Which players failed to secure a new home this trade period?
NOT everyone got their wish this trade period. Find out which players missed out on a new home and where they go now.
Trade HQ
Don't miss out on the headlines from Trade HQ. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IT WILL go down as one of the biggest trade periods in AFL history. A total of 39 deals were done with club greats, Rising Star winners, favourite sons, exciting youngsters and veterans among those to find new homes.
However, not everyone was so lucky. A host of players went into the trade period hoping for a different result.
REPORT CARD: HOW DID YOUR CLUB TRADE?
WHO WON: LIVE CHAT: TRADE WINNERS AND LOSERS
So what were the deals that didn’t get done and where to next for those players?
Could your club be about to snap up a bargain?
HAYDEN BALLANTYNE
The Fremantle small forward had been linked with a move to cross-town rival West Coast or relocation to Geelong during the season but interest cooled in the trade period. Ballantyne will return to the Dockers and the club says it is happy to have him.
XAVIER RICHARDS
After playing in Sydney’s Grand Final side earlier this month, Richards pulled a big surprise when he requested a trade to a Victorian club in the second week of the trade period. However, no deal was able to be done. The Swans are keen to reopen talks with the forward but Richards wants to return home to Melbourne.
Football manager Tom Harley said on Friday that Richards, Dean Towers, Abe Davis and Jack Hiscox were all yet to agree to new deals.
“We will sit down with their respective managers to work out what we do going forward,” Harley said. “List lodgement is not until the end of October so we have some time to work through that and we will pick up those conversations as soon as we can.”
LISTEN: SAM EDMUND, MICK WARNER and ANTHONY HUDSON ON THE TRADE PERIOD
MICHAEL BARLOW
Despite talk of a possible move, Barlow wasn’t able to secure a deal for a fresh start during the trade period. His contract at Fremantle is up so he can be recruited as a delisted free agent. While he has his limitations, Barlow could be a good pick-up for a side needing midfield depth.
BRYCE GIBBS
Was the asking price too high or were the Crows not giving enough? It doesn’t matter now because Gibbs is staying at Carlton. He still has three years to run on his deal but it is highly unusual for a player to be held to his contract after requesting a trade. The Giants did it with Cam McCarthy, which only delayed his move by 12 months. Will Gibbs try again this time next year?
DREW PETRIE
With West Coast picking up Nathan Vardy on the last day of trade period, Petrie’s chances of extending his 316 game career took a hit. Although the Eagles will be without Nic Naitanui for 2017, they have plenty of forward line depth with Vardy joining Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy.
TOM ROCKLIFF
Rockliff was there for the taking if another club made a serious trade bid, but no one did. The Lions confirmed on Wednesday that Rockliff won’t be traded and will see out his contract at Brisbane. However, he is seen as a long shot to retain the club captaincy with Dayne Beams and Dayne Zorko the frontrunners to replace him.
REECE CONCA
After initially being on the trade block, Conca will return to the Tigers in 2017. The former number six draft pick signed a two year deal on Thursday.
NICK DAL SANTO
The 32-year-old looks unlikely to extend his AFL career at a third club. However, Dal Santo won’t be lost to the game. He is set to take on a coaching role somewhere in 2017.
MITCH BROWN
Who needs a key defender? Mitch Brown’s time at West Coast is over after debuting in 2007. Brown has expressed an interest in playing for a Victorian club. Could it be one Brown out (Nathan) and one Brown in for the Pies?
BRENDON AH CHEE
While Ah Chee requested a trade, he also said he was happy to remain at Port Adelaide if a deal couldn’t be done. After playing 22 games across his first two seasons at the Power, Ah Chee has one year left to run on his contract. When that expires he may try and link up with his brother Callum, who plays at the Gold Coast.
WILL MINSON
Finished at the Bulldogs, Minson flew to Perth last week for a medical with the Eagles. With Nic Naitanui set to be sidelined to 2017, the Eagles could still use a bit of ruck depth to help Scott Lycett. They could do worse than put Will on the rookie list.
BEN LENNON
A former No. 12 draft pick, Lennon requested a trade out of Richmond in late August. However, he received little interest throughout the trade period. Lennon’s career has stalled with hip and shoulder injuries, concussion and glandular fever limiting him to just 19 games over the past three seasons. He in contracted at Richmond for 2017.
RICKY HENDERSON
Henderson, 28, is considered a strong chance to find a new home after being overlooked for a new deal at Adelaide. Since debuting in 2010, Henderson has played 90 games for the Crows and could be a handy including for a team looking to improve its depth. There are three delisted free agency windows — from November 1-8, November 10-18 and November 26-27 — when delisted free agents can switch clubs. They can also nominate for the pre-season draft on November 28.
JARRYD BLAIR
The small forward is expected to sign a new deal at Collingwood in the coming days.
MITCH CLARK
After two years and nine games, Clark is currently without a contract at the Cats. The recruitment of Aaron Black adds even more pressure on the likelihood of him holding his place.
JONATHON MARSH
The young Collingwood defender requested a trade home to Perth for personal reasons. No deal was able to be done with either Fremantle or West Coast. Fremantle’s successful trade period, including luring premiership Dog Joel Hamling, isn’t good news for Marsh’s prospects.
JOSH GREEN
The Lions said they would make a call on the uncontracted Green after the trade period finished, but the signs aren’t good.
BIG DAY — HOW DEADLINE DAY UNFOLDED
Clubs the masters of their own undoing in free agency compo
Last year, clubs were shocked St Kilda was handed first-round free agency compensation for Josh Battle. Now, the truth behind what happened – and why it will continue – can be revealed.
Suns’ tipping point: What needs to happen to keep Rowell from Cats
Geelong is yet again in pursuit of a star rival midfielder, this time it being Matt Rowell. But is it actually possible? Callum Dick examines the possibility of Rowell in the blue and white hoops.