Moneyball AFL trades: All the latest news and whispers on potential 2022 player movement
One round to go and the trade winds are set to become a gale. All the latest whispers, plus the intrigue around a pair of interesting situations at North Melbourne — and no, it’s not Clarko.
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Jason Horne-Francis’ lack of interest in requesting a trade back to Adelaide is music to the ears of Roos staffers who have been baffled at times by his attitude.
Horne-Francis was dropped for his lack of professionalism last week when failing to properly rehab with an ice-bath even when a senior member of the coaching staff asked him to do so.
He is only 19 but one insider reckoned this week the coaches could have picked out a similar incident that would have given cause for that kind of tough love most weeks this year.
The hope is that at some stage with the strong reinforcement of the coaching and development team the penny will drop but no one inside the club believed dropping him was the wrong decision.
He responded with an excellent VFL game to put his name up for selection again.
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Adams set to help Patch up Roos
North Melbourne caretaker coach Leigh Adams is almost certain to remain at Arden St next season.
Adams has so impressed Kangaroos officials that the club still sees him as a critical part of the next stage in the pathway back to being a competitive force again.
While Adams has only won one of his five matches since taking over from David Noble last month, he has played a role in making the Kangaroos a more competitive on-field outfit.
Internally, he is being credited with helping to unite the playing group after what has been a tumultuous 2022 season, while still providing a stern hand when required.
It comes as North Melbourne works on its pitch to convince the AFL that it deserves priority draft access, which could be decided at the AFL Commission meeting in Grand Final week.
The Kangaroos have formally met with the AFL on at least one occasion, but have also had a few other discussions as they push their case.
The prospect of gaining an extra draft pick in the middle stages of the first round and another in the middle stages of a second round remains an option.
Those picks could be on-traded as the Kangaroos look to bolster their playing talent.
Cunnington set to plough on
Kangaroos veteran Ben Cunnington looks certain to play on for a 14th AFL season — and help with the next phase of the club’s rebuild — with early talks on a new deal kicking off.
Cunnington, 31, is out of contract at the end of the season, but insiders believe it is formality that he will again wear the No.10 next year, and potentially beyond.
The heart-and-soul midfielder, who made an emotional return to AFL football last week after battling testicular cancer, has made it clear he still believes he has good footy left in him.
He told teammates last week that not being able to play during his intensive chemotherapy and rehabilitation had made him realise how much he still loved the game.
“I’m here now, hungry, I feel I have worked hard to be in a position to help you boys out again. I’m keen as ever,” Cunnington said in the lead up to his first AFL match in 13 months.
It is understood the hard-edged Kangaroo, who shed a tear as he ran onto Adelaide Oval last week, and his management have already held initial discussions about a new deal.
North Melbourne fans have the chance to see him play first hand for the last time this season when he prepares to take on Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
But the good news is that he seems certain to add to his 228 career matches again in 2023.
Why Hawk could now be open to move
Why would Luke Breust want to be traded this year when he was so strong in rejecting the interest from GWS last year?
Because he would be prepared to move to a Victorian club, an offer that was not on the table with last year’s interstate request.
Three-time premiership small forward Breust, 32 in November, would be open to a trade to a Victorian contender if it would suit the Hawks’ list build.
It means the likes of Melbourne, Carlton and Collingwood would surely be possible landing points if they are prepared to stump up a reasonable pick.
Consider him in Melbourne’s small forward line up alongside Kysaiah Pickett and Christian Petracca, with the Demons likely to have cap space next year with Luke Jackson’s departure.
Breust also wants the security of a contract past 2023, so some publicity about the situation helps either way – getting a deal after 40.19 so far this year or moving clubs.
Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston will discuss his future in the next week but it makes absolutely no sense for the Hawks to lose an unrestricted free agent for a late, late compensation pick.
Paddy flip? And what about De Goey to Saints?
St Kilda will attempt to bolster its ruck and forward line stocks as it embarks upon an aggressive free agency and trade period but is determined to keep its first-round draft selection.
Paddy Ryder was keen to play on but has flipped in the last week and is now conceding he is more likely to retire than play on in 2023.
