English looks likely to stay at the Kennel but it means a fellow Dog could be on the hunt for a new home
A Tiger buying property out west might not mean as much as first thought, the Bull puts contract talks on hold, Levi should be joining Will and more as JON RALPH provides the latest AFL trade update.
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Tim English’s encouraging talks on a new long-term contract mean Rory Lobb seems certain to be at a fourth club next season.
English’s camp is in weekly talks with Dogs list boss Sam Power and while the finances are still some way apart it would be a shock if discussions ran aground.
It means the Dogs do not need Lobb as a highly paid VFL back-up for Sam Darcy and English, set to net a contract of up to seven years at more than $1 million a season.
Lobb has two more seasons on a deal of around $550,000 remaining after this season and the Dogs will need to find money for English and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s contract.
Lobb and his fiance Lexi Mary have put up a series of TikToks making fun of his presence in the VFL and have been counselled by people close to them they are not being taken with the sense of humour they intend.
So he will straighten up his TikTok act and is reported by the Dogs to be genuinely working his tail off to get back into the AFL side with good VFL form and strong training work ethic.
But with English set to stay, Lobb is aware he is surplus to requirements in the long term at Whitten Oval.
So if he is traded, the Dogs might be happy to get his $1.1 million salary commitment off the books and would be urged to trade him to the club of his choice without wanting a high pick in return.
Don’t read too much into the property
Richmond fans who despaired when it was revealed Liam Baker had bought a $2.2 million house in Perth over summer should realise he is becoming a real estate mogul.
As the Tigers prepare to take on one of his main suitors in West Coast this weekend, it can be revealed it is actually Baker’s second property purchase in the state.
He bought another investment property in WA soon after signing a $1.2 million two-year deal in 2022.
So while he has been open about weighing up his opportunities, the property buy-up doesn’t mean he’s out the door at Richmond.
Baker returns for the Tigers from suspension against the Eagles, who have just hired recruiter Matt Clarke as their list boss.
But to be honest the Dockers make more sense given they have three first-rounders and the Eagles will be desperate to continue their draft-led recovery.
Injury ridden defender needs to prove fitness
Geelong is open to a new long-term deal with free agency defender Jack Henry but is keen to see him get through a season without injury.
Henry has had issues with both feet since his runner-up finish in the 2021 best-and-fairest, playing only 31 games across the past two seasons.
As an unrestricted free agent he could in theory join any club he wished but the loyal Geelong defender is happy at a club that saw brother Ollie arrive two years ago.
The Cats are open to handing him the security he craves but are keen for him to get through more of the season before talks intensify.
He has been told after twin foot surgeries _ one on each foot _ he should have no more issues with the area.
Brother Ollie is in the second season of a three-year deal but will wait until later in the year to consider an extension past 2025.
Son of a gun set to join brother
All signs point to Brisbane securing No.1 draft pick contender Levi Ashcroft despite him waiting until later in the year to commit to the club.
Brother Will last week joined training for the first time since his ACL tear and is on track for a return about round 10.
The Lions are confident there is no reason Levi won’t want to play alongside Will after recently joining the Hemisphere stable alongside his brother.
Sister Lucy, still some years from draft eligibility, is considered a future AFLW star who also excels in netball and athletics while also taking part in Lions academy programs.
Brisbane has its cap in excellent position and has space for both of its free agents in Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry.
Rivals will offer McCluggage deals of up to $1.3 million but he wants to stay so it would take a huge breakdown in talks for him to leave.
Bull parks talks
Cam Zurhaar is intent on parking his contract talks until later in the season as he sputters through another slowish start to the season.
Zurhaar will miss this week’s clash with calf soreness and has had to cope with playing in a North Melbourne team that at times barely supplies its forward line with entries.
Brisbane totally dominated the Roos at Norwood Oval last week, with Zurhaar kicking a single goal to bring hisna tally to four from as many games.
He is intent on putting together a strong block of games to prove his worth to the Roos after suggesting pre-season he wanted an indication this team could play finals.
The Roos had only 31 inside 50s to the Lions’ 71 last week, which makes it difficult to put up the kind of numbers that show he deserves a vast pay rise.
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