Moneyball: All the trade and contract news around the AFL
Gold Coast felt leading into the season that if Matt Rowell hadn’t committed by round 10 they would be in some strife — but has that changed? Plus details on the uncontracted Dons and more in Moneyball.
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It’s the ‘Darwin dance’ that has provided a ray of hope for Gold Coast as Brownlow Medal contender Matt Rowell heads towards the club’s round 14 bye yet to make a decision on his playing future.
When Ben King nailed a major in last week’s gritty win over the Hawks, the forward’s goal celebration song – Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis – reverberated around TIO Stadium.
Vision captured Suns chairman Bob East and chief executive Mark Evans rocking out the dance moves to the tune, which is hugely popular as an entry song for darts competitors at big tournaments.
Right behind them – and joining in – was Rowell’s mum, Louise.
This column understands that Rowell, and his closely-connected family, remain heavily invested in the Suns’ pursuit of success, which has buoyed those within the club who are awaiting his next step.
Gold Coast football boss Wayne Campbell said of Rowell on Fox Footy last Friday: “He’s very happy, he is playing really good footy. We feel like we have always needed to uphold our end of the bargain and win games of footy. He is flourishing as a player. Winning helps and we are comfortable and confident that he will be around long term.”
Rowell’s decision is not related to money in any way, with the star inside mid keen to win premierships in a stable environment.
The Suns are yet to actually table a deal to him given they are keen to know that he wants to stay before they consider a financial offer.
The Suns had felt leading into the season that if Rowell hadn’t committed by round 10 they would be in some strife given rivals would be coming even harder.
But the Suns are flying, Rowell seems happy and Gold Coast can only back in its progress under Damien Hardwick and believe that commitment will soon come on a deal that could be two seasons to free agency.
Meanwhile, the Suns are content with the lucrative two-game split for consecutive home games at TIO Stadium, their home away from home.
Gold Coast still has one more year to run on its current deal with the Northern Territory Major Events Company, but is understood to be keen on pushing that connection beyond 2026.
There are relatively high costs associated with the eight-day, two-game northern exposure, but it is believed the Suns reap as much as $900,000 annually out of the NT experience where the club has won its past eight games, including this year against premiership hopefuls Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn.
BOMBER CALLS
Essendon has almost a third of its playing group set to come out of contract at the end of the season and will use the second half of this year to assess their options beyond 2025.
Zach Reid, one of the Bombers’ biggest success stories this season, might have entered this season with a question mark on him, but he is certain to be rewarded for his elevation as one of the club’s most important defenders.
The one-time No.10 draft pick, who endured a horrid run with injury, has now doubled his career tally of games, playing nine this season.
Given the market for elite key defenders, Reid could sign a three-year deal to take him through to free agency or sign long-term beyond 2028 to lock in more guaranteed money.
Talks have been steady between Reid’s management and the Dons but are expected to ramp up in coming weeks.
Sam Draper was edging closer to a new deal – and will almost certainly stay in red and black – before his season ended with an Achilles tendon injury, while fellow ruckman Nick Bryan will win a new deal, despite suffering a torn ACL earlier this season.
Todd Goldstein turns 37 in July, but the veteran ruckman has indicated he is keen to play on next season as further insurance.
Dylan Shiel and Ben Hobbs are at different stages of their career, but their solid 2025 form will likely be rewarded with new deals, for different terms and tenures. Shiel, who will turn 33 before next season starts, could win a one-year extension.
Will Setterfield provides the big-bodied grunt work and a tagging option that the Bombers value, having played on a host of stars including Marcus Bontempelli last week.
If he can keep that form rolling, he could win a one-year contract, or perhaps more.
Jaxon Prior hasn’t missed a game yet and was already valued when signed over summer, with a new deal in the offing.
Forward Jye Menzie has been a little up and down (despite one outstanding game) and will be looking to lock in a more regular role, while rookie Saad El-Hawli looks to have done enough to stay in red and black.
Some of the out of contract Bombers who have been playing VFL football have had an interrupted passage into 2025 but will now get a five-game uninterrupted stretch of games to push their cash to roll into next year.
Jayden Laverde has played plenty of footy but needs to push hard in the second half of the season to head into 2026.
Alwyn Davey has had some injury issues which have left him without a senior game so far in 2025 but he is working back to form in the VFL, Vigo Visentini is showing some good signs in the ruck in the VFL with five games this season as he awaits a senior debut, while Luamon Lual will need to find his best footy after not yet playing a senior game in two seasons.
WILL PHILLIPS LEAVE?
Out-of-favour North Melbourne midfielder Will Phillips is being monitored by West Coast as the Eagles plan to continue an overhaul of their on-ball brigade next season.
The former No.3 pick is among several midfielders from rival clubs who the Eagles are keeping tabs on after he signed a one-year deal to remain with the Kangaroos in September.
Phillips played the first three games of the season, including in the Roos’ emphatic win over Melbourne, but has only featured once more at senior level and has not been picked when George Wardlaw has been available.
It is understood the 22-year-old still wants to force his way into North Melbourne’s first-choice midfield, but would consider a move to further his career.
North Melbourne teammate Tom Powell said he was not aware of the interest in Phillips but wanted his fellow 2020 draftee to stay at Arden Street beyond this season.
“Will is such a good player. It’s obviously hard at the moment for him, not playing (against Richmond), but we know what he brings when he’s in the side,” Powell said on Sunday.
“He’s such a hard nut – he puts his head over the ball better than anyone.
