Moneyball: All the latest trade and contract news from around the AFL
Silly season is drawing closer and there are plenty of players with futures up in the air. Get the latest trade news from GLENN McFARLANE and JOSH BARNES here.
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Exciting Collingwood small forward Joe Richards’ eagerness to play more senior AFL football could determine whether he remains in black and white next season or takes up an offer from one of three rival clubs, including Port Adelaide.
Richards, 24, has played only nine games since being drafted from Wangaratta in 2022, including last week’s final round win over Melbourne, where he had 19 disposals and kicked a goal in an impressive display.
He has a two-year offer on the table from the Magpies.
Port Adelaide is keen on enticing the forward across the border. This column understands the Power have offered him a three-year contract deal, instead of the reported four years.
Richards told Moneyball after the game that he will make a decision on his footy future in the coming weeks, having left all discussions in the hands of his manager John Meeson during the course of the season.
He says Collingwood has been so welcoming and has learnt so much from the likes of Bobby Hill and Jamie Elliott in recent seasons.
But given he is a mature-aged player, he is keen to bed down a regular senior spot in a team that has Hill, Elliott, Lachie Schultz and Beau McCreery among the small/medium forwards.
“I love the place,” Richards said of the Collingwood environment.
“I haven’t delved too much into all that yet (the contract talk), I just wanted to get back into the team first and finish off the year.
“I have left with my manager. I pretty much said I didn’t want to think about it until the end of the season.”
Richards made his AFL debut in round 9 against West Coast, kicking a goal and having 18 disposals.
He played three games in a row before suffering a foot fracture during the club’s draw with Fremantle in Perth.
“It’s been a really good learning year,” Richards said.
“It was really good to see the young guys get a run (in the last round) and do well. All we can do is put our hands up and keep working hard.
“It was good to see Ed Allan getting some reward for his efforts. The coaches backed him in and he showed what he could do.
“There are so many kids coming through. I think the future is pretty bright as we’ve still got a lot of experienced players too.”
Richards worked hard last pre-season on building up his strength and his tank, and plans to keep doing the same over the summer months, after a break in Bali.
The Magpies are keen to keep Richards, with a decision on his future to come in the next week or so.
HOPEFUL DOG WANTS TO STAY
All-Australian Caleb Daniel says he hopes to still be at the Western Bulldogs next year, having appeared to come out the other side of a roller coaster home-and-away season.
The classy ball user was dropped by Luke Beveridge multiple times this season and has played eight games in the VFL, his first state league football since 2017.
But he played in the Dogs’ final five games of the regular season and had a strong outing against GWS on Sunday, kicking a goal from 23 disposals.
When asked by this masthead whether he will be at the Dogs next year, 191-gamer Daniel was not definitive.
“I hope so. At the moment I am contracted for another two years,” he said.
“I’m really excited with the group we have got and keen to keep playing and pushing the case for the next four weeks.”
Daniel, 28, won All-Australian honours and claimed the club’s best-and-fairest in 2020, as a superb halfback distributor.
He has been shifted to a mid-forward role in the last two seasons.
The South Australian product can play multiple positions and is clearly an AFL-standard player but at times has found himself tipped out by Beveridge as the coach moulded a team more based around leg speed.
Teammate Jack Macrae similarly was pushed out but has returned to the side in recent weeks.
Macrae also holds a contract at the Dogs next year.
CAT KEEN ON MOVE
Geelong’s unrestricted free agent Brandan Parfitt is yet to be offered a new contract and is seeking fresh opportunities two years on from being a late-minute call-up for the 2022 premiership.
Parfitt was the medi-sub in that game but has played only nine games in each of the past two seasons despite his clearance potential and undoubted ball-winning gifts.
Clubs like Melbourne (keen to add midfield experience) and West Coast (who need more midfield depth) have both shown some early interest in Parfitt.
But with list spots tight and plenty of midfielders likely to move clubs, there is plenty to play out for the 26-year-old.
He averaged 4.8 clearances and 6.3 tackles in his nine games but gradually fell from favour and has played only a single game since mid-season.
Geelong has Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy retiring but is yet to make a call on Rhys Stanley and Mitch Duncan.
Patrick Dangerfield is yet to sign a new contract but will play on next year on a one or two year deal.
DEAD-EYE SAINT WAITS ON NEW DEAL
St Kilda free agent Tim Membrey would like to stay at the club but will need to know he is in the Saints future plans as decision time awaits for the 30-year-old.
He played three VFL games this year but finished the year strongly to kick a remarkably accurate 30.9 for the season.
Membrey has rival suitors but would ideally like to finish his career at St Kilda after 179 games at the club.
He has battled a knee issue and bravely spoke about the battle with mental health that saw him pull out of last year’s elimination final against GWS on the day of the game.
If the club’s vision for his future includes regular VFL as it plays Max King, Cooper Sharman and a young forward line he will likely move on.
But given only Jack Higgins kicked more goals than him this year he has a future, whether at St Kilda or a rival club.
LIKELY NO FOURTH CLUB FOR DON
Will Setterfield is yet to be offered a new deal by Essendon but is keen to play at the club in 2025 despite rival interest.
Setterfield has already played for the Dons, GWS and Carlton so is understandably keen to remain at his third club.
He battled a PCL injury this year that lingered through the year but when he was fit and in form the Dons were keen to play him as a hard-running tall mid.
The Dons are keen to keep him so he is unlikely to be moving to a fourth club, with Essendon having already delisted Nick Hind, Tex Wanganeen and Kaine Baldwin.
Essendon handed back-up ruckman Nick Bryan the last four games of the season and while he has suitors the Dons will hope it is enough to show him he will get regular games next year.
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Originally published as Moneyball: All the latest trade and contract news from around the AFL
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