Moneyball: The latest trade news from across the AFL
A double bonus of two of the AFL’s best young midfielders could be about to hit at Brisbane. Plus, the key Blue who’s happy to wait on contract negotiations and the futures of two Dons in Moneyball.
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Brisbane is keen to lock in last year’s Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft on a long-term deal commensurate with his growth as one of the most exciting young players in the game.
This column understands the Lions are in ongoing dialogue with his management and hopeful they will be able to secure Ashcroft on a deal well into the future this year.
Ashcroft, who edged out Lachie Neale to take out the best player afield honours in last year’s grand final, is already contracted until the end of the 2026 season.
But with the Lions humming towards a potential third grand final appearance in succession, locking away one of its most exciting stars would be a significant boost.
It might be a double bonus as Will’s brother Levi Ashcroft is also eligible to unlock a two-year contract extension after round 6 after a pre-draft agreement as a father-son selection.
Under recent AFL rules, clubs are not able to get a top-20 draft selection to lock in contract extensions until round 6 of their debut season — a mark that the younger of the Ashcroft siblings will hit this weekend.
Will Ashcroft signed a four-year deal under the old rules when he was drafted by the Lions at pick two in the 2022 national draft.
He has now played 36 matches, and has had a strong start to 2025, with coach Chris Fagan saying his 33 disposals, one-goal game against Geelong last month was the best of his career to date.
VETERAN BOMBER NOT DONE YET
Rejuvenated Bomber Dylan Shiel has revealed he wants to finish his career with Essendon and intends to play on well beyond the end of this season.
Shiel, 32, is into the final year of his current deal.
He started the 2025 season in a new role off half-back and came in for some intense criticism when the Bombers got off to a 0-2 start to the season.
But a move back into his more familiar midfield role has seen Shiel return to his best.
“I am out of contract at the end of the year,” Shiel said.
“I love the game of footy, and at this point in time, I would love to continue playing, and hopefully that’s the case.”
Shiel was linked to St Kilda in the 2023 trade period but told Moneyball he wants to stick around at Essendon to help the young Bombers on the rise.
“I think in footy, you have got to stay fluid ... and maybe there was some talk (about) movement, but now I don’t think anything is happening.
“I would certainly like to stay and finish my career at Essendon, and it is largely to do with playing with the guys.
“I love what Jye Menzie is doing and the boys like, (Sam) Durham, (Ben) Hobbs, (Isaac) Kako, and Archie Roberts.
“It goes more than just being teammates (with them). I can say this now because I am 32 now, but they are good kids.
“I just want to be there and enjoy some success with them now.”
HIGH-FLYING CAT NOT KEEN ON MOVE
Reigning AFL Rising Star winner Ollie Dempsey insists Geelong fans have nothing to worry about, even though he hasn’t yet penned a new deal beyond the end of this season.
The high-flying Cats wingman says he has no intention of leaving GMHBA Stadium and is confident a deal with the club will be finalised.
“I love this place,” Dempsey said.
“I can’t ever see myself leaving.
“I am not stressed (about the contract) … there are some chats (that are being had) and it will take care of itself. I wouldn’t be too worried.”
Dempsey, 22, remains one of Geelong’s most important signings this season as he is in great form in his fourth AFL season after joining Joel Selwood as the only Geelong players to take out the Rising Star award.
His management and the Cats have been in discussions in recent times and a resolution on a deal — likely a four-year extension — is likely to come soon.
Dempsey hasn’t missed an AFL match since round 23, 2023.
KEY BLUE IN NO HURRY TO PUT PEN TO PAPER
Carlton and Jack Silvagni are happy to deal with his free agency contract late in the year as he puts together an excellent bounce-back season after his ACL tear.
Silvagni has customarily done his deals later in the season but after some heartburn the last time he re-signed the 27-year-old is expected to commit again.
The third generation Blue has again shown himself to be a versatile player, able to play forward or slot back into defence.
He is unsure where his future lies on the field given Brodie Kemp’s achilles tear, but isn’t in a hurry to re-sign.
“I haven’t had any chats. I am sure that will take care of itself. I am not really thinking about it. It’s round 5 so I will keep putting games together,” he said after the Gather Round victory over West Coast.
“It’s really disappointing for Kempy. It’s not up to me (where I play). I will play where my name is on the board.”
The Blues also have Jesse Motlop out of contract, but some out-of-contract players might have to wait until the club gets greater clarity about Tom De Koning’s future before working through deals.
