AFL trades: Follow all the deals, moves and whispers from day one of the 2021 trade period
Tristan Xerri, Jordon Sweet, Callum Coleman-Jones, Jon Ceglar and Peter Ladhams are all on the trade block. Who will go and who will stay?
Trade HQ
Don't miss out on the headlines from Trade HQ. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Tristan Xerri is the newest name on the ruck merry-go-round as the potential implications begin from Tiger Callum Coleman-Jones’ impending arrival at North Melbourne.
St Kilda is on the hunt for a younger ruckman to partner Rowan Marshall beyond next year, which looms as veteran big man Paddy Ryder’s last in the AFL.
It’s understood the Saints have honed in on contracted Kangaroo Xerri after also showing interest in Western Bulldog Jordon Sweet, who remains without a contract for 2022 and is linked to West Coast.
The Bulldogs have made Sweet an offer to stay, but he was overlooked in the finals for Lewis Young, who has since requested a trade to Carlton.
TRADE TRACKER: SEE EVERY CONFIRMED DEAL HERE
North Melbourne would have to be willing to trade Xerri, who isn’t out of contract until the end of next year.
He averaged 21.5 disposals, 15.5 contested possessions, 5.5 clearances and 26.2 hit-outs in six VFL games this year, but played only eight matches at senior level, all in the second half of the season.
Todd Goldstein remains the clear No. 1 ruck option at the Roos but turns 34 next year, when his three-year contract expires.
Tom Campbell kept 201cm Xerri out of the side up until Round 13 while serving as Goldstein’s deputy.
North has identified Coleman-Jones as Goldstein’s ruck successor and convinced him to cross to Arden St, with a trade set to be brokered with Richmond before Wednesday week.
But that would leave Xerri, 22, third in line in the ruck at the Kangaroos as he enters his fifth season at AFL level.
Several other clubs, including Hawthorn, the Bulldogs, Brisbane, Sydney and even Geelong, are also surveying the ruck market.
The Hawks told veteran Jon Ceglar, who is contracted for next season, to explore his options two years after the Lions tried to lure him from Waverley Park as a free agent.
Industry sources believe Hawthorn would be willing to pay a chunk of Ceglar’s salary to help organise a trade.
The Hawks are among the suitors for Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams, who Power officials made clear in his exit meeting was unlikely to leapfrog Scott Lycett to become the club’s No. 1 option.
Ceglar, who turns 31 in February, and Hawthorn captain Ben McEvoy, 32, are both out of contract next season, with the Hawks’ only other listed ruckman being five-gamer Ned Reeves.
Hawthorn inquired about Collingwood’s Max Lynch last year as well.
The Swans have renewed interest in Ladhams, a player they’ve asked about previously.
Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies has made it clear it wouldn’t give Ladhams away cheaply, even though his back-ended deal peaks next season.
A second-round pick looms as his potential trade value if he is to move.
Brisbane is keen on contracted Cats big man Darcy Fort and has shown interest in Mason Cox and Levi Casboult – given Eric Hipwood’s long-term knee injury – while Ceglar could come into the Lions’ calculations again.
The Bulldogs and Geelong are other potential landing points for Ceglar.
SUNS PUT PIES ON CUSP OF TRIPLE TREAT
Collingwood has spared itself from the doomsday scenario of going into draft deficit by matching a bid on boom father-son prospect Nick Daicos.
In the first deal struck in this year’s trade period, the Magpies sent future second-, third- and fourth-round selections to Gold Coast for picks 22, 46, 58, 79 and a future fourth-rounder.
The trade delivers Collingwood 1346 draft points to add to its tally to match a bid for Daicos – which could come as high as No. 1 – but also provides flexibility to negotiate deals for Patrick Lipinski and Nathan Kreuger.
North Melbourne is expected to pick South Adelaide midfielder-forward Jason Horne-Francis first overall, but if it bids on Daicos then the Pies would have to muster 2400 draft points to get him.
