Moneyball: The latest contract updates and trade news in the AFL

An out-of-favour young Magpie is firmly in the sights of rival clubs, with his future at Collingwood hanging in the balance. Get the latest trade news in this week’s edition of Moneyball.

Brodie Grundy of the Demons and Tom De Koning of the Blues compete in the ruck during the round 12 AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Carlton Blues at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on June 02, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Brodie Grundy would be open to a move to a new club to play ruck if he cannot get back into the Melbourne side playing a combination of ruck and forward.

Grundy was firmly pitched by the Demons on the idea of sharing ruck duties with Max Gawn and never believed he was at Melbourne to play as a sole forward.

The Demons believed he had been solid as a forward in the first 10 weeks kicking seven goals and being involved in 44 score assists before his forward craft fell away.

But Port Adelaide would be keen on Grundy and his $650,000 salary would be exactly the same as the expiring Scott Lycett contract.

Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy would be open to move away from Melbourne. Picture: Robert Cianflone.

Sydney could also need a ruckman if they don’t secure Tom De Koning.

Geelong is a suitor for De Koning and while they have denied they have offered Fremantle’s Sean Darcy a $1 million-per-season deal, rumours persist they are interested in the local boy.

Despite speculation Melbourne would need to pay some of Grundy’s salary, if Grundy was on the open market as a dual All Australian at $650,000 clubs would clearly be interested.

Collingwood’s midfield has proven difficult to break into for Finlay Macrae. Picture: Getty Images

Clubs circling Macrae

Rival AFL clubs are ramping up the chase for out-of-favour Collingwood midfielder Finlay Macrae as the Magpies chances of retaining him beyond this year remain on knife edge.

It is understood Macrae, 21, could have several suitors during the 2023 trade period, despite being contracted to the Magpies for next season and being considered a required player.

The hard-nosed inside mid has dominated at VFL level this season, including a recent 38-disposal, nine clearance game, but Collingwood’s midfield dominance has meant he has yet to play a senior game this season.

He has only played 11 matches in his three seasons at the club, since being chosen as pick 20 in the 2020 national draft - two selections ahead of Ollie Henry, who requested a trade to Geelong last year.

Coach Craig McRae said last week he was keen to provide rewards for his outstanding state league form, but Collingwood’s ample supply of inside mids has consistently kept him out of the side.

McRae said he was spending extra time with Macrae during the week, knowing the frustration the young player must be feeling at being out of the AFL side.

Macrae has played 12 VFL games this season and is averaging 26 disposals, five clearances and 106 rankings points.

Where does Blue end up?

Carlton mid-forward Zac Fisher is more likely to find a new home in Victoria, with West Coast cooling on the prospect of securing him as part of their rebuild.

The Eagles are determined to retain their draft picks and aren’t sure he would further their list strategy despite being a dashing midfielder with a strong left foot who hails from West Australia.

The Blues are happy for him to move on to secure midfield time at a rival club, which would also clear cap space.

So watch this space on suitors which emerge for Fisher, who has played five excellent games in the VFL including his most recent 24-possession outing.

Tom Doedee is inching closer to staying at the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

Crows confident they’ll retain Doedee

Adelaide is increasingly confident free agent Tom Doedee will ignore Brisbane’s strong overtures and sign their respectful multi-year offer.

Doedee went down with an ACL tear in June but the Crows have not reduced their offer, believing he will return to full fitness early in the season.

The Crows have offered a six-year deal to Essendon’s Mason Redman, with the Herald Sun revealing in round 5 Adelaide was keen to lure the Dons interceptor to their club.

Doedee has lucrative media deals in Adelaide and will again slot into the back six after he recovers from his knee issues, so the Crows would be shocked if he left.

Pick furore

Rival list managers have queried North Melbourne’s pending application for more draft assistance at season’s end based on some of the high-end talent already at the club.

The Kangaroos already had nine first-round selections in the team in Sunday’s loss to Hawthorn, two more than St Kilda which had seven in its loss to Gold Coast.

For the Roos, they include Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tarryn Thomas, Harry Sheezel, Jaidyn Stephenson and George Wardlaw as well as veterans Jack Ziebell, Luke McDonald and defenders Ben McKay and Aidan Corr.

Pick three Will Phillips did not play and was not counted.

The Roos have plenty of top-end draft picks on their list. Picture: Getty Images

Even Collingwood had only seven first-round picks in the team which has stormed to premiership favouritism as part of a brilliant second season under Craig McRae.

