Moneyball AFL trade news: Pies set to cash in on shaking salary cap shackles, Hawks chase new deals
Collingwood could have access to more than $4m to chase top-tier free agents to start reshaping the oldest list in the AFL over the next few seasons – and 2025 could be the year.
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Collingwood could have access to more than $4m in available funds to chase elite free agency talent across the next two to three years after going a long way to releasing itself from the shackles of the 2021 salary cap fire sale.
While the Magpies still contribute to Adam Treloar and Brodie Grundy’s salaries, Moneyball understands the reigning premiers have been diligent in better balancing the books.
They are now looking at high-end talent acquisitions as part of their short-to-medium term list management strategy.
But it will almost certainly come through future free agency plays rather than trades, with Collingwood keen to get back into the first round draft windows as soon as possible.
The Magpies have already given this year’s first-round pick to Fremantle as part of the deal to get Lachie Schultz to the club.
They are keen to start reshaping what is the oldest list in the AFL with elite young talent in the future.
Collingwood has nine players who are over 30 and anticipate a number of those players moving on in the next few years.
Veteran Steele Sidebottom is keen to play on next year if the Magpies want him, saying he still feels as if he can contribute to the club’s plans going forward.
That would free up considerable funds to launch the club into the ‘top end’ free agency market as early as this season, but will likely be more active next year when the likes of West Coast’s Oscar Allen, Melbourne’s Harrison Petty, GWS’s Sam Taylor and North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke could be available.
A power key forward would be the most sought-after target, but a big-bodied midfielder and a next-generation defender are also part of the plans.
And Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly will almost certainly play a beefed up role in the chase for future talent.
The Magpies also want to access the draft in the coming years by giving respected recruiting boss Derek Hine the chance to access the best talent.
Collingwood’s footy boss Graham Wright is on extended leave travelling overseas at the moment. He is scheduled to return to the Magpies in September, but some doubt remains whether he will resume his role.
The AFL, and other suitors, are also looking at the experienced footy administrator.
Brendon Bolton has taken up some of Wright’s roles, while Justin Leppitsch is helping with strategy and list management.
The Pies have effectively given six first round picks to trade in or access players since the 2015 national draft.
They also lost one of their prized first-round picks – Ollie Henry – to Geelong when the forward sought a trade against the club’s wishes at the end of 2022.
TOUGH NUT HAWK STILL CONSIDERING FUTURE
Hawthorn’s Irish free agent Conor Nash has finally been awarded Australian permanent residency as he delays contract talks until the midpoint of the season.
But while Nash says he is duty bound to use his free agency status to consider his future he has declared he is keen to remain at Hawthorn.
Nash and the revamped Hawthorn midfielder finished last season as the No. 1 centre bounce team in football and after a slow start to the season finally found some form against Collingwood.
He acknowledges his form has not yet replicated his brilliant 2023, where he averaged 4.7 clearances and 4.8 tackles to go with 20 possessions a game.
Nash said given his permanent residency after eight years in Australia “the road to citizenship is now alive”.
It gives him more clarity about a long-term deal at Hawthorn – if his manager Peter Lenton is happy with their offer.
“It is well documented I have had visa issues in the past, great to get that done. It’s a heavy weight off my shoulders, from buying houses to uni fees and Medicare, all those things you take for granted. It’s been a long battle, but this is my eighth season, I have a great lawyer and the club has been very supportive. It’s been great to get that done and move on,” he told this masthead.
If Nash can put together a season similar to his 2023 output he can expect a huge pay rise _ or field offers from rivals who do not have to give up a draft pick for a 197cm clearance beast.
“Myself and the club said we would wait until the middle of the season and assess,” he said.
“That is the only way to go about it, and my manager Pet Lenton has been working through that. That is pretty much it, get to the halfway mark of the season. I am very happy with where I am at with the club and this group and its direction and the coaching staff around. There are some phenomenal people at Hawthorn.
“That is why they bought in (free agency), for the benefit of the players and that’s what your manager is paid to do. You just work through it, that’s why you wait until half way through the season. But I want to reiterate that I am really happy with the club and where I am at.”
