Trade news: Rival clubs target Sydney’s fringe players after Grand Final loss to Brisbane Lions

Chad Warner’s future has been thrust back into the spotlight after Sydney’s Grand Final loss as rival clubs look to raid the club’s depth players in this year’s trade period.

Sydney's Chad Warner during the Sydney Swans v Fremantle Round 16 AFL match at the SCG on June 29, 2024. Photo by Brett Costello (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only – **NO ON SALES** – ©Brett Costello )

Chad Warner is expected to hold off contract talks for most of 2025, with Western Australia-based clubs believing he is keen to return home at the end of next year.

As Sydney digests the fallout of yet another horrific grand final performance, the club has to make quick list decisions on a number of players.

Luke Parker is expected to head to North Melbourne on a multi-year deal, but the Roos would have to trade for the experienced mid-forward, who has another season left on an $800,000 deal.

Fringe players including Peter Ladhams and Jacob Konstanty are also likely to draw interest from rival clubs, while full back Joel Hamling moved to the club to play in defence but was unable to play a single AFL game.

But Warner’s position is the most vexing for Sydney given he is one of the competition’s stars and is seen to want to get back to Perth with his partner.

His manager put talks on hold earlier in the year, with Warner out of contract next year but not a free agent.

Sydney chief executive Tom Harley and football boss Leon Cameron have both expressed their strong confidence that Warner wants to stay at the club.

But WA-based clubs will line up their best offers for the 23-year-old, who took the competition by storm this year.

Peter Ladhams was squeezed out by Brodie Grundy’s arrival.

First-round pick Jacob Konstanty hasn’t been able to crack a senior game.

Those clubs are always looking for homegrown talent to secure, but the fact they have such a strong opinion of his determination to return home will be concerning for Sydney.

Sydney has been linked with Essendon forward Jake Stringer, who would prefer to stay in Victoria but will have suitors given the Dons’ unwillingness to hand him a contract extension past 2025.

Fremantle is expected to secure Richmond’s Shai Bolton despite him not officially selecting a club when he asked the Tigers if he could be traded home to WA.

Fremantle and Richmond are yet to meet on any trade demands, but it is expected the Dockers are prepared to offer up one of picks 9 and 10 plus its pick 16 for Bolton.

West Coast and Fremantle are desperate to land WA product Chad Warner. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It is a fair offer for a player who on talent could be a top-10 force in the league.

But without a concrete indication that Warner wants to play for them in 2026, the Dockers will face a conundrum about trading or keeping their second top ten pick.

They could trade it into next year – with clubs sure to leap at the chance to take that pick in this year’s draft – to bolster their 2025 draft hand to secure Warner.

But if he changes his mind or is convinced that Sydney can offer him a long-term future, the Dockers will have lost the chance to take an excellent pick in this year’s exceptional draft.

Geelong is now in the box seat to secure Carlton’s Jack Martin, who has been offered two-year deals by both Fremantle and the Cats.

Martin is from WA but having spent so much time on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne has no great desire to return to his home state.

Geelong might even offer a third-year games-based trigger for Martin, so he is much more likely to sign with the Cats than play with Fremantle.