AFL trade news: Stay up to date with the latest player movement buzz
The Giants have made clear what it will take to get Jacob Hopper in a trade. Should the Tigers pay up? See how the deal could work.
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Greater Western Sydney is prepared to release star midfielder Jacob Hopper to Richmond but only if the trade bonanza includes two first-round draft selections.
Hopper last week chose Richmond over Geelong as his club of choice, but is fully aware as a contracted player GWS might hold him to a deal to 2023 he only signed in September last year.
The Herald Sun understands the Giants will be prepared to move Hopper, who hits free agency next year, but only if the price is right.
Richmond has only this year’s first-round pick and its future first-rounder but has to satisfy the Giants on both Tim Taranto and Hopper.
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Moving Hopper on would help free up valuable cap space for GWS as small forward Bobby Hill also prepares to make a trade request to Collingwood by midweek.
That realignment of the Giants’ salary cap will allow new coach Adam Kingsley to move on without the shadow of a salary cap crisis, but he will lose Tim Taranto, Hopper, Bobby Hill and likely Tanner Bruhn.
GWS has already priced Hopper at the same value as departing midfielders Adam Treloar and Dylan Shiel.
Both of those players secured the Giants two first-round selections as they handed back a second-round pick to the Stars’ new clubs.
While many ambit claims are thrown around weeks before the trade period, GWS has shown its hand in previous years with strong-arm trade tactics.
The Giants secured three first-rounders for free agent Jeremy Cameron (and handed two second-rounders back) and the Dylan Shiel deal with Essendon went down to the wire.
In the end Essendon handed over 2018 and 2019 first-round selections and got a 2019 second-round pick back, with Dons recruiter Adrian Dodoro saying of the Giants: “They were adamant they were going to keep him”.
Collingwood handed over pick 7, a future first-rounder and pick 65 to GWS for Treloar and secured pick 28 back in a 2015 trade.
Richmond might have to include some players into the mix given its draft haul is pick 12, 19, 30 and a future first-rounder, and they also plan to draft a developing ruckman.
Sydney Stack is expected to sign a new one-year deal while Jake Aarts and Riley Collier-Dawkins remain uncontracted.
Dustin Martin has made clear to Richmond he feels revitalised and ready for the challenges ahead as he prepares to train every day while taking his usual off-season holiday.
While Martin was quiet in the club’s finals loss to Brisbane, he felt as good as he had at any time in the season but clearly lacked some match fitness.
Martin will have a full three-month off-season but has made clear to Richmond he will come back in early December fighting fit and with the requisite motivation to give his all in the final two years of his contract.
Power pull could be too strong for Dogs star
If Josh Dunkley leaves the Western Bulldogs as expected it will be for a fresh start and to be closer to his partner rather than jump to a rival club for more money.
News Corp understands Dunkley’s offer from Port Adelaide is around $650,000 a season on a long-term deal, around the same financial terms the Dogs have offered him to stay.
Dunkley is expected to leave the Dogs but Brisbane and Port Adelaide have lodged bids, aware rival clubs could enter the fray now that he seems likely to leave Whitten Oval.
Port Adelaide is the warm favourite to secure his services ahead of Brisbane but the Power certainly won’t break the bank for the mid-forward.
His decision won’t be based on money, with his partner playing Super Netball in Adelaide again next year and Dunkley seemingly keen to try a new environment next year.
Port Adelaide spoke to Essendon’s Aaron Francis some time ago and seem keen to explore having him on the list next year.
But the Power would be unlikely to give up anything of note for Francis, and might even wait until the Dons make a decision on his future before making any commitment.
In other words, wait to see if Essendon delist him before they consider securing him as a free agent.
How can Crows bring rankine back to SA?
The widely accepted starting point for an Izak Rankine trade is Adelaide’s first-round draft selection – but will it be this year’s or next?
The Crows hold pick five in the 2022 draft, which will slide to six once Brisbane matches a bid for star junior Will Ashcroft, the son of triple premiership Lion Marcus.
Rankine has requested a trade home from Gold Coast to South Australia to play for the Crows, after a career-best season that hinted at his immense potential.
But the compensation for the out-of-contract forward, the No.3 selection in the 2018 draft, remains to be seen.
There is a theory the Suns may ask for Adelaide’s future top pick instead of this year’s, given hugely promising Academy prospect Jed Walter is draft eligible next season.
Strong-marking Walter is viewed as a top-10 lock and one of the two best key forwards in the 2023 draft class, along with leading No.1 pick contender Harley Reid, so Gold Coast will need points to match a bid.
