Moneyball: All the latest AFL trade, draft and contract news
One of the AFL’s rising stars looks set to receive a giant reward for his elite season so far, leaving a rival club to wonder what may have been. Get the latest trade news in Moneyball.
Melbourne forward Kade Chandler has re-signed with the Demons for another three years in a massive boost to the club’s forward stocks.
The hard-nut goal kicker attracted strong interest from rivals, but on Wednesday finalised a deal to keep him at the club until 2026.
Chandler, 23, has flourished in attack in his fifth season, kicking 15 goals from all 13 games this year.
In particular his hardness around the ball and defensive intensity has won high praise from his coaches and teammates amid a break-out campaign.
Chandler missed out on selection in the Demons’ 2021 premiership team but he emerged as a key forward in Casey’s VFL premiership side last year, and was promoted to the senior list.
While rivals have come knocking in recent months, list boss Tim Lamb said the club was thrilled to re-sign Chandler only months after extending Kysaiah Pickett’s deal.
That is outstanding from Kade Chandler!#AFLLionsDeespic.twitter.com/jk3gcHOqno
— AFL (@AFL) March 24, 2023
“We are really pleased that Kade has committed to us for a further three seasons,” Lamb said.
“He has worked diligently on his game over an extended period, and this season we have seen him play at a really high level in the AFL team.
“It is a credit to Kade and his terrific character, that he stuck at it and earned his opportunity, and he is now reaping the rewards.
“We have known for a little while that he was AFL ready, and it is fantastic to see him producing on the big stage.”
“He is hugely respected by his teammates and coaches, and we look forward to him continuing with us for the next three seasons,”
The 175cm Chandler, from Norwood in South Australia, was originally taken with pick No. 14 in the 2019 rookie draft.
FRINGE BLUE’S FUTURE UNCERTAIN
Zac Fisher’s future at Carlton is uncertain, despite the forward-midfielder being contracted for two more seasons.
Fisher could be on the move next season with interest certain to come from rival clubs, after he was dropped last week for a second time this season.
It is understood Fisher, who turns 25 on Thursday, is keen for more midfield time and could potentially seek more opportunities elsewhere if the Blues are open to a move.
But several clubs, including two from his native home state of Western Australia, are monitoring his current situation if he becomes available.
Fisher possesses speed and can provide a spark, but he has become one of the Blues’ whipping boys this season, at times falling out of favour with the coaching staff and the fans.
In July last year he signed a contract extension with the Blues that takes him through until the end of 2025 season.
He spent his first three years at the club fighting for a midfield spot but became more of a small forward in the back end of the 2020 season.
SPEEDY LION WANTS PAY RISE
Brisbane Lions’ defender Conor McKenna will push for a pay rise as part of talks to extend his contract up north beyond this season.
The Irishman signed only a one-year deal which tied him to Brisbane until the end of 2023 when he decided to reignite his AFL career under Chris Fagan.
Veteran Daniel Rich who was subbed off the ground on Saturday with a calf problem is also out of contract at season’s end after signing a one-year extension.
Rich faces an uncertain future beyond this season with youngsters including Darcy Wilmot and former Bomber McKenna cementing a spot in the back half.
The McKenna recruiting mission was part of a concerted premiership push from the Lions who also added Jack Gunston, from Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs’ star ballwinner Josh Dunkley in the postseason.
Gunston also fielded interest from Essendon but uncertainty over the club’s direction and search for a coach saw Gunston look north to reunite with Fagan.
McKenna, 27, signed a contract worth about $350,000 a season, but will endeavour to add to that deal on his next agreement after playing the first 12 games of the season across half back.
His speed is an important weapon for the Lions who wanted to add some pace to take the next step in 2023, but fell to a shock loss to Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.
There was also significant interest from McKenna from Geelong and Port Adelaide last year but Lions’ list boss Dom Ambrogio had been tracking him closely and visited him in Ireland.
The prospect of team success at Brisbane appealed to the former Bomber who was unable to win a final during his 79 matches at Tullamarine.
REWARD FOR DONS YOUNG GUN’S FORM
Essendon midfielder Nic Martin continues to deliver enormous value for the Bombers after joining the club off the AFL scrapheap.
Martin, 22, was training with West Coast in the summer of 2021 before joining the Bombers’ list in February 2022 to kick-off his stunning debut season last year.
His improvement has continued to thrill Bombers’ coaches with the goal kicking wingman given a maximum 10 AFL coaches votes for his outstanding 30-possession performance in Essendon’s in over Carlton on Sunday night at the MCG.
The 190cm Martin was on a base contract when he joined Essendon in early 2022 but signed a modest two-year extension in May to keep the star ballwinner at the club until the end of 2024.
He finished eighth in the best and fairest last year and has again been one of Brad Scott’s best-performed players this season as the Bombers push for a finals berth.
The Bombers will look to reward the gun wingman with a pay rise on his next deal in reward for his consistent efforts in red and black.
West Coast will regret not listing Martin after a brief stint training with the team in Perth on the back of a strong 2021 season for Subiaco in the WAFL.
WINGARD FIGHTING FOR CAREER
Hawthorn looks set to make a call on Chad Wingard’s future at the end of the season as the young Hawks continue to exceed expectations under Sam Mitchell.
Wingard, 29, played well in the VFL at the weekend, gathering 14 disposals and one goal as the Box Hill Hawks rose to 8-2 for the season.
Also in the VFL was second-year midfielder Josh Ward, five-goal star Fergus Greene, No. 6 draft pick Denver Grainger-Barras and former Magpie Callum Brown.
Wingard is out of contract at season’s end and could attract interest from a premiership fancy such as Geelong or Melbourne on a significantly reduced paypacket.
He faces a fight to cement a senior position in the forward line in the back half of the season.
Goal kicker Luke Breust was subbed out of the win over Brisbane with a corked quad, but will recover in time over the bye weekend in preparation for the clash against Gold Coast on Sunday.
Durability has been a problem for Wingard, who made his return from another soft-tissue injury at the weekend.
The Hawks last week re-signed free agent Jarman Impey and are excited by the growth and development of goal kicker Tyler Brockman.
PIES TRADE TARGET
Collingwood is expected to look at adding a key defender to its shopping list at the end of the season.
The Magpies have done an outstanding job of paring back its salary cap issues from 2020 and are looking in a much better financial situation as it approaches the 2023 off season.
It remains to be seen if the Pies will launch big in the trade or free agency period this year, or wait until next year, but there is little doubt they are looking at the defensive options potentially on offer.
The Pies added Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill and Dan McStay last season in a busy off-season. There has already been speculation the club is entertaining joining the race for Giants swingman and restricted free agent Harry Himmelberg.
The Giants are doing their best to keep Himmelberg, but rival clubs have expressed their interest in the forward who can also play just as well in defence.
Ben McKay is another defensive free agent attracting plenty of attention, with Port Adelaide believed to be leading the chase. The Magpies might also be willing to look at McKay at the right price.
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