Moneyball: Follow all the latest trade, contract, draft and coaching news across the AFL
Sam Weideman’s future has officially been decided after the young Demon was subject to months of trade speculation. Get the latest off-season news.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Forward Sam Weideman has signed a new two-year deal with Melbourne, taking a pay cut to remain at the club as he fights for a spot in Simon Goodwin’s side in 2022.
The 24-year-old garnered interest from Collingwood in a potential fairytale move, with his late grandfather Murray – 180-game Magpie and 1958 premiership captain – and his father Mark (28 games) both representing the black and white.
Out of contract at the end of this year, the 195cm Demon opted to recommit despite being stuck behind the likes of off-season recruit Ben Brown, Tom McDonald and Luke Jackson for most of the season.
His fresh contract will take the key forward through to free agency status when his deal finishes at the end of 2023.
North Melbourne and Gold Coast had spoken with the key forward before withdrawing their interest and instead setting their sights on talls Tigers Callum Coleman-Jones and Mabior Chol respectively.
Watch Fox Footy’s massive line-up of Grand Final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >
The promising big man has not featured at AFL level since Round 13 and is set to miss out on selection in Melbourne’s grand final clash with the Western Bulldogs, but remains determined to become a senior regular at the Demons.
Weideman has kicked 49 goals in as many matches across six seasons, playing five consecutive games from Round 9 this year, where he averaged eight touches per game and kicked three majors, before being replaced by Brown.
The No. 9 pick in the 2015 national draft had his 2021 pre-season wiped out by a stress fracture in his upper leg but made an immediate impact with a dominant seven-goal haul in the opening round of the VFL.
Weideman set the state league competition alight in limited opportunities, booting 21 majors in seven matches while averaging 17.7 disposals, 8.5 marks (two contested) and 129 ranking points before the season was postponed and then cancelled due to Covid.
YOUNG CATS TIPPED TO REQUEST TRADES
Geelong swingman Nathan Kreuger is expected to join Collingwood on a three-year deal after requesting a trade from the Cats.
The Herald Sun revealed this year that the Pies had gone hard last year with a three-year deal which he ultimately rebuffed to stay loyal to Geelong.
Watch Fox Footy’s massive line-up of Grand Final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >
But after playing only two games this year — the only games of his three-year career — the long-kicking forward wants to join the Pies.
Geelong is mounting a last-ditch effort to get him to change his mind but he can see the opportunities at Collingwood in their forward line.
The 196cm South Australian would love to play as a forward but with four key position forwards ahead of him at Geelong he was played down back at times.
St Kilda also spoke with Kreuger during the past week but he was keen to get to Collingwood given they need another forward to support Brody Mihocek and Darcy Cameron.
His deal will be based purely on opportunities and a longer deal rather than money but there was no guarantee he would have secured more opportunities next year.
Charlie Constable has no suitors apart from Geelong so seems likely to sign another contract after dominating VFL but being unable to crack into the senior side.
Quinton Narkle signed a new one-year deal but top-20 draft pick Jordan Clark is likely to request a trade to Fremantle after meeting with coach Justin Longmuir last week.
It has been a turbulent past few weeks for Geelong, which has lost assistant coaches Matthew Knights and Corey Enright after the heavy defeat to Melbourne in the preliminary final.
‘Filthy’ Tigers dig heels in on CCJ
Richmond will play hard ball on a trade for Callum Coleman-Jones, with rival list managers believing the Roos will have to give over pick 20 as the centrepiece of the trade.
The Roos are adamant they will keep that pick and hand over a later selection given Coleman-Jones played only nine games in four years at Richmond.
Richmond were genuinely filthy that former No. 20 pick Coleman-Jones decided to move, although Damien Hardwick’s Fox Footy demand for pick one was very much tongue in cheek.
“CJ, for us he’s a required player. He has requested a trade to the Kangaroos which is disappointing but we look forward to receiving pick one coming back our way,” he joked.
North Melbourne could secure “CCJ” in the pre-season draft but players don’t want to use that avenue because it leaves their former club without fair compensation.
