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Trading and drafting

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Elijah Tsatas of the Bombers

The Tsatas project: The mission to fix the one big snag in Essendon top pick’s game

The young Bomber possesses power, a burst from stoppage and a knack for winning the ball. But there was one major problem.

  • Jake Niall

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Western Bulldogs footballer Sam Davidson at home with his family.

The son of the west who put medicine on hold for an unexpected AFL career

Medical student and PhD candidate Sam Davidson, whose AFL career came late and unexpectedly, comes from an extraordinary family of Bulldogs and high achievers.

  • Michael Gleeson
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Victorian clubs weigh up bold plays on Harley Reid

Victorian clubs are already considering what they may need to give up in draft capital to secure Harley Reid if he attempts to leave the Eagles with one year left on his contract. There’s news around Kysaiah Pickett and Toby Bedford, too.

  • Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan
A man on a mission: St Kilda president Andrew Bassat is doing all he can to turn the Saints into an AFL power.

‘Doing this properly’: Why the Saints won’t back down in their star pursuit

Andrew Bassat caused a stir when he called the AFL out on what he felt were unfair drafting rules. The St Kilda president opens up on the Saints’ salary cap, their pursuit of star players and why more change at the draft table is needed.

  • Jon Pierik
Dan Houston has settled into his new jumper

New jumper, ‘new person’: Houston had a problem in 2024, now he’s ready for lift-off

Despite all the complications of 2024, Dan Houston still produced an All-Australian season at Port Adelaide. Now he’s got less on his mind and is ready to make his debut as a Magpie against his former club.

  • Peter Ryan
Christian Petracca in action for the Demons during their pre-season clash with Fremantle.

AFL clarifies players’ third-party deals; how ‘Kozzy’ could hold the key to action on Jackson

The AFL clarified the process to The Age after this masthead reported on Melbourne star Christian Petracca’s deal with yoghurt company, and Demons sponsor, YoPRO.

  • Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan
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Petracca in action for the Demons during the pre-season.

Petracca’s power move: Demon splits from star-studded Connors Sports stable

The move follows the most tumultuous period of Christian Petracca’s career.

  • Marc McGowan
Brendon Gale has started as CEO of the Tasmania Devils.

‘My wish is … that comes to an end’: Why Gale wants Hawthorn booted from Tassie

The Tasmania Devils boss insists the team will be ready to play in the AFL from 2028, and dismissed concerns about potential delays to the Macquarie Point stadium.

  • Caroline Wilson
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
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

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