Moneyball: The latest AFL trade news and whispers across the competition
Rival clubs believe Collingwood will secure a readymade AFL talent if it swoops on father-son prospect Thomas McGuane. Could he end up as a top-10 draft pick?
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Clubs are already looking enviously at Collingwood’s father-son Tom McGuane as a ready-made talent with huge wraps being bestowed upon the son of premiership hero Mick.
The young emerging star, considered at this stage a later first-round pick, will play for the Western Jets and Vic Metro this year.
One Coates League talent scout said on Tuesday he had “a sidestep like Fred Astaire”.
In the age of 195cm freakish athletic midfielders he is a very good midfielder with an excellent left foot, composure in spades and plenty of creativity.
Talent spotters believe his size at 178cm and lack of pure explosive pace will keep him out of the very early picks but as a late first-round or early second-round pick he will be an ideal successor for the ageing midfield.
The Pies don’t have a first-round pick and under a new bidding system would have to find a bigger collection of draft points to match a bid for McGuane.
Recruiters said on Tuesday in a compromised first round with so many academy players having a rolled gold midfield talent to choose was hugely attractive for the Pies.
With the Coates League season about to start, McGuane could become a top-10 pick with more improvement or drift into the second round but clubs are envious about the Pies adding another father-son.
New Western Jets coach Christian Stagliano said of McGuane: “He is an awesome kid. So dedicated and he shows up with a smile on his face and works super hard on the track.
“He is very clever and sees the game quickly and his step buys himself time and space. He is a clever footballer who makes good decisions and he’s so happy to share his knowledge of the game with teammates. It has been really impressive how he thinks of those around him and supports them.”
The Western Jets also have Kobe Williams on their list as the son of former Hawthorn and Essendon footballer Mark.
He is linked to the Hawks as a father-son and the Western Bulldogs as an NGA prospect but needs to continue to improve to be a high draft prospect.
MAYNARD REUNION AT ARDEN ST?
Collingwood star Brayden Maynard would join his brother, Corey, at North Melbourne if he accepts a blockbuster offer to play for the Kangaroos next season.
Maynard, 28, will weigh up a blockbuster offer worth as much as $6 million over six years to move to Arden St as an unrestricted free agent.
And North could also have an added trump card up its sleeve with Maynard’s brother, Corey, working at the club since 2022 as head of wellbeing and player development.
Corey Maynard played two games at Melbourne in 2017-18 and has since become a popular member of the Roos’ off-field team under coach Alastair Clarkson.
North enjoyed a breakthrough win over Melbourne on Sunday and have targeted Maynard for his hardness, leadership, defensive nous and team ethic.
The Kangaroos believe they are on the rise and want to add a Luke Hodge-style defensive general to bolster the back half.
And the club has significant salary cap room to add some more top-line talent in the belief the team is on the rise after years down the bottom of the AFL ladder.
The Kangaroos also have interest in Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury as an assistant coach when he winds up his brilliant playing career.
Pendlebury’s brother, Ryan, works as an assistant coach in the AFLW program, continuing the family ties.
The connections could bolster the Roos’ bid to land some more premiership experience to the club after missing out on a string of A-Grade recruiting targets over the past decade.
Collingwood has several key players out of contract next year including Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill and gun ruckman Darcy Cameron, while Maynard’s contract ends at the end of this season.
But at least one of the trio could find a new home as a trade or free agency move which could secure the Magpies a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
Collingwood has already traded its first-round pick in this year’s draft to land Port Adelaide star defender Dan Houston in last year’s trade period.
The Magpies have interest in star Gold Coast onballer Matt Rowell and West Coast free agent Oscar Allen.
Maynard is a beloved figure at Collingwood but would earn significantly more at North Melbourne on $1 million-a-season instead of $600,000 – $700,000 a year at Collingwood for two or three seasons.
As an unrestricted free agent, Collingwood would not be able to match a big-money offer from North Melbourne for him.
Free agency compensation could secure Collingwood a first-round draft choice pending the terms of the final offer from the Kangaroos.
OLD DOG STILL HAS BITE
Tireless Western Bulldogs workhorse Tom Liberatore is ready to sign yet another one-year deal as talks on a new contract for Adam Treloar are put on hold until he gets through his latest injury setback.
