AFL trade wrap: The latest news from around the competition

With Dustin Martin’s manager surveying the market, outgoing Tigers CEO Brendon Gale is working towards making his parting gift to Richmond a deal that would make Dusty a Tiger for life.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 05: Dustin Martin of the Tigers looks on during the 2024 AFL Round 08 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Fremantle Dockers at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 05, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Outgoing Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale is working towards making his parting gift to the club a deal that could see triple Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin finish his glittering AFL career with the Tigers.

But the man who will take over the Tasmanian Devils as CEO next year says he won’t be prising Richmond’s list boss Blair Hartley out of Punt Rd.

Gale said on Saturday he and Hartley would sit down with Martin and his manager Ralph Carr to speak about the future hall of famer’s football future beyond 2024.

“Clearly, we would love to do that,” Gale said on 3AW when asked about the club’s plans to keep Martin when his monster seven-year deal expires at the end of this season.

“He has been a wonderful player. He has been an ornament to our club.

“That (next move) needs to come from Dustin first. Blair Hartley is one of the best in the business. He has a great relationship with Dusty and his manager Ralph Carr. We will sit down in good faith and find out where Dustin is at.

“Right now, he is in a good space, so we are hopeful that will be the case (that he stays).”

Carr has begun gauging interest in his player with rival clubs despite the likelihood the Richmond legend will retire or play out his career at Punt Rd.

Dustin Martin. Picture: Getty Images

Martin has expressed to teammates that while he is still enjoying his time at Richmond his motivation to train and play no longer reaches the heights of the club’s premiership years.

Martin can no longer train with the same intensity as he battles soft-tissue complaints including the calf issues that have seen him miss two games this year.

Clubs are aware they would likely have to offer him a two-year deal on good money well above $500,000 a year and at this stage have reservations about that kind of contract.

Hartley, who played a massive role in shaping the Tigers’ three-flag dynasty, had been linked to a potential move to become the Devils’ inaugural talent manager.

But Gale said Hartley was too committed to Richmond’s rebuild under new coach Adem Yze to consider a move to the Tassie team, which is scheduled to come into the AFL by 2028.

“Blair is a really valued member of the leadership of the (Richmond) football club,” he said.

“I know he is really invested in Adem. We have two heads of football, one is more on the talent side and one is on the performance side - that’s Blair and Tim Livingstone. They are both invested in the appointment of Adem Yze and (were) involved in that process.”

Vice-captain Liam Baker’s strong preference is believed to be a trade to West Coast, instead of Fremantle.

BLUES’ $5M OFFER TO GET THEIR MAN

Carlton might have to pony-up $5 million to secure Sydney free agent Will Hayward, given the price for the medium-sized forward is likely to hit $800,000 a season.

It was reported this week the Blues will offer Hayward a six-year deal, after the Herald Sun reported in March he would put talks on hold with multiple suitors.

Port Adelaide is keen to lure him across the border so with the bidding war fierce, Carlton might need to offer a deal of $750,000-$800,000 a year over six years to get him to move south. It would result in an end-of-first-round compensation pick for Sydney.

This year, Hayward is averaging elite for goals, forward-50m marks and forward-50m ground balls at Sydney and has kicked 15.5 from eight games.

Playing a more attacking role after, at times, sacrificing his game in a Lance Franklin-focused offence he has reaped the rewards. Sydney would be unlikely to match a bid of that size, especially given they would secure a quality free agency compensation pick.

Will Hayward celebrates a goal. Picture: Phil Hillyard

DEES LOOK TO LOCK AWAY YOUNG GUN

Caleb Windsor. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne is about to kickstart talks with their young Rising Star contender Caleb Windsor on a new deal past his mandatory three-season contract.

In the eyes of Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson, Windsor is the Rising Star favourite and peeled off another spectacular game against the Blues on Thursday night.

Windsor is in the first year of a three-year contract, which will limit what he can earn, so the security of an extended deal would attract for the Lysterfield product in Melbourne’s east.

The Demons are also keen to extend Ed Langdon’s deal and foresee few issues on that front, given the 28-year-old’s form.

Despite interest in Clayton Oliver from rival clubs after last year’s aborted trade Demons football boss Alan Richardson told Fox Footy on Thursday night both parties had “fallen back in love” after a rocky summer. He said he would be “staggered if there was a parting of the ways”, with Oliver contracted to 2030.

DANGER IN NO HURRY TO RE-SIGN

Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Getty Images

Patrick Dangerfield will wait until he is over his most recent hamstring strain to kickstart contract talks on a new deal likely to be one season.

Amid speculation about Adelaide asking over summer about his availability, Dangerfield has always planned to play on next year. But given the club has other priorities including Tyson Stengle and Jack Henry’s deals, Dangerfield is in no hurry.

He signed his most recent extension a year before his deal expired but all parties are happy with the current state of affairs.

SCOTT’S BIG PAYDAY

Bailey Scott. Picture: Getty Images

North Melbourne wingman Bailey Scott is yet to sign a deal for next season after performance-based triggers in his contract allowed him to earn as much as $650,000 this season.

Despite suggestions he might be keen for a fresh start he has made no moves to do anything other than re-sign at the Roos. But he is another player who has made a positional switch that has not helped his performance after finishing third in successive Syd Barker Medals.

Pushed from a wing into defence, he ranks only average as a general defender averaging 20 possessions and 69 ranking points. He ranks below average for kicking, average for disposals, and poor for intercepts and intercept marks.

Entering his sixth season he would have hoped for another year of progress but it has been hard playing in a Roos backline that is bleeding inside-50s.

Originally published as AFL trade wrap: The latest news from around the competition