AFL Moneyball 2022: All the latest in trades, free agency and player contracts
Josh Dunkley almost left for Essendon two years ago. Now he’s at the top of the Bulldogs’ priority re-signing list – and he’s not the only big name out of contract. Here’s the latest.
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Carlton’s decision to pull out of the race for wingman Karl Amon won’t necessarily preclude them from acquiring a player from a rival club during the trade/free agency period.
While the Blues are focused heavily on trying to recontract its players – even those out of contract at the end of next season – they have not ruled out chasing ready-made talent, but only if the price is right.
They are rightly pleased with the state of the playing list right now, evidenced by their push for a first finals berth since 2013.
But the Blues will still look around for a wingman or potentially a short-term back-up ruckman.
The Herald Sun has previously reported that there was some early interest in contracted Crows wingman Lachlan Sholl and veteran Kangaroos ruckman Todd Goldstein.
Goldstein had appeared to be on the move earlier this year, but said recently he wanted to stay with North Melbourne if the club was keen to retain him.
DOGS, DUNKS TALK
The Bulldogs have several key contract deals still in play, including midfielder Bailey Smith, but some of the club’s attention this week has been on Josh Dunkley.
Dunkley is out of contract at the end of the season and while talks have progressed slowly, Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains said he had been encouraged by discussions this week.
While it is understood there is still plenty to play out, Bains told SEN: “There have been some really productive meetings (this week). We’re probably a lot more confident now with getting a deal done over the coming weeks, too.”
PIE MEGA DEAL COULD SEND GRUNDY NORTH
The Pies’ decision on Grundy, whose $1 million-a-year contract still has five seasons to run, could unlock an extraordinary mega deal, given Bobby Hill, Tim Taranto and Tanner Bruhn are believed to be in their sights.
They are also considered certain to sign Brisbane Lions free agent Daniel McStay, so something will have to give if they are to bring in a major trade haul.
Grundy, who hails from South Australia, would need to give the green light to any potential trade, with Port Adelaide also keeping tabs on the situation.
But the Power’s interest in the 28-year-old big man hedges on Collingwood being willing to pay a chunk of his contract.
Adding to the complexity is that Greater Western Sydney is also bracing for the possibility that star midfielder Jacob Hopper, a free agent next year, makes a trade request.
Hopper was a boarder at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat and is on Geelong’s wishlist as the Cats sweep the league for midfield talent, while Richmond is eyeing off Hopper and Taranto.
Asked about his future on Thursday, Hopper, who’s been sidelined for all bar one game this year after a second bout of knee surgery, told News Corp he was focused on playing again.
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“It’s pretty straightforward, really. Let people talk, but, at the end of the day, I haven’t played footy all year and I’m pretty keen to just go out there and chase the pill,” Hopper said.
“This is my first one back for a long time, so I’m pretty keen to just play footy for the Giants and try and win some games.
“It’s an odd time of the year. It’s new terrain for us, because we’re normally playing finals … but there’s some boys with decisions to make, which always makes it strange for everybody involved.”
Grundy is still as many as three weeks away from returning from a knee injury that marred his season and gave understudy Darcy Cameron the opportunity to shine.
It’s understood his preference at this stage is to stay in black and white, while Magpies coach Craig McRae said on Thursday he was keen for Grundy to stick around.
“Do we want Brodie Grundy here? Yes, we do,” McRae said.
“I’m really excited by watching him progress from injury. He’s only a couple of weeks away from playing. I think in this competition; you always need to keep getting better.
“You can’t stand still. Where can we get improvement in the next six weeks? I think Brodie can give us significant improvement, particularly in our centre bounces.”
There is the chance it develops into an Adam Treloar-type scenario, especially after the much-cheaper Cameron inked a three-year deal in June.
Collingwood baulked at making a serious play for Hill last year ahead of matching a bid for father-son sensation Nick Daicos, but is considered his likeliest destination if, as expected, he wants out of the Giants.
Geelong is also interested in Bruhn, an ex-Geelong Falcon who was in recruiting guru Stephen Wells’ sights in his draft year, before the Cats sent three first-round picks to the Giants for Jeremy Cameron.
Industry sources believe Taranto and Hopper, who are looked after by rival management companies, are keeping close tabs on what the other does.
The belief is a maximum of only one of them will stay at GWS but there is the risk of both leaving.
News Corp understands GWS has tabled a contract offer to Taranto in a bid to keep him at the club.
The Giants are open-minded on contract length and happy to work around Taranto’s preferences on tenure.
The 2019 club champion would be keen to make a call after they appoint a new senior coach, with GWS having met with Alastair Clarkson and Don Pyke, on top of Ashley Hansen being on its radar.