Monday’s pick swap with the Suns now swells Collingwood’s draft hand to a points equivalent of almost 3000 points, given it already had selections 36, 41, 43 and 48.
Magpies head of football Graham Wright said the deal gave them “scope to pursue a range of possibilities”.
“We have happily been able to make a commitment to Nick Daicos and we are in discussions to acquire a few others,” Wright said.
“More broadly, the deal enables us to continue to build a stockpile of young talent.
“We mined the draft last year to bring six of the first 44 players into our program.
“Close to half of our list are in the first-to-third-year phases of their careers and today’s agreement with the Suns will allow us to keep pursuing our strategy.”
Collingwood was able to go into points deficit to draft Daicos, but that would have resulted in its first choice next year sliding down the order to compensate.
Gold Coast has limited list spots available, so the later picks club officials offloaded were worth little internally.
The Suns still have selections three and 19, the latter of which could be used in a separate deal.
They hope to trade Darcy MacPherson and Will Brodie to open up list places and save salary cap space, with North Melbourne and Hawthorn two clubs interested in a salary dump-type deal.
Daicos loading â³
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 4, 2021
Pick swap confirmed. pic.twitter.com/bSdeX7Fl8S
EARLY ROADBLOCKS IN CLARK, CCJ DEALS
North Melbourne is adamant Richmond will have to accept pick 38 for Callum Coleman-Jones or nothing as a trade on the ruck-forward hit a major stumbling block on the first day of trade period.
The Roos have been steadfast they will not offer up their pick 20 for a player who was drafted four years ago with that same pick — 20 — in the 2017 national draft.
The Tigers early threat will be to retain Coleman-Jones if a deal cannot be struck but the Roos capacity to take him into the pre-season draft makes that a challenging exercise.
North Melbourne is prepared to argue in good faith and not use the pre-season draft as leverage but simply believes ruckmen are not traded often for top-20 picks.
Richmond’s own premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis was acquired for pick 46 in a trade coup, while Jarrod Witts and Braydon Preuss were all secured for picks later than 30.
The Roos next pick after 20 is 38, but Richmond will want a selection closer to 20 to orchestrate a trade for Coleman-Jones.
Hopes the trade that would also see Robbie Tarrant get to Punt Road might proceed smoothly have evaporated.
Tarrant is a free agent but if he is included in the Coleman-Jones deal he does not officially arrive as a free agent, which would have diluted the compensation for Mabior Chol.
At some stage the Tigers might have to relent and accept that No. 38 pick rather than lose Coleman-Jones for nothing.
Richmond has no plans to bolster its midfield with a senior player from a rival side given cap constraints but has its eye on the Western Bulldogs’ No. 17 selection.
The Tigers already have picks 7 and 15 and with selections 26, 28, 38, 42, 47 plus the Coleman-Jones selection could trade up for a third top-20 selection.
Tarrant is set to be the club’s big-name addition as it improves its draft hand and continues to blood kids including Riley Collier-Dawkins, Thompson Dow, Will Martyn and Maurice Rioli Jr.
Even if the Tigers were forced to accept pick 38 for Coleman-Jones their net gain from trade period would be 38, 39 (the Chol compensation) and Robbie Tarrant for Chol and Coleman-Jones.
The Roos believe Coleman-Jones can become a bone fide ruck-forward who allows Todd Goldstein to play as a forward at times and also help Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar as a marking target.
While he has played only nine games in his four years he would add valuable contested marking to the forward line.
North Melbourne is a certainty to select Jason Horne-Francis as the No. 1 overall selection and given his calibre might decide against bidding for Collingwood’s Nick Daicos to ensure the Pies match a bid.
Horne-Francis is keen to be the No. 1 overall pick and will play immediately as a star midfielder who can push forward, so he would easily handle the pressure of the no. 1 mantle.
