Let’s deal: How the biggest AFL trades get done

The figurative arm-wrestling between clubs has already begun as the AFL’s trade period prepares to officially start on Monday. We go inside the biggest deals – from Dan Houston to Shai Bolton, and Gold Coast’s coveted pick 13 – to see how they will get done.

Dan Houston (Port Adelaide to a Victorian club)

This remains one of the pivotal plays of trade week. Carlton, Collingwood and North Melbourne are among the clubs trying to lure the creative half-back, with Gold Coast’s pick No.13 looming as the key to any deal.

Ready for lift off: Dan Houston has requested a trade to a Victorian club.Credit: Getty Images

The Suns have made the selection available to rival clubs, with the Magpies hoping to swoop on it as part of a deal for John Noble, who has declared he wants to head north. However, Collingwood’s wish for that to be part of the Noble deal may not happen, with Gold Coast weighing up pick swaps with other clubs instead.

The Blues, Melbourne and Western Bulldogs have put forward future first-round selections as they chase the coveted selection, while Sydney would be willing to part with their top two picks this year: numbers 19 and 22.

Carlton, who have long made clear their intention to retain pick 12, could also use their future second-rounder to sway the Suns, assuming they can secure a separate 2025 second-rounder to satisfy league rules on future trading.

North Melbourne, who have offered Houston a five-year deal, are looking at several options, including putting their No.2 selection up for grabs to see what they can turn it into.

The Power’s interest in Collingwood’s Joe Richards, who they have offered a three-year deal, could lead to the small forward being bundled into a Houston trade if the Port star chose the Pies.

Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs to Geelong)

The Cats originally had pick 15 to offer the Bulldogs, but this has slid to No.17 after free-agency compensation was awarded to St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney. This pick could fall further once father-son and academy selections are made. Regardless, this selection will be the basis of a deal. Just how the Cats can sweeten it – if that’s what the Bulldogs ultimately demand during official negotiations – will be a fascinating watch. Aside from pick No.17, the Cats have picks 38, 56, 74 and 92, plus future picks, to use.

Dan Rioli (Richmond to Gold Coast)

The Suns’ pick six will be central to this trade, but the Tigers have thus far also asked for Gold Coast to include their No.13 selection. Richmond are adamant they want more than pick six alone for the triple premiership player, who just won the club’s Jack Dyer Medal for the first time and is contracted until the end of 2027, but it is doubtful the Suns will do that, given what else they are trying to do with No.13.

Shai Bolton (Richmond to Fremantle)

There are some compassionate reasons for Bolton wanting to return to Western Australia, but he is one of the Tigers’ best players, under contract, and they know the Dockers have a mighty draft hand. Bolton hasn’t actually nominated Fremantle as his preferred destination, but that is where he will end up.

Fremantle hold picks 10, 11 (tied to Collingwood) and 18 (Port Adelaide), which puts them in a far stronger position than West Coast to make a play for Bolton. The Eagles are trying to split their No.3 pick to gain multiple assets instead.

The Dockers are willing to hand over 10 and 18 for Bolton, which Richmond are so far unwilling to accept, as they instead push for 10 and 11. The Bolton trade is not expected to be one of the early completed deals.

Clayton Oliver (Melbourne to Geelong)

Demons president Brad Green used his speech at the club’s best and fairest to shut down talk of trading the star midfielder, who has been unhappy at Melbourne and last week met with Cats chief executive Steve Hocking and premiership players Rhys Stanley and Tom Stewart. Oliver – despite having six years left on his contract – is keen to join the Cats if a deal can be unlocked. For the Cats to do so, they will need to find multiple first-round selections, and perhaps take on all of Oliver’s contract of about $1.3 million per season. While the Demons have said no to a deal, this will remain a watch until the trade period closes.

