Carlton acquired a contracted forward in a trade, while Melbourne and Collingwood completed a deal for a veteran.

Meanwhile, the Pies are reportedly exploring a move for a rival skipper, while a Saint’s mooted move is now “categorically not happening”.

Plus, the Lions and Crows remain “miles apart” on a trade for a two-time premiership forward.

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3.25PM – ROWBOTTOM’S MANAGER POURS COLD WATER ON TRADE

James Rowbottom’s manager has played down the possibility of the Swans gun midfielder being part of a Charlie Curnow trade.

Rowbottom has been linked to Curnow trade talk as the Swans and Cats ramp up their pursuit of the star forward.

But Rowbottom’s agent, Matt Bain from TGI Sport, suggested the 25-year old was “happy at Sydney and wants to play there in 2026,” per Nine’s Tom Morris.“He says if there any suggestions he be could be part of a trade, it’s not being driven by the player,” Morris added on X.

In a statement to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey, Bain said he expects Rowbottom to remain with the Swans.

“It’s that time of year, clubs have asked the question and no doubt been ringing Sydney about him. He loves the club and the players, I can’t see it happening,” Bain said.

3.20PM – BLUES LAND SUN IN THREE-TEAM TRADE, FORMER NO. 14 PICK

Carlton has landed Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth and sent Corey Durdin to Port Adelaide in a three-team trade.

Separately, the Blues secured former Pick 14 Campbell Chesser from West Coast in exchange for Pick 41 in a busy day at Ikon Park.

The three-way deal saw Carlton bring in Ainsworth and Pick 67. The Suns got Pick 29 from Port Adelaide, who added Durdin and a 2026 second-round pick (tied to Carlton).

Ainsworth, 27, was said to be assessing his options despite being under contract at the Suns for a further three years.

Blues football boss Chris Davies confirmed the club’s talks with Gold Coast regarding the forward.

“We have had some chats with the Suns. We think Ben Ainsworth is a player that can help us, and we will continue discussions on him going forward,” he said on AFL Trade Radio on Friday.

It comes after Essendon had “renewed an interest” in the forward after pursuing him last year.

Ainsworth played 24 senior games this year for 23 goals. It was his best return since booting 25 majors across 22 games in 2022.

AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge earlier reported Durdin had “expressed a desire to return home to South Australia” despite being contracted at the Blues next year.

3PM – ROOS CONSIDERING ALEER PLAY, NO SIMPKIN MOVEMENT

North Melbourne is considering a play for Leek Aleer, while the club is yet to receive any offers for Jy Simpkin despite rival interest in the skipper.

It follows St Kilda’s spectacular backflip for Aleer leaving the high-flying defender in limbo, with a return to the Giants on the cards unless another club pounces.

That could yet be the Kangaroos, with club footy manager Brady Rawlings confirming he’s spoken with Aleer’s manager in the wake of the Saints pulling out of their pursuit.

“It’s one that’s obviously caught a fair few clubs by surprise,” Rawlings told AFL Trade Radio on Friday.

“We’ve always admired him as a player. I’m sure there’s a few clubs considering him.

“I’ve been in touch with his manager about a few things. He is pretty disappointed and clearly trying to find Leek a new home or whether he stays at the Giants.

“We’ve discussed it as a club and if it’s something we’d consider, we’re still doing the work on that.”

Rawlings said North was in the market for a “hybrid defender” as opposed to a traditional key back, with the likes of Steven May and Mitch McGovern not on the club’s radar.

But there’s been no movement on a potential Simpkin trade despite the midfielder emerging as a target for Collingwood.

“There’s been some interest shown, he’s obviously a very good player. But there’s been no trade request and no formal offer or anything yet in terms of a trade,” Rawlings added.

“So the way we see it, while it’s still in that position, he’s a North Melbourne player and will continue to be.”

1.20PM – SWANS ‘ALL IN’ ON CURNOW, PREPARING TRADE PACKAGE

The Swans are “preparing an offer” to the Blues for Charlie Curnow.

According to Nine’s Tom Morris, the package being worked up will “involve players and picks in a bid to satisfy Carlton”.

Morris added that while the spearhead goalkicker hasn’t yet visited the club, the Swans “are all in and putting the pieces together to have a proper crack”.

