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:43amDockers completely shut down Sean Darcy rumours
Fremantle’s David Walls says there’s no chance Sean Darcy gets moved this summer.
“Absolutely not. No discussions had. We’ll see Sean and Luke continuing their ruck combination together,” he says.
He says the Dockers have “started chats” with the Demons on Judd McVee.
40m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:36am
What’s going on at… Carlton?
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There’s only one question on the lips of the Blues’ faithful: Is Charlie staying or is he going?
Charlie Curnow wants to leave, it seems, and is exploring moves to Geelong and Sydney. But can either of those clubs come up with a deal that satisfies Carlton? It’s a long shot, and with four years left on his contract it’s going to take a king’s ransom to get Curnow out of the Blues.
Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni are already gone, but a handful of players are on their way in for Carlton. Buku Khamis, Campbell Chesser and Liam Reidy have requested trades. There was reported interest in Sam Flanders, but he’s heading to St Kilda, and some talk that Ben Ainsworth could be a target also.
High in Carlton’s thinking is next year’s draft, and the prospect of matching a very early bid on father-son gun Cody Walker. With the bid-matching rules set to change, the Blues will probably need two very good picks in next year’s draft to secure Walker, so they may look to start moving in that direction this year.
41m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:35amCarlton prepared to dig in on Charlie Curnow
New Carlton footy boss Chris Davies is pretty firm on Charlie Curnow.
“Four years to go on a deal, we really want him to see that through,” he says.
“It’s a really uncomfortable situation for Charlie to be in.”
Davies believes “body issues” Curnow has had in the last 12 months have led to his head being turned, but notes that the Blues haven’t yet received any firm offers.
“I don’t think there’s any value in me going through hypotheticals,” he says.
“The clear aspect here is we want Charlie to be a Carlton player into the future.”
Davies says he expects Liam Reidy, Campbell Chesser and Buku Khamis all to arrive at the Blues by the end of the trade period.
49m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:27am
What’s going on at… Brisbane?
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Drinking, I imagine. Reckon some of the Lions boys will be linking up with their Broncos pals this week to keep those celebrations going.
But up at head office, the show goes on. The Lions have already confirmed the free agency signing of Sam Draper from Essendon, which is timely as Oscar McInerney confirmed his retirement yesterday.
There is another big free agency move pending though, with Oscar Allen on his way over from West Coast. But why hasn’t that been lodged yet? And what is all this we’re hearing (via Cal Twomey at AFL.com.au) that Brisbane want to play hard ball over Brandon Starcevich’s move the other way to West Coast?
The Lions are being a bit cheeky with Starcevich, if the reporting is to be believed. Alternatively, if you are a trade period conspiracy theorist like me, perhaps something else is at play between Brisbane and West Coast here.
The Eagles were given an end-of-first round assistance pick from the AFL – or, more specifically, from former Lions CEO Greg Swann. That pick was widely expected to go straight to Brisbane for Starcevich, with the AFL effectively then just creating a pick from nowhere so the Eagles get Starcevich and the Lions get a higher pick than they otherwise would. But to cover it all up, the two teams need to pretend to be haggling over the deal before inevitably ending up at that pick 22 after all.
Then there’s the Allen situation, which looks straightforward but is conspicuously quiet at the moment. Could the Eagles getting band one compo (pick two, effectively) all be part of this massive AFL-Brisbane-West Coast plot?
We are through the looking glass here people…
50m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:26am
Lions prepared to play hardball on Starcevich
Brisbane list boss Dom Ambrogio chatting on the plans of the reigning premiers.
It sounds like there will be a bit of a delay on when the Oscar Allen free agency deal will be lodged due to negotiations with the Eagles around Brandon Starcevich.
Ambrogio says Starcevich is worth “a lot” which sounds ominous if you’re an Eagles fan.
And what about the future of Zac Bailey?
“I think it was Clint Eastwood who said ‘if you want a guarantee, buy a toaster’,” he says.
“The Brisbane Lions can guarantee they will do everything they can to keep Zac Bailey at the club.”
54m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:23amBombers adamant Zach Merrett will not be dealt
Essendon is adamant Zach Merrett will not be traded this summer. (Getty Images)
Pretty strong stuff from Essendon list boss Matt Rosa on Zach Merrett
“He’s a champion of our football club, we’ve been very clear that he’s a required player,” he says.
“We’ve been really clear on our position, we won’t be entertaining moving Zach. No contact made with Hawthorn. Nothing will change.”
Rosa also notes that Merrett is yet to make a trade request. It sounds like he might need to in order to get a move.
Rosa confirms the Bombers’ interest in Brayden Fiorini and Jack Steele.
“We’ll explore all avenues,” he says on Steele.
“He’s a player we really like from afar, but not too much has evolved in that space.”