The Roos received draft assistance last year when they were given a future second and a future third-round pick which the club was required to trade for mature-age players.

But rival clubs are unhappy North look set to receive more hand-outs.

This year, the Kangaroos are in-line for pick No. 2 and Port Adelaide’s first-round pick plus first-round or end-of-first round compensation for McKay’s potential departure as a free agent, depending on his pay packet at a new club.

The Herald Sun last month revealed Essendon sat in the box seat for McKay as Port Adelaide circle Esava Ratugolea.

But list managers contacted by the Herald Sun on Tuesday queried whether North had already accumulated more top-end young talent than St Kilda as the two clubs prepare to lock horns this weekend.

The Saints’ seven first-rounders (minus Max King who was injured) include Mattaes Phillipou, Jade Gresham, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Brad Crouch, Zak Jones, Liam Stocker and Hunter Clark.

Gresham remains unsigned for next season and has been linked to a move to Carlton.

Ryley Sanders has ties with North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Roo connection in draftees

Top-ten pick Ryley Sanders has a strong connection to the Roos through his former Sandringham teammate Harry Sheezel which has strengthened his desire to get to Arden Street.

Sanders has proved he has Indigenous heritage, which will help the Roos’ submission to the AFL to put him in their NGA academy and potentially allow them to pre-list him ahead of the draft. It would require the league to bend its own draft rules quite significantly, but the Roos need draft help so it might as well be with a player who is keen to land at Arden Street.

Sandringham Dragons talent manager Mark Wheeler said the pair had become firm friends after playing together last year.

“He has a great relationship with Harry Sheezel at North Melbourne. Him and Harry really get along well and Harry reaches out each week,’’ Wheeler said. “He has had a fair bit of growth. His extraction skills are elite but he is really driving through traffic now. He reminds me of Jason Horne-Francis and he is modelling his game on him. He is a big strong boy and he stands up in the tackle.”

Jake Melksham of the Demons celebrates after kicking the winning goal against the Lions. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Dee-light at match winner

Melbourne forward Jake Melksham did more than just kick the match-winning goal for the Demons last Friday; he kept the door ajar in terms of winning a new one-year deal.

The 31-year-old forward has survived on a series of one-year deals across the past few seasons, but remains a 50-50 prospect of getting an extra season with the Demons.

Melbourne faces a serious squeeze for spots next season which will make it hard, but Melksham’s good form provides him with a chance to stay.

If he retains his spot within the side for the rest of the season - which now looks likely - it will give him a chance of playing on again in 2024. If not, then he could yet emerge at a third club, given he still seems to have some good footy left in him, as evidenced by his huge contribution against the Lions.

Melksham has kicked nine goals in his seven games this season after being confined to the VFL for a large portion of the season.

But he has kicked five goals in his three games since being recalled against GWS, including two apiece against St Kilda and Brisbane.

He kicked two clutch goals in the final term to sink the Lions, having played a role on Brisbane defender Harris Andrews throughout the game.

Richmond pair to remain

Richmond pair Marlion Pickett and Kamdyn McIntosh will officially be at the club next year after ticking off games-based clauses in their contracts.

Pickett has an August committal mention for his aggravated burglary charges but has now ticked off his contract for 2024 after playing enough games to play on.

The 31-year-old kicked the sealing goal in the club’s win over West Coast and has had another solid year despite his off-field issues.

McIntosh only turns 30 next April and has had another excellent year as a hard-running wingman.

He would have been a free agent with suitors if he had not had the clause in his contract but will instead remain at the Tigers.

Sam Menegola is battling for another chance at AFL level. Picture: Michael Klein

Cat keen to play on

Geelong wingman Sam Menegola is determined to play on next year despite a pair of knee issues that have curtailed his impact in the last 18 months.

Menegola only returned in round 14 in the VFL and last week had 31 possessions, nine inside 50s and 13 contested possessions.

He is Geelong’s forgotten man but if the Cats won’t offer him a deal he is desperate to play on somewhere after previous stints at Hawthorn and Fremantle.

At only 31 he is a goalkicking wingman who managed seasons of 17, 22, 16 and 12 goals with three 500-plus disposal seasons for the Cats.

So he needs his body to hold up in the back-end of the season to maximise his chances of an AFL future.

Originally published as Moneyball: The latest contract updates and trade news in the AFL