By Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan
Money Talks.Credit: The Age
In-demand defender Dan Houston has asked Port Adelaide to trade him to a Victorian club.
Carlton and North Melbourne lead the race for Houston, who is contracted for four more seasons, but the Power will demand a strong return for the back-to-back All-Australian.
The Blues do not want to hand over their first-round pick this year (No.11) – preferring to offer their 2025 equivalent – but may need to budge if they are to hold off the Kangaroos, who hold the No.2 selection in a strong but midfielder-heavy top-end of the draft.
Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston (middle) wants to play for a Victorian club in 2025.Credit: AFL Photos
Houston told reporters at Alberton after his exit meeting on Tuesday that he was willing to remain at Port if a deal could not be brokered, but he is as good as certain to be at a new club in 2025.
“I have informed the club that my preference is to play in Victoria next year,” Houston said.
“Obviously, over the last few weeks, I have had a fluctuation of emotions, and if the deal can’t get done, I am happy to stay at Port Adelaide. I love the club – that’s all I am going to say.”
Melbourne were in pole position for Houston when news broke mid-season about him wanting to come home, but the 27-year-old had a change of heart because of the tumult at the 2021 premiers, highlighted by disgruntled Demon Christian Petracca.
Port’s asking price was two first-round picks when Melbourne’s interest in Houston arose, but that was before the Demons’ ladder slide.
Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda have also expressed interest in Houston, who has played 168 games for the Power but missed the finals while serving a five-game bump ban.
Jack Lukosius, left with Bailey Humphrey, wants to join close friend Connor Rozee at Port Adelaide.Credit: AFL Photos
It has been a big day for Port Adelaide, with Gold Coast swingman Jack Lukosius officially nominating them as his preferred destination as he prepares to return home to South Australia.
Ex-Tigers ruckman Ivan Soldo has also requested a trade from the Power, and is set to cross to his third club in as many seasons. St Kilda are willing to give him the chance to be their No.1 ruckman next season, meaning Rowan Marshall would start forward, after he could not beat former Dog Jordon Sweet to that role at Port.
This masthead reported last week that Lukosius was leaning towards choosing the Power over Adelaide, at least in part due to his strong relationship with Port’s star midfielder Connor Rozee.
Three sources familiar with negotiations confirmed Lukosius’ decision on the condition of anonymity. One of those revealed the Sun – who had two seasons to run on a lucrative back-ended contract at Gold Coast – would accept up to a six-year deal to continue his career at Alberton.
The Power are also hoping to secure the Giants’ unrestricted free agent pair Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman.
Port Adelaide’s highest selection in this year’s draft is a late second-round pick (No.36), after they traded their first-rounder as part of a deal with Fremantle last year, which may not be enough for Lukosius despite his hefty salary and him being dropped late in the season.
Lukosius was the No.2 pick in the 2018 draft, and has played 116 games and kicked 79 goals while filling a number of roles.
Cumming announced last week he was leaving GWS to play for a South Australian team, with two sources telling this masthead at the time that his club choice could impact what Perryman does.
It is decision time for Giant Harry Perryman (front), and teammate Isaac Cumming (left).Credit: AFL Photos
The Age reported on Friday that Hawthorn were no longer in the running for Perryman.
The Crows are not trying to sign Perryman, but are keen to add Cumming to their backline, along with already securing a trade commitment from premiership Demon Alex Neal-Bullen, who wanted to return to South Australia for family reasons.
Adelaide’s second-round pick (No.25) is tied to Melbourne, who sent that selection to the Crows last year for Shane McAdam, and is likely to be the asset that seals Neal-Bullen’s passage to West Lakes.
Collingwood forward Joe Richards is also weighing up joining Port Adelaide on a three-year deal or staying at the Magpies for the next two seasons.
From the Kennel to the Cattery: How Bailey Smith could get to Geelong
The Cats can start their negotiations with the Bulldogs to secure uncontracted 23-year-old Bailey Smith – who is expected to formally declare soon that he wants to join the Cats – with pick No.15 in their hands.
Where Geelong and Port Adelaide land in the draft order will be determined by their home-and-away ladder positions after both clubs exited the flag race in the preliminary finals, with the Cats finishing lower despite their qualifying final win in Adelaide.
Bailey Smith has told the Bulldogs he wants a trade without officially declaring Geelong as his destination.Credit: AFL Photos
Pick 15 alone won’t be enough to satisfy the Bulldogs, however, according to two industry sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Bulldogs may have been satisfied with a pick in the 10-12 range but won’t be budging on pick 15, particularly given there is likely to be three to four bids on academy graduates or father-son selections before pick 15, even though the same names will be available as expected.
Geelong are also interested in former Carlton and Gold Coast forward Jack Martin.
On Tuesday, the Cats delisted premiership duo Brandan Parfitt and Gary Rohan, as well as five players who did not play a senior game with the club – Mitch Hardie, James Willis, Oscar Murdoch, Phoenix Foster and Emerson Jeka.
