AFL trade guide: Latest news and rumours on who’s staying and leaving
ALEX Johnson could get an AFL lifeline form a Melbourne club, Geelong insist Tim Kelly won’t be traded, Lachie Neale is still undecided and Jesse Hogan is open to a move back home. JON RALPH has the latest trade news.
GEELONG insists Tim Kelly won’t be traded, Lachie Neale is still undecided and Jesse Hogan is open to a move back home.
JON RALPH has the latest trade updates and whispers.
TRADE NEWS: BOMBERS EYE ANOTHER SPEEDY SUN
CONTRACT TALKS: PIE CONFIDENT MOORE WILL STAY
WORK TO DO
JESSE HOGAN
It has been rumoured for years and finally Hogan seems set to be traded home.
The Dockers are keen, he has made clear that he would consider a trade if the Demons were interested, and they seem open to assessing what they would get in return.
It seems crazy given the injured star was badly needed when Tom McDonald went behind the ball to stem the bleeding against West Coast.
Melbourne will meet with Hogan and his manager in coming days, open to what happens from there.
For the Demons the simple reality is that his trade currency has never been higher, with Hogan not even considering signing a contract extension past 2019.
If as expected he makes that position clear, it is hard to see how they won’t consider a trade.
You can understand why the Demons would believe it might be better to maximise their trade haul for him, as much as they would reluctantly let him go.
LACHIE NEALE
The gun midfielder is still weighing up his decision, with the Lions’ pick four on the table as well as a significant long-term deal.
He said on Brownlow night he hadn’t yet made up his mind, and it seems that is the case despite him leaning towards a move to the Lions.
Hogan’s likely move to Fremantle would help them make an immediate jump up the ladder, but his decision is only in part about the club’s lack of success.
He is also wondering if he needs a fresh start away from Perth to enliven his career.
Playing in the shadow of the dominant Nathan Fyfe means at times you miss out on the limelight you deserve.
But then again, he’s not a bad wingman to have running around beside you.
RORY LOBB
GWS says its cap isn’t crazy tight, and is manageable.
This is despite the Lobb salary ($800,000), Josh Kelly’s $800,000-a-season contract and a massive wage salary for Jeremy Cameron next year after his deal was heavily back-ended.
But the Giants are more than happy for Lobb to explore his options in Perth, which the Herald Sun understands involves meeting both of West Coast and Fremantle.
Their position is that they might want to keep him, but if they do trade him late the Dockers and Eagles wouldn’t do it without a medical for Lobb so they might as well assess him now.
He is likely to go home next year anyway, so the Giants might just bite the bullet.
Fremantle had chased him hardest early given their need for a key forward who can pinch-hit in the ruck, but West Coast clearly needs a ruckman if Scott Lycett leaves for Port Adelaide as many believe.
So who rucks for GWS if he leaves given they have some young academy kids winning high praise and then Dawson Simpson.
Do they turn Jon Patton into a full time ruckman?
REECE CONCA
His manager Colin Young said last week he is keen to get a new deal done for him at Richmond with list manager Blair Hartley.
But the security of a three-year deal at Fremantle must have significant appeal.
Conca would be shattered that like many Richmond players he couldn’t seize the moment in the Tigers’ finals capitulation against Collingwood, one of many players to lower his colours.
It was still a successful season for Conca with 18 games and his miracle return from a dislocated ankle.
DOM TYSON
The Melbourne midfielder has made clear he would like to stay at Melbourne next year to fulfil a contract that runs until 2019.
He made a remarkable recovery from a broken arm to play all three finals but didn’t thrive, with possession tallies of 17, 11 and 14.
Had been linked to North Melbourne but they don’t seem to be interested.
TAYLOR DURYEA
The Hawthorn free agent has been linked with Sydney, where it is believed he has had a medical.
Has been able to play as a handy half back or also defensive forward, so might be on the move.
ALEX JOHNSON
The six-time ACL victim will meet with multiple clubs including North Melbourne in coming weeks but to discuss an off-field role in development of welfare.
