By Peter Ryan, Jake Niall and Jon Pierik
North Melbourne targeting Swans’ veteran Luke Parker
Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
The Kangaroos have spoken to contracted Sydney midfielder Luke Parker about a potential move to the club in 2025 as they look to add valuable leadership to their list.
Parker was one of the players Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson listed as potential targets in a radio interview on SEN last month, along with recently re-signed veterans Jack Viney and Callan Ward, as well as Ollie Wines and Dane Rampe.
Luke Parker of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal against EssendonCredit: Getty Images
The Kangaroos have made no secret of their need to add experience to their list to support the talented young batch of midfielders drafted to the club in recent seasons and could offer Parker a multi-year deal if he chose to join them.
Two industry sources with knowledge of the trade landscape, who wanted to remain anonymous, believe the 31-year-old is gettable during this year’s trade period with Parker telling SEN on Monday he would discuss his future with Sydney at the end of the season.
“I’m contracted to Sydney, I’m looking forward to this finals series,” Parker said.
“You can never rule out what the future looks like. At the end of the year, I’ll sit down (and) talk to the coaches and the footy club about what the future looks like, but at the moment, I’m contracted and just enjoying this finals series and focusing on that.”
Clarkson said Parker was among a number of players who fitted the bill as “guys who are just terrific leaders, who have been part of really, really successful programs. They are high-quality men.” He stepped away from the joint captaincy after five years at the end of last year.
Parker was out of favour early in the season as he could not find a place in the Swans’ midfield after the club recruited Taylor Adams and James Jordon.
He was then suspended for six matches for a bump that went wrong in a VFL game against Frankston, and his future at the Swans looked shaky.
However Parker, who has a contract with Sydney until the end of 2025, forced his way back into the team in round 19 and has played as a forward with cameos at centre bounces, taking the spot of the unlucky Adams.
Parker has kicked 11 goals and was instrumental in the team’s win over the Bombers in round 23. He also had important touches late in the thrilling qualifying final win against the Giants.
Swans coach John Longmire celebrates with Braeden Campbell.Credit: via Getty Images
According to an industry source familiar with the issue who wanted to remain anonymous, the Kangaroos spoke to Parker several weeks ago before allowing him to focus on finishing his season strongly with the Swans.
They have made no secret of their need to add experience to their list after another poor year, where they won just three matches again in 2024 despite more competitive performances late in the season.
They lost three games by less than a goal before being thrashed in the final two rounds when star midfielder Harry Sheezel was out of the team.
Sydney CEO Tom Harley told SEN last week Parker was playing a really significant role in the team and they hoped he would remain at the club in 2025.
On the move: Bailey Smith requests a trade
Jon Pierik and Peter Ryan
Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith will be wearing new colours in 2025 after requesting a trade from the club which recruited him with selection seven in the 2018 national draft.
Smith, 23, and his management informed the Bulldogs of their intentions on Monday without naming his preferred destination.
Wanting a new home: Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith.Credit: AFL Photos
In a statement, the Bulldogs said Smith, whose future has been a public talking point for the past year, had yet to nominate his preferred club.
As reported by this masthead, Smith is likely to land at Geelong, but he has also been courted by Hawthorn.
However, the rising Hawks will attempt to trade in West Coast’s Tom Barrass and land St Kilda’s unrestricted free agent Josh Battle during this trade period. The Eagles are likely to want the Hawks’ first-round selection for Barrass, making a play for Smith difficult.
“Given Bailey’s immense talent, age and proven ability to influence games, the club will work diligently to ensure it is fairly compensated throughout the process,” the Bulldogs said in a statement.
The Cats’ first-round selection will be no more valuable than pick 15 as they are certain to finish in the top four after qualifying for the preliminary final, which makes any trade for Smith more complicated than it may have been at the start of the season
Geelong also have the option of trading out a future first-round selection or could attempt to include a player in the deal.
The Bulldogs, who lost their elimination final to Hawthorn on Friday, are likely to ask for more than the Cats’ first-round selection.
They traded Josh Dunkley to the Brisbane Lions for pick 21 and a future first-round pick with a collection of later selections swapped. Geelong handed over three first-round selections in 2020 to land premiership forward Jeremy Cameron and two future second-round picks. Cameron was a free agent but his former club, GWS, matched the bid.
Smith, who is off contract, has made it clear he wants to play as a frontline midfielder, having been used on a wing or as a high half-forward before he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in the pre-season and missed the entire 2024 campaign. He spent time in Europe during the season as part of his rehabilitation and his likely departure has been managed in mature fashion by the club.
Smith would slot in to an emerging midfield including Max Holmes and Tanner Bruhn as their premiership midfield stars – including Patrick Dangerfield, 34, Mitch Duncan, 33 and Cam Guthrie, 32 – near the end of their careers.
Smith, a fan favourite on social media, is an ambassador for the clothing retail giant Cotton On, a key Geelong sponsor.
He played 103 games for the Bulldogs and rose to prominence with a brilliant finals series in 2021 when he helped his team win its way from an elimination final into a grand final by kicking eight goals in the first three finals.
His career derailed momentarily in 2022 when he was suspended for two matches for conduct unbecoming after content appeared on social media showing him using an illicit substance, which he later admitted to.
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