By Marc McGowan, Peter Ryan, Michael Gleeson and Jake Niall
Credit:
Three-time All-Australian Jack Macrae has told the Western Bulldogs he wants to be traded after being on the fringes of selection throughout 2024.
The 30-year-old, who played a key role in the club’s drought-breaking 2016 premiership, has three years remaining on his contract with the Bulldogs and was used as the sub in the elimination final but believes he will gain more opportunities at another club.
Jack Macrae is an outstanding ball winner who played in the Bulldogs’ 2016 flag and won the 2021 Gary Ayres Award as the player of the AFL finals.Credit: Getty Images
The Bulldogs have first-round pick Ryley Sanders trying to break into the midfield and will have another first-round pick in this year’s draft, with the squeeze for midfield spots likely to continue.
Buku Khamis in action for the Bulldogs against Jeremy Cameron’s Geelong in Gather Round.Credit: Getty Images
Macrae did not nominate his preferred destination to the Bulldogs, but this masthead has confirmed via two industry sources that St Kilda have expressed interest in the midfielder if a fair trade was possible. He was known to be interested in seeking further opportunities at another Victorian club.
Macrae did not ask for a trade at his exit meeting on Monday, which occurred after the loss to Hawthorn, however the Bulldogs were not surprised by Tuesday’s request. He spent three of the Bulldogs’ last four games as the sub after spending less time in the midfield in 2023 and 2024, but he put in an outstanding performance in round 24 this year, winning 23 possessions against the Giants.
Another premiership player, Caleb Daniel, who has two years left on his contract, has not told the club he wants a trade after also spending the season on the fringes of selection, while utility Bailey Smith does want a trade. Smith has not nominated a preferred destination but industry sources expect him to join Geelong.
The Bulldogs are after more than the Cats’ first-round pick, which will now be at least No.15, after they made the preliminary final.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have re-signed intercept-marking defender Buku Khamis – who played 17 games in 2024 – for two more seasons.
The 24-year-old missed out on selection in the elimination final, with the Bulldogs preferring James O’Donnell, but he is making good progress and is in a strong position to cement a spot in their back line next year.
Riley Garcia is still playing for Footscray in the VFL finals, with the club facing the Southport Sharks in the preliminary final on Saturday. He remains unsigned and could attract interest.
Old Tigers, numerous draft picks
Richmond could look to spread some of their return for wantaway stars Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and Liam Baker into the 2025 draft, rather than putting all their eggs in this year’s basket.
The Tigers already hold the No.1 selection in what talent scouts rate as a strong and deep crop – albeit without an obvious dux of the class – but are certain to strengthen their first-round hand in the trade period.
Daniel Rioli wants to continue his AFL career under former coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast.Credit: AFL Photos
Rioli, who is contracted until 2027, wants to join Gold Coast under his former coach Damien Hardwick, with the Suns holding picks six, 12 (tied to the Western Bulldogs) and 20 (North Melbourne assistance package selection) and set to match a bid on academy product Leo Lombard.
Richmond are not expected to inquire about Jack Lukosius as part of the Rioli negotiations, but will demand more compensation than merely pick six for Rioli, who is favoured to win the Jack Dyer Medal this season.
Meanwhile, Collingwood have asked for the Suns’ pick 12 for contracted defender John Noble, in an ambitious opening of negotiations.
John Noble wants a trade from Collingwood.Credit: AFL Photos
Both clubs are aware of the heavy draft hand, including the aforementioned first-round picks, and selections 26, 34, 46 and 70, and know Lombard will attract a first-round bid.
Lukosius has spoken to both South Australian clubs, and is likely to request a trade despite being contracted on a back-ended deal for two more seasons. Collingwood previously expressed interest in the 24-year-old swingman as well.
Bolton and Baker want to return to Western Australia, but are yet to nominate a club.
Fremantle, who have selections nine, 10 (tied to Collingwood) and 17 (tied to Port Adelaide), are considered Bolton’s likeliest destination, and they are also in serious contention for Baker, who grew up a West Coast fan but knows the Dockers have been keen on him for years.
The Eagles are poised to receive Hawthorn’s first-round selection for contracted defender Tom Barrass, who has already indicated he wants to join the Hawks. Richmond unrestricted free agent Jack Graham is weighing up an offer from West Coast as well.
The Tigers also have two second-round picks, and another three in the third round, which they hope to use to move up the order, so are shaping to be the biggest players in the 2024 draft.
North Melbourne are open to trading down from No.2, given they already have a good group of promising midfielders, and could select a tall with a later top-10 selection – but finding a trade partner could be a challenge.
Indicative AFL draft first-round order
1. Richmond
2. North Melbourne
3. West Coast
4. Adelaide
5. Melbourne
6. Gold Coast
7. St Kilda
8. Essendon
9. Fremantle
10. Fremantle (tied to Collingwood)
11. Carlton
12. Gold Coast (tied to Western Bulldogs)
13. Hawthorn*
14. Brisbane*
15. Greater Western Sydney*
16. Geelong*
17. Fremantle (tied to Port Adelaide)*
18. Sydney*
19. Sydney (North Melbourne assistance package selection)
20. Gold Coast (North Melbourne assistance package selection)
* Finals results TBD
Injury-prone Blue set to leave
Jack Martin has likely played his last game for Carlton, ending an injury-riddled five-year stint that peaked during the Blues’ barnstorming preliminary final run last season.
Martin, who is out of contract but not a free agent because he delisted himself from Gold Coast, has his exit meeting this week. Two sources familiar with the situation told this masthead he was poised to request a trade, with Fremantle among the West Australian’s suitors.
The 29-year-old forward played only three games this season because of persistent soft-tissue injuries, including most recently a hamstring setback in round 22.
Martin’s talent has never been in question, and he was a major contributor in the second half of last year, averaging 1.6 goals and 4.8 score involvements in the last 10 matches, but there was frustration from all parties at his inability to play regularly.
He has kicked 133 goals in 151 matches across his AFL career to date.
Adelaide stymie Collingwood’s bid for Mark Keane
The Crows managed to convince key defender Mark Keane to extend his contract until the end of 2028 as the Magpies made a bid to lure him back to Collingwood.
Keane played five matches for the Magpies after making his debut in 2020 but returned to Ireland in 2022, leaving the Magpies short a defender on the eve of the season.
Luke Trainor is a standout prospect in this year’s draft.Credit: AFL Photos
The Crows then convinced him to resume his AFL career with them, and he had a breakout season with Adelaide in 2024, playing 21 matches. The Magpies were hoping Keane would move this season, or be available as an unrestricted free agent at the end of next year, but Adelaide have stopped that prospect with a new deal.
Concern for a top-10 prospect
The highest-rated tall defender in this year’s draft – Sandringham’s Luke Trainor – may not play again this season after copping a high hit in Saturday’s quarter-final win over the Calder Cannons.
Trainor, the grandson of champion former Geelong and North Melbourne goalkicker Doug Wade, had just received a handball when Calder ruckman Riley Leedham collected him in the head and gave away a free kick.
Trainor immediately clutched at his head but played on for a brief period before taking no part in the second half and going to hospital for precautionary reasons. The Dragons will find out his scan results on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old has a concussion history, including two head knocks last season.
He and key forward teammate Harry Armstrong are the standout tall players in a midfield-dominated class.
The AFL announced in March that any footballer who suffered a concussion outside the AFL and AFLW would need to miss at least 21 days, including the under-18 Talent League and other second-tier competitions.
Trainor was an emergency for the Dragons’ grand final win last year, and a concussion would rule him out of this year’s decider, too, assuming Sandringham beat Dandenong Stingrays on Sunday.
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