By Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
Eight AFL clubs are preparing for finals, but the rest of the competition have moved into off-season mode.
The delistings and trade requests are already rolling in, while the player movement chatter will only increase from here ahead of next month’s exchange period. We have gone through each club to see what they might get up to in this year’s trade period, and who remains without a deal for 2025.
John Noble (left) wants to move clubs, Tom De Koning (centre) might secure a pre-emptive contract extension this off-season, and the intentions of Dan Houston remain unclear.Credit: Getty Images
Adelaide
Brodie Smith activated a trigger to play on in 2025, while the club is in discussions with Hugh Bond. Elliott Himmelberg, who was linked with a move to the Giants last year, is holding off, but Will Hamill, Ned McHenry, Patrick Parnell and Lachlan Gollant face a wait to see what happens during the trade period. The Crows have Alex Neal-Bullen and potentially Jack Lukosius coming in, and are also keen to retain defender Mark Keane as the Magpies circle. – Peter Ryan
Brisbane Lions
With a premiership being chased, most decisions will need to wait. After another outstanding season, Ryan Lester is likely to go around again. Darragh Joyce has won respect for his toughness in playing through adversity, while Jarryd Lyons has not retained his spot in a strong midfield. Darcy Craven and Luke Beecken should be given time as they were chosen as mid-season rookies. Deven Robertson is a player to watch during the trade period after just two matches so far in 2024. Carter Michael, Jaxon Prior, Kalin Lane and James Madden are also unsigned. – Peter Ryan
Carlton
Carlton will look to extend stars such as All-Australian defender Jacob Weitering and Tom De Koning before they come out of contract at the end of 2025. They want to retain Matt Owies, but have kept him waiting and there have been enquiries from other clubs. The Blues have shown interest in Dan Houston, but a deal looks unlikely. The club can’t persist with talented but injury-prone players, with David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank and Jack Martin too often sidelined. That trio sit alongside Jack Carroll, Sam Durdin, Matt Carroll, Dom Akuei and Alex Mirkov without deals for 2025. – Peter Ryan
Collingwood
Joe Richards is weighing up a three-year offer from Port Adelaide against the Magpies’ two-year contract, while a large bunch remain in limbo after the club decided to retain their veterans. All except Josh Eyre played AFL in 2024, showing their capacity as depth players, with Jack Bytel, Charlie Dean, Ned Long and Lachie Sullivan yet to re-sign. Reef McInnes has played as a deep forward but has potential to play other roles if a club took a punt on him, and is out of contract. John Noble has requested a trade to the Suns. – Peter Ryan
Bombers star Jake Stringer celebrates a goal.Credit: AFL Photos
Essendon
Jake Stringer is pushing for a two-year deal, but the Bombers won’t budge after missing finals again. Whether other clubs will genuinely chase him remains to be seen, although players capable of kicking 40 goals in a season are handy. Jayden Davey remains uncontracted, while the experienced, uncontracted trio of Todd Goldstein, Sam Weideman and Will Setterfield know to be patient as they are valued at the club. Four players were delisted, while Jake Kelly and Dyson Heppell retired. Dylan Shiel is contracted and will stay unless interest arises elsewhere. – Peter Ryan
Fremantle
Sam Sturt will lock in for two more seasons after a promising end to the year, while Matt Taberner remains out of contract, with the club waiting until the Peel Thunder finals campaign is over. Nathan O’Driscoll played well as the sub against the Giants late in the season and will attract interest elsewhere, while players such as Tom Emmett may be squeezed out with Shai Bolton’s pending arrival and Liam Baker still a chance to decide he wants to become a Docker. Other players without a deal are Ethan Hughes, Ethan Stanley, Josh Corbett, Max Knobel, Odin Jones, Sebit Kuek and Conrad Williams, with several of those seven on shaky ground. – Peter Ryan
Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and Liam Baker all look set to leave Richmond. The latter two are in Fremantle’s sights.Credit: AFL Photos