Taranto is also eager to establish himself in a permanent midfield role but has found himself playing largely forward this season.
At the Magpies, Tigers or Cats, he may be assured more midfield minutes than at the Giants, who boast a star-studded centre-square combination.
GWS would be keen to add another key forward target after failing to land Rory Lobb from Fremantle last year.
RUTTEN’S REVEALS WHERE HEPPELL SITS
Essendon coach Ben Rutten says he “absolutely” wants Dyson Heppell at the club next year despite his captain still being without a contract offer for 2023.
Heppell is one of only four Bombers players to have featured in all 16 games this year and has found his groove after a slow start to the season.
Essendon’s captain since 2017, Heppell has indicated he wants to play on and has come into recruiting discussions among other clubs given his unclear contract situation at Tullamarine.
“We’re talking with Dyson at the moment about what that looks like,” Rutten said of a new deal for Heppell.
“So that won’t be too far off, but we’re pretty clear with Dyse, communicating with him about all that.
“The first half of the year was challenging for a lot of our more experienced players, just through the circumstances. We were asking a bit of them. But I think in the last six or eight weeks in particular, we’ve been able to stabilise where he (Heppell) has been playing, his role, and he’s been playing some really good footy for us.”
Heppell turned 30 in May and would be unlikely to continue as captain if he was to remain at Essendon.
However, those conversations have yet to take place.
“That’s something that I want Dyse to be a part of,” Rutten said.
“He’s been such an important leader for us in such an important member of our footy club. But that’s probably secondary at the moment for us.”
Rutten said Heppell would also be unlikely to be guaranteed regular senior games if he does play on at the club, given his age.
“That’s probably something that most guys need to be aware of (when they are over 30),” Rutten said.
“We’re probably not really looking down that track at the moment with Dyse. But I suppose as you tick over 30, that’s a real part of everyone’s career.”
The Bombers have announced a new two-year contract extension for vice-captain Andy McGrath, which ties the former No.1 draft pick to the club until at least the end of 2024.
“To have Andy sign on is fantastic,” Rutten said.
“He’s such an important leader of our footy club has a lot of positive influence over a lot of people.”
MORE LOBB INTRIGUE
Rory Lobb remains an important piece of the puzzle in Fremantle’s bid to lure Melbourne premiership ruckman Luke Jackson back to Western Australia.
The Dockers are hellbent on securing Jackson but the complication is they don’t have a strong draft hand and it’s believed the Demons aren’t keen on Lobb being part of the package.
Not only has their ladder ascension meant they won’t pick early in the first round but they also sent their 2022 second and fourth-round picks to Gold Coast in last year’s Will Brodie trade.
Fremantle also doesn’t have a third-round selection in this year’s draft after using it in a pick swap with Collingwood to move up in the 2021 edition.
That means the Dockers will likely have to go hunting for better draft picks to satisfy Melbourne, while Lloyd Meek appears certain to be wearing red and blue if Jackson pulls the trigger on a trade request.
The Western Bulldogs are heavily linked to Lobb, who is contracted for next season on about $750,000, and desperately need an extra marking target to help Aaron Naughton in attack.
The Dogs are a game outside the top eight and have a challenging run home, so could end up with a top-10 selection.
REWARD LOOMS FOR PIES DEFENDER
One of Collingwood’s most-improved players this season is closing in on a new deal in what would be a fitting reward for his patience and perseverance.
Defender Nathan Murphy has battled against injury and opportunities for much of his time in black and white.
But a change in coaching panels and a change in luck with injury – at least across the past seven weeks – have provided the 22-year-old with the chance to secure his future.
After playing only two games in his first three seasons at the club, the fearless backman played 15 games last year but ankle surgery during this year’s pre-season put a question mark on his future.
The retirement of Jordan Roughead and injuries to Jack Magden and Charlie Dean provided the opportunity for Murphy on his return from his ankle – and he has not looked back.
Murphy has worked well with Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe this season, with a well-deserved new deal set to be finalised in the coming weeks.
AFL STILL GUN-SHY ON MID-YEAR CALLS
The AFL still isn’t ready for players to publicly reveal mid-season they are defecting to a rival club, recruiting sources say.
A host of footballers already seem headed to opposition teams despite there still being six rounds to go in the season and there being three months until trade period.
Those in the know expect unrestricted free agents Daniel McStay and Karl Amon to sign with Collingwood and Hawthorn, respectively, while many believe contracted Docker Rory Lobb will land at the Bulldogs.
Luke Jackson is also yet to announce his intentions but the Demons are increasingly pessimistic he will stay as Fremantle’s confidence soars.
The NRL community has long been mature enough to cope with its biggest stars saying they will be elsewhere the next season but their AFL counterparts don’t expect the same situation in their league anytime soon.
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