AFL Trade Period: More than 20 deals still in play as deadline day draws closer
There are more than 20 players still waiting to have their AFL futures decided as the clock ticks toward the trade period deadline. See full verdicts on the likely moves here.
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With the deadline of trade period drawing closer, a host of the best players on the market still find themselves in limbo as they await news on their moves.
Will Dan Houston make it back to Victoria? How does Tom Barrass get to Hawthorn? Will Bailey Smith be forced into the national draft?
It promises to be a frantic finish to the AFL’s exchange period as clubs try to tie up deals and put themselves in a prime position to attack the best draft in years.
Tim Michell assesses the current state of play.
FOLLOW LIVE: ALL THE KEY MOVES FROM DAY NINE
DAN HOUSTON
Dual All-Australian defender wants to get Collingwood, although he has not publicly declared a preferred club after asking to be traded to Victoria. Carlton and North Melbourne waiting in the wings. A three-club trade involving Gold Coast, Collingwood and Port Adelaide fell over late on Tuesday.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
TOM BARRASS
West Coast key defender has requested a trade to Hawthorn. The Hawks threw a curveball when they traded pick 14 to Carlton for a future first and second-round pick. That pick is set to be dealt to the Eagles in a swap for pick three.
VERDICT: LIKELY
WADE DERKSEN
The GWS swingman – who is yet to make his AFL debut – wants to be traded to Melbourne. The Giants have been adamant he won’t be traded.
VERDICT: UNLIKELY
JAKE STRINGER
Hard to see how Stringer could return to Essendon. The Bombers will likely only net one, or two, draft picks in the 50s for their mercurial goalkicker (GWS has picks 53 and 56). Stringer has spent the trade period weighing up the logistics of a move to New South Wales and meeting with key Giants personnel.
VERDICT: LIKELY
CLAYTON OLIVER
Geelong and the Demons were miles apart when the prospect of Oliver being traded to the Cattery was floated. The star Demons on-baller has been pushing for the move to happen but Melbourne has backflipped and has no interest in trading him. Geelong’s pick 17 is tied up in the Bailey Smith deal and a future first-round pick won’t twist Melbourne’s arm.
VERDICT: UNLIKELY
DANIEL RIOLI
Initial reports suggested Richmond wanted picks 6 and 13 for their best-and-fairest winner. The Tigers won’t acquire 13, but 6 and 23 would still be a great result. Gold Coast has been happy to trade pick 6 for Rioli and is seemingly content to part with 23 knowing it would be swallowed up by a bid on academy star Leo Lombard anyway.
VERDICT: LIKELY
DYLAN SHIEL
Contracted at Essendon but was linked with a move to his former club GWS Giants after the exits of Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and Nick Haynes. Interest seems to have cooled with the Bombers expecting him to stay and the Giants focused on his teammate Jake Stringer.
VERDICT: UNLIKELY
LUKE PARKER
North Melbourne and the Swans were about 40 draft picks apart when they started negotiations over the 293-game veteran. Sydney reportedly wanted North’s pick 25 and the Roos offered 62. A compromise of pick 44 seems likely after the Swans bid farewell to one of their greats.
VERDICT: LIKELY
IVAN SOLDO
The Port Adelaide ruckman had a medical at St Kilda, but the Saints have reportedly since opted against pursuing a trade for Soldo. He has two years left on his Power contract and might be forced to return to South Australia with his tail between his legs.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
JACK MACRAE
The Bulldogs and St Kilda only started meaningful conversations over Macrae’s future midway through the trade period. Macrae is contracted for a further three seasons on big money, so the Saints don’t want to part with anything more than pick 47. The Dogs would like 27, which has led to an impasse.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
CALEB DANIEL
The 28-year-old has not spoken publicly during the trade period about North Melbourne’s interest. The Roos’ latest offer involved pick 25 as they try to prise Daniel out of Whitten Oval. Daniel has another two years on his Bulldogs contract and they are happy for him to stay despite a season stuck on the fringes of the senior team.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
BAILEY SMITH
It just seems a matter of when Smith will get his wish to join Geelong. The Cats’ pick 17 isn’t enough to satisfy the Bulldogs, but they run the risk of Geelong sending Smith to the national or pre-season draft if they don’t accept it. The Dogs are trying to squeeze everything possible out of the deal but will likely have to accept 17 – even if they think it’s undoers.
VERDICT: LIKELY
MATT KENNEDY
Big-bodied midfielder was told he could explore his options by Carlton, but has had little interest from rivals. Popular clubman and contracted. All signs point to him staying at Princes Park.
VERDICT: UNLIKELY
LEWIS YOUNG
Another Blue who was told he could assess his options but has received only lukewarm interest. Only likely to move if a club is desperate for key defensive cover come the final day of the trade period.
VERDICT: UNLIKELY
SHAI BOLTON
Bolton made his desire to return to his home state of Western Australia known late in the season after kicking 34 goals in 22 games for Richmond in 2024. The Tigers are demanding a trade bounty for one of their biggest stars, so Fremantle (which holds three first-round picks) has been the only genuine suitor. The Tigers have wanted picks 10 and 11 but will more likely get one of those and 18 from the Dockers.
VERDICT: LIKELY
JAMES PEATLING
The Crows and Giants haven’t been in any rush to make this happen despite a swap seemingly being agreed several days ago. The key part of the deal is set to Adelaide sending a future second-round pick to GWS for one of the breakout stars of the back half of 2024.
VERDICT: LIKELY
DEVEN ROBERTSON
Fringe midfielder told Brisbane he wanted to explore opportunities elsewhere after only playing two matches this year. Spurned interest from West Coast last year by signing a two-year extension with the Lions. Collingwood has been touted as a potential suitor as it tries to bolster its midfield depth.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
HARRY SHARP
The 21-year-old wingman has asked to be traded to Melbourne. The Demons have reportedly offered pick 49 which would help Brisbane obtain more draft points for father-son jet Levi Ashcroft and academy star Sam Marshall.
VERDICT: LIKELY
DENVER GRAINGER-BARRAS
Former No. 6 draft pick has toured Carlton’s facilities as the Blues weigh up whether to sign him as a delisted free agent. Won’t be traded though.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
JOHN NOBLE
The Magpie’s future has been intertwined with Dan Houston’s throughout the trade period. Collingwood has been hopeful Noble would be tied into a package where it would land pick 13 from Gold Coast. He looked signed, sealed and delivered to the Suns on Tuesday until Port Adelaide pulled the pin on a three-way trade. The deal is clouded, but should still get done.
VERDICT: LIKELY
JOE RICHARDS
Collingwood small forward broke through for nine games this year, kicking six goals. He has asked to be traded to Port Adelaide after receiving a three-year contract offer, but like Noble his future has been tied up in the messy negotiations over Dan Houston. The Magpies need him as a trade bargaining chip so he could be left waiting until deadline day to clinch a move.
VERDICT: LIKELY
JACK HAYES
The delisted Saint has toured Collingwood and could find a home as a delisted free agent after being cut by St Kilda.
VERDICT: IN LIMBO
Originally published as AFL Trade Period: More than 20 deals still in play as deadline day draws closer
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