The teenager starred for the Allies at the national under-19 championships, kicking nine goals in four games as a bottom-age player.
Potentially receiving then using the Crows’ first-round selection to absorb a Walter bid would enable the Suns to still use their own.
Arch nemesis tipped to target dumped Blue
Carlton’s Will Setterfield and Liam Stocker are expected to attract interest from Essendon as the pair look to extend their AFL careers.
Stocker was delisted by Carlton after 28 games in four years while Setterfield has been asked to wait until after the trade period for a new contract.
Stocker was played largely in defence but was highly-rated by ex-Carlton list boss Stephen Silvagni when he was taken in the 2018 national draft.
Setterfield had shown promise as an inside midfielder but was squeezed out on to a wing after the Blues brought in George Hewett and Adam Cerra this year.
The Bombers liked Setterfield, who supported the Bombers as a child, in his draft class and considered taking him with the No. 1 pick alongside Andrew McGrath and Hugh McCluggage.
At 192cm, Setterfield could provide some size the Bombers require in the midfield.
The Bombers are also eyeing Stocker, who would could provide some hardness and long-kicking to the back half. Stocker’s fitness was an issue at Carlton but the youngster is keen to play on at AFL level next year.
Hawks to wait on Gunston call
Hawthorn is prepared to wait another week for veteran forward Jack Gunston to make a call on his future amid strong interest from Brisbane Lions.
Gunston enjoyed a strong finish to the season, bagging 17 goals in his last five games to show the goal kicker has plenty of good footy left.
The Hawks and Lions will weigh up minimum two-year extensions for the premiership star who recently lost his father Ray.
It has meant the veteran Hawk will consider his family in any decision on his footballing future but is unlikely to rush his decision over the next week.
The Hawks remain keen to keep Gunston, 30, as a mobile forward and versatile swingman but he could also replace Dan McStay at Brisbane as part of the Lions’ premiership push.
He would be a super replacement for McStay as the Lions attempt to stay in the premiership window next season.
The Hawks are prepared to offload Tom Mitchell and Chad Wingard next year but have identified Gunston as a required player for 2023.
Why Rioli is still undecided
Port Adelaide has offered Willie Rioli a four-year contract but remain aware his fierce loyalty to his club at West Coast might keep him at the Eagles.
The Eagles are understood to have offered three years for the 27-year-old but the deal is not as lucrative and clearly is shorter.
Rioli is keen to buy a house for his family in Darwin and has family obligations in the Northern Territory.
But given he still hasn’t made a decision on his future he is clearly torn about moving on from West Coast, who stuck with him despite a two-year drug ban.
That decision did allow them to retain the rights to Rioli despite rival interest but no one can doubt West Coast’s commitment to him across the years.
What rankine move means for Rowe
Rankine’s impending arrival at Adelaide has left fellow small forward James Rowe in limbo.
The 22-year-old has played 36 games and kicked 27 goals in two seasons at the Crows since being a mature-age recruit out of the SANFL, but was told he will have to wait through the trade period to discover his fate.
Rowe may need to find a new club to extend his career, given Rankine will join exciting top-10 draftee Josh Rachele in a promising attack alongside Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Shane McAdam.
Lachie Gollant is also highly rated at West Lakes, while pressure forward Lachie Murphy still has a season to run on his two-year deal.
Western Bulldogs were keen on Rowe when he was drafted two years ago, but weren’t able to get him before Adelaide after the Crows bid for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan at No.1 and forced them to use several picks to match.
Breust a Hawk for life
Luke Breust has rejected overtures from rival clubs and stayed loyal to Hawthorn for the second time in as many seasons, recommitting to the club until the end of the 2024 season.
Breust, 31, already had a year to run on a deal with the Hawks, having knocked back a concerted bid from Greater Western Sydney to prise him out of Waverley last summer.
But after attracting more interest from rival clubs heading into another trade period this year, the star small forward was keen to lock his future into Sam Mitchell’s future plans at the Hawks.
Hawthorn National List and Recruiting Manager Mark McKenzie said the club couldn’t be happier to lock away Breust for the next two seasons.
“Luke’s value to the club is immeasurable. While he is still playing at a high level on-field, his willingness to educate and mentor our younger players has been equally valuable,” McKenzie said.
“We’re very pleased that he has been quick to confirm his commitment to the club’s future, which we think is a broader reflection of how the playing group feels about the direction we are going.
“As a three-time premiership player, Luke has already made an immense impact on the club with his own achievements in his own right. But he is just as determined to now help to build towards our next period of success.”
Breust’s recommitment to the club means he will likely be a Hawk for life now, despite the best efforts of rival clubs.
