AFL trade news: Huge Harley Reid asking price, free agency latest

Whichever Victorian club wins the Harley Reid sweepstakes is going to have to pay a lot — in salary and trade — to drag him out of West Coast. And, that has some reconsidering.

Some Victorian clubs are getting cold feet on bids this year for Harley Reid given the vast bounty they would have to give up and his likely astronomical wage.

For Reid to move back this year and break his contract he would need to be paid at least $1.8 million a season on a long-term deal.

While he has had his moments, he has also had his challenges with up-and-down form for the battling Eagles.

Contracted until the end of 2026, those close to him have also given off the feeling that he is easing into Perth life.

Harley Reid has suitors in Victoria, but they will have to pay a high price.

Richmond and Essendon both have a pair of top-10 picks while Geelong is seen as another suitor for Reid.

Reid is rated below average by Champion Data for disposals, clearances and contested possessions but above average for his kicking.

The brilliant second-year star had a disrupted pre-season and is certain to emerge as one of the stars of the game.

But clubs committing as many as three first round picks would need to be certain he is a generational player to hand him upwards of $10 million in six year deals or longerr

STARCEVICH, WORPEL WEIGH UP OFFERS

Brisbane defender Brandon Starcevich is keen to remain at the Lions now that he has overcome his concussion battle as the list of restricted free agents shrinks to three.

Starcevich, Hawthorn’s James Worpel and West Coast’s Oscar Allen are the only restricted agents on a day when Collingwood’s unrestricted free agent Brayden Maynard locked in a four-year deal.

Starcevich’s contract talks have been on hold, but now that he is back this weekend in Lions colours he will again get those talks back on track.

The WA local had requested a two-year offer from the Lions in a deal that would have given him the option of unrestricted free agency or a move to Tasmania in 2028.

But he could end up asking for a longer deal or take up that offer to 2028 after going home in coming weeks to ensure he is keen to be locked in at the Lions.

The fact he is a restricted free agent as one of the top nine paid players at Brisbane shows he has been well rewarded for his form.

Premiership Lion Brandon Starcevich is keen to stay in Queensland.

The Herald Sun reported last week that Carlton is certain unrestricted free agent Jack Silvagni will remain at the club as talks near.

Silvagni is keen to stay at Carlton and will secure a pay rise after his spectacular year as a key position defender.

But those talks will still have to resolve how many years the 27-year-old signs for and the scope of that pay rise.

If rivals were clamouring for his services it would be easier to get a huge deal but he is likely to settle for a more modest rise to remain a third-generation Blue.

Hawthorn’s James Worpel is also considering whether to accept a similar two-year offer that would give him the chance to use Tasmania as leverage or even move south.

The Hawks remain confident he will stay but to this stage have not blown him off the park with their offer.

James Worpel is weighing up his future.

Essendon’s unrestricted Sam Draper is a long way apart on financial terms with the Dons on a four-year deal but in an ideal world would like to stay if he can play in his preferred position as first ruck.

Draper is unrestricted after the Dons completed 2024 deals for players including Jy Caldwell that put him out of the club’s top nine players for 2025.

SUNS FACE NERVOUS WAIT AS ROWELL WEIGHS UP FUTURE

Gold Coast star Matt Rowell has gone away with mates across the mid-season bye before considering his future as the Suns nervously await a decision.

They are confident he will soon commence contract talks that would see him likely locked away for two more years to free agency.

But given that timeline for talks has been easing back since round 8, there is a real sense of nervousness at Gold Coast.

Matt Rowell’s future remains undecided with Victorian clubs circling.

The Suns would want an A grader in return for Rowell if he did decide to leave instead of draft picks, which means a trade would be especially hard to broker.

Gold Coast is in the window and so isn’t interested in draft picks for yet more kids, but remains bullish he is just concentrating on his own form before committing

Judd McVee’s management recently met with Melbourne.

MCVEE TO STAY A DEMON BUT IN NO RUSH TO SIGN

Melbourne’s Judd McVee wants to stay at the Demons but isn’t yet in a hurry to commit.

The West Australia’s management met with the Demons last week but the offer is not yet at a stage where he would be keen to sign it.

With McVee back from a long-running hamstring injury, Daniel Turner emerging as an intercepting back and Jake Bowey in terrific form, the Demons backline is taking shape.

Steven May was in super form in the one-point loss to Collingwood, with Jake Lever easing back from an ankle concern.

So the nucleus of the Demons’ back six is there for future years, which makes securing 21-year-old McVee so important given he can lock away dangerous smalls and mid-sizers.

JOEL FREIJAH, THAT IS SENSATIONAL 🤩@Coles | #AFLDogsPowerpic.twitter.com/HtQhZFEfSp

— AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2025

DOGS EYE NEXT DEALS DESPITE BONT DELAY

The Dogs will turn their attention to trying to secure youngsters including Joel Freijah long-term in coming weeks even as they work on a deal for 2025 free agent Marcus Bontempelli.

The Dogs are adamant Bontempelli is no chance to leave the club but has just had some life issues including his engagement and the starting of a new cafe to concentrate on.

Those talks should kick off in coming weeks.

Veterans Liam Jones and Adam Treloar are also out of contract this year.

Freijah is out of contract next year along with Ryley Sanders, Harvey Gallagher and Jordan Croft.

Freijah is one of footy’s rising stars given his emergence as a pacy, explosive midfielder, while Sanders is in no hurry given he is a Tasmanian likely to get a massive multimillion-dollar offer to move south.

Originally published as AFL trade news: Huge Harley Reid asking price, free agency latest