AFL trade news: All the latest trade news and whispers from across the AFL
With the arrival of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle set to create an even greater selection squeeze, several fringe Hawks are weighing up their futures at the club. GLENN MCFARLANE has details.
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Contracted Hawk Finn Maginness could seek more game time elsewhere as several clubs register their interest in the midfielder.
Maginness, 23, managed only 13 games this season as he split his time between the senior side and the Box Hill Hawks.
He performed well in the Hawks’ two finals, but spent a chunk of the middle part of the season playing in the VFL.
He is contracted until the end of next season but has received some interest from a handful of clubs including Essendon and Sydney.
Overlooked Hawthorn ruckman Ned Reeves and semi-final defender Jai Serong could also look at opportunities that could present in the coming weeks.
Reeves, 25, lost his spot in the senior side to Lloyd Meek this year, managing only four senior games. He is contracted until the end of 2026.
Serong, 21, was brought into the Hawks semi-final side which took on Port Adelaide after Sam Frost was ruled out with injury.
Both Frost and Serong have deals for next year.
Frost had attracted some interest from Sydney, but looks more likely to stay now with the prospect of an extra year on top of 2025.
Serong could also look at options with ready-made defenders Tom Barrass and Josh Battle certain to join the club next year.
The moment.
— Box Hill Hawks (@BoxHillHawks) July 7, 2024
Finn Maginness is the ice man. pic.twitter.com/tiSX1K0Mkl
SMITH’S PASSAGE TO CATS THREATENS TO DRAG OUT
Western Bulldogs and Geelong are yet to start talks on a deal for gun midfielder Bailey Smith, which threatens to drag on through the trade period.
The Dogs are eager to start negotiations in the firm belief they will need more than the Cats’ first-round selection (pick 16) to get a deal done.
That pick is likely to slide out to at least pick 20 due to academy picks, father-son choices and potential free agency compensation for St Kilda turned Hawthorn defender Josh Battle.
It means the Dogs will ask for more than one first-round pick from Geelong in the exchange for Smith who was one of the most exciting goalkicking midfielders in the game before his ACL injury.
The Dogs could push for a secondary pick as well or a favourable pick swap to improve their draft hand similar to the complex deal with Brisbane over gun midfielder Josh Dunkley two years ago.
Luke Beveridge’s men also have other plans in this trade period to help enhance their midfield brigade after flagging interest in GWS Giants’ hard nut Jacob Peatling.
The Dogs have also been linked to contracted GWS playmaker Xavier O’Halloran to help replace Smith.
The Giants remain confident Peatling would stay after positive talks with him last week on the back of a strong performances in the back half of the season.
As it stands, the Cats have one first-round and one second-round pick to trade after bowing out of the premiership race in the preliminary final loss to Brisbane Lions at the weekend.
But when clubs from across the competition caught up for informal talks two weeks ago there was no movement on a deal as Smith was yet to formally nominate Geelong as his new home.
Smith, 23, is certain to nominate Geelong but the midfielder is content taking his time on an announcement. It could come on Monday.
If the two clubs are unable to agree on a deal Smith would be forced to take his chances in the draft in the same way Jack Martin moved to Carlton five years ago.
But that appears a longshot with the clubs certain to make contact by the early part of next week at the latest.
Geelong wants Smith to play an inside midfield role to help bolster the engine room after playing largely on the fringes of the midfield at the kennel.
Best and fairest winner Caleb Daniel is also weighing up his future, while veteran midfielder Jack Macrae is headed to St Kilda as part of a deal which is also yet to be thrashed out.
‘IT CAME ACROSS OUR DESK’: PIES COACH ADDRESSES STRINGER LINKS
– Ed Bourke
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has ruled out making a play for Jake Stringer after admitting the Magpies looked at recruiting the out-of-contract Essendon forward.
McRae rejected reports he had personally driven a push to lure the 30-year-old away from Essendon as he categorically stated the Magpies were no longer interested.
“I heard the rumour, and then went a bit deeper and saw ‘McRae really wants Jake Stringer’,” he told SEN on Wednesday.
“I’ll admit, we looked at it, it came across our desk – Jake Stringer’s not signed, you have a look at the depth of it, but I’m happy to say here that we won’t be bringing Jake Stringer to our footy club.
“There would be many reasons, but to the rumour of I want him, that’s a bit of a stretch.”
Stringer and Essendon were unable to strike a new deal during the season despite the Bombers forward saying earlier this season he wanted to remain.
He booted 42 goals in 23 games, with coach Brad Scott last month suggesting he had expected him to stay.
“I’m not going to get into the business of confirming or denying those things, but my wry smile sort of gives a bit away,” Scott said.
“We’ve got a list management team that go about their business – my part in it is to set the vision for the club, coach the players really strongly and create an environment in which we want every player to stay.
“We want other players to see Essendon as a place they’d want to play their footy, but I don’t get involved in the nitty gritty of contract negotiations.”
McRae said Collingwood had investigated the merits of recruiting Stringer, but opted against going any further.
“We did our research and we did all the things behind the scenes, where he fits on the list, money, tenure and whatever … but I’m happy to say he won’t be coming to Collingwood next year,” McRae said.
Collingwood has also been linked to GWS utility Harry Perryman, his teammate James Peatling, and fringe Bombers on-baller Ben Hobbs.
Defender John Noble has requested a trade to Gold Coast.
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