Says the Dons like Zane Duursma’s “talent”, but he doesn’t sound too optimistic about a move there.
He says the Dons will “explore all options” about moving either up or down in the draft.
59m agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:17am
What’s going on at… Adelaide?
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The Crows think they are a midfielder short, but are having a tough time finding a deal that suits to fill that gap. They explored Christian Petracca but were priced out of a trade for the gun Demon, and alternate options aren’t really presenting at the moment.
Callum Ah Chee is on his way in from Brisbane though, and that is a very handy acquisition. The Crows have a gap between pick 15 (too high) and pick 46 (too low), so will need to get creative to strike a deal with the Lions.
1h agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:15am
Magpies yet to chat to Oliver about a potential move
Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch chatting with Cal Twomey around a few different things.
Leppitsch says he hasn’t spoken to Clayton Oliver just yet about a potential move.
“Just going through due diligence of that one, obviously it came in late. We got the call from his management,” he said.
Leppitsch says the Pies “had a brief chat with Melbourne about what a deal could look like”.
Leppitsch is asked about Bailey Humphrey but says the Pies weren’t one of the clubs to meet with the Suns young gun.
He also says the Pies will not make a move for Steven May after holding brief discussions with the veteran Demon.
The Pies are also not planning on dealing Bobby Hill despite an interrupted season due to personal issues.
1h agoMon 6 Oct 2025 at 12:14am
Crows list boss Justin Reid on Petracca and Ah Chee
Adelaide list boss Justin Reid speaking on Christian Petracca and Cal Ah Chee.
“We took the phone call there, a quality player like that, you certainly have some interest. We moved on pretty quickly,” he tells Cal Twomey on Petracca.
“Great to have Cal nominate the club. He will add some flexibility to the list.”
Reid says the Crows “certainly” won’t deal their first-rounder to Brisbane for Ah Chee.Â
However, he says the Crows are “very open minded with all our picks”.
1h agoSun 5 Oct 2025 at 11:55pm
Rowan Marshall wants to become a Cat
What do you think the likelihood is that Marshall does end up at Geelong? He works better around the ground and he played well in a 2-ruck system when Ryder was still playing, so given his injury history it seems like him and TDK would work well together.
I know Saints supporters would much rather he stay as he’s a heart and soul player, and I can’t see the club being super keen to trade given he’s still got 2 years on his contract.
– Kate
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Rowan Marshall has requested a trade to Geelong, and I would be very surprised if that move doesn’t happen over the next two weeks.
As soon as Tom De Koning picked the Saints, Marshall’s papers were likely stamped. St Kilda also needs to find some flexibility in its salary cap, what with the influx of players coming in and the big money deals being signed, so they won’t be too heartbroken to see Marshall (and possibly Jack Steele) leave.
Tougher for the fans though, because as you say they are two beloved players who have given good years to the club.
I would imagine that Geelong’s first pick (currently 18) will be the starting point of the deal, but the Saints will want more. Dealing with the Cats though is notoriously tough, and Geelong will be happy to take it to the deadline to get the deal it wants, which is not something the Saints can afford given the other deals it needs to complete.
1h agoSun 5 Oct 2025 at 11:44pm
Rosas to the Swans imminent
It looks like we might have a trade go through today!
Both Sam Edmund and Cal Twomey are expecting Malcolm Rosas Jr to be traded to Sydney for a third-round pick.
1h agoSun 5 Oct 2025 at 11:40pm
Mihocek expected to head to Melbourne via a trade, not free agency
AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey speaking on Trade Radio about a couple of moves.
Twomey says Brody Mihocek is likely to be traded from Collingwood to Melbourne, instead of leaving as a free agent.
This is basically because Melbourne is keen to not dilute its free agency compensation pick it will receive for Charlie Spargo, who will join North Melbourne
1h agoSun 5 Oct 2025 at 11:39pm
The clubs are set to arrive at Docklands
We’ll get a flow of news coming through in a short time.
The list managers of all 18 AFL clubs will be at Docklands Stadium so we’ll keep you updated.
1h agoSun 5 Oct 2025 at 11:23pm
Of course Sol Campbell is interested in a skipper making a treasonous move
when is merrett coming to the hawks just announce it already
– Sol
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2h agoSun 5 Oct 2025 at 11:15pm
Good morning traders
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Hello! Very excited to be back on the trade blog after missing out last year, ready to ride shotgun with Chris for the next week and a half. Feel very much at home here in our natural habitat, among the nuffies feasting on trade rumours and draft machinations.
We’re locked in to take as many of your questions and comments as possible, but also a heads-up that the list bosses of every single club are arriving at Docklands in the next couple of hours or so and we hope to bring you some quotes from each of them.
We’ll also give you the latest on where every club sits with their trade hopes and dreams as we wait for the big news to start dropping. Let’s get going.