Geelong
The Cats started the year with a long list of key re-signings but have methodically worked their way through to the final baker’s dozen as they move into short-price favourite position to secure Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith in a trade. Jake Kolodjashnij is close to finalising a new deal, while fellow premiership players Mitch Duncan, Gary Rohan, Rhys Stanley, Brandan Parfitt and Jed Bews are also yet to lock in new deals. Among those also waiting are Emerson Jeka, James Willis, Oscar Murdoch, Ted Clohesy, Mitch Hardie and Phoenix Foster. They remain in the VFL finals. – Peter Ryan
Gold Coast
The Suns were expected to make more delistings before the end of the week, creating spots for the likely arrivals of Dan Rioli and John Noble. Jack Lukosius could depart, with Adelaide a suitor. However, the contracted Sun has not decided whether he wants to leave yet, while the Crows also asked about Malcolm Rosas jnr, but they are expected to focus elsewhere. Sean Lemmens has speed and broke into the team late, while Darcy Macpherson, Levi Casboult, Jack Mahony, Alex Sexton, Hewago Oea, Will Rowlands, James Tsitas, Oskar Faulkhead and Sandy Brock are likely to know more in the days to come. – Peter Ryan
Greater Western Sydney
The Giants are still waiting on decisions from in-demand free agents Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming, and uncontracted midfielder James Peatling before they are definitive about their plans for the trade period. Nick Haynes looks likely to join Carlton, while Peatling, who has jumped up the pecking order with a huge second half of the season, is in demand. Warriors Adam Kennedy, Lachie Keeffe and Callan Ward are used to waiting at this stage of their careers, while Stone is likely to remain at the Giants. Cooper Hamilton and Braydon Preuss have not forced their way into the team. The Giants have not ruled out making a play for Adelaide’s Elliott Himmelberg, but those decisions will be dependent on list spots being available. – Peter Ryan
Hawthorn
Contracted Eagle Tom Barrass has requested a trade to the Hawks, and fellow tall defender Josh Battle will also sign as an unrestricted free agent. Hawthorn have also expressed interest in Giants utility Harry Perryman – an unrestricted free agent – and out-of-contract Bulldogs on-baller Bailey Smith, although the latter is tipped to request a trade to Geelong. Chad Wingard announced his retirement on Monday, but Luke Breust and Jack Gunston want to play on. Denver Grainger-Barrass, Harry Morrison, Josh Bennetts, Jack O’Sullivan, Ethan Phillips, Cooper Stephens and Clay Tucker are also out of contract. – Marc McGowan
Melbourne
The Christian Petracca soap opera dominated headlines over the past month, but he has pledged his future to Melbourne. There are rumblings about Kysaiah Pickett being homesick, but he won’t be traded, while Alex Neal-Bullen has nominated Adelaide, after previously requesting a trade home to South Australia for family reasons. Unrestricted free agent Adam Tomlinson could also depart, possibly to help St Kilda offset the loss of Hawthorn-bound Josh Battle. The Dees already delisted Josh Schache and Kyah Farris-White, while Ben Brown joined Angus Brayshaw in retirement. Marty Hore, Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Oliver Sestan, Joel Smith and Will Verrall are looking for new deals. – Marc McGowan
North Melbourne
There are names linked to the Kangaroos every year, but what we do know is they are in the market for experience. Jack Viney is staying at Melbourne, North have not had any chats with West Coast about Jack Darling, and they are also not making a play for St Kilda’s Tim Membrey. Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines, Swan Luke Parker and Giant Callan Ward are other players Alastair Clarkson raised publicly as potential targets, but it remains to be seen if they can tempt any of that trio – or a similarly experienced peer. Blake Drury, Hamish Free, Cooper Harvey, Charlie Lazzaro, Finnbar Maley, Bigoa Nyuon, Tyler Sellers and Curtis Taylor are out of contract. – Marc McGowan
Port Adelaide