CATS ASK FOR PICK 8 FOR JORDAN CLARK
Geelong’s ambit claim requesting Fremantle’s pick 8 for Jordan Clark has been rebuffed as the Cats and Dockers continue constructive talks on the contracted wingman’s future.
Geelong is well within its rights to ask for significant compensation for a player taken at pick 15 given he remains contracted to the Cats until the end of 2022.
Fremantle rejected that draft deal and instead offered their pick 27, which in turn the Cats made clear was insufficient.
But with so long left in the 2021 trade period there is optimism a deal will get done that will satisfy all parties.
The Dockers could hand over pick 27 and then sweeten the deal via a pick swap that would see the clubs exchange second or third-round picks next year.
Despite weekend reports, Fremantle’s Darcy Tucker will not be part of the trade with the Cats keen to strengthen their draft hand instead of secure players.
Fremantle has only picks 8 and 27 but could yet bring in other picks given uncertainty about players including Rory Lobb.
The Herald Sun reported this year Lobb was investigating whether he might move to the eastern seaboard, with Gold Coast at one stage keen.
He told the Dockers in his exit interview he was happy to stay, but speculation persists a club might eventually take the plunge despite a deal with two years and $700,000 per season remaining.
A club could sign him on a three or four-year deal and minimise its per-season spend on Lobb by offering him more security.
Geelong has already shown in its hard-line stance retaining Tim Kelly for an extra season it is prepared to hold players to their contracts.
But with nine days remaining in the trade period there is enough common ground to broker a deal.
ROOS COULD WIN FROM SUNS SALARY DUMP
North Melbourne will not improve upon on a two-year deal for Darcy McPherson that could see the Roos secure Gold Coast’s pick 19 and absorb his $400,000 salary next year.
The unique trade would see the Suns hand over the cherished pick to help clear salary cap space but also receive a North Melbourne future second-rounder in what amounts to a salary cap dump for the Suns.
McPherson is happy to stay at the Suns and honour his one-year deal, and would only move to North Melbourne if he was handed a three-season contract.
The Roos are keen to be a part of the deal given they believe 23-year-old McPherson could fit into their forward line as a clever pressuring forward.
But his demand for a three-year deal could scuttle the deal and see him playing out the last year of his contract at Gold Coast in 2022.
If the Suns did not play him next year his career could be over at only 24 years of age.
So McPherson will have to make the difficult decision about whether to only accept a two-year deal at the Roos but reignite his career.
In 2019 McPherson had 411 possessions and kicked 12 goals for the Suns but had played only 23 games for 4.6 in the past two seasons.
The Suns are determined to clear cap space as they attempt to re-sign players including Ben King and Jack Lukosius over summer.
If Gold Coast was handed a future second-rounder by North Melbourne and the Roos again battled next season, the Suns might secure a pick in the early 20s next year.
DOGS SWING MAN HEADING TO CARLTON
Western Bulldogs finals ruckman Lewis Young has requested a trade to Carlton, where the versatile swing man will hope to settle into a permanent role.
Young will find his way to the Blues pending a medical after knocking back a two-year deal from the Dogs.
The Herald Sun reported last month Young was being scouted by rival clubs after limited chances at the Dogs this year.
He broke back into the side in Round 22 and played two finals against Essendon and Brisbane but fell out of the side when Stef Martin was passed fit for the preliminary final.
Carlton can play him as a third defender with Caleb Marchbank a talented interceptor but often injured over recent seasons.
The Blues would not have to part with a high pick to secure Young, with the 22-year-old taken with the No. 49 pick in the 2016 national draft.
The Dogs will lose Patrick Lipinski to Collingwood on a three-year deal and have offered Mitch Wallis a one-year contract.
The Dogs vice-captain will consider that deal and given tight list spots and a lack of salary cap space at rival clubs might struggle to find an alternate suitor.
HAWKS, POWER RUCKMEN UP FOR GRABS
Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams has drawn interest from clubs including the Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Sydney and Hawthorn as the Power puts a high price on its contracted ruck-forward.
