Trades Unplugged: Latest AFL trade, free agency, contract news
Ben Reid finally has his body right and given Collingwood food for thought, but is it too late? There’s a Swan who is almost a certainty to get to the Pies and that might spell the end for Reid. LATEST TRADE WHISPERS
Trade HQ
Don't miss out on the headlines from Trade HQ. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Joe Daniher’s father has told an Essendon gathering that his son is not leaving in next month’s trade period.
Anthony Daniher told a Bombers’ past players function earlier this week that contracted key forward Daniher was going nowhere.
Joe Daniher has been the subject of intense speculation regarding his playing future, with reports stating he wanted to play for Sydney next season.
Anthony Daniher, who spoke alongside brother Terry at the Essendon function, said the Daniher-to-Sydney story had been blown out of proportion.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SACKED PODCAST HERE
Anthony played 115 games for the Swans between1981-86 and 118 for Essendon between 1987-1994.
Meanwhile, the opening of the free agency period is just eight days away.
As Richmond and GWS ramp up preparations for Saturday’s Grand Final, recruiters, list management teams and player managers are working frantically behind the scenes.
Herald Sun trade experts Jon Ralph, Jay Clark and Sam Landsberger have been hitting the phones to get the inside word on player and contract moves.
Scroll down for the latest on 30 possible trade targets.
Tim Kelly (Geelong)
His manager Anthony Van Der Wielen is in town for a family discussion with the Kelly clan.
The Eagles have been told for some time he will come home. The expectation is he will in coming days request a trade, but if he does stay it would be one of footy’s great backflips.
West Coast baulked last year’s request of picks 20, 23 and a swap of future second and third-rounders. Surely they have to get this deal done even if it’s overs for Geelong.
Jack Martin (Gold Coast)
Former Carlton captain Marc Murphy was one of the Blues who took Martin out for dinner in Melbourne when he was searching for a new home. The meal worked, and Martin comes with a glowing endorsement from Patrick Cripps, who reckons the silky Sun was the best junior he played with in Western Australia. Polled five Brownlow Medal votes in back-to-back Gold Coast wins at the start of the season.
Joe Daniher (Essendon)
Bit of think time for Joe as he weighs up a big move to Sydney. The Bombers will want two early picks.
Ben Reid (Collingwood)
Could be delisted but has at least given the Pies food for thought by getting his body right and playing some strong footy. Probably up against it. Sydney’s ruck-forward Darcy Cameron is certain to be traded to the Magpies and is eyeing Reid’s place on the list.
Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)
Plenty of suitors, not much cap space at the Pies. It’s a guesstimate, but if Collingwood offered two years at $350,000 and Melbourne offered four years at $400,000, it’s a heck of a lot of guaranteed coin to pass up.
Lewis Taylor (Brisbane Lions)
Will the kid that pipped The Bont in the 2014 Rising Star find any love? Still no contract at the Lions.
Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)
Out: Luke Hodge, In: Grant Birchall? Defender turns 32 before next season and has played just eight games since 2016 as Hawthorn hesitates on a fresh contract offer. If one doesn’t come then close mates expect him to lace up at the Gabba.
Isaac Smith (Hawks)
More likely now to stay at Hawthorn. Clubs believe the Hawks would let him go for a high pick. But they wouldn’t accept a late second-rounder for him and clubs can’t give up a first or early second-rounder for a bloke about to turn 31.
Ryan Bastinac (Brisbane Lions)
At 28 it looks like the end of the road for the kid who pushed teammate and No.1 draft pick Tom Scully in their underage years.
Dan Butler (Richmond)
Fresh contract at Carlton will help the 2017 premiership forward get over a $600 fine for striking in Sunday’s VFL flag.
Dougal Howard (Port Adelaide)
Interest is growing in the 200cm swingman, with Port going from a hands-off approach to interested in what rivals throw at them. Essendon and North Melbourne are interested, with the Dons surely pushing harder if Joe Daniher leaves.
Brad Crouch (Adelaide)
Despite Gold Coast’s concerted bid for the inside midfielder, who polled a club-leading 14 Brownlow votes, he is telling the Crows he is keen to stay. Wants a long-term deal and why wouldn’t he? And why wouldn’t the Crows give him a five-year contract?