Parfitt is open to continuing his career after 130 matches with the Cats, which included the 2022 premiership win over the Swans (in which he was the sub).
The 33-year-old Rohan will need to consider his future after having surgery on a fractured skull suffered in the VFL finals. He played 204 matches but was just two short of 100 with Geelong after playing 106 for the Sydney Swans. He played in four grand finals for one flag.
Frost likely to stay a Hawk
Contracted defender Sam Frost is almost certain to remain at Hawthorn next season despite both St Kilda and grand finalists Sydney expressing interest in him.
Sam Frost is likely to remain a Hawk despite rival interest in him.Credit: Getty Images
The Saints and Swans inquired about Frost after fellow tall defenders Josh Battle (St Kilda) – an unrestricted free agent – and Tom Barrass (West Coast) respectively announced they were signing with, and requesting a trade to, the Hawks.
Any potential move to Sydney is particularly unlikely, given Frost’s preference to remain in Melbourne, according to a well-placed source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was a contract matter.
Frost and his fiancée, Laura, are preparing to welcome their first child.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is confident that Frost – who views himself as an unofficial leader at Waverley Park – will stay after a career-best season that should see him finish prominently in the Hawks’ club champion award next week.
Mitchell, Brett Ratten and defensive coach Kade Simpson told Frost in his exit meeting last week that he was still part of their 2025 plans despite Battle and Barrass coming in. Defenders Blake Hardwick and James Sicily can play at both ends of the ground, while rising star Josh Weddle is set to spend more time on a wing.
This masthead reported in July that Frost, who turned 31 last month, was on track to reach a games trigger that would earn him another year, which he subsequently did.
There is a possibility that the rival interest could prompt Hawthorn to add an extra year to Frost’s contract.
Frost played a career-most 24 matches this season before missing the Hawks’ semi-final loss to Port Adelaide after being diagnosed with bone stress in one of his feet.
The players still without a deal
Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Charlie Dixon, Travis Boak, Will Setterfield, Tim Membrey, Zak Jones and Jack Graham are among the AFL players yet to lock in their football plans for 2025.
Harry Perryman is still to make a call on whether to stay a Giant or continue his career at Port Adelaide, while Graham, Membrey, Joe Richards, James Peatling and Adam Tomlinson are also weighing up rival interest.
Dangerfield and Duncan will both be at the Cattery next season, but the former reportedly hopes to secure a two-year deal.
The below list does not include players who were delisted, have already requested a trade, or announced they will exercise their free agency rights. Melbourne’s Joel Smith, who is serving an anti-doping ban, is on the list, but will not be at the Demons next season.
There are several former first-round selections waiting for a new deal, including Ned McHenry, Reef McInnes, Sam Weideman, Conor Stone, Denver Grainger-Barras, Thomson Dow, Jacob Konstanty and Aaron Francis.
Every club’s out-of-contract players
Adelaide: Lachie Gollant, Will Hamill, Elliott Himmelberg, Ned McHenry, Patrick Parnell
Brisbane: Luke Beecken, Darcy Craven, Darragh Joyce, Kalin Lane, James Madden, Carter Michael, Jaxon Prior
Carlton: Jack Carroll, Matt Carroll, Sam Durdin, Matt Owies
Collingwood: Jack Bytel, Charlie Dean, Josh Eyre, Ned Long, Nathan Kreuger, Oleg Markov, Reef McInnes, Joe Richards, Lachie Sullivan
Essendon: Jayden Davey, Will Setterfield, Sam Weideman
Fremantle: Tom Emmett, Odin Jones, Max Knobel, Liam Reidy, Ethan Stanley, Patrick Voss
Geelong: Jed Bews, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Jake Kolodjashnij, Rhys Stanley
Gold Coast: Levi Casboult, Hewago Paul Oea
GWS Giants: Adam Kennedy, James Peatling, Harry Perryman, Conor Stone
Hawthorn: Josh Bennetts, Denver Grainger-Barras, Harry Morrison, Jack O’Sullivan, Ethan Phillips
Melbourne: Marty Hore, Joel Smith, Adam Tomlinson
North Melbourne: Blake Drury, Cooper Harvey, Charlie Lazzaro
Port Adelaide: Travis Boak, Charlie Dixon, Francis Evans, Kyle Marshall, Tom McCallum, Quinton Narkle, Tom Scully
Richmond: Mate Colina, Matt Coulthard, Noah Cumberland, Thomson Dow, Jack Graham, Kamdyn McIntosh
St Kilda: Jack Hayes, Olli Hotton, Zak Jones, Tim Membrey, Ben Paton
Sydney Swans: Harry Arnold, Jack Buller, Aaron Francis, Tom Hanily, Jacob Konstanty, Jaiden Magor, Lachie McAndrew, Caleb Mitchell, Cooper Vickery
West Coast: Coby Burgiel, Jai Culley, Luke Edwards, Josh Rotham, Alex Witherden
Western Bulldogs: Charlie Clarke, Riley Garcia, Jason Johannisen, Alex Keath
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