Moneyball: Follow all the latest news on player movement and potential trades in the AFL
Melbourne is in the hunt for Docker Adam Cerra and one player’s name has been linked to a swap — but he says it’s news to him. All the latest trade news.
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Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw has dismissed speculation he could be part of a trade for Fremantle’s Adam Cerra, saying he has no interest in leaving the Demons.
Cerra is working through who he wants to play for next season and has spoken to Melbourne while also being pursued by Carlton. Brayshaw’s name was linked to a potential trade given his brother Andrew is at the Dockers and he has two other brothers and a host of cousins living in WA.
In Perth preparing for the grand final, Brayshaw woke to messages from friends in Victoria discussing the stories. But he said there was no doubt he would be a Demon in 2022.
“It seems like every year I am coming to Freo,” Brayshaw told The West Australian.
“It would be a disservice to my teammates to even think about anything other than the Melbourne Football Club. I’m contracted until next year, I love my teammates and I have no intention of going anywhere.
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“These rumours keep popping up. It feels like I’ve been a Fremantle player four times over.
“It’s very funny. I have a laugh about it. But I am laser focused on the next couple of weeks. Outside of having a laugh at it with a couple of mates, there’s nothing to read into it.”
Brayshaw has relished the opportunity to see his extended family while the Demons are in Perth. He hasn’t spent time with his three brothers in almost two years due to border restrictions, quarantining for football and being in different parts of Australia.
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Despite being in Victoria’s lockdown and unable to get to Perth, Brayshaw’s mum still organised for more than 20 Demons members to give her barcodes to buy grand final tickets for family in WA.
Brayshaw said being out of quarantine this week and seeing his family had been special.
“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen them. I think the last time was when we had Christmas over here two years ago,” he said.
“We’ve quarantined here and I’ve seen them through glass windows but it’s not the same as catching up properly. It had been too long.
“Hamish and Will live in Cottesloe so we went down to the beach and had a swim. Andrew’s in Freo so we hung out and had dinner the other night. It doesn’t matter where you go, it was exciting to see them.”
Suns’ desperate bid to stop Vic raids
The Suns will put an offer on the table for key forward Ben King over the summer in a bid to lock away one of their greatest hopes for the future before his contract ends.
King is contracted until the end of the 2022 season and will attract huge interest from rival clubs looking to lure the 2018 No.6 draft pick, who has booted 89 goals in three seasons, away from Gold Coast.
The 21-year-old, who hails from Melbourne, finished equal seventh in the race for the Coleman Medal in 2021 after kicking 47 goals.
King is critical to Gold Coast’s plans, with the club open about its desire to recruit another key forward to support the 202cm young star through the upcoming trade and draft periods.
Since arriving at the Suns at the end of 2018, King has been continuously spoken about as a target for rivals, including St Kilda who already have his twin brother Max.
Gold Coast are eager to avoid spending the 2022 season fending off questions about King’s commitment and minimise the chance of the high flying talent looking elsewhere.
If successful in their bid to retain King, it will be the second contract he will have signed with the club after initially extending his contract in 2019 until the end of 2022.
King will be eligible for free agency at the end of 2026 if he is still at Gold Coast.
The flag contender that needs Mitchell most
Consider the potential homes if Tom Mitchell did want to find a new home to help Hawthorn secure another early draft pick to add to picks five, 21 and 24.
North Melbourne, Adelaide and Collingwood are rebuilding and aren’t interested.
GWS, Geelong, West Coast, St Kilda, Essendon, Sydney, the Bulldogs, Geelong and Brisbane don’t need him.
Richmond isn’t interested, Gold Coast probably needs a Tom Mitchell type but will go with Touk Miller, Matt Rowell, Brayden Fiorini and co and will spend its cash on a key forward if it can find one.
Carlton is looking elsewhere, Melbourne also doesn’t need him.
It leaves only Port Adelaide as a club that is absolutely screaming out for a six-clearance-a-week midfielder to rebound after Saturday night’s gut-wrenching loss.
As much as Sydney wingman Jordan Dawson could find his way to the Power, they are unbelievably stocked for classy wingmen and flankers like Xavier Duursma, Karl Amon, Riley Bonner, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters.
A Power side which lost the contested ball by 23 in the first quarter got 38 touches out of Ollie Wines but went in fearing the Dogs’ midfield depth and emerged realising it needs more inside weapons.