“He’s so solid defensively as a midfielder, and I’ve got no doubt he’ll work his way back into the team. I bloody hope he stays.”
The signing of Luke Parker and more midfield time for Harry Sheezel has pushed Phillips further down the pecking order and has cast doubt over whether the Kangaroos would offer him a new deal.
If he chose to move interstate, a third or fourth-round pick would be enough for the Eagles to trade for Phillips as they enter a busy period of midfield rejuvenation under new coach Andrew McQualter.
Excluding ruckmen, only three clubs (Essendon, Geelong and St Kilda) have used more players at centre bounces than West Coast this season.
Adding Phillips, who had 15 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances in the Roos’ narrow round 8 loss to the Bombers, would bolster the defensive options in West Coast’s midfield group and help maximise Liam Ryan’s time as a new midfielder.
A trade could also help the Eagles retain some midfield experience if emerging star Harley Reid decided to return to Victoria.
Brisbane’s out-of-contract WA-born midfielders James Tunstill and Deven Robertson are also on West Coast’s radar.
SNIFFING DOGS
The Western Bulldogs continue to sniff around Port Adelaide utility Miles Bergman, who will wait until the middle part of the season before he turns his attention to his future.
St Kilda has been mentioned as the bayside boy’s main suitor but they have held their cards close to their chests so far and don’t have a formal offer in front of the 23-year-old.
Fox Footy reported in Gather Round the Power had put a long term offer in front of Bergman but he has so far resisted signing it.
St Kilda will be keen to assess whether it can secure him but is also keen to go back to the draft and has strong interest in GWS defender Leek Aleer.
So Victorian clubs like the Dogs will maintain an interest in Bergman in case he declares he wants to request a trade home.
Bergman has added a new string to his bow in recent weeks, sent to tag Adelaide jet Jordan Dawson in a recent Showdown win, sending him into the midfield rotation.
DOC’S PAY BUMP
‘Doc’ Davidson is the Western Bulldogs’ cheap-as-chips star in an era when players are offered $1.7 million per season contracts but some also play as relative paupers.
No.51 draft pick Sam Davidson has played exceptional football after deferring his medical studies which could one day make him a very rich doctor.
Davidson is in the lowest pay category for AFL players apart from rookie-listed players.
Under the AFL’s CBA, players taken at picks 1-10 this year are awarded a base contract of $140,000.
Players taken at pick 11-20 are on a base of $130,000, those taken at 21 to 50 are on a base of $120,000 and those 51 and onwards are on $115,000.
The senior match payment for first and second-year players is $4000 a game.
So if Davidson plays 20 games he will earn $195,000 for the season, a quarter of the wage of the departed Bailey Smith.
If he plays over 18 games a year he can earn a $60,000 bonus this year, and $55,000 would be added to his base deal for 2026.
So he will still earn plenty – just on $250,000 – compared to the average Australian wage but he’s no AFL rich lister yet.
Hawks star Nick Watson earned a $130,000 base as a top ten pick last year, then earned $72,000 in match payments and a $60,000 raise in his 2026 deal.
So this year he will earn a $190,000 base and $60,000 if he plays 18 or more games, but then gets $110,000 extra on his 2026 salary as a result of those games played.
He will sign a new deal midway through the season and while he is already locked into a mandatory three-year deal he will eventually cash in from his fourth year onwards.
TASSIE TEST CASE
Tasmania believes signing up a new coach by late this year or early next year will give it the best chance to secure its suite of out-of-contract players as a Hawks hard man looms as a potential test case.
Managers are already working on deals that would put players out of contract by the end of 2027 or see them signed up long-term.
Former Pies coach Nathan Buckley, interested in the Tasmanian role, would be the perfect figurehead to secure young players given he has a huge profile and would also attract quality players who would want to play under him.
Hawthorn’s James Worpel has now been offered a new contract of up to four years but could also decide on a two-year deal that takes him to unrestricted free agency.
It would then give him the chance to sign a bumper deal at Tasmania when they come into the league.
Having a new coach in place early gives the Devils the best possible chance to get in front of managers who are working on deals for existing players.
The Hawks remain keen to hold on to Worpel even as his teammates joke about his contract status around the club.
“There are a few jokes here and there,” Hawks rebounder Karl Amon said.
“The thing about Worps is that no matter what the result it, he gives his all every time and plays well a lot of the time.
“He is a key component for us going forward. We are obviously not going to put pressure on him, it’s his decision, but we would love for him to stick around.”
Also at Hawthorn, talks on a new deal for Massimo D’Ambrosio remain stagnant.
The winger ends a two-year contract this year, a contract with extra security that lured him away from a one-year offer at Essendon, and is happy playing good football before focusing on talks.
BURNT CASH?
North Melbourne will be desperate to get more return from full back Griffin Logue and running defender Zac Fisher with nearly $1.5m million running around in the VFL last weekend.
Logue is on a lucrative long term deal but has now played a trio of games alongside Fisher in the VFL after poor form.
The Roos were thrilled to get some big moments from Toby Pink including his intercept mark against Tom Lynch but need Logue at his best this season to beat quality opponents.
He had 13 possessions in a 28 point loss to the Richmond VFL side, with the Tigers holding the Roos first round pick which currently sits at pick two overall.
The Roos have two more seasons on Logue’s deal, while Aidan Corr has a trigger for 2026.
Callum Coleman-Jones’ four year contract on as much as $1.9m in total expires this year which will give the club even more salary cap room as it chases rival targets.
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