Silvagni admitted his recovery from his ACL tear was slow initially but he has worked into strong form.
“It was a slow build,” he said.
“I didn’t really run for eight months. It took me a while to get going with a few extra operations, but ever since I have got running it has progressed quickly. I don’t think about it at all. My knee is fine, it’s just the rest of my body is catching up to the rigours of it.”
CROW BLOW – DONS RUCKMAN WON’T GET OUT OF VICTORIA
Essendon free agent Sam Draper is more likely to move to a rival Victorian club than head home to Adelaide as a new deal for his injured ruck partner Nick Bryan remains in the offing following his cruel knee blow.
Draper’s signature is now a high priority for the Dons given Bryan will now miss the rest of the year following an ACL injury.
Bryan had taken the majority of the rucking duties so far this season, with Draper coming from full-forward to spell him.
The 23-year-old is out of contract but talks have begun on a new deal.
The club and the Bombers see him as a long-term ruck, so his injury rehabilitation stint won’t stand in the way of a contract offer.
As the Herald Sun reported in February, Draper is happy at Essendon but wanted to get through the early rounds of the season ahead of a meeting between his manager Michael Doughty and the club.
He is very well settled in Victoria and not especially keen to get back to South Australia despite growing up there and persistent talk of interest from the Crows.
As an unrestricted free agent on an official list released by the AFL on Monday, rival clubs would hunt him harder because the Dons cannot match a bid.
But it would take something dramatic for him not to re-sign at Essendon on a long-term deal.
“The plan so far is my manager is going to meet with (Essendon’s) management in a couple of weeks and we will see what happens there,” Draper told this column.
“That is all I can give to you at the moment, but honestly there is nothing much happening at the moment so once we have that catch up I can give you a bit more detail,” he said.
“Definitely as a free agent you have to take everything into account just like any contract.
“So I will think long and hard about it but nothing is happening just yet.”
Similarly to Bryan, the Bombers are likely to reward summer signing Tom Edwards with a new deal, despite his knee injury.
Edwards has returned to West Australia to recoup after his ACL injury at training two weeks ago and is due to have surgery this week.
With Bryan now out, Bombers coach Brad Scott has some options to partner Draper when the Bombers head west to play West Coast on Good Friday.
Veteran ruck Todd Goldstein – who is also off-contract – has averaged 38 hit-outs in his two official VFL matches so far this season and can step straight into Bryan’s role, allowing Draper to continue playing forward.
Scott has a long track record of playing two rucks in his side.
Peter Wright returned from an ankle issue to boot three goals in a VFL scratch match on the weekend and his return could allow Draper to play more in the ruck.
Youngster Vigo Visentini also played in that VFL hitout and remains a project ruck option.
LION CUB PRIME TARGET FOR FOOTY’S NEWEST TEAM
Breakout Brisbane young gun Jaspa Fletcher’s Tasmanian links could make him a prime target for the Devils.
But Lions fans shouldn’t be too worried about the chances of their father-son leaving Brisbane any time soon.
Brandon Starcevich’s concussion issues have led to a move to defence for Fletcher and the 21-year-old is in career-best form down back.
Against the Western Bulldogs in the thrilling comeback win at Norwood Oval, Fletcher finished with 25 disposals and six marks, winning praise from Brisbane coach Chris Fagan for helping keep the Lions in the game in the first half.
More performances like this will surely be piquing the interest of whoever becomes the Devils list boss, with Fletcher’s Tasmanian links strong.
While he was born in Victoria and grew up in Brisbane, Fletcher’s father Adrian — also a former co-captain for Fremantle — is in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame after beginning his career at Glenorchy as a 17-year-old in the old TFL in 1987.
Fletcher is out of contract at the end of next year and could sign a two-year deal, taking him to 2028 where he would be in line for a huge paycheck from the Devils.
But in good news for Lions fans, he says he is Brisbane through-and-through.
“I’m very happy here at the Lions, it’s a great club,” he said after last weekend’s win over the Bulldogs.
“The players and staff have been massive for me.
“I am a Queenslander at heart. I was born in Vic but I grew up in the Sunshine State so I do call it home.”
Fagan was also confident about Fletcher remaining a Lion long-term.
“He’s lived in Queensland all his life so I don’t think so … I used to play against him (his dad in Tassie) when I was an old bloke and he was a young bloke,” Fagan said.
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