Mitchell finished his season averaging 4.7 clearances (104 for the year), and 4.8 tackles along with his 34.3 possessions a season.
Hawthorn has declared its premiership players in Liam Shiels, Ben McEvoy and Luke Breust as untouchable, but Mitchell clearly has some interest in exploring a new team if it helps both parties.
The Hawks are aware the only way to build a premiership list is to bring in multiple elite players across a single draft — or hopefully multiple drafts — just as they did in their own dynasty, and as Essendon did with picks 8-10 last year.
Mitchell would immediately be in the flag window, Port Adelaide has pick 16 to trade and must be prepared to improve its list immediately.
With Travis Boak 33 and Robbie Gray 34 by Round 2 next year, Mitchell would shape as a perfect inside weapon to farm the ball to outsider runners like Duursma, Bonner, Amon and co.
Even if Butters and Rozee spend more time in the midfield next year the Power needs to lessen the load on Wines.
Ken Hinkley admitted after the loss the trend again quality opponents is to get exposed in contested ball.
In the Round 3 loss to West Coast they lost clearances by 14, the Round 7 loss to Brisbane they lost contested possessions by 19, the Round 9 loss to the Dogs they lost clearances by six and contested possession by 11, the Round 13 loss to Geelong they broke even in clearances but lost contested possession by 10.
Mitchell would be an upgrade from the retiring Tom Rockliff, who didn’t set the world on fire at the Power but in last year’s finals had 22 possessions, five clearances and nine tackles in the qualifying final against Geelong then 20, 11 contested possessions, four clearances and five tackles against Richmond.
Mitchell might decide to stay in Melbourne and the Hawks might just go to the draft with three picks inside 25.
But adding a Brownlow medallist and clearance beast would immediately rectify the one glaring weakness for the Power and help the Hawks build a premiership list.
Leader emerges for promising Tiger tall
Gold Coast has emerged as the frontrunner for Richmond ruckman Mabior Chol, who is likely to settle on his second AFL club by the end of the week.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Suns have offered the 24-year-old a three-year contract with a trigger for a fourth season.
The Tigers cannot match that security and are about to ramp up their efforts to retain Callum Coleman-Jones with the expectation that Chol will walk as an unrestricted free agent.
It is unlikely the Tigers would offer Chol a contract longer than two seasons, given he has managed 31 games in six seasons.
They also have 2019 premiership ruckman Ivan Soldo on track to return next season.
At the Suns, Chol would team up with budding superstar Ben King as key forwards who can also relieve Jarrod Witts in the ruck.
They desperately need more ruck support after Stuart Dew was forced to coach without one as Witts, Zac Smith and Matt Conroy went down early.
The project player from South Sudan represented Queensland in juniors after his family relocated to Brisbane in 2005.
Chol’s family lives in Acacia Ridge, which is about 70km from Metricon Stadium.
The Herald Sun has confirmed that Essendon is not in the market for Chol, despite reports suggesting he would land at Tullamarine.
Chol’s Wikipedia page wrongly states that he is already a Bomber.
But the Suns are not quite across the line to secure the 198cm player who possesses a big leap.
St Kilda has also hotly pursued Chol as it plans for life after Paddy Ryder, who is likely to retire next season.
Chol’s choice is likely to be revealed next week and his exit from Punt Rd would not require the Tigers to broker a trade.
The Saints and Suns are still jostling for his services and have not been told to expect his signature.
Chol played in 10 out of the final 11 games for the Tigers, kicking four goals against Brisbane Lions in Round 18.
He spent 82 per cent of game time in the ruck and just 18 per cent forward.
Quality talls could force out Tiger
Richmond’s Callum Coleman-Jones will make a decision on his future in the next 48 hours but looks well placed to join North Melbourne given the Tigers’ ruck strength.
Gold Coast believes he will eventually find his way to the Roos after their interest was rebuffed because of his determination to remain in Victoria.
Both South Australian-based clubs have strong ruck stocks so he was never likely to return to Adelaide.
Richmond has offered a two-year deal but admits it will play Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo as their rucks next year.
The Tigers are keen to keep Coleman-Jones despite interest from North Melbourne and Gold Coast.
He served an AFL Covid-related suspension early in the year and when he was not injured he played seniors in eight games of diminishing returns.