It will leave a significant gap on the club’s list given he was still close to the AFL’s best tap ruckman when fit and formed a dynamic duo with ruck-forward Rowan Marshall.
The Saints board has still not given the all clear to the football department for an all-out chase for Jordan De Goey, even though president Andrew Bassat is seen to be an admirer of his talent.
But having done so well to secure Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (pick 11), Mitch Owens (pick 33) and Marcus Windhager (pick 47) with draft selections the Saints must continue to draft elite talent.
It means they will attempt to use free agency and the trading of later picks to secure their established talent while keeping a draft selection that is currently at pick nine.
The Saints have been linked at times this year to GWS midfielder Tim Taranto but they already have inside mids like Seb Ross, Jack Steele and Brad Crouch.
Former Saints like Leigh Montagna have wondered if the club could trade a player like Jade Gresham given he is injury-prone, but St Kilda already lacks outside speed and could trade Brad Hill.
It shapes as an intriguing trade period for a club that needs a Rory Lobb-type to help their ruck and forward line but has missed out with the Dockers tall going to the Western Bulldogs if a trade can be done.
Lions set to lock up free agent
Brisbane will secure restricted free agent Darcy Gardiner on a new long-term deal despite rival interest in the miserly stopper.
The delay in securing Gardiner this late in the season as one of only a handful of restricted free agents still on the market had given rise he could be on the move.
Last week coach Chris Fagan labelled Gardiner as a “warrior” and said he was desperate for him to be secured as he played his 150th AFL game against St Kilda.
The Lions are now in strong talks with his manager Scott Lucas, firm in the knowledge he wants to play for the club next year and they are keen to have him.
Captain Dayne Zorko is also in talks on a one-year deal that will see him extending his career as a player who turns 34 next February.
Only Jordan De Goey, Gardiner and Lance Franklin remain as restricted free agents on the AFL’s official list, which means they are in the top 25 per cent of paid players at their club and can have deals matched if they attempt to depart.
Deven Robertson has played only five games as a strong-bodied midfielder and has been linked to a return to West Australia.
But the No.22 draft pick is contracted and is considered a required player by the Lions, who have no desire to let him go.
Brisbane’s next task is to secure the father-son risks to potential first-round pick Jaspa Fletcher, the son of Adrian Fletcher.
Fletcher played at five AFL clubs and 107 of those games were with the Lions and Bears, with Jaspa keen to play with the Lions.
It will be a juggle with draft points to secure both Will Ashcroft and Fletcher by matching first-round bids but you can never have enough exceptional midfield talent.
Dog pair could get chop
Western Bulldogs free agents Zaine Cordy and Jason Johannisen are no certainty to be at the club next year as the Dogs aggressively secure key position talent in Rory Lobb and Liam Jones.
The Dogs are in negotiations with Cordy’s management but he has played seven VFL games to go with his dozen AFL games, including the last three contests.
Clubs are desperate to secure key position defenders and with Luke Beveridge already preferring others at times ahead of Jones’ return to the club, Cordy could be pushed further down the pecking order.
It means the Dogs premiership player, who played forward in the 2016 premiership, shapes as a valuable swingman for rival clubs.
He is out of contract after hitting a games-based trigger for 2022 on a deal he signed in 2018.
The Bulldogs are keen to secure Johannisen and he has parked contact talks despite the Dogs lodging an offer, with rival interest set to decide his future.
Clubs in the market for running defenders might eventually be prepared to pay more than the Dogs, but so far he is yet to be linked to a specific club.
Ideally for him he might be able to secure a three-year deal at better money but all options remain on the table.
Fourth time a charm? Rival suitor emerges for disgruntled Saint
North Melbourne players have reached out to St Kilda wingman Brad Hill in a bid to lure him to Arden Street.
News Corp can reveal star Kangaroo Jy Simpkin has helped lead the charge to bring Hill to North Melbourne where he could reunite with master coach Alastair Clarkson next year.
Simpkin is one player who has contacted Hill recently about moving to a fourth club after stints at Hawthorn, Fremantle and St Kilda.