Dual All-Australian Dan Houston says he will fulfil the remaining four years of his contract despite flirting with a move back to Victoria, but Collingwood has joined Carlton and St Kilda in still being interested. This continues to be a situation to monitor, particularly once the Power’s season ends. GWS unrestricted free agents Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming have been linked, while Port have tabled a three-year offer to out-of-contract Magpies forward Joe Richards. Veterans Travis Boak and Charlie Dixon headline an out-of-contract group including Francis Evans, Kyle Marshall, Tom McCallum, Trent McKenzie, Quinton Narkle and Tom Scully. – Marc McGowan
Richmond
The Tigers have a fascinating off-season ahead, with Daniel Rioli, Liam Baker and Shai Bolton all requesting trades, and unrestricted free agent Jack Graham potentially leaving for West Coast. List boss Blair Hartley will hope to maximise the return in trades for Rioli, Baker and Bolton, to deliver a draft bonanza to use on a deep 2024 crop that enables them to regenerate. Other Richmond players without their future decided are Jacob Blight, Mate Colina, Matt Coulthard, Noah Cumberland, Thomson Dow, Kamdyn McIntosh and James Trezise. – Marc McGowan
St Kilda
The Saints are keen to shore up their defensive stocks, given Josh Battle’s decision to cross to Hawthorn, with Essendon’s Jayden Laverde and Melbourne’s Adam Tomlinson in consideration. Coach Ross Lyon wants to strengthen his on-ball brigade as well, but this masthead revealed last week that the Saints would not pursue contracted Bomber Dylan Shiel again. They are also keenly monitoring the Dan Houston situation. St Kilda have already delisted Seb Ross, Matt Allison, Riley Bonner, Tom Campbell and James Van Es, and are comfortable with Tim Membrey exploring his options as an unrestricted free agent. Cooper Sharman and Ryan Byrnes are set for new deals, while Jack Hayes, Max Heath, Olli Hotton, Dougal Howard, Zak Jones, Isaac Keeler, Angus McLennan, Ben Paton, Liam Stocker and Jimmy Webster round out the out-of-contract crew. – Marc McGowan
Sydney
This could be a much quieter trade period for the Swans than recent editions, barring a surprise late move. Former co-captain Luke Parker has had a challenging season for someone of his standing, but has settled into a forward-midfield role. Parker, who is originally from Melbourne, has another year on his contract and must decide whether he wants to be a one-club player or look for more certainty and greater opportunities elsewhere. Harry Arnold, Jack Buller, Harry Cunningham, Aaron Francis, Tom Hanily, Jacob Konstanty, Jaiden Magor, Lachie McAndrew, Caleb Mitchell and Cooper Vickery are unsigned. – Marc McGowan
Jake Waterman embraces West Coast teammate Tom Barrass, who has requested a trade to Hawthorn.Credit: AFL Photos
West Coast
Tom Barrass’ impending departure to Hawthorn could help the Eagles score Tiger Liam Baker, although West Coast won’t want that to effectively be a straight swap. Baker is yet to nominate the Eagles or Dockers but will be playing in WA next season, while Jack Graham could sign as an unrestricted free agent. There have been no discussions between West Coast and any club about the 2019 All-Australian, a well-placed source told this masthead. Darling could still emerge as a trade chip. Another Richmond star, Shai Bolton, also wants to get back out west, but is more likely to end up at Fremantle. Out-of-contract Blue Jack Martin is a name to watch. Jordyn Baker, Coby Burgiel, Jai Culley, Luke Edwards, Jamaine Jones, Josh Rotham, Zane Trew, Alex Witherden and Coen Livingstone need new deals. – Marc McGowan
Western Bulldogs
Injured midfielder Bailey Smith’s time at the club appears certain to end, with the industry expecting him to request a trade to Geelong. There is also interest in what All-Australian duo Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel do after falling out of favour at times this year. Luke Beveridge now sees Rory Lobb primarily as a key defender, so it remains to be seen whether he is content with that and chooses to remain at the kennel. The Bulldogs missed out on Tom Barrass, and may ask about Adam Tomlinson as a cheaper option, but could also just re-sign Alex Keath. Dominic Bedendo, Charlie Clarke, Taylor Duryea, Riley Garcia, Jason Johannisen, Buku Khamis, Lachie McNeil and Kelsey Rypstra are without deals for 2025. – Marc McGowan
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