After four goals against Adelaide then two goals against each of Essendon and West Coast he kicked three goals in his last five games playing ruck-forward.
He knows Jack Riewoldt could retire at the end of 2022, but if he wants to play ruck the dependable Nankervis and Soldo will take the ruck reins next year as Soldo returns from an ACL.
It means the Roos would guarantee opportunity playing as a key tall.
Keeping Coleman-Jones at the club is a much bigger priority than retaining the inconsistent Chol, who kicked four goals against Brisbane but only three goals in nine other games.
Sydney Stack is closing in on an incentive-laden one-season deal which will ensure he keeps on track with high levels of professionalism.
Talks are ongoing this week but a two-year deal he would have been keen to acquire looks unlikely.
As revealed by the Herald Sun this month, Daniel Talia is a strong chance to secure a list spot at the Tigers.
Swans making sounds they have cap coin
Sydney is adamant its salary cap crunch will not result in a purge of the kind that saw Collingwood jettisoning four players last year for under-the-odds picks.
And the Swans are even making noises that they have cap space to bring in a player on the kind of $500,000-per-season deal that Jordan Dawson passed up to head home to South Australia.
Rival clubs are more sceptical given Sydney’s tight cap, but the Swans believe if the right player emerged they have the cap space to recruit someone to fill the hole that will be left by Dawson.
The Swans were prepared to offer Dawson what they have dubbed a “compelling” financial offer on up to five seasons.
Dawson is in hotel quarantine for another week back in Adelaide and will meet with both the Power and Crows next week to get a sense of which club he might select for a likely trade.
It means he could secure an offer of up to $3 million for a five-year deal in South Australia.
Despite reports Port Adelaide is in the box seat they are in the dark about his intentions but would hope he would choose them given they are in the flag window.
But back at Sydney, and while the Swans admit their cap is tight like most clubs, if they secured a pick like Port Adelaide’s No. 16 for Dawson they would be prepared to go to the market given they are approaching a flag window.
It emerged on Monday the Swans have no plans to counter Carlton’s likely free agency offer for George Hewett, which would be around $450,000 for four years.
The Swans have enough inside midfielders in Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Cal Mills, with candidates including Chad Warner to fill the breach.
In the win over Essendon Justin McInerney was thrown into the midfield and responded with 28 possessions, 13 contested possessions, six clearances and five score involvements, so he is the ideal inside-outside mid of the future.
No. 5 draft pick Dylan Stephens has been linked to Adelaide and Essendon despite being offered a two-year deal.
Stephens certainly didn’t set the world on fire in seven games this year — some as the medi-sub — with a 15-possession haul his best game against Geelong.
Rejuvenated Roo offered another year
North Melbourne has tabled one-year offers to Jack Ziebell and defender Robbie Tarrant to extend their careers at Arden Street.
It is understood the Kangaroos are waiting to hear back from the two free agents who had been hopeful of winning two-year extensions.
Ziebell, who will turn 31 ahead of next season, had a career-high disposal tally of 530 this season, with coach David Noble’s decision to switch him to defence a key behind his revived form.
He played 21 games this season and helped to solidify the Kangaroos in the absence of key personnel for much of the season.
Tarrant, 32, managed only 10 games this year after missing the first of the season after having kidney surgery.
Respected Blue to set the standard again
Blues midfielder Ed Curnow will play on for a 12th season after signing a new one-year deal to remain with the club.
Curnow, 31, was one of only four Carlton players to have represented the club in every game this season and he reached the exclusive 200-game club in Round 19.
He will be desperate to play more games with his younger brother Charlie, who has endured a torrid run with injuries in recent seasons, but returned at the back of the 2021 season.
Curnow believes he still has plenty of footy left, saying “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to play at Carlton for another season.”
“It’s been a difficult year for the club and I’m looking forward to the 2022 season.”
Blues list manager Nick Austin described Curnow as “an asset to our football club … having been here for more than a decade and part of the leadership group for six seasons.”
“Ed’s revered and sets the standards by finishing every training session and every match having given his absolute all.
A host of Blues’ contracts — put on hold following the end of the season — should be finalised in the coming week or two, with Jack Silvagni very close to locking away a two-year deal.
