Moneyball AFL trades: All the latest news and whispers on potential 2022 player movement

Melbourne is set to demand a high price in return for WA-bound ruckman Luke Jackson — is another deal the key to unlocking the young ruckman’s move home?

Could Fremantle trading Rory Lobb to the Western Bulldogs for pick 29 unlock the Luke Jackson deal?

That is what he will be hoping as he remains in Melbourne awaiting movement on a trade the Dockers have said won’t happen.

Melbourne says it wants two first-rounders and a second-rounder or two picks within 10 (including one within the first seven picks) for Jackson.

But if the Dockers can’t find those early top-10 picks they could trade their first-rounder, future first-rounder and secure 29 from the Dogs for Lobb.

That deal will go down to the wire but it would also allow the Dockers to retain other picks to offer up to the Suns for Jeremy Sharp, who they are keen to acquire.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin made clear on RSN Radio on Wednesday the Demons will play hard ball on Jackson.

“Luke could be a generational type player. He is three years into a career and he’s going to be an unbelievable player, whichever club he goes to.

“If he was in the draft pick this year what pick would he get? You talk about what he is worth and then we have to maximise the talent and try to find the next Luke Jackson in the draft.”

Could Rory Lobb’s departure to the Bulldogs unlock the Luke Jackson deal for the Dockers? Picture: Getty Images

Jack Gunston could still make a move to Brisbane. Picture: Getty Images

WILL HAWKS REVIEW CHANGE KANGAROOS RECRUITS’ CALLS?

The cloud hanging over the head of North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson will not dissuade players including Griffin Logue from progressing with their trade requests to get to Arden Street.

Clarkson will not start at the Kangaroos until after the AFL has concluded its investigation into reported allegations about Hawthorn’s treatment of First Nations players.

The investigation could take up to two months, so players like Fremantle’s Logue and Darcy Tucker will already be at North Melbourne by then.

They will not hesitate to be traded to Arden Street.

The Roos have been handed future second and third-round picks by the AFL but must trade them as part of a special assistance package, with the Dockers likely to request those picks for Logue and Darcy Tucker.

Logue was a former pick eight who was offered a four-year deal of around $500,000 at the Dockers.

The Suns are believed to be willing to trade out pick 7 with Jack Bowes just to get his salary off their books. Picture: Getty Images

SUNS DON’T WANT MORE PICKS

Gold Coast’s salary dump plans, first revealed by the Herald Sun this month, include offering up pick seven for a club to take defender Jack Bowes if they absorb his lucrative two-year back-ended deal.

The Suns are seen to be well over the salary cap this year so must realign their total player payment position for future years.

But given Bowes is a classy half back and the Suns need defenders given their spate of ACL tears to Wil Powell, Conor Budarick and Lachie Weller, what gives?

Not only will Bowes give the Suns cap relief, he is desperate to play midfield at a new club.

Keeping him against his will and playing him in a position he isn’t interested in doesn’t really suit anyone.

So the Suns will secure Adelaide’s first pick for Izak Rankine and hand on another top-10 pick.

The Suns believe they have enough early picks and are in a different economy to everyone else _ securing top 10 picks also comes with the downside of having to pay those players up to $450,000 in their third and fourth-seasons regardless of their early progress.

LIONS SWEAT ON MCSTAY COMPO

Brisbane will spend the next week sweating on the potential free agency compensation for Collingwood-bound forward Dan McStay after he finally admitted he was leaving the club.

The Lions confirmed on Friday McStay had told the club at his exit interview on Wednesday he was exploring his free agency options.

Collingwood will lodge a five-year $3 million deal as early as next Friday’s free agency opening, with the Herald Sun reporting last month McStay was certain to join the Pies.

As an unrestricted free agent the Lions do not have the right to match his Collingwood deal.

Despite some fan anger of the deal the Pies believe they need another strong marking tall who can compete with down-the-line kicks and bring the ball to ground for their fleet of small forwards and crumbers.

While McStay’s wage is not in line with his output after a career-best season of 28 goals he is effectively being paid a 20 per cent premium because of his free agency status.

The Lions will hope he could hand them first-round free agency compensation but he is more likely to be worth second-round free agency following their No.33 draft pick.

It will mean they have picks 15, 33 and 34 to help draft father-sons Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, with Ashcroft the certain No.1 overall pick after being named the national carnival’s best player on Thursday.

Daniel McStay has told the Lions he wants to join Collingwood. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane is still confident key defender Darcy Gardiner will re-sign with the club as they close in on his signature.

As a restricted free agent the Lions could match a deal for Gardiner but believe they are making strong progress given his determination to stay at Brisbane.

They still have cap space for Hawthorn free agent Jack Gunston should he decide to move north, but could decide to trade a later pick for him to preserve the McStay compensation.

Collingwood is still hopeful exciting marking forward Ollie Henry will re-commit to the club in coming weeks despite moderate interest from Geelong.

He is pondering whether to move back to his home town to be closer to his tight-knit family, with brother Jack saying this week he would love to play alongside the Pies forward.

The Cats first priority is nailing a trade for Tanner Bruhn, the local boy who is keen to move on only two years after being drafted by GWS.

Originally published as Moneyball AFL trades: All the latest news and whispers on potential 2022 player movement