AFL trade period: Essendon meets with Sam Weideman

A Melbourne forward has toured Essendon’s facilities as he ponders a trade. And the Bombers have outlined their vision for him.

Will Setterfield.

Melbourne forward Sam Weideman met with Essendon, including new coach Brad Scott, and toured the club’s facilities on Monday afternoon as he weighs up a move away from the Demons.

A future-third round pick is tipped to secure his passage to the Bombers, where they see him playing behind Crichton medallist Peter Wright as a key forward and providing a chop-out for Sam Draper in the ruck.

Weideman’s arrival would also allow promising forward Harry Jones to play more as a third tall forward.

The 25-year-old is open to a fresh start after 59 games in seven seasons at the Demons, with 2021 draftee Jacob van Rooyen appearing to move ahead in the pecking order following his strong debut season at VFL level.

Sam Weideman has attracted late interest from Essendon.

Weideman signed a two-year deal with the Demons at the end of last year but was largely overlooked in 2022, despite spearhead Tom McDonald’s absence with injury since round 10.

It is understood Weideman had expected to see out his contract with the Demons next year until he was informed on Sunday that talks had progressed between the Demons and Bombers, with ex-Melbourne footy boss and current Essendon head of football Josh Mahoney central to negotiations.

The 195cm forward had strong interest from St Kilda entering the trade period, but the Saints’ offer of a 2022 third-round selection did not satisfy the Demons’ demands at that stage, with the Saints since shifting their focus to the draft.

Weideman, who won a VFL premiership with the Casey Demons last month, was used as a full-time ruckman across the finals series, averaging 18 disposals and 30.3 hitouts in the role.

Revealed: Setback for audacious four-club mega-trade

The AFL has rejected Port Adelaide’s bid to sidestep league rules and trade future first- and second-round picks to bring Jason Horne-Francis to Alberton.

Clubs can trade multiple future selections as long as a first-round pick is not involved but the complexities of various brewing deals this fortnight led Power officials to ask if there was a way around those regulations.

Another option is for Port Adelaide to trade in an extra first- or second-round pick but that would almost certainly require it to trade a player with currency.

Victorians Zak Butters, Josh Sinn, Xavier Duursma and Miles Bergman all fit that bill but the Power does not want to lose any of them.

The news is a setback to plans for a four-club megadeal that emerged on Friday night and would have involved Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, West Coast and Greater Western Sydney.

Jason Horne-Francis wants to get to Port Adelaide – but how will the deal get done?

The Giants were set to score pick one, the Kangaroos selections two, three and possibly Port’s future first-rounder, the Eagles Nos. 8 and 12, plus Horne-Francis and Junior Rioli would have arrived at the Power.

The idea was for a series of pick swaps this year and next to round out the deal, including Port Adelaide’s future second-round selection.

GWS could also pivot to trade picks three and 12 – plus potentially a later selection as a sweetener – in return for North Melbourne’s No. 1, which may be used on promising key forward Aaron Cadman.

Roos list boss Brady Rawlings has so far been adamant they expect more from Port than its pick eight and future first-round selection to broker a trade for Horne-Francis, last year’s top pick.

They could choose to hold Horne-Francis to his contract and try to change his mind but that remains unlikely.

The Power also hopes to convince Geelong to trade contracted defender Esava Ratugolea to them in the coming days.

There has been difficulty finding common ground between West Coast and Port Adelaide on Rioli, too, who the Eagles remain disappointed to be losing.

BOMBERS ZERO IN ON UNWANTED BLUES MIDFIELDER

– Jay Clark

Essendon has zeroed in on Carlton’s Will Setterfield in a bid to add the big-bodied midfield its engine room craves.

The Bombers have spoken to the Blues about a deal for the 192cm ball-winner in exchange for a late draft pick.

Carlton was open to keeping Setterfield, 24, but is now expected to complete the transaction with Essendon next week.

Setterfield’s opportunities at Carlton next year were going to be limited by the arrival of Fremantle’s Blake Acres who arrived this week for a future third-round pick this week.

The 192cm Setterfield is a decent addition for Essendon who wanted to add some size, strength and clearance power to its midfield under new coach Brad Scott for next season.

The Bombers had initially targeted Gold Coast’s Jack Bowes and hosted him at the club this week, but the midfielder chose Geelong over Essendon and Hawthorn.

Will Setterfield is set to join Essendon.

It means the Bombers had scope and considerable salary cap room to add another ballwinner to help lift the club up the ladder next season. The Bombers also have draft picks 42 and 62 to seal the deal.

Essendon has liked Setterfield since it considered him among the leading candidates for its No. 1 pick in 2016 when the Bombers selected Andrew McGrath ahead of Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage.

But at Carlton Setterfield, who was originally drafted to GWS with pick five, was shifted out to a wing this season after the Blues landed tough nut George Hewett and polished playmaker Adam Cerra last year.

Setterfield averaged 16 disposals across 13 games for Blues this year, but was keen to explore greater senior opportunities elsewhere once Acres was brought in for 2023.

Essendon consider Setterfield an inside midfielder who can help take some of the contested ball load off Zach Merrett (179cm), Dylan Shiel (182cm) and Darcy Parish (180cm).

The Bombers’ talented midfield group underperformed last year but there are high hopes Scott can help maximise the talent on the list and guide the Bombers up the ladder with a new defensive system.

Liam Stocker has also been linked to the Bombers.

Carlton midfielder Paddy Dow is also on the lookout for a new home despite having a contract for next season.

Carlton also kept veteran Ed Curnow and will be desperate to jump into the eight after missing out on percentage this year after a heartbreaking final-round loss to Collingwood.

Carlton has focused on the retention of its senior stars in recent months and were thrilled to recontract Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, locking in the two superstar key planks of its forward line on long-term deals.

Both were due to become restricted free agents next year but have recommitted and will help lead the Blues’ assault on a finals berth next season.

Carlton has pick 10 in the draft this year and will hold on to it until draft night when the Blues could consider some pick swaps depending on how the picks fall on the night.

Essendon has pick four and will keep it to add another prime top-end player such as gun medium forward Harry Sheezel.

Originally published as AFL trade period: Essendon meets with Sam Weideman