He has played 260 games for the Hawks and kicked 481 goals - including 40 this season.
His form this season was enough for him his fourth club goalkicking award, showing he is still one of the best small forwards in the game.
It ends speculation about Breust potentially leaving the club during the trade period.
Midfielder Tom Mitchell could be on the move to a third AFL club, with key forward Jack Gunston’s future at Hawthorn is also clouded at the moment.
Goldy committed to North
Todd Goldstein will finish his decorated North Melbourne career as a one-club player after signing a single-year extension on Friday.
The Herald Sun reported on Monday negotiations were progressing smoothly despite outside interest with Goldstein still in a rich vein of form at 34 years of age.
As an unrestricted free agent rivals could have secured him with the Roos winning little free agency compensation so it is a huge victory for North Melbourne.
Goldstein hit 295 AFL games in round 23 next year so will hit the 300-game milestone early in 2023 but has plans to play on for multiple seasons at the club.
The introduction of Callum Coleman-Jones and emergence of Tristan Xerri means he will have ruck competition but he handsomely won that battle this year despite starting a practice game in the possibles instead of probables.
The club also has high hopes for No.1 midseason draft pick Jacob Edwards but he has lots of developing to do with key forward Charlie Comben another player the Roos hope can make a big step next year.
Aaron Hall signed a one-year extension this week, with Cam Zurhaar also committing to the Roos on a two-year deal despite a long-term contract offer from Essendon.
Where key and fringe Swans are at
The Swans went on a re-signing spree this week, extending co-captain Callum Mills, the McCartin brothers, Tom and Paddy, and unheralded defender Robbie Fox on multi-year deals.
That quartet are well entrenched in Sydney’s senior side and will have a significant say in the club’s flag hopes.
But there is still work for Kinnear Beatson and co. to do, primarily on new contracts for Lance Franklin and Jake Lloyd, but also to make decisions on a series of fringe players.
Lloyd is expected to ink a new contract for at least three years but has played at below market value for some time.
James Bell, the resurgent Ryan Clarke, out-of-favour veteran Harry Cunningham, Will Gould, injury-cursed Sam Naismith, Irishman Barry O’Connor, Ben Ronke and Lewis Taylor are also out of contract.
Gould is yet to play a senior game since being the No.26 pick in the 2019 draft but made strides in the VFL this year, averaging 2.4 intercept marks and 19 disposals down back.
At 191cm, he could be Dane Rampe’s long-term replacement and is tipped to re-sign for 2023, when he will hope to finally be picked in John Longmire’s team.
Pies interested in cut-price mid
Collingwood has expressed interest in Gold Coast midfielder Brayden Fiorini as a cut-price recruit who could bolster its midfield without breaking the bank like Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell.
The Pies have missed out on GWS midfielder Tim Taranto, who is set to join Richmond on a seven-year deal but are still keen to continue adding to an exciting midfield with a blend of youth and experience.
Fiorini has a lucrative contract through to the end of the 2023 season that is believed to be worth more than $500,000 in its last year.
The Pies interest is preliminary but any club that secured him might be able to broker a new deal in the same manner of Gold Coast cast-offs Peter Wright and Will Brodie.
Brodie’s $600,000 wage was converted into a two-year deal at about half that rate in a fresh start at Fremantle that helped the Dockers cash in with a favourite pick swap and revitalised his career.
The Suns were not shattered to lose midfielder Hugh Greenwood to North Melbourne because they believed Fiorini, a No.20 selection in the 2015 draft, would fill his spot.
As it turned out he played only 14 games this year as Touk Miller, Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell played huge midfield minutes but the Suns also found Alex Davies and Elijah Hollands in breakout seasons.
Mid-sized forward Alex Sexton is in the last year of a contract also worth over $500,000 next year with his six-goal haul in round 23 opening up the prospect he could have rival suitors.
Collingwood is likely to bring Nick Daicos into the centre square for more midfield opportunities next year with his brother Josh playing a brilliant season on the wing.
Captain Scott Pendlebury is contracted for next year and turns 35 in January but remains his consistent and brilliant self.
The Pies will secure GWS forward Bobby Hill, Brisbane free agent Dan McStay and are keen on Adelaide’s Billy Frampton as they prepared for Brodie Grundy to depart, most likely to Melbourne.
Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell is keen to explore what a fresh start would look like and while he is due over $700,000 next year the Hawks might contribute some of that wage if it secured them a reasonable pick.
But the attraction of Fiorini would be securing him for a modest wage below the competition average and likely a late pick given it would clear cap space for the Suns.
Originally published as AFL trade news: Stay up to date with the latest player movement buzz
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