He has made it clear he wants to play at an AFL clubs next year but to be honest that is an extreme longshot.
What could be more likely is that he rehabs his knee while working at a club next year and then if all goes well gets onto a rookie list for the 2020 season.
DYLAN SHIEL
The jungle drums are beating furiously that he will come back to Victoria next year, with Hawthorn, St Kilda and Carlton clubs in line for his services.
To be honest it would be a surprise if he didn’t, with Melbourne clubs absolutely certain he will find his way back here next season.
The only tiny chance of him remaining is that he knows he can get back as a free agent next year, his partner is happy in Sydney, and he wants to win a flag with his good mates there.
But if a club like Hawthorn can pitch to him how desperately they want him on a lucrative deal, that will likely still be enough to see him returning home.
TAKE IT TO THE BANK
TIM KELLY
Geelong coach Chris Scott said there was no possible scenario in which the Cats would trade Kelly back to Perth this off-season.
The Cats believe he is engaged, keen to stay and showing real intent to try to enjoy the town of Geelong over the off-season before going home to Perth for some holidays in October.
But as recently as Brownlow Medal night Kelly said again that he was undecided.
Scott’s hardline stance on Kelly would seem to shut down all kinds of rumours about the Cats doing a deal where he and another mid leave for Sean Darcy and Fremantle’s early pick.
Anyway, that pick would be needed by Fremantle in a trade for Jesse Hogan.
MITCH McGOVERN
His manager Colin Young hasn’t officially confirmed it but he has told the Blues he wants to get to Ikon Park.
Despite them being rebuffed for an official priority pick they should still be able to get a trade done given they have access to two state league players under new rules.
They already have picks 24 and 25.
They believe clubs have interest in players like Sturt’s Shane McAdam and SANFL star Mitch Grigg.
That gives them two mid-20s picks and two players somewhere in the 25-50 draft range.
They could trade the two picks for a mid-teens pick and hand that to Adelaide for McGovern.
Or they could use one of them in a trade that also hands Adelaide access to either McAdam or Grigg.
Or they could trade McAdam or Grigg or any other state league player clubs have interest in for picks, then use those picks in a package for McGovern.
BRAYDON PREUSS
A real head-scratcher.
Preuss will get to Melbourne after requesting a trade from North Melbourne.
It’s like being the backup wicketkeeper for Ian Healy, then going to a state where you are behind Adam Gilchrist in the pecking order.
Melbourne’s Cam Pedersen retired on Tuesday after a career that took him from the Roos to the Demons.
But even so, Preuss will be waiting for Max Gawn to get injured before he even gets a sniff of senior action.
Preuss is contracted so the Roos will want something bad in a trade, but no word on what yet.
JEREMY FINLAYSON
Has been told by GWS to look for other options despite being recontracted only this year.
At his best he is a strong defender with a superb left foot, his skills drawing the eye of Nick Riewoldt early in the year.
His manager David Trotter will try to find him a new home in coming weeks, and while he was dropped at times in a 14-gameseason he should have a real upside at only 22 years of age.
GARY ROHAN
Sydney seemed happy to allow him to return to Victoria where he and his partner are closer to their families in Cobden.
He will likely get to Geelong for a late pick.
The question is what role he plays because for all his pace and flashy moves, he has never been a good pressure player.
He averaged 20 forward half pressure points this year — below average for his position — and has never averaged more than23 pressure points for a season.
If he is to play that small forward role at a club that will lose Lincoln McCarthy to Brisbane, he will need to lift that element of his game.
COREY ELLIS
As reported last week Ellis is off to Gold Coast, Richmond’s No. 12 draft pick from the 2014 draft living in that unenviable space between dominant VFL player and bit-parts senior player at the Tigers.
Anthony Miles will join him at the Suns as a midfield extractor, while George Horlin-Smith will also get to the Gold Coast.
Originally published as AFL trade guide: Latest news and rumours on who’s staying and leaving