Pies on the look out for more coaching staff
Collingwood’s coaching coups might not be over with senior coach Craig McRae eager to lock in a younger assistant coach not long out of the game.
Fresh from securing former AFL coaches Justin Leppitsch and Brendon Bolton to key roles, the Magpies have made no secret of the fact they are keen to return its coaching staff to pre-Covid levels.
Leppitsch has become Collingwood’s head of strategy, with the added responsibility for the defence, while Bolton will be director of coaching.
Geelong assistant coach Corey Enright has attracted the attention of a handful of Melbourne-based clubs, with the Magpies being one of them.
Former Brisbane midfield coach Dale Tapping has also had interest from a few AFL clubs after making the decision to return to Victoria with his family.
Giants keen to hang on to leadership qualities
Former Greater Western Sydney captain Phil Davis will play on next year on a one-year deal despite falling out of favour late this season.
The 31-year-old returned for the semi-final against Geelong when Jesse Hogan was a late out, having been overlooked at selection by Leon Cameron for some weeks.
But the News Corp understands strong progress has been made in recent days on a deal.
Davis was one of many players who deferred pay as part of the 2021 AFL pay cuts that is owed to him in 2022.
The Giants believe his leadership is invaluable and hope he can get a better run with injuries after a series of niggles and knee issues in recent years.
Shane Mumford will finally retire to become a development and ruck coach.
At this stage swingman Jake Riccardi has few rival suitors despite trade rumours and he is also expected to remain at the club after only two years.
Mosquito one of three to depart Bombers
Essendon speedster Irving Mosquito has been let go despite his dazzling debut in red and black last year against the Tigers. Mosquito managed four games before he suffered a long-term ACL injury and was granted a leave of absence from the club.
The Bombers and the 21-year-old have now agreed to part ways with the livewire forward to spend more time back home in Halls Creek.
“While this was not an easy decision for Irving, he feels it will be best for him to return to Halls Creek to start the next chapter of his life, and we understand that,” Bombers football manager Josh Mahoney said.
The Bombers have also parted ways with Ned Cahill and Lachie Johnson.
Delisted Hartlett convinced he has more to offer
Hamish Hartlett believes he has good football left in him despite being delisted by Ken Hinkley on Monday.
He will become a delisted free agent after knee and quad injuries slowed him down this year, telling Adelaide radio he wanted to play on.
“I had a chat with Kenny (Hinkley) and [football manager] Chris Davies yesterday and Kenny pretty much just said that there won’t be a contract there for me next season for a couple of reasons,” Hartlett said.
“One, physically he doesn’t think I can keep up with the demands of the game, particularly in the position I play across halfback against players that are quite lively.
“He just doesn’t feel like I can keep up with those kinds of players anymore.
“And also the development of some of our younger guys coming through which has been quite exceptional the last two or three years. He just doesn’t feel there’s a position on the list for me anymore.”
Saints come up short with tall Swan
St Kilda is set to miss out on Sydney key forward Hayden McLean, who is now negotiating a new deal with the Swans.
While he is one of a number of Sydney players who rivals considered gettable he is expected to remain at Sydney.
The Saints are aware they need more reinforcements to help Rowan Marshall and Paddy Ryder not only in the ruck but up forward, with McLean having played a season at VFL affiliate Sandringham.
The 197cm tall key forward played mostly forward with the Swans kicking 11 goals in 12 games but is equally adept in the ruck.
It means St Kilda will have to consider other options, with Paul Hunter still on their list after they dropped Oscar Clavarino and 211cm tall Sam Alabakis but having battled to make an impact this year.
St Kilda has confirmed Jack Billings has signed a four-year deal and Ryder has agreed to another one-season contract.
Both deals has been the subject of wide speculation as the Saints attempt to rise back up the ladder after a poor season.
The Saints are still keen to secure another younger ruckman but the supreme tap work of Ryder was instrumental in winning St Kilda a final in 2020 before injury and family issues this year.
Uncertainty surrounds key forward at Dees
Sam Weideman is no certainty to be offered a new AFL contract as the full-forward’s career reaches uncertainty.
It is understood that Melbourne was yet to make Weideman an offer and rival interest from the 17 other clubs was also skinny.
Weideman played five consecutive games from Rounds 9-13 this season.
The tall forward, 24, has booted 49 goals in 49 games since he was taken at No. 9 in 2015.
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