Tom Barrass (West Coast to Hawthorn)

This deal would have been a lot more straightforward if not for the Hawks’ stunning surge from 0-5 to the second week of finals. Hawthorn’s top pick blew out to No.14, pushed even further back after St Kilda scored band-one compensation for defender Josh Battle inking a six-year free agency deal to play in the brown and gold.

Tom Barrass (right) flies against the Saints.Credit: AFL Photos

The Hawks have offered their first-rounder to the Eagles for Barrass, who has been in considerable demand in recent years, including Sydney making a major play for him 12 months ago.

Barrass, who turns 29 on Tuesday, is contracted for three more seasons, which puts West Coast in a strong position, particularly given he has accepted a four-year deal with a trigger for a fifth at Hawthorn. His advanced age is in the Hawks’ favour.

The Eagles’ would be willing to pay a chunk of Barrass’ salary if they could gain an even stronger return from Hawthorn, but this is an unlikely scenario, at least at this early stage of negotiations.

Moving on: Liam Baker has requested a trade from the Tigers.Credit: Getty

Liam Baker (Richmond to West Coast)

The premiership Tiger has requested a trade to West Coast, but this deal won’t get done until Tom Barrass’ move to Hawthorn is complete. Hawthorn’s first-round pick, No.14, will be the basis of any Barrass trade, with that selection then set to be forwarded to Richmond for Baker.

Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs to St Kilda)

The Bulldogs won’t let the premiership midfielder go easily, for he is contracted until the end of 2027. The Saints are not keen to hand over pick 46 for the 30-year-old, who has struggled for a permanent role in the Bulldogs’ midfield over the past two seasons. He played 19 senior games this year, including four as a sub, and spent time in the VFL.

Luke Parker (Sydney to North Melbourne)

The premiership Swan, 31, has requested a trade to Arden St, where his experience and nous will be coveted in a rebuilding side, and rewarded with a multi-year deal. The clubs are yet to discuss what a Parker trade might look like, but it is likely that North will make the first move. Parker is contracted to the Swans until the end of next year. The Kangaroos are set to part with pick 67 for Jack Darling, so they might try to secure Parker with their other fourth-rounder, No.61.

Luke Parker will leave the Swans.Credit: Getty Images

Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast to Port Adelaide)

The No.2 pick in the 2018 draft was dropped late in the season at the Suns, but returned to kick two goals in the last round. Lukosius is highly skilled, but set to earn about $2.5m across the next two years, so Gold Coast can wipe a lot of money off their books by trading him.

The Power are scoring a player entering his prime at 24, with 116 games behind him, and will spread his money across a longer-term contract – for as many as six seasons – than the back-ended Suns deal.

There have been preliminary discussions between the clubs about Port handing over their future first-round selection.

That move will require AFL approval, as clubs must use at least two first-round picks in the previous four-year period. The Power last selected in the first round in 2021, when they took Josh Sinn, but have traded them out ever since, including to secure Jason Horne-Francis.

The league is likely to green-light the impending request, given Port gained a young player in Horne-Francis for trading out some of their first-rounders previously.

The Power are trying to bring in another first-round pick for Dan Houston, but will seek to hang onto that, and trade the future first to the Suns for Lukosius. They are reluctant to pull the trigger on the Lukosius deal until they know they have secured a pick for Houston.

... and two less complicated ones

• Demon Alex Neal-Bullen’s move to Adelaide should be fairly painless, given the personal circumstances in him wanting to return to South Australia. The 2021 premiership player is contracted for two more seasons, and the Crows’ second-round pick – which is coincidentally tied to Melbourne – will likely seal the deal. The Dees sent that to Adelaide last year for Shane McAdam.
• West Coast’s veteran key forward Jack Darling will finish his career at North Melbourne after falling down the pecking order at the rebuilding Eagles. There is unlikely to be major haggling here, given West Coast will be getting Darling’s salary off the books, with pick 67 set to secure his move. Darling has accepted a two-year deal at North, with a trigger for a potential third season.

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