Jack Martin and Jackson Hately only used that avenue in recent years after trades fell through at the last minute.
The other bit of leverage the Roos have is departing free agent Robbie Tarrant.
The Tigers would normally trade for North Melbourne defender Tarrant with a late throwaway pick so it didn’t dilute their incoming free agency compensation for Mabior Chol.
That pick might only be a third-rounder but it could help the Tigers move up in the draft order.
The Roos would have to be prepared to do a trade on Tarrant instead of letting him go so it will be up to the Tigers to play nice on a trade.
North Jacks up Ziebell contract
North Melbourne has increased its original offer to Jack Ziebell, which is likely to see the veteran recommit to the club for the next two seasons.
Ziebell, who will turn 31 before the start of next season, had originally been offered a one-year contract, despite his strong form this year when he was shifted into defence.
But the Kangaroos skipper believed his form warranted a two-year deal off the back of his career-best 530 disposals from 21 games.
It seems almost certain now that he will stay with the Kangaroos, unlike key defender Robbie Tarrant, who will join Richmond.
The Tigers had been searching for a backman in the wake of David Astbury’s retirement, having spoken to Tarrant and also to delisted Crow Daniel Talia.
But Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes Tarrant can seamlessly slot into the Tigers defence, which will also be boosted by Noah Balta’s return from injury.
Hardwick believes Tarrant, 32, can take pressure off Dylan Grimes.
“With Dave (Astbury) retiring, we felt the need to have a bigger body-type defender and I think that will allow Dylan Grimes and Noah Balta to be a little freer down there,” Hardwick said on Fox Footy.
“Dylan has done an incredible job ever since the retirement of Alex (Rance) maintaining that back six, but he is really capable of playing some damaging footy for us as well by getting a little bit higher up the ground.”
As Moneyball reported last month, the Tigers had initially been interested in and had spoken to Talia, but the signing of Tarrant means the one-time Crows All-Australian now faces an uncertain footy future.
Jack’s back: Blues re-sign son of a gun
Jack Silvagni has closed out an emotional year with a new two-year-deal that locks him into his beloved Blues until the end of 2023.
There was barely a role the flexible Silvagni didn’t play for Carlton this year, as he helped to fill gaps in what was a tough year for the club.
One of the most enduring images for the Blues this year was when Silvagni kicked a goal and raised his arms to the air in a salute to his grandfather and Blues great Serge, who passed away a few days earlier.
“I’m incredibly excited to recommit and sign on for a further two seasons,” Silvangi said. “This football club has been a very significant part of my life from the moment when I was born and to be able to continue doing what I love in the navy blue guernsey is something I feel very privileged to have an opportunity to do.”
“I really enjoyed being able to work on different areas of my game this year and throw my hat in the ring to play in various positions, so I’m looking forward to seeing where I can take my game over the next two seasons.”
Second chances all the rage in coaching ranks
In years gone by, too many sacked senior coaches were lost to the AFL industry, but Richmond’s appointment of ousted Blues coach David Teague as an assistant coach continues a welcome modern trend.
Teague was sacked by Carlton late last month, but has found a new home at Punt Rd. with Tigers coach Damien Hardwick saying he will provide “a breath of fresh air”.
Former coaches Justin Leppitsch and Brendon Bolton thankfully remained in the game after their departures from Brisbane and Carlton, and have joined forces at Collingwood under new coach Craig McRae.
Don Pyke has worked wonders at Sydney, and briefly considered chasing the Magpies’ job before deciding to remain with the Swans.
Matthew Knights made a huge impact for a number of years at Geelong after his tumultuous time at Essendon, and is now headed to West Coast.
Michael Voss, one of the favourites for the Carlton senior gig, has been a crucial part of Port Adelaide’s revival since his sacking at Brisbane, while Brett Ratten won the Saints’ senior role after remaining in the game with the Hawks after his dumping from the Blues.
Rhyce Shaw, who stood down as Kangaroos coach, now works in development at Gold Coast, Alan Richardson has flourished in a revamped footy role with Melbourne, and 2004 premiership coach Mark Williams has worked wonders with the Demons after returning to the AFL industry at the end of last season.
