AFL trade rumours: Shock suitor emerges for Crows star Brad Crouch

A big-name Adelaide star has been linked with a blockbuster off-season move that could see him lining up with a cross-town rival.

Orazio fantasia may be on the move.

All the talk is still about Essendon as trade rumours heat up heading into the AFL finals.

Teams no longer in the final race have become culling their lists down and looking towards the future with their playing groups.

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As the off-season draws closer, trade rumours will continue to build up as several big name stars across the league look set to land at new home.

Stay up to date with all of the latest rumours and speculation over where stars may be heading right here.

SURPRISE CROUCH SUITOR EMERGES

Adelaide Crows midfield star Brad Crouch wanted out at the end of 2019 and looked set to be heading to the Gold Coast Suns on a blockbuster deal.

In the end he stuck around in Adelaide, but doubt over his future hung overhead all season long and now his name is back in the spotlight.

His name has been linked with a move to Victoria with Geelong looming as the frontrunner to secure his services thanks to the work of former Crow turned Cat Patrick Dangerfield.

But now a shock suitor has emerged with Michelangelo Rucci believing a move to cross-town rival Port Adelaide being on the cards.

“I think there’s a genuine chance that Brad Crouch is going to take the free agency path to Port Adelaide,” he said on SEN SA Drive.

“Brad Crouch is a free agent and he’s going to have suitors and we could see a club champion go to a rival.

“We know Adelaide is firm on where they stand on him, be it a three-year contract, but I think (Port Adelaide) would give him greater terms than he would at Adelaide.”

Brad could be looking at a move just across the road.

NORTH TELL STAR FORWARD HE’S OUT

Ben Brown is on the hunt for a new home with North Melbourne reportedly telling the star his services are no longer required at the club.

The Age journalist Sam McClure said the towering forward was told by the club “to look for a new home”.

His name isn’t the only one linked to being on the way out at North Melbourne with the Herald Sun’s Tim Michell saying it’s looking likely both Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard won’t be there next season.

Ben Brown has been told by North Melbourne to look for a new home.

More soon @theage and @SportsdayRadio

— Sam McClure (@sam_mcclure) September 23, 2020

BOMBS KEEP DROPPING AT ESSENDON

The Bombers have reportedly tabled a four-year deal to key forward Joe Daniher but he’s keen to move from Melbourne after a request to join Sydney last year was denied.

The spearhead, who has played just 15 games in three seasons because of injury, is reportedly set for a tour of Brisbane soon, according to SEN’s Sam Edmund.

“I think we all think Joe Daniher is on the move,” Edmund told SEN Mornings.

“Is it Brisbane or is it Sydney? Depends on who you speak to, but the latest scuttlebutt has him touring the Brisbane Lions facilities very, very soon.

“It’s always been a lifestyle decision for Joe Daniher and I wonder what he will do going forward. His currency has certainly changed from last year.

“That first game back was unbelievable and we all came swooning but he’s come back to the pack since then.

“But if he can get himself fit and firing, a full pre-season and a happy state of mind, who knows what is possible.”

The Bombers could look very different in 2021.

Meanwhile, Essendon goalsneak Orazio Fantasia is reportedly eyeing a move home to South Australia after an injury-plagued year in which he managed just five games — and no appearances at all after Round 7.

AFL.com.au reports the results of his medical testing this week will be sent to Adelaide and Port Adelaide as they loom as possible destinations for Fantasia should he want to leave the Bombers.

The 25-year-old is still under contract with Essendon next year before becoming a free agent and although he is yet to officially tell the Dons he wants out, there are whispers he may be one of multiple players to seek an exit because he wants to finish his career in the City of Churches.

Essendon delisted five players at the end of a miserable season in which it finished 13th and there have been allegations of “serious unrest” at the club after retiring star Tom Bellchambers was denied a farewell game.

Senior stars Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker are reportedly weighing up their futures, unhappy at how Bellchambers was treated.

AFL legend Gerard Healy told Fox Footy there looks to be “unhappiness” and “division” in the playing ranks, while Melbourne champion Garry Lyon urged coach Ben Rutten to “stop the festering” before the cracks widen.

Adam Saad and Joe Daniher are yet to commit, despite Essendon keen to keep both on long-term deals.

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Fantasia may be on the move.

But Zach Merrett is reportedly staying put.

BIG BOMBER TO STAY PUT

In better news for the club, Essendon great Tim Watson says gun midfielder Zach Merrett will be at Tullamarine in 2021 despite being mentioned as someone who may explore his options elsewhere.

“I got a call yesterday in the afternoon that concerned me a little bit, but I’ve been assured that he’s not going anywhere, he’ll be staying at Essendon, he does have a contract of course,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.

“People read into this, the fact that he got left out of the leadership group and maybe he’s still unhappy there at Essendon, but I was told categorically that he would not be going anywhere.

“There has been some scuttlebutt out there that he might want to go to Melbourne or Melbourne is really interested in him and he’s got a great mate in Michael Hibberd and obviously he was coached by Simon Goodwin as well, but that’s not going to be the case as it was put to me yesterday.”

ESSENDON WANTS CROW TO FLY EAST

Amid the fears of a player exodus, it’s not all bad news at Essendon. Channel 7 reports the Bombers are in play to snare veteran Crows defender Daniel Talia.

Seven’s Mark Stevens said some clubs view Talia as “gettable”, and the 200-gamer has been “linked to Essendon”.

Footy journalist turned radio host Michelangelo Rucci told SEN SA: “Ben Rutten is very, very interested in getting Daniel Talia out of the (Adelaide) football club.

“He’s contracted for next year … but he’s a professional footballer. I’m hearing Rutten is keen on him.

“Surely Talia is in that group (of players the Crows want to keep), you’ve got to have those experienced men at that footy club and he’d be the number one choice to make sure he stays there.

“But we’re in a professional era and just say another club comes in and offers a four-year contract and (Adelaide) are offering two, then you look after yourself don’t you.”

The 2012 AFL Rising Star is a three-time All-Australian and would add some extra starch to the Dons’ backline if he was to head east and wear the black and red next season.

Daniel Talia would be a fantastic acquisition if Essendon can nab him.