Moneyball AFL trades: All the latest news and whispers on potential 2022 player movement

Who needs to bottom out? Geelong won the minor premiership and is poised to bring in more talent during the trade period. Get the latest trade and contract moves.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 06: Dyson Heppell of the Bombers looks dejected during the round 21 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Essendon Bombers at GIANTS Stadium on August 06, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Geelong is now perfectly placed to secure another GWS star in Jacob Hopper, with his fate resting in the hands of new coach Adam Kingsley and list boss Jason McCartney.

With Richmond and Collingwood battling to snare the uncontracted Tim Taranto, Hopper’s only options are being held to his contract at the Giants or getting to Geelong.

The Giants are attempting resolve their salary cap crisis in one year, so they alone will decide if Hopper can be traded.

But for Kingsley stripping back hard in his first year might be preferable to a multi-year drip feed of departing stars given Hopper is out of contract next year.

Geelong seems destined never to rebuild given Hopper would join young emerging mids including Max Holmes and Brandan Parfitt, with Tom Atkins only 26 and Tyson Stengle just 23.

Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy has been linked to the Cats but they have only just drafted Toby Conway and have Rhys Stanley and Jon Ceglar contracted for 2023 so it looks less likely than likely.

Bombers big man could be on the move

Rivals will come hard for Essendon back-up ruckman Nick Bryan given his impressive VFL form and Sam Draper’s emergence as the clear No.1 ruck at the Dons.

Clubs looking for ruckmen across the competition will find them in short supply as they await word about the intentions of Brodie Grundy, who has been linked to multiple clubs including Melbourne, GWS and Geelong.

Bryan played five AFL games this year but averaged 100 ranking points, 32 hitouts and eight hitouts to advantage in Essendon’s VFL side.

St Kilda is one of many clubs keen to secure a ruck-forward and Bryan, the No.38 pick in the 2019 draft, is contracted but has strong interest.

GWS is not sure if either of Kieren Briggs or Matt Flynn will turn into an A grade ruckman as they work through their list requirements, with Braydon Preuss enduring another topsy-turvy year.

It means clubs will consider whether they can drag Fremantle’s Lloyd Meek, Sydney’s Joel Amartey and Hayden McLean and Bryan from their clubs.

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With Sam Draper establishing himself as the No. 1 ruckman at Essendon does Nick Bryan become the centre of attention by rival clubs.

Don’t expect mass exodus at Essendon despite crisis

Player managers do not expect the kind of exodus from Essendon that saw Adam Saad, Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia leaving the club two years ago despite the turbulent events of the past month.

Dyson Heppell could wait until a new coach is in place before deciding upon his future, having had a new contract tabled by Essendon.

But while rivals might assess whether they can try to raid the Essendon list at a time of vulnerability, managers report the senior players are not having second thoughts about their futures.

Ben Rutten was liked but not loved by players, with David Barham promising a bold, aggressive new direction. It means many players want an environment created where their development can be maximised and the club can have a clear cohesive plan for success.

Zach Merrett and Michael Hurley have both bemoaned the fact in recent weeks the club seems to find itself in constant crisis.

Merrett had waited until he believed the Dons were on the right track to re-sign but now Essendon is back to square one.

The club hopes to have a new coach in place by the end of September, which means it does not have to make list management decisions before that coach is in place.

Saints urged to put star up for trade

Brad Hill is keen for a new start in part to reunite at North Melbourne with Alastair Clarkson but also to play in a position that maximises his strengths.

The Herald Sun revealed last week Hill had been in regular contact with his former coach Clarkson about a move to the Roos in what would effectively form a salary dump.

Hill believes his talents haven’t been utilised as best they could playing half back and half forward.

And there remains some discontent about the events of the round 15 game which he missed through personal issues, with the club denying it was connected to him being at a Mordialloc pub that weekend.

St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said on Fox Footy last week a deal where St Kilda got a mid-30s pick and paid around $300,000 of his $800,000-plus salary would be a fair swap.

Alternatively the Roos could pay more of the deal — he has three more seasons left — but only hand back a late pick.

St Kilda is being urged by past players to consider all scenarios, including even putting Jade Gresham on the table to see what rivals might throw at an injury-prone player who has managed only 32 games in the past three years.

Blues covert mission to scout Crows’ top pick

Carlton list boss Nick Austin has been spotted scouting Fischer McAsey’s recent SANFL matches, fuelling speculation the No. 6 draft pick will join the Blues in trade period.

McAsey, 21, is contracted at Adelaide at 2023. But the key defender has failed to play a single AFL game in the past two seasons and it's understood the Crows would facilitate a trade.

The great unknown is whether the McAsey can play. The Sandringham Dragons product was drafted before the likes of Rising Star winner Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Kozzie Pickett (Melbourne), Cody Weightman (Western Bulldogs) and Sam De Koning (Geelong) in 2019.

But he struggled to get a kick in the Crows‘ reserves this season. McAsey, who stands 198cm and weighs 98kg, averaged only 8.3 disposals and 47 SuperCoach points in 17 SANFL matches this season.

Last year he averaged 11.3 disposals and 62 SuperCoach points in 18 SANFL games without earning an AFL opportunity. All 10 of McAsey‘s AFL games came in 2020, his first season at the Crows.

But a fresh start back home could ignite the junior talent and the Blues appear eager to give him that chance.

The Blues had great success securing Lewis Young from the Dogs last season and would love further defensive reinforcements.

Carlton has shown interest in Fischer McAsey. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

Dees super-sub headed north?

Melbourne’s super-sub Toby Bedford is in the Giants’ sights as a potential replacement for Bobby Hill.

With Hill all but certain to request a trade to Collingwood – and forward-half pressure being a significant problem area this year – GWS has turned its attention to Bedford.

He was the medical substitute in each of the first six rounds and it took fellow forwards Kozzie Pickett and Alex Neal-Bullen entering Covid protocols for him to play a full game in round 7.

The 22-year-old served as the sub on 10 occasions in total but was dropped for a third time ahead of round 20 and hasn’t returned after not capitalising on a month-long stint in the senior side.

Bedford has speed to burn, genuine goal sense and a defensive appetite the Giants would benefit from, alongside superstar Toby Greene and Brent Daniels, who missed the entire season with foot and hamstring setbacks.

There appears no obvious path to regular AFL games for him at the Demons, so the GWS approach should pique his interest – but the Giants aren’t the only club to inquire about him.

Melbourne not only has Pickett, Neal-Bullen and Charlie Spargo as small forward options but also likes Kade Chandler despite him, too, being starved of senior opportunities.

Originally published as Moneyball AFL trades: All the latest news and whispers on potential 2022 player movement