{"id":729071,"date":"2026-06-11T06:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T06:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/729071\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T06:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T06:29:10","slug":"petracca-trade-gives-dees-good-scope-to-poach-sun-as-biggest-retention-fight-since-dark-days-looms-whispers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/729071\/","title":{"rendered":"Petracca trade gives Dees \u2018good scope\u2019 to poach Sun as \u2018biggest retention fight since dark days\u2019 looms \u2014 Whispers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne\u2019s shrewd future pick trading history has it well placed to have a second go at poaching a contracted Sun, as Gold Coast faces its \u201cbiggest retention fight since the dark days\u201d.<\/p>\n

Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

LATEST SHREWD TRADE GIVES DEES \u2018GOOD SCOPE\u2019 FOR SECOND SUNS PLAY<\/p>\n

Melbourne\u2019s shrewd history of future pick trading \u2013 including last year\u2019s Christian Petracca deal \u2013 would have it well placed to have a second go at poaching contracted Sun Bailey Humphrey, according to 7News Melbourne reporter Mitch Cleary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Humphrey is contracted at the Suns through the 2028 season, but is again being eyed off by Victorian-based clubs after exploring a move in last year\u2019s trade period. That included meeting with Demons coach Steven King, despite Gold Coast\u2019s steadfast stance it wouldn\u2019t entertain a Humphrey trade.<\/p>\n

While Hawthorn is reportedly viewed as the favourite to land Humphrey<\/a> should the top-10 pick request a trade at season\u2019s end, Cleary said the Demons shouldn\u2019t be ruled out.<\/p>\n

Speaking on The Agenda Setters on Wednesday night, Cleary pointed out the Demons\u2019 successful hit rate when trading future first-round picks since 2017. Not only has it led to them picking Jake Lever (via trade) and Kysaiah Pickett (via draft), the future first-rounders they\u2019ve received from rival clubs have ultimately, more often than not, landed earlier in the draft than their own natural first-round picks.<\/p>\n

Bailey Humphrey of the Suns. Picture: Matt Roberts\/AFL Photos\/via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Essentially, the Demons have traded their future first picks with confidence their selection will ultimately be worth less because of Melbourne ladder improvement. Conversely, they\u2019ve traded in early rival club picks believing they\u2019ll end up being more valuable because the opposition team will drop down the ladder.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a case being played out in real time following the Melbourne-Gold Coast deal that saw Petracca land at the Suns. As well as parting with Picks 7, 8 and 37, the Suns gave Melbourne their 2026 first-rounder and 2027 third-rounder. In exchange, the Demons gave up Petracca, Picks 24 and 28, as well as their 2026 second-round pick.<\/p>\n

And after Round 13, the seventh-placed Suns sit lower on the ladder than the fifth-placed Demons, meaning Melbourne holds Picks 12 (tied to Gold Coast) and 14 as it stands.<\/p>\n

Cleary said that Suns-tied first-round pick now \u201cgives Melbourne good scope\u201d to make another play for Humphrey.<\/p>\n

\u201cPetracca moves to the Gold Coast Suns. That bumps out Bailey Humphrey from the midfield,\u201d Cleary told Channel 7.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes the Suns are saying right now \u2013 it might be posturing \u2013 that they\u2019re not trading him \u2026 (but) could that pick Melbourne have as part of the Petracca deal \u2013 that\u2019s worth more now \u2013 help them get Humphrey out of the Gold Coast?\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Sh******! Stay here Jed!’ | 00:47<\/p>\n

Humphrey is one of several key list calls the Suns could face at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Free agent Ben King remains unsigned beyond this year, while rival clubs are circling off-contract forward Jed Walter and contracted defender Joel Jeffrey. Academy graduate Jake Rogers is also unsigned and recruit Jamarra Ugle-Hagan remains is reportedly up against it to reach a trigger that\u2019d automatically extend his contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cGold Coast, I think they\u2019re facing their biggest retention fight since the dark days of the 2010s,\u201d SEN reporter Sam Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.<\/p>\n

HOW LIONS COULD LAND \u2018UNIQUE COMPO PICK\u2019 FOR NEALE<\/p>\n

While Brisbane remains hopeful it can retain Lachie Neale, the club could be handed a \u201cunique compensation pick\u201d if the dual Brownlow Medallist opted to leave, reports AFL Media\u2019s Cal Twomey.<\/p>\n

Twomey on Tuesday night reported Neale was \u201cvery much looking at leaving Brisbane\u201d and predicted he\u2019d be at a new club next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cCollingwood is very keen. They had their list boss Justin Leppitsch watching him at the weekend,\u201d Twomey told Footy Classified.<\/p>\n

\u201cWA clubs and Adelaide are still interested as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Twomey then reported on AFL Media on Wednesday<\/a> there was industry belief the Magpies \u201ccould be prepared to get their offer to three years\u201d to secure Neale.<\/p>\n

Crucially, should the two-time flag winner choose, it won\u2019t cost the Pies any draft capital given his status as an unrestricted free agent.<\/p>\n

But considering a prospective three-year Collingwood deal would see Neale contracted until the age of 36, the Lions would face the prospect, according to Twomey, of a \u201cunique compensation pick\u201d, as a player\u2019s age plays a significant role in the AFL\u2019s secret compo formula.<\/p>\n

While a first-round pick would be unlikely due to Neale\u2019s age, a medium-term deal like three seasons, coupled with his excellent 2026 form, would test the free agency compensation formula.<\/p>\n

Collingwood coach Craig McRae on Monday night told Fox Footy\u2019s AFL 360 he was \u201cimpatient\u201d for success<\/a> and \u201cimpatient to get the right people in our environment and also try to get our list to a state where we can compete\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s exactly what our intentions are, and we\u2019ll work to whatever that looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n

When quizzed specifically on whether Neale was a Magpies trade target this year, McRae said: \u201cYou\u2019d like to think anyone who\u2019s a free agent that hasn\u2019t signed, we\u2019ve got some sights on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome you feel like a little bit more deeper in the market than others and there\u2019s a lot outside your control. But, days like today and Anzac Day \u2014 if you\u2019re watching at home, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s an attraction to that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Melbourne\u2019s shrewd future pick trading history has it well placed to have a second go at poaching a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":729072,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[29654,64,63,689,11295,3423,353023,19120,353027,19127,71966,10143,14385,3499,42259,2105,2485,9130,353026,353030,19082,49807,12110,25875,353024,353029,29963,26596,647,12937,677,250735,353025,12922,701,672,353022,85,79260,353028,11236,1133,350266,660],"class_list":["post-729071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-agency-deal","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-ben-king","tag-ben-waterworth","tag-chances-increase","tag-christian-petracca","tag-club-picks-believing","tag-compensation-pick","tag-compo-pick","tag-craig-mcrae","tag-damien-hardwick","tag-daniel-pockett","tag-first-round-picks","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-gold-coast","tag-gold-coast-suns","tag-hit-rate","tag-industry-belief","tag-jake-lever","tag-jake-rogers","tag-joel-jeffrey","tag-lachie-neale","tag-lachie-neale-collingwood","tag-ladder-improvement","tag-list-boss","tag-matt-roberts","tag-melbourne","tag-mitch-cleary","tag-oceania","tag-opposition-team","tag-pick-trading-history","tag-player-movement-news","tag-queensland","tag-richmond-tigers","tag-secret-compo-formula","tag-sports","tag-steven-king","tag-suns-play","tag-trade-news","tag-trade-period","tag-two-time-flag-winner","tag-victoria"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/729071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=729071"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/729071\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/729072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=729071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=729071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=729071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}