Hill, 29, has not felt fully supported at St Kilda at times this year and will discuss his future with the club at season’s end after being moved around the ground to a back and forward flank.
He has struggled to reach his full potential in three seasons at St Kilda and has three more years remaining on a big-money contract.
Hill had 11 touches on Friday night against Brisbane Lions. It comes as the Saints announce a review of football operations after a disappointing season.
Ross Lyon, who coached Hill at Fremantle where he won a best and fairest, is adamant Hill is a gun wingman and one of the hardest runners in the game who still has some excellent football ahead of him.
But there are hurdles in the Kangaroos’ trade plan as the club currently only has one draft pick inside the first 50 selections.
North could either split its first pick (likely No.1) for multiple first round selections or rely on a priority pick from the AFL which could come at the end of the first round. A second round pick could also appeal to the Saints to get Hill’s salary off the books.
The Saints are set to go back to the draft and add more young talent after missing finals.
Clarkson and Hill caught up throughout the year and remain close friends. Hill is open to playing for Clarkson again.
If Clarkson lobs at North Melbourne, Hill could fill a big need on the wing.
Gold Coast is another club who could emerge for Hill as the Suns will have two early picks if Izak Rankine crosses to Adelaide, as expected.
Clarkson is weighing up offers to join North Melbourne and Essendon.
Tigers secure future as build for next flag begins
—Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane
Richmond has locked away the nucleus of its next-generation push for more premierships after securing Dan Rioli on a new five-year deal.
Only weeks after securing Liam Baker despite strong interest from Fremantle and West Coast the Tigers have signed Rioli.
Rioli’s brilliant season as a rebounding half back is likely to see him locked into the All Australian 40 as he contends for a spot in the 25 alongside Adam Saad, Angus Brayshaw, Sam Docherty and Tom Stewart.
The five-year deal gives him solid tenure but will also mean the Tigers have enough cap space to continue building towards another premiership tilt.
Richmond has high hopes it might be able to secure a GWS midfielder like Tim Taranto as the club rebuilds its midfield, although Trent Cotchin will play on next year.
Noah Cumberland, Tyler Sonsie and Ben Miller all signed on in recent weeks while Tom Lynch’s brilliant form means the club will easily justify the three years left on his deal on a significant wage.
Rioli recently moved to a new manager Peter Lenton, with the club also working on a new deal for his relative Maurice Rioli.
“It’s awesome, I am basically a Tiger for life now and I would not want to be anywhere else,” he said.
“Walking into the Club every day and seeing your teammates and all the brother boys I have formed strong ties with, it is pretty special.
“You get to see all your best mates, and you do not get to do that anywhere else. Probably the (other main) reason I signed as well is because I know the future is looking bright for us.
“My little uncle Maurice is coming through now as well; playing alongside him is something I never thought I would get a chance to do, it is a dream come true.”
Richmond is also certain to sign Sydney Stack and Marlion Pickett in coming months as Damien Hardwick attempts to win a fourth premiership since 2017.
Richmond has interest in both Taranto and GWS midfield teammate Jacob Hopper, but the Cats’ strong interest in Hopper might mean they are better-placed for Taranto.
Taranto would be the perfect inside midfielder to compliment Dion Prestia and Jack Graham as Sonsie emerges as an excellent midfield prospect in his own right.
Triple premiership forward Rioli has only just turned 25 so the five-year deal presents few issues in terms of risks for the Tigers.
List boss Blair Hartley said the club was thrilled he had been able to work so effectively as a half back after his positional switch in recent years.
Daniel has worked extremely hard since first coming to the Club and has been rewarded with success across the journey,” Hartley said.
“He has moved to a new role across half back and has fully embraced that challenge. Daniel has worked hard behind the scenes to take his game to another level, which is a credit to him.
“We are delighted Daniel has committed his long-term future to Richmond and are excited about how he will continue to grow as a footballer, person, and leader across the next five years.”
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Originally published as Moneyball AFL trades: All the latest news and whispers on potential 2022 player movement
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