WEITERING NEXT IN LINE FOR BIG BLUES DEAL
Carlton has done most of the heavy lifting in contracting its bevy of superstars, with reigning dual best and fairest winner Jacob Weitering the next key player in the queue.
Weitering, 26, has a deal that runs through to the end of 2025, and while discussions haven’t kicked off yet, it is understood the Blues and the star defender’s management are open to getting it done well ahead of time.
The Blues already have key forwards Charlie Curnow (2029) and Harry McKay (2030), skipper Patrick Cripps (2027) and midfielder Sam Walsh (2026) locked away, with Weitering set to push himself into $1m-plus bracket, given his form and his importance in defence.
All of those five players would be in the top bracket of AFL salaries going forward, which can sometimes skew a club’s salary into a lopsided danger zone.
But Carlton’s list management team, headed by Nick Austin, have balanced the top end deals with some ‘Bargain Basement Blues’ which haven’t cost much in terms of acquisition or salaries.
Almost half of the club’s 23 in last week’s thrilling win over Fremantle – Nic Newman, Blake Acres, Matt Cottrell, Elijah Hollands, Lachie Fogarty, George Hewett, Jordan Boyd, Jack Carroll, Matt Owies and Orazio Fantasia – didn’t cost the Blues a great deal in terms of bringing them through the door.
WHERE DOES YEO SIT IN EAGLES’ REBUILD?
Could Elliot Yeo become part of the AFL’s new list management innovation as a “sign-and-trade player” who accepts a new deal then immediately becomes trade bait.
Yeo has started the season on fire after four injury-prone seasons but is keen to sign a two-year deal as negotiations continue with new Eagles list boss Matt Clarke.
Rival list bosses have been flummoxed by the Eagles’ inability to trade off senior players to secure more selections early in drafts.
But Clarke could be more aggressive in trying to trade players not in the club’s window to speed the rebuild given West Coast has finally accepted the need for a top-to-bottom rebuild.
Yeo is keen to stay and as the Eagles pushed Sydney in Gather Round was in centre square bounces helping youngsters Reuben Ginbey and Harley Reid.
So signing him is smart business even if he is dangled in trades because the Eagles could keep him or get more for him in a trade than as free agency compensation.
In American sport the sign-and-trade deal for free agents is commonplace because it maximises the compensation for a departing player, who can pick his new club of choice.
HAWKS SWINGMAN LOOKS FOR NEW DEAL
Hawthorn is in ongoing discussions with Blake Hardwick about a deal beyond this season for the defender-turned-forward who almost lifted the Hawks over the line against the Magpies.
Hardwick’s move from defence into attack was the catalyst for the Hawks’ fightback from 38 points down at half time with his four second-half goals helping to swing the match.
He comes out of contract at the end of this season, as does injury-plagued Changkuoth Jiath and midfielder Connor Nash, with the Hawks having some preliminary discussions with all three of them.
A new deal for Jiath will be parked for the moment as he is dealing with his injury issues, but Hardwick’s importance to the side in whatever role Sam Mitchell wants him to play has never been greater.
He trained all summer in a forward’s role but had to go back early in the season due to a host of key injuries before Mitchell pulled the switch at half-time last week.
BELOVED BOMBER SEEKS PAY-RISE
Matt Guelfi is preparing for a return on Anzac Day at the latest as he attempts to bolster his case for a pay rise as an out-of-contract Bomber.
Guelfi was one of the Bombers cited as part of Essendon’s injury crisis given the club lost five players to soft-tissue injuries including the clever small forward, Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid, Darcy Parish and Archie Perkins.
As he pushed hard to return from a round 2 calf issue he suffered a setback last week, but is hopeful it only pushed him back a week or two.
He kicked two goals playing in a defensive role against James Sicily and since he has been injured St Kilda has taken 20 intercept marks against Essendon and Port Adelaide 18.
He isn’t the entire solution but as a goal-kicking small forward who can play that role he becomes valuable to any team.
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