Trades Unplugged: Latest news, whispers on Tom Papley, Josh Jenkins, Brandon Ellis and more
Gold Coast has firmed as the frontrunner for Richmond premiership player Brandon Ellis, with the prospect of a first-round pick as compensation looming for the Tigers. But will he move? TRADES LATEST
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Richmond wingman Brandon Ellis was linked with a move to Carlton for much of the home-and-away season, only for the Blues to baulk in the last month.
It has left the door ajar for Gold Coast Suns to make a strong play for the premiership player on a deal which could net Richmond a first-round pick as compensation in this year’s draft.
If the length of the contract on offer and finances are good enough, the Tigers could feasibly win this year’s premiership yet enter the draft with pick 18 and 19 or 19 and 20, should Gold Coast be granted a priority pick.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn has contacted Sam Frost’s management to ask about its chances of landing the uncontracted Demons defender.
Frost confirmed the approach today and said there was a clear expression of interest from at least one other club.
He said he is still waiting on a contract offer from Melbourne after playing every game this season.
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“There is one other club that definitely have (called) and I’m sure there’s others that have inquired,” he said on SEN this morning.
“Based on my age (26) and the year I’ve had, I imagine there would have been a few phone calls but I don’t know how serious a lot of those phone calls are or aren’t so I’ll just leave that to Anthony (McConville, manager).”
Frost said he would catch up with McConville “in the next couple of days” to discuss his options as they wait for a new contract from Melbourne.
“There’s no deadline or anything like that, so I’m not sure, to be honest (when a Demons offer will come) but obviously time’s getting thin so the sooner the better, I suppose.
“The longer it goes on waiting on Melbourne is probably the difficult part of it. You never know how these things are going to unfold.
“I try and steer clear of a lot of it but as far as I’m told through my management they’re having good conversations with Melbourne. That’s where I’d like to be.”
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JAMIE ELLIOTT (COLL)
Has put off talks with Collingwood until season’s end as the club manages a tight salary cap. Melbourne has come hard and could land the sharpshooter for nothing under free agency rules. He’d be a handy third banana next to Sam Weideman and Tom McDonald. Elliott would have to financially sacrifice to stay at the Pies.
TOM PAPLEY (SYD)
Carlton are red-hot for this bloke. Despite speculation the goalsneak was keen on a move to Victoria, he is yet to request a trade and has four years to run on a contract.
His future is not tied to Joe Daniher’s, with Sydney armed with the cash and picks to strike a deal even if Papley stays.
GRANT BIRCHALL (HAW)
Alastair Clarkson is still pushing to keep the popular back flanker for one more season, but it’s not a one-way discussion. If the Hawks pass, Brisbane or Gold Coast would surely snap him up. He’d replace Luke Hodge at the Lions and the planned Shaun Burgoyne move at the Suns.
SAM POWELL-PEPPER (PORT)
All signs are pointing towards a departure. Essendon need a hardened onballer to assist Zach Merrett and Dylan Shiel, while Fremantle has also been linked to Powell-Pepper if they, as expected, miss out on Tim Kelly. Port Adelaide will listen to offers, even if Powell-Pepper is keen to stay.
ADAM TOMLINSON (GWS)
Had a trainwreck final with just 24 ranking points and one effective kick. But won’t stop Melbourne throwing big dollars at him and they see him playing on a wing.
GWS couldn’t love his selflessness and attitude more, but just don’t have the cash to keep him.
JOSH JENKINS (ADEL)
No real suitor at this point for a wantaway forward on $550,000 a season with two years to run on his Adelaide deal. But he remains hopeful the interest will come late and he can find a new home.
BRAD HILL (FREM)
Fremantle will surely ask for pick 5 straight out for Hill, whose manager told the Herald Sun last week informed the Dockers in June he wanted out.
Given the deal could be six years and more than $800,000 a year, pick 5 (likely to be 6 after the Suns priority pick) sounds about right.
ZAK JONES (SYD)
The frustrated Swans want an answer from the hard-nut midfielder amid strong interest from the Saints. The big quandary is clearly whether the Saints have enough picks to pull off a deal. Sydney will want a first-round or early second-round pick for him. Things should become clearer over the next seven days.
PADDY RYDER (PORT)
Weighing up a head (St Kilda) v heart (Essendon) decision. The Saints offer is slightly superior, but returning to where it all started has a nice synergy about it, despite the ugly departure several years ago.
DOUGAL HOWARD (PORT)
Contracted and wanted at the Power but has been told he will play forward next year. Will a suitor like the Dogs come hard at the 200cm smooth-moving swingman? They have interest and Port would have to consider an offer given he wasn’t in their side in Round 23 despite captaining the club for a game this year.
JOSH BRUCE (STK)
In discussions with the Western Bulldogs about a move to the kennel. Importantly, he will take the heat off youngster Aaron Naughton in marking contests. A second-round pick feels right.
ORAZIO FANTASIA (ESS)
Port Adelaide remain interested, believing their forward line would be stacked with him and Robbie Gray and Connor Rozee, who will eventually go into the midfield. But he and his manager have shot down that speculation. It won’t stop Port asking. Essendon would want the world for him and a simple pick swap with Sam Powell-Pepper wouldn’t be enough. If Essendon lose Daniher they certainly can’t let Fantasia walk out the door.
