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Trading and drafting

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Noah Balta, Hayden Young, Aaron Naughton and Max King have some of the longest contracts in the AFL.

AFL introduces ‘Buddy Franklin rule’ to police clubs

There are now 27 AFL players with contracts that stretch to the end of 2030 or beyond, and the league has directed club boards and CEOs to have greater oversight and responsibility for deals of this length.

  • Jake Niall

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Francis Evans has impressed Carlton at training this pre-season as part of the VFL squad.

The AFL clubs with vacant list spots – and the contenders to fill them

About 80 players have been given an AFL lifeline in the pre-season supplemental selection period, but few have kicked on and one club has ignored the mechanism altogether.

  • Peter Ryan
Looking elsewhere? Star Suns midfielder Matt Rowell met with other clubs but said he thinks he is likely to re-sign with the Suns.

Pies, Dons and Cats are circling, but Rowell ‘thinks’ he will re-sign with Suns

It was not an emphatic declaration of intent, but out-of-contract Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell thinks he is likely to re-sign with the Suns this year.

  • Michael Gleeson
Sam Draper (left) is one of the coveted free agents in the 2025 class.

Essendon’s ruckman Sam Draper could be next on the Crows’ hit list

Carlton’s Tom De Koning, West Coast captain Oscar Allen and North Melbourne prime mover Luke Davies-Uniacke join Draper among the most fascinating cases in this year’s free agency sweepstakes.

  • Marc McGowan
Tom De Koning was the game’s most influential player during a purple patch midway through last season

As rival clubs circle, what price is right for Carlton to keep De Koning?

On Tuesday, Carlton announced two new re-signings. But neither was the man who looms as one of the most talked-about free agents of 2025.

  • Peter Ryan
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AFLW draft 2024: Every pick from the first AFLW national draft

The AFLW’s brave new world of a national draft where players could end up anywhere in the country had an immediate impact. See every pick.

  • Scott Spits
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Melbourne Demons star Tayla Harris.

One of AFLW’s biggest names wanted out of Melbourne. Here’s why her wish was denied

This star forward – one of the most recognisable figures in the competition – now has to decide whether to accept the Demons’ offer, or take her chances in the AFLW draft with no guarantee she would end up at her club of choice.

  • Peter Ryan
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The AFL draftee who wants to banish ‘toxic masculinity’

New Giant Ollie Hannaford was a top-20 pick in last week’s AFL draft, but he has grander goals than just the ones he kicks on the football field.

  • Marc McGowan
Noah Mraz was drafted by Hawthorn on Thursday night.

Inside the drama of draft night for new Hawk ‘Jason’ – and a swift lesson from James Sicily

Noah Mraz did not have to wait long for his first lesson as a Hawthorn footballer after experiencing a roller-coaster of emotions during the draft.

  • Marc McGowan
Richmond’s first-round draftees in 2024.

‘It’s not often us – it’s the parents’: The staggering private school dominance of the AFL draft

We crunched the numbers and they paint a telling picture of just where the AFL’s draftees are coming from.

  • Marc McGowan

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/trading-and-drafting-64h