It comes after AFL Media’s Cal Twomey reported Curnow had undergone medicals with both Geelong and Sydney, adding: “The bidding war is on”.

On Friday morning, Blues football boss Chris Davies rejected the Cats’ offer of three first-rounders; all of which are likely to come late in their respective drafts due to Geelong’s perpetual state of flag contention.

SEN’s Sam Edmund reported on Friday that negotiations between Carlton and Sydney have centred around James Rowbottom, Sydney’s Pick 11 and a future first-rounder.

12.30PM – DOGS’ UPDATE ON KHAMIS DEAL, ALEER INTEREST

Western Bulldogs player acquisition and strategy boss Michael Regan gave an update on where talks with Carlton sit over off-contract utility Buku Khamis.

“We have had initial talks with Carlton. For Buku (Khamis) to leave, it has to be a pick that reflects his value,” he said on AFL Trade Radio.

As for emerging midfielder Ryley Sanders, who’d been linked to the Crows, Regan promptly shut the idea down.

“Ryley (Sanders) is a super exciting 19-year-old — we rate him really highly. He is a much-loved member of the club, and there aren’t many situations where you wouldn’t see him at the club into the very long future.”

The Leek Aleer situation was also broached, with the backline a clear improvement area for the Bulldogs, but Regan said the impressive young interceptor wouldn’t be a consideration for the club.

“There’s a tremendous amount of empathy for us to Leek, but for us it’s not something we’d be pursuing at this time,” Regan said.

11.15AM – ROWBOTTOM LINKED TO CURNOW TRADE

James Rowbottom is the latest Swan to be linked to Charlie Curnow trade talks.

SEN’s Sam Edmund has revealed Rowbottom’s name “has been raised” in discussions between the Swans and the Blues.

Edmund said current negotiations have centered around Rowbottom, Sydney’s Pick 11 and a future first-rounder.

Forward Will Hayward has previously been linked to talks.

It comes after Blues footy boss Chris Davies said earlier on Friday the club had rejected Geelong’s offer of three first-round picks for the dual Coleman medallist.

10.05AM – DONS ‘RENEW INTEREST’ IN FORWARD

Essendon has “renewed an interest” in contracted Gold Coast forward Ben Ainsworth, according to AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge.

It comes after the Bombers showed interest in the Victorian last year, and as the Blues also zero in on the livewire goalkicker, who’s assessing his options.

The Gippsland Power product is contracted at the Suns for another three seasons.

9.50AM – LIONS, CROWS ‘MILES APART’ ON AH CHEE DEAL

Brisbane and Adelaide are reportedly “miles apart” on coming to terms on a deal for out-of-contract premiership forward Cal Ah Chee.

The 28-year-old requested a move to the Crows after winning two flags with the Lions, but the clubs can’t agree on fair value, per SEN’s Sam Edmund.

According to Edmund, Brisbane is chasing Adelaide’s no.16 pick or a future first-round selection, which is set to shift down the order multiple spots after matched bids, while the Crows are said to be offering no more than their future second-rounder.

9.00AM – PIES, DEES FINALISE MIHOCEK TRADE

Collingwood has officially traded Brody Mihocek to Melbourne.

The Demons have forked over Pick 61 and their third-round pick next year for Mihocek and the no.71 selection, confirmed at AFL House at just past 10am.

While Mihocek could’ve walked as a free agent, Melbourne has opted to trade for him in order to preserve its compensation pick for Charlie Spargo’s departure to North Melbourne.

8.40AM – ‘NO ONE WOULD THINK THAT’S REASONABLE’: BLUES BOSS ON CATS’ OFFER

Carlton football boss Chris Davies has rejected Geelong’s reported offer of three first-round picks for Charlie Curnow.

It was revealed on Thursday night that the Cats had put an offer forward to the Blues which comprised Pick 19, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2027 first-rounder.

Davies, speaking on AFL Trade Radio on Friday morning, maintained the club’s public stance that it wants to retain the contracted Curnow — but he also said that the Cats’ likely late picks in the first round in coming years meant the offer wasn’t “reasonable”.

“The club’s position has been that we don’t want Charlie Curnow leaving Carlton,” Davies began on Friday morning.