Zak Jones (Sydney)
Will be traded to St Kilda for a second-round pick. Bulldogs could offer the Saints pick 30 for Josh Bruce. That selection should be enough to get the speedy defender through the doors at Moorabbin.
Tom Papley (Sydney)
Visited Carlton last week but playing a smart game in not officially declaring his hand yet given Sydney is absolutely confident of keeping him. Swans are playing a good poker hand — saying little about Daniher until he declares himself one way or the other.
Patty Ryder (Port Adelaide)
Will join St Kilda to give Rowan Marshall a chop out in the ruck and forward. Thought long and hard about returning to the Bombers but a fresh start at the Saints appealed more.
Brodie Smith (Adelaide)
Has two seasons on his deal and Adelaide would have to get the deal of a lifetime to trade him. Brisbane had strong interest but expected to stay at the Crows.
Eddie Betts (Adelaide)
Wants to play at Carlton, but the Blues won’t pay all of his $500,000-plus contract. Could it depend upon the kind of post-footy security from ambassador or coaching roles that the league can tick off for such a popular figure like Betts? That might sway him into accepting less cash as a player and set up his move back to Melbourne.
Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
Is adamant he will play at Collingwood next year even if rivals like the Crows came hard this trade period. From there he’s content to play out his free agency year, but couldn’t be more adamant he wants six or seven years.
The Pies just won’t give that tenure. Middle ground might be extremely difficult to find. Would the Pies offer five with a couple of games-based triggers?
Billy Stretch (Melbourne)
Can he find a new home? Gold Coast is out of the running despite recent links, with the Demons having told their best athletic player they would have to wait until after the trade period before deciding whether they will offer him a contract.
Riley Knight (Adelaide)
Likely to get a new deal at Adelaide, but there is outside interest. Still waiting for that contract offer but likely to join dozens of players waiting to see where the chips fall before they have their futures decided.
Gary Ablett (Geelong)
Everyone is waiting for Ablett to declare he definitively wants to play on, from his manager to his coach. The contract offer is there for him and given he played all but one game for the Cats this year, why wouldn’t he back himself?
Sam Frost (Melbourne)
Interest from Hawks and North Melbourne.
MORE NEWS:
Free agent Brandon Ellis to walk out on Richmond for Gold Coast after Grand Final
Eddie Betts has told Carlton he wants to be traded back to Ikon Park for 2020 season
Free agent Zac Williams can’t imagine playing anywhere but Greater Western Sydney
Kamdyn McIntosh (Richmond)
Signed a new deal but has missed out on the AFL Grand Final as well as the VFL premiership after being held over. Would a club like Fremantle, which is set to lose Brad Hill and Ed Langdon as running power, consider dragging him home?
Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
Will get to GWS on a two-year deal. Probably relegates Shane Mumford to back-up status despite him ticking off a games-based clause for 2020. Smart move given young rucks Matt Flynn and Kieren Briggs need developing.
Billy Frampton (Port Adelaide)
Linked to Adelaide given the Power have a long list of rucks and he’s last in the pecking order.
Wylie Buzza (Geelong)
Contracted but in the ruck merry-go-round will he try to find better opportunities elsewhere? Fellow Cats ruckman Ryan Abbott is in the same boat despite showing promise at VFL level.
Hugh Greenwood (Adelaide)
Arrives back in Australia from the US on October 2. If by that point the Crows haven’t upped their offer he will try to get a three-year deal or more from the Suns, Brisbane or Hawthorn.
Josh Bruce (St Kilda)
Lock him in at the Dogs now that St Kilda has secured Patrick Ryder, likely on a deal of four years. He gets security, the Dogs get a foil for Aaron Naughton, the Saints get a pick to secure Zak Jones.
Chris Masten (West Coast)
Career is in limbo as he looks for a new home. Fremantle appeared to be his best bet but they’re not banging down his door. Gold Coast said no.
Will Schofield (West Coast)
Veteran defender is waiting on a new deal from the Eagles. He’s from Geelong, but the Cats are well stocked down back.
Originally published as Trades Unplugged: Latest AFL trade, free agency, contract news