AFL 2023: Latest trade news, North Melbourne looking at a possible three of the first five draft picks.
Draft picks two, three and five is a full house for any AFL club, and it could be a reality to one team to bring in three future stars - or make a play for Harley Reid.
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Hawthorn key forward Jacob Koschitzke looks set to partner Tom Lynch in Richmond’s forward line next season after requesting a trade to the Tigers.
Koschitzke, 23, wants to become a regular in the yellow and black next season in a move which is set to increase Hawthorn’s interest in Gold Coast forward Mabior Chol.
Koschitzke fell out of favour at Hawthorn for periods this year, playing 12 games for a return of nine goals, but will fill the void left by Jack Riewoldt at Richmond if the two clubs can do a deal.
The 198cm forward’s best return came in 2021, when he kicked 27 goals in 20 matches.
Hawthorn is keen on Chol to replace Koschitzke and is awaiting an answer from North Melbourne’s Ben McKay.
Koschitzke was taken with pick 52 in the draft, meaning negotiations could centre around a second or third-round draft pick.
COULD SHIEL BE PART OF GRESHAM DEAL?
The recruiting world is abuzz with anticipation about whether St Kilda can find a way to secure first-round compensation for free agent Jade Gresham.
It comes with speculation Essendon’s Dylan Shiel could also be on the move as St Kilda attempts to bolster its midfield.
As a free agent Gresham is not worth the $750,000 he would need to be paid over three seasons to trigger first-round compensation.
But one avenue open to Essendon is to pay him that amount to ensure St Kilda does not match a free agency bid on him and keep him at Moorabbin.
Separately, the Dons might decide to free up salary cap space on a deal for Shiel given they have a midfield that already includes Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett, Jake Stringer, Elijah Tsatas, Will Setterfield, Jye Caldwell, Nic Martin and Ben Hobbs.
They could secure a trade with St Kilda, who would have an extra first-rounder through the Gresham compensation and be willing to hand over a quality pick for Shiel.
Essendon might believe securing a high pick for Shiel to bolster its draft hand while adding forward line potency with mid-forward Gresham as a free agent takes their list forward next year.
It would be a win-win for both parties, but clearly the AFL would need to approve both deals as fair value.
Some rivals believe the league would approve that kind of arrangement as the latest version of the Jack Bowes salary dump which advantaged Geelong and Gold Coast.
You couldn’t fault St Kilda for trying something inventive as recruiters Steve Silvagni and Graeme Allan attempt to improve the club’s list.
GOLDSTEIN QUITS NORTH MELBOURNE
North Melbourne veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein will weigh up offers from rival AFL suitors after telling the club that has been his home for 17 seasons he is leaving.
The 35-year-old said it had been “a really tough decision” to depart Arden St, but he felt it was the right time to explore opportunities while allowing Kangaroos Tristan Xerri the time and space to grab onto the No.1 mantle.
Goldstein has long been linked to Essendon, where he could reunite with his former coach Brad Scott, but there have been a number of AFL clubs including St Kilda, Port Adelaide, Geelong and Western Bulldogs who have been in the market for a readymade ruck.
It is understood Goldstein has yet to make a final decision on where he might end up next year, but he will look through the opportunities on the table as he looks to get at least another two seasons out of his already decorated career.
“It’s been a really tough decision,” Goldstein said. “I’ve been talking to my manager and my family about what’s going to be best for us going forward … and I think that’s to look for other opportunities elsewhere.
“It’s probably time for the club to have a clean break and give Tristan (Xerri) the opportunity to shine in the No.1 ruck role.
“I appreciate everything the North Melbourne footy club and all the supporters have given me. They’ve been the greatest supporters I could have asked for.
“I hope for nothing but the best for this footy club and for this group going forward.”
Goldstein is a popular figure at Arden St, having played 315 AFL matches including 20 this season, which took him to third on the Kangaroos’ games tally behind only Brent Harvey (432) and Drew Petrie (316).
He was overlooked for senior selection in round 1 and was dropped at one other stage of the season.
North Melbourne footy boss Todd Viney described Goldstein as “a loyal and decorated servant of the club so it’s naturally sad to see him go.”
“It’s a credit to him that he has been able to play over 300 games at the one club and it’ll be strange to see him in different colours.
“He’s incredibly popular among our members and supporters and he’s been a great mentor for our young and emerging rucks, especially Tristan Xerri.
“We wish Todd nothing but the best in his future endeavours and he leaves knowing that Flick (his wife Felicity) and his family are welcome back at Arden St any time.”
Goldstein, who holds the record for the most AFL hitouts, almost left the Kangaroos at the end of 2019 when Geelong came calling, but he weighed up the decision to stay.
Now he believes the best thing for him, and for the Kangaroos, is to find a new home for next season, with a decision to come soon on his new home.
NORTH EDGE CLOSER TO LANDING TOP PROSPECT
Top draft prospect Ryley Sanders is one step closer to joining North Melbourne after he was officially listed among the club’s next generation academy prospects.
Sanders, who has indigenous background, was included in the prospect list by the AFL after an application from the Kangaroos.