SAM FROST (MEL)
Melbourne aren’t desperate to keep him and the likes of North Melbourne rate him more highly than they do. He has averaged seven intercepts this year but mixes the sublime with the ridiculous as a footballer. The Roos need stoppers. He fits the bill as a Scott Thompson replacement.
OLLIE WINES (PORT)
Port is adamant the Echuca waterskier is going nowhere. Essendon would love him but it’s not happening.
EDDIE BETTS (ADEL)
Would prefer to play for Carlton ahead of Gold Coast, but Betts is down in the Blues’ list of priorities. Jack Martin is inbound, while Carlton believes Sydney will relent on goalsneak Tom Papley.
AARON FRANCIS (ESS)
Was signed, sealed and delivered at the Bombers before negotiations hit an unexpected snag. Has been offered a deal with incentives rather than guaranteed cash.
DARCY CAMERON (SYD)
Should get to the Pies for a late pick. Given Brodie Grundy’s equivocation over a new deal it’s a smart play. Dominated at NEAFL level but was injured when he had a chance for Sydney. Is 24, so is ready to flourish at a club with little ruck depth.
JACK MARTIN (GCS)
Has told Carlton he wants to play for them. Now, to get the deal done. Blues would want to give up a second-rounder and the Suns want a first-rounder. Carlton has picks 8 (likely needed for Tom Papley) and then pick 39. Surely wouldn’t give away a future first-rounder. Will get done late.
CALLUM AH CHEE (GCS)
The No. 8 draft pick will go to Brisbane on a long-term deal for a later pick, another setback for the Suns given their initial investment and hard work as he battled off-field issues.
JACK STEVEN (STK)
Packed his bags for a move down to Geelong to help replace Tim Kelly. Even the Saints’ captain Jarryn Geary says the club can’t stand in his way a second time if the decision is for family reasons and his own wellbeing.
BRODIE GRUNDY (COLL)
Has committed to playing at the Pies next year and despite his honesty in the Herald Sun — admitting the pull of Adelaide — he would still do a seven-year deal at the Pies in a heartbeat. That just won’t come from the Pies, which means the standoff continues. And could get messy next year. Over to you Collingwood.
SAM GRAY (PORT)
Power keen for him to assess rival interest and haven’t offered him a contract. Blues, Saints mentioned in dispatches. Interest not massive at this stage.
TIM KELLY (GEEL)
West Coast would be salivating seeing him again close up in the shop window, his swaggering performance in the semi-final fresh in their minds. Chris Masten is likely on the way out but they might have to keep Will Schofield given Tom Barass’s recent struggles. Regardless, they have cap space for Kelly on a likely six-year deal at around five million big ones.
BRAD CROUCH (ADEL)
Pushing for a five-year deal to stay at the Crows and all signs point to a long-term recommitment. There have been talks, but the club is yet to make an offer and nothing is happening quickly here given the upheaval.
JAYDEN LAVERDE (ESS)
Up for grabs but there is not a lot of interest. Needs to get his body right and complete a full pre-season and them we might see the best of him.
ED LANGDON (FREM)
All signs still point to Melbourne after the speedy winger recently met with a host of clubs to explore his options. Keen on the Demons and the feeling is mutual.
DAN BUTLER (RICH)
A contingency plan for the Blues given their Tom Papley interest.
BRANDON ELLIS (RICH)
Gold Coast loves his precision disposal and touch of class and is prepared to forgive the occasional lack of robustness in the contest. Would offer five years given he’s already played 174 games and has only just turned 26. Does a five-year deal on big dollars give Richmond any chance of a first-round compo pick, which would eventually fall at around pick 20?
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JON PATTON (GWS)
His camp is confident he will get a three-year deal at the Hawks joining Shaun Burgoyne, Tom Scully and Jaeger O’Meara as Hawthorn medical success stories. Smart by both GWS and the Hawks for him to pull the pin when close to a return as it protects the Hawks investment and ensures the Giants weren’t on the hook for his 2020 salary if the knee had crumpled in a meaningless NEAFL game.
HUGH GREENWOOD (ADEL)
Wants three years and a games-based trigger. Adelaide won’t give it, having offered two years, and to be honest, doubts he can get it elsewhere. So if Adelaide don’t relent before the trade period starts, he will explore his options with Hawthorn, St Kilda, Gold Coast and Brisbane. Would be a beautiful fit for the Hawks given his versatility.
HARLEY BENNELL (FREM)
If he looks a million dollars on the training track over a summer, surely a club will take the punt. He would be a free hit under the supplemental selection period rules. Surgeons say they have fixed his calves. Clubs are yet to be convinced.
CONNOR BLAKELY (FREM)
Signed a three-year deal this year but amid a fallout with some teammates will he still be there next year? Averaged 19 possessions but given there are still many list changes ahead at the Dockers he might end up staying.
CHARLIE CONSTABLE (GEEL)
Rival interest has cooled, despite not being seen at senior level since Round 9.
Contracted at the Cats until the end of 2021.
PAUL PUOPOLO (HAW)
Another one who is up for grabs. Melbourne needs some help in the small forward department but the Dees don’t seem to be interested. Cards look marked at the Hawks.
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