There’s a fresh trade watch at the Bombers, who’d reportedly “be open” to offers for Ben McKay.

Plus a Zak Butters suitor remains ‘all in’ on the free agent. Plus the Suns are set to make a call on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. More in AFL Trade Whispers.

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‘WATCH’ ON DON THREE YEARS AFTER $5M MOVE

There’s a fresh Essendon trade watch, according to AFL Media reporter Cal Twomey, who claims the Bombers “would be open” to offers for key-position player Ben McKay — just three years after his free agency move from North Melbourne.

McKay in late 2023 signed a six-year deal with the Bombers, reportedly worth around $800,000 per season.

But the 28-year-old endured a rough 2026 campaign, playing 15 AFL games — including six in a fresh key forward role — while being dropped to the VFL for five games during Dean Solomon’s time as interim coach.

Twomey on Monday morning wrote on X “there’s a watch” on McKay’s future at Essendon, adding: “There is a view the Bombers would be open to trade options for him after a season that saw him dropped to the VFL.”

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Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark in 2024 broke down the details of McKay’s six-year Essendon contract, including how significantly front-loaded his deal was. Clark revealed that McKay would be earning roughly $400,000 per season between 2027 and 2029.

“His first year (2024), at the moment, is worth $1.4 million, and the second year $1.1 (million) and then his third year $1 million. It is heavily front-ended, and then it goes to almost a base wage for the last three years of his six-year deal,” Clark told Midweek Tackle in 2024.

“Essendon have done this with a few players — they’ve front-ended some of their key players,” Clark said.

“That’s going to give them salary cap space in coming years as the list matures.”

McKay has played 119 AFL games across 11 seasons with the Kangaroos and Bombers.

DOGS STILL ‘ALL IN’ ON BUTTERS

The Western Bulldogs remain “all in” on Zak Butters and believe they’re still a chance to land the Port Adelaide superstar.

Reports have stated Geelong is the frontrunner for the free agent as his preferred destination over the Bulldogs and Richmond, though Butters is yet to nominate a club.

It emerged last week that the Dogs improved their offer to Butters in a list-ditch attempt to secure him over Geelong. SEN’s Sam Edmund reports all of the Cats, Bulldogs and Richmond are offering “long-term deals worth somewhere between $1.8-$2 million per season.”

Speaking on SEN radio last Friday night, Dogs chief executive Ameet Bains denied the accuracy of some reporting, but confirmed the club was as keen as ever.

“The accuracy of some of those reports and timing and things like that … I’m sure they’re not 100 per cent right,” Bains said.

“In terms of Zak, he’s obviously indicated he wants to come home.

“We’ve been a footy club who has been open about an interest in him if he were to do that. So we’re clearly all-in on trying to get him to our club.”

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The clubs’ ability to get a deal done will clearly be a key factor, with Port likely to match any offer Butters receives as a restricted free agent and force a trade.

And Bains still thinks all three clubs are in the picture and that Butters mightn’t nominate a club at all.

“As we understand it, that’s a realistic chance,” Bains said.

“I think he’s still working through his decision as to where he wants to go, and that’s what’s been conveyed to us.

“One aspect that is important, particularly from his management group’s perspective, is a club being able to get a deal done. If, as Port has indicated, they match the bid. So that’ll be a consideration.”

It comes after long-time Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said he expects Butters “will want Port Adelaide to be looked after” in a trade.

“Clearly I know Zak well and I would say all things are still alive as far as what his options are,” Hinkley said on SEN on Saturday.

“But I think the number one thing is he would want Port Adelaide to be looked after very well … I can say that he said one day to me: ‘I just wish Port Adelaide was in Melbourne’.

“He loves Port Adelaide and they love what Zak’s done for them as well.

“It will be as mutual as it possibly can be now that he said he’s leaving.

“It will be to a club that can probably get the deal done the best for Port Adelaide, I’d imagine.”

SUNS PREPARE TO MAKE JAMARRA CALL

The Gold Coast Suns are “leaning towards a one-year deal” for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, reports AFL journalist Tom Morris.

Ugle-Hagan, 24, played just three AFL games in 2026 in an underwhelming campaign after the Suns took a punt on the former No. 1 pick after a tumultuous last year at the Western Bulldogs.

He failed to hit a 12-match trigger that would’ve automatically earned him another one-year deal.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick said earlier this year he expects Ugle-Hagan to be at the club in 2027 and described the forward as a “long termer” on the Gold Coast.

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And it’s angling towards Ugle-Hagan earning another season up north, pending board approval.

“This still needs board approval, which is unusual for a one-year deal. But the uniqueness of the situation with Jamarra means that he has to tick every box along the way through,” Morris said on SEN.

“He was on a very tight leash this year in terms of being honest and transparent about the way he has been living and training in his private life as well.

“They broadly felt as if he was good this year. They would like him to be fitter for next year if he can come back.

“If I had to choose now, I think Jamarra does get a one-year deal at the Gold Coast Suns, no more than that.”