But as the Hawks assess the 23-year-old they would need to lose 30-year-old Jon Ceglar before they ramped up their interest in the Power key-position player.
Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies said last week it would take something “significant” for the Power to lose a player contracted for 2022.
Whether Ladhams can find a new home could impact whether Port Adelaide makes a move for GWS’ Jeremy Finlayson this trade period.
Finlayson, 25, has approached the Power about a potential move in the wake of him and his partner – who is from SA – having their first child.
The Power are yet to decide whether they will pursue Finlayson, who is still contracted at the Giants.
But if Ladhams does find a new club, and it is understood the Power will not actively push him, then there is a view that Finlayson could play a similar role for Port.
He kicked 44 goals in the GWS’ run to the grand final in 2019 and can ruck as well.
Port had told Ladhams it views Scott Lycett as its No. 1 ruck right now.
The Power is also excited about youngster Sam Hayes, who won their SANFL best and fairest last week.
Ceglar has been told by Hawthorn he might have to consider his options as the Hawks seek to give more ruck time to younger players including Ned Reeves.
The Western Bulldogs would be a perfect landing spot for Ceglar given he would bridge the gap between Tim English and Stef Martin, who will play next year as a 35-year-old.
Hawthorn football director Richie Vandenberg told the Herald Sun on Monday the club would look at all opportunities including trading players to improve their draft hand.
Ceglar would not be in the club’s next premiership window if he stayed at the club, so it would be smart business to move him out for a younger ruckman or picks.
Ladhams is keen to get to a club that could see him as a first ruckman after being told he could explore his options at his exit meeting.
But clubs like Brisbane and St Kilda seeking cut-price ruck backups would be priced out of the market for Ladhams, who is in the last year of a three-season back-ended deal next year.
Similarly, trading him to Geelong would make less sense given they have re-signed Rhys Stanley on a two-year deal and have Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, Esava Ratugolea and Gary Rohan playing as key talls.
EXPERIENCED SAINT OFF THE MARKET
Dual St Kilda club champion Seb Ross has turned his back on free agency to extend his Saints career by a further two years.
As an unrestricted free agent, the 28-year-old midfielder could have walked to another club, but this deal paves the way for him to be a one-club player.
The delay in Ross recommitting created some doubt about his future at a time Jack Billings inked a four-year contract and Luke Dunstan parted ways with the club.
Ross has finished inside the top 10 in St Kilda’s best-and-fairest award for six-straight seasons, including placing seventh this year and top two between 2017 and 2019.
Ross has appeared 160 times for the Saints since being the No. 25 pick in the 2011 draft.
St Kilda list manager James Gallagher was pleased to retain Ross as the Saints bid to return to the finals next season.
“A lot of Seb’s work goes unnoticed externally, but inside the four walls we recognise just how important he is to our side on a number of fronts,” Gallagher said.
“Seb is an honest and genuine guy, who has been a very good player for a number of years.
“More recently, his versatility and willingness to play multiple roles for the team has become a really important aspect of his football.
“He’s played a prominent role in developing the likes of Ryan Byrnes and Jack Bytel during the past few seasons, and we have full faith he’ll continue to do that for many other young Saints.”
Paul Hunter, Darragh Joyce, Dean Kent and Jack Lonie are the remaining St Kilda players without a 2022 deal, while the Saints have told Ben Long he can explore his options.
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL trades: Follow all the deals, moves and whispers from day one of the 2021 trade period
Free trade tracker: Every player linked with your club
Trade requests, the latest rumours and every player linked with your club. Stay across every big AFL trade story and see who could be on the move in our Trade Tracker.
Roos set to swoop on veteran Eagle, but what gets deal done?
Alastair Clarkson has pledged not to “sell our soul” to acquire veterans at the Kangaroos, as his club moves closer to securing an Eagles veteran to play up forward next to Nick Larkey.