“For Geelong, those three picks are effectively going to be picks in the 20s. I’m not sure anyone would think that was a reasonable deal for who Charlie Curnow is.

“What has been clear from day one is that we are not in a position where we are suggesting to other clubs what Charlie is worth.

“From here on in, our position will remain that we want Charlie to stay.”

Davies was also asked about the Blues’ interest in contracted Gold Coast forward Ben Ainsworth, who’s been said to be exploring his options despite having three more years to run on his deal.

“We have had some chats with the Suns. We think Ben Ainsworth is a player that can help us, and we will continue discussions on him going forward,” he said.

Davies also confirmed Carlton would have discussions over the possibility of paying out the final year of Elijah Hollands’ deal to get him off its books if he wasn’t able to find a new home this trade period.

7.15AM – SAINT’S MOVE ‘CATEGORICALLY’ SCRAPPED

The mooted trade to send St Kilda ruck Rowan Marshall to Geelong reportedly “is categorically not happening”.

That’s according to SEN’s Sam Edmund, and it comes after the Cats — who were said to be offering Pick 19 to the Saints for Marshall — reportedly offered three first-rounders to Carlton for Charlie Curnow on Thursday night, including the no.19 selection.

“I can tell you Marshall (being traded to Geelong) is categorically not happening. Rowan Marshall will be playing for St Kilda next year,” Edmund reported on AFL Trade Radio on Friday morning.

He added: “The Saints will not be trading Rowan Marshall anymore. The talks with Geelong have stalled. I can tell you there is no world where he is going to be traded.”

The 29-year-old tapster had previously requested a move to Kardinia Park, following Tom De Koning’s arrival at Moorabbin this off-season.

6AM – PIES’ MOVE FOR RIVAL SKIPPER

The Magpies are reportedly interested in recruiting North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin, honing in on the midfielder who is said to be unhappy.

Simpkin ended the 2025 season in a wing role, and according to The Age, was left with a bad taste in his mouth.

Collingwood were also interested in signing exiled Demons star Clayton Oliver, who has since made it clear he has his heart set on a move to GWS.

Simpkin, meanwhile, is signed until the end of the 2029 season — meaning any offer for the Kangaroos skipper will reportedly have to be tempting.

A strong first round pick could do the job, while North Melbourne list manager Brady Rawlings explained the club won’t change in their stance on Simpkin’s minutes.

“We play players in positions we think will help us win and that has been the case with Jy. We know he can play inside as well,” he said.

“We think the best thing for our footy club at the moment is Davies-Uniacke, Sheezel and Wardlaw on the inside, and a blend of Simpkin on the outside and potentially on the inside.

“We haven’t had a trade request, he’s contracted for four more years, he’s our captain, he’s 27, and he’s a dual best-and-fairest winner.”

6AM – WHERE TO FOR ALEER?

Giant defender Leek Aleer was left blindsided on Thursday evening.

All indications were the 24-year-old would be a Saint, until his move was dead and buried, leaving him furious.

“Leek is not happy and to be honest, livid with the situation. Clubs have rung me and said, ‘It’s a disgrace, what have they done?’ Nobody from the Saints has spoken to him,” Aleer’s agent, Dylan Smith from Centimetre Perfect Global, told Channel 9.

So where could he land?

The Western Bulldogs have been in the market for a key back, but a host of other clubs have already settled on their defensive plans moving forward.

For example, Carlton has locked onto Buku Khamis and Sydney is set to add Jai Serong.

That leaves Collingwood and North Melbourne as potential options, but it remains to be seen if he can secure a move.

A tricky spot for the 195-cm high-flyer to be in.

Where to for Aleer?Source: News Corp Australia

6AM – ROGERS’ BIG CALL

Rising Sun Jake Rogers has made a big call on his future.

Initially, the young gun was considering a move from the Gold Coast, but he has instead decided to remain at the club according to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey.

Gold Coast list boss Craig Cameron also confirmed that Rogers would remain, with his current contract running until the end of the 2026 season.

Rogers was drafted in the first round in 2023, but has played only 18 AFL games.

The news comes in what has been a tough trade period for the Suns, with a host of players, including Brayden Fiorini and Connor Budarick, on the move.

Read through the AFL trade questions from Day 5 of the 2025 Trade Period!