Three big names show their hand as AFL trade time heats up

One Bomber is going and one is staying, while one of the biggest names on the market – Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey – has baulked.

Orazio Fantasia, Jordan De Goey and Zach Merrett have made up their minds.

It’s AFL Grand Final day, but that isn’t slowing down the trade market with three big name stars revealing their future plans.

Essendon endured a nightmare 2020 season and things have only gone further downhill since their season came to an end.

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Several stars submitted their requests to find a new home with others being linked as departing the Bombers.

Zach Merrett’s name was thrown into the trade rumour chaos, but the star was defiant when he declared his future intentions.

BOMBERS STARS AT ALTERNATE ENDINGS

Midfield star Merrett’s name began to circulate once the trade rumours kicked off, in what was a shock addition to the list of stars on the table.

In the end however they were simply just that, rumours. The star shut down any notion he would be playing anywhere other than for the Bombers.

“I’ll be playing at Essendon next year. That’s as clear as it will be,” he told AFL.com.au.

“I’m very much committed to playing at Essendon next year and I’m confident that with the players we’ve got and the coaches we’ve got at the moment we can turn it around reasonably quickly and get back up the ladder.”

It’s a different story for Merrett’s teammate Orazio Fantasia who is reportedly set to confirm Port Adelaide as his club of choice in a trade demand.

The 25-year-old Fantasia has a year remaining on his Bombers deal, but is looking to return home to Adelaide.

Fantasia met with Adelaide earlier in the month, however his intentions are understood to be a move to join the Power and help them go a step further than their preliminary final loss in 2020.

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DE GOEY’S DAD SHUTS DOWN SUITORS

Jordan de Goey has become a hot ticket on the trade table of late with the Collingwood star’s future up in the air.

The Pies have been negotiating with several of their own star players to re-sign and attempt another finals surge.

De Goey is the last big name player left to sign with the Pies facing bloated salary space to get the job done.

But despite the mercurial star reportedly chasing up to $1 million a year on a new deal, the star looks set to remain in the black and white.

His dad, who works as the manager for his 24-year-old son, reportedly told two rival clubs he won’t be going anywhere for at least another two years.

“It’s my understanding that Jordan De Goey’s management, in particular his dad, has told two clubs I know this week that he’ll stay at Collingwood for two years in the lead-up to his free agency,” Tom Browne said on Seven News.

“So unless someone swoops – Carlton certainly didn’t come knocking as De Goey perhaps would have liked – that means De Goey’s now highly likely to stay at Collingwood and recommit for two years leading up to his free agency.

“His dad, his manager, certainly indicating that this week.”

There is a strong indication that Jordan De Goey will stay at Collingwood, per @tombrowne7

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— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 23, 2020