North will try to secure Sanders as part of the club’s draft concessions following years down the bottom of the AFL ladder.
Normally, clubs cannot match a bid for next generation academy prospects inside the first 40 selections.
But the AFL could do North a massive favour and include Sanders in the concession package to help lift the club.
DOUGAL WON’T BE BOMBERS’ PLAN B
St Kilda key backman Dougal Howard wants to stay at the Saints and fight for his position in the senior team next season rather than explore his options elsewhere.
Howard, 27, was overlooked for the club’s elimination final loss to the GWS Giants, raising questions about whether he should pursue a move to a rival on the hunt for a key defender.
St Kilda wants to be aggressive over the trade period to improve its draft position and clear some salary cap room to have scope in the free agency market in coming years.
Howard was seen as an expendable commodity, with several clubs, including Sydney, Hawthorn, Essendon and Port Adelaide chasing key defensive help.
But the 199cm Howard, who has one more year to run on his contract, has made clear he has no intentions to seek a move to a third club following his exit meeting with the Saints last week.
Essendon and Hawthorn are locked in a fight for North Melbourne key defender Ben McKay, who is weighing up his options at the two clubs.
Essendon has long been considered the frontrunner for McKay, but the Hawks remain a strong chance to land the key defender after tabling a more lucrative offer.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is eager to land a key defender to beef-up his back half and support captain James Sicily after conceding the third-most points this season.
It has fuelled suggestions Howard could loom as a back-up plan for the Bombers to fill a key defensive spot if they miss out on McKay and lose Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to Port Adelaide.
But it is unlikely Howard will emerge as a serious plan B option for Essendon, which will look to Zach Reid to fill a key void in the back half next year after a nightmare run of back stress fractures.
Reid, 21 has played eight games in three seasons but missed all of 2023 with his latest back injury.
The 202cm defender faces a crucial summer preparing his body to be ready to play from round 1 next season after he was taken with pick 10 in the 2020 national draft.
The Saints are open to offers on Nick Coffield and Jack Billings. Coffield has attracted interest from the Western Bulldogs, while Billings played only three games this year.
ROOS EYE PICKS BONANZA
North Melbourne is interested in a trade for Gold Coast’s pick 4 that would secure the Roos three of the top five picks in the national draft.
The Herald Sun understands the Bulldogs lead the chase for the Suns’ pick, having offered up picks 10, 17 and a future first-rounder in exchange.
The Dogs will have those first two picks swallowed up in a bid for father-son Jordan Croft so have to trade them out, and have strong interest in pint-sized mid-forward Nick Watson.
Adelaide and Melbourne can offer better deals than the Dogs’ 10 and 17, so the Dogs would have to throw in the future first-rounder to get a deal done.
The Roos have a good chance to secure a mid-first-round pick from the AFL Commission next week, so could offer picks 11 and 14 as a starting point for the Suns’ No.4 with a future selection thrown in.
It would give them picks 2, 3 (the Ben McKay compensation pick) and 5 – a perfect draft hand or a chance to go hunting for No.1 overall pick Harley Reid.
NEW HINT ON NO.1 PICK
Clubs are still waiting on what top 20 picks in their third season will be paid under the new CBA, but believe it will help the Eagles pick Reid.
Top 20 picks will now be on a mandated wage to help clubs retain elite talent.
It will help the Eagles because even if Reid did want to return home after two seasons he would be contracted, so they would have much more leverage.
The Roos will still attempt to offer up trade packages to secure the No.1 overall pick as they await details on how much those third-year stars will be taking home in their pay packets.
CATS PLAY HARD BALL ON ESAVA
Geelong will threaten to trade Esava Ratugolea to a rival club if Port Adelaide is unwilling to hand the Cats fair compensation for the departing interceptor.
The Power are unwilling to give up their future first-round pick, so if it gets really ugly the Cats believe Ratugolea has enough interest they could broker a deal with a rival club like Hawthorn.
He is likely to secure a deal of five seasons at as much as $600,000 a year, so the Power will have to play ball at some stage.
The Cats have strong interest in Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy.
But they would be much keener if they could secure him as a free agent next year rather than trade for him this year.
So there will be a big watch on whether Darcy signs up as a pre-agent over summer or lets his contract linger.
THREE CLUBS CHASING DOEDEE
Sydney has strongly joined the race for Adelaide free agent Tom Doedee, who now has the Pies, Brisbane and the Swans chasing his services.
In a market where intercept defenders are worth their weight in gold, Ben McKay’s decision to turn down the Swans means they have Doedee as a fall-back position.
McKay has told Sydney he doesn’t want to travel north, even though the Roos are wondering if there will be a last-ditch attempt from Sydney to woo him again.
Doedee had his contract taken off the table by Adelaide when he tore a second ACL, and the Crows are happy to lose him.
Second-round compensation for Adelaide would fall at around pick 30 and give them a fourth early pick given they have Gold Coast and North Melbourne’s second-rounders.
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Originally published as AFL 2023: Latest trade news, North Melbourne looking at a possible three of the first five draft picks.
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