Crows firm as Dawson closes in on decision
Adelaide is in the box seat to secure Sydney wingman Jordan Dawson after the 23-year-old wingman nominated the Crows over arch rivals Port Adelaide.
The Adelaide offer was understood to be significantly better than the one offered by the Power, who wanted him but had a limit on what they would spend.
Sydney had offered a deal of around five years at $500,000 but was rebuffed when he decided to head home.
As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Adelaide possess ample cap space and last week’s move of Jake Kelly to Essendon, the Crows had enough cash to splash. Robe-raised Dawson, 24, has played 64 games since Sydney drafted him from Sturt with pick 56 in the 2015 national draft.
Adelaide will now have to work with the Swans to finalise a deal.
.
Who wants disillusioned former Saint?
Luke Dunstan is at least attracting interest from rival clubs – possibly as a rookie next year -after a lack of offers from AFL clubs since being delisted.
Gold Coast doesn’t have a primary list spot and will have to move some players onto the rookie list already.
But it retains an interest in Dunstan, believing he is just too good not to be on an AFL list.
Dunstan’s 11-Brownlow vote tally from 12 games showed his extraordinary strengths as a midfielder, even if his kicking will always see clubs wary of a longer-term deal.
Clubs now believe they can only carry one or at most two pure inside midfielders and want hybrid mids who can transition, kick the ball well and buy into both sides of the game.
It seems preposterous that he would be the scapegoat for the club’s failures given Brad Crouch (five Brownlow votes), Brad Hill (four), Zak Jones (four) and Jack Billings (two) are all on lucrative contracts in comparison.
But St Kilda made the hard call because they believe they need to improve upon their midfield for 2022 to make finals.
Dunstan told 3AW on Monday he would love to play for Essendon.
“I’d love to go there. My good friend Nick Hind went there last year during the trade period and we all saw what he did this year, so that’d be nice.
“I’ll let my manager Robbie D’Orazio have a word to him (Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro) and hopefully we can make it happen.”
He said it was clear coach Brett Ratten didn’t believe in him as a footballer.
“I wouldn’t say I didn’t get on with him. He’s a good fella and I think it’s pretty clear that he didn’t rate me, which is fine. It’s hard to change opinions of coaches and that’s footy, I’m not holding that against anyone.
“I’m going to try and enjoy myself and I’ve come to realise over the last two seasons there’s a lot more out there in life than just footy,” he said.
Saints target Pies’ development guru
St Kilda plans to put a greater emphasis on its development program next year and has approached Collingwood head of academy Damian Carroll about a potential move.
It comes as highly-rated former Lions midfield assistant Dale Tapping attracts serious interest from Essendon and Collingwood about potential roles for next season.
The off-field assistant coaching moves this season have already been significant with still plenty more movement to come.
If Carroll decides to move to Moorabbin after one year with the Magpies, it would reunite him with Saints coach Brett Ratten, with whom he worked at Hawthorn under Alastair Clarkson.
St Kilda is looking to appoint a full-time head of development, with the club keen to invest heavily in this area after the serious disruption to the second-tier level across the past two seasons.
Ratten told the club’s website recently he wanted someone to “own” the development space.
The Saints have already added former Cat Corey Enright to their assistant coaching panel.
Carroll spent a decade at Hawthorn where he coached Box Hill Hawks to a VFL flag in 2013, while serving as an assistant coach to Clarkson as well as head of development.
Tapping had been offered a two-year deal to stay with the Lions, but chose to return to Victoria for family reasons.
The man who played a key role in Lachie Neale’s 2020 Brownlow Medal season attracted interest from several clubs.
Gather Round: Crows open again, Ken, Hawks set for blockbuster
One of the biggest moments of the AFL season came after the Power-Hawks final when Ken Hinkley told Jack Ginnivan he wouldn’t be flying to Sydney. Now we know when the rematch is coming.
Ralph: The key Dees developments that could save Goodwin’s job
Melbourne’s public review said it was capable of playing finals, but their game plan had to be refined, now the work begins for Simon Goodwin after a tumultuous 31 months, writes Jon Ralph.