![\"Clayton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/3ddd8b41b7a542be45bcf919368d3cf06677c99e.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nA trade will need to be brokered, but the reason for Heath wanting to leave is the path to eventually being the Dees\u2019 No.1 big man, on top of Tom De Koning\u2019s free agency arrival at Moorabbin. Contracted Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall is also weighing up the possibility of joining Geelong.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old demonstrated at AFL and VFL level that he can make an impact up forward as well, so there is a possibility he could play alongside Gawn in the senior side while learning from the eight-time All-Australian.<\/p>\n
The Saint has a long-term friendship with Windhager, another Demons trade target, from their time playing junior football together at Beaumaris.<\/p>\n
Windhager is due to return from his New Zealand holiday in the coming days and is expected to make a call on his future no later than early next week. However, Windhager\u2019s preference is to remain at St Kilda, despite the Demons and North Melbourne making compelling rival offers.<\/p>\n
Melbourne have re-signed Tom Campbell as ruck insurance, but have struggled to unearth other big man options, with none of Will Verrall, Tom Fullarton, Josh Schache or Kyah Farris-White still on the list.<\/p>\n
The one-season experiment trying to partner Brodie Grundy with Gawn, wo turns 34 in December, also did not work, with Grundy traded to Sydney.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca after the Demons\u2019 win over Richmond in April.Credit: AFL Photos<\/p>\n
On Monday, King\u2019s public stance on Petracca and Oliver was that they were \u201cboth superstars of the competition\u201d and that he would take pride in helping them return to the peak of their powers.<\/p>\n
However, Oliver\u2019s attempt to cross to Geelong in last year\u2019s trade period was still a talking point at the Demons\u2019 club champion function last week, where Gawn won his third best-and-fairest award. Petracca is contracted until 2029, while Oliver is tied to the red and blue until 2030.<\/p>\n
Judd McVee, Taj Woewodin and Jack Henderson are Melbourne\u2019s remaining out-of-contract players.<\/p>\n
Woewodin will have to wait until after the trade period to discover his fate, but Henderson will be on the Demons\u2019 list next season.<\/p>\n
McVee, who has opposition interest, including from his home state of Western Australia, will speak to King about his role before making a call on his future.<\/p>\n
Victorian clubs are lining up for Suns<\/p>\n
The future for in-demand Gold Coast midfielder-forward Sam Flanders remains a source of fascination as Victorian clubs line up to lure him south.<\/p>\n
Flanders still has two more seasons to run on the four-year deal he inked in 2023, but he switched representation to TGI Sport\u2019s Matt Bain<\/a> this year and the Suns list boss Craig Cameron said on Tuesday that \u201cSam expressed an interest in exploring other opportunities for next year at today\u2019s exit meeting\u201d.<\/p>\n Sam Flanders is a man in demand amongst a number of Melbourne-based clubs. Credit: AFL Photos<\/p>\n St Kilda, Melbourne, Carlton and Essendon are among the clubs that have expressed interest in the 24-year-old, and would almost certainly be able to offer him more midfield minutes.<\/p>\n Asked about Flanders at his introductory media conference on Monday, Demons coach King said: \u201cSam would be an amazing player at this footy club, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has repeatedly stated publicly that Flanders, who he revealed had played through a back injury for much of the season, would not be traded, with the club saying in a statement they reminded Flanders at his exit meeting he was a contracted player.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat players do get interest \u2013 that\u2019s why they\u2019re great,\u201d Hardwick said after the Suns\u2019 season ended at the Lions\u2019 hands on Saturday night.<\/p>\n \u201cSam\u2019s had a tough year. He was on fire at the start of the year. He\u2019s got a back that, if I\u2019m being completely honest, he probably shouldn\u2019t have played half the games he played, but he\u2019s tough kid and I love him. As far as I\u2019m concerned, Sam is one of our best players \u2013 and I don\u2019t love trading our best players.\u201d<\/p>\n Flanders has developed into an outstanding player under Hardwick, polling 12 Brownlow votes last season and playing 23 games, including both finals, in 2025.<\/p>\n His teammate Connor Budarick has a decision to make, with the Western Bulldogs and the Brisbane Lions among the clubs interested in the 24-year-old who held down a spot as a pressure forward with the Suns this season. He has played his best football in defence, but the Suns\u2019 two rebound defenders Dan Rioli and John Noble had great seasons in 2025.<\/p>\n Budarick did not request a trade at his exit meeting as he weighs up whether his future remains at the Suns, who have a contract offer on the table or elsewhere.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, teammate Rosas jnr is set to be traded with Richmond, Sydney, Melbourne and Carlton all showing interest throughout the year for the small forward. The Suns said on Tuesday they would \u201chelp facilitate a trade in the coming weeks\u201d for Rosas jnr.<\/p>\n No ifs and butts<\/p>\n North Melbourne are continuing to monitor contracted Crows defender Jordon Butts as a potential acquisition during the upcoming trade period, however Adelaide are more likely to retain the 25-year-old, who is signed until the end of 2026.<\/p>\n Jordon Butts remains more likely to remain a Crow at this stage, although North Melbourne still have their eye on him. Credit: AFL Photos<\/p>\n Butts was in good form before he suffered a punctured lung in a tough win against the Western Bulldogs in round 18 and did not return for the finals. He played 10 games in 2025 as a lockdown defender and got under the skin of Richmond\u2019s Tom Lynch, who was suspended for five matches for striking him in round 16.<\/p>\n However, the Crows\u2019 straight-sets exit and the need for competition in key positions has made it more likely that Butts, who will be a free agent next season, remains at the club.<\/p>\n Veteran forward Taylor Walker\u2019s future remains uncertain, while the Crows have extended defender Hugh Bond.<\/p>\n Key defenders such as Butts are in short supply, with former Blue Jack Silvagni accepting a big offer to join St Kilda, while the Bulldogs have made a bid to prise contracted All-Australian Callum Wilkie out of St Kilda.<\/p>\n Sam Draper has played his last game for the Bombers.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n Draper to become a Lion<\/p>\n Essendon\u2019s Sam Draper<\/a> will join the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent during this year\u2019s exchange period. The ruckman informed the Lions on the weekend he had decided to head north, according to competition sources who preferred to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n Draper joined Essendon\u2019s rookie list in 2017 and made his debut in 2020, eventually playing 78 games for the Bombers. He played just five games this season before suffering an Achilles injury.<\/p>\n Captain\u2019s calls<\/p>\n North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin\u2019s desire for more midfield time could see him request a trade, which he is yet to do, adding further high-end currency to a trade period becoming increasingly populated with big names.<\/p>\n North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin wants to spend more time in the midfield.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n If his name is added to Essendon\u2019s Zach Merrett, Carlton\u2019s Charlie Curnow and Melbourne\u2019s Christian Petracca as players testing the waters (or in Merrett\u2019s case, forcefully declaring his hand), the capacity for deals being reached increases, particularly if Simpkin showed an interest in joining the Bombers, where he would be sure to start in the midfield.<\/p>\n![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/550c029dec396023c2c74e149557db7934a48662.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Jordon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/49d218f5c30d99a655896f1572b1e0f1ff7b99dc.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0173515f79b936f5a8f61f9facedc78752af9a72.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"North](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758021729_126_5157f57589817953976eda77b45c651bafdaaf18.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n