Dogs vice-captain Liberatore has led the Dogs during Marcus Bontempelli’s injury absence and was again tough in the clinches in Friday’s tight loss to Collingwood, polling eight coaches votes, tied with Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy for the most in the contest.
Liberatore has openly admitted his wobbly knees mean he will not be able to play on forever but since 2020 he has averaged 21.5 games per season and played as well as ever.
In the last two seasons he signed one-year extensions early – in March, 2023 and April, 2024 – and he is happy to go around again with the same process.
Liberatore played his 236th match against the Magpies, putting him one game behind Brownlow Medal ruck Scott Wynd on the club’s all-time list.
An extra 37 games under his belt would see Liberatore likely move into the top-10 for games played at the Bulldogs, a serious achievement given he has had two knee reconstructions during his AFL career.
Treloar is among the list of other Bulldogs needing a new contract this year and despite early talks between him and list and footy boss Sam Power, proper negotiations will wait until he returns from injury.
The ball magnet recently suffered a calf setback and plans to work on a contract early this season have been paused until he gets back on the park, with his return now at least another month away.
The former Giant and Magpie loves playing with the Dogs and should progress on talks quickly once he is back playing.
The 2024 All-Australian has played 254 games but in a quirk of his three-team journey, is yet to hit 100 matches at any club and now will struggle to tick that milestone off with the Dogs this year as he sits on 81 matches in red, white and blue.
The Bulldogs will be focused on locking down midfielders Ed Richards and Bontempelli in coming weeks, with this masthead revealing last week that good progress is being made on a Richards deal.
Defensive stalwarts Liam Jones and Taylor Duryea are also out of contract at the end of this year.
NEW DEAL STILL ON THE TABLE FOR WOUNDED LION
Brisbane has ruled out premiership defender Brandon Starcevich for at least a month as he undergoes a battery of neurological tests following his third concussion in eight months.
A bump from Sydney’s Justin McInerney in round 1 saw Starcevich sidelined for the AFL’s mandated 12-day concussion protocol.
But he and the Lions have elected to take the conservative approach on his likely return to football to ensure he is right to resume.
The Herald Sun understands a two-year deal for Starcevich – who comes out of contract at the end of this season – remains on the table, though he had told the Lions before the incident that he was looking at exploring the restricted free agency options open to him before making a decision to recommit.
The man who took down Tom Papley in last year’s grand final had attracted plenty of interest from his native state of Western Australia about a possible return home.
But any decision on the 25-year-old’s future will now be put on hold until the results of those tests come back, ensuring everyone has a clear picture surrounding his playing future.
Starcevich played a role in last week’s 2024 flag unfurling at the Gabba alongside injured Lions Charlie Cameron and Kai Lohmann.
He has spent some time away from the club since the McInerney clash, but the Lions have been impressed with the way he has dealt with this latest setback following on from a pre-season concussion suffered against the Crows.
CLUBS CIRCLING POWER SON OF A GUN
Rival AFL clubs are keeping a close watch on Port Adelaide young gun Jase Burgoyne who was outstanding in last week’s bounce-back thrashing of Richmond.
The Power are fighting hard to keep Miles Bergman and Kane Farrell, who are out of contract and being chased by Victorian clubs.
But the lack of contract action so far on Burgoyne, who also comes out of his most recent deal with the Power at the end of the season, has caught the attention of more than a few clubs.
The Herald Sun understands that the Power have yet to strike any meaningful discussions with Burgoyne’s management about a new deal for 2026 and beyond.
The son of Port Adelaide premiership hero Peter Burgoyne, Jase had a breakout season last year, playing 23 games, including a 25-disposal, one-goal semi-final effort against Hawthorn.
He received seven coaches’ votes for his 32-possession, two-goal game against the Tigers, behind only Connor Rozee’s perfect 10.
Burgoyne, 21, still has enormous upside in his game after only 38 games with the Power, with his capacity to play wing or half-back giving him great versatility.
NEXT MCCARTIN ON THE WAY?
Charlie McCartin has made an encouraging start to his VFL season with Geelong as clubs consider whether he will be a May mid-season draftee.
In a league where everyone wants key backs, as many as four clubs watched him live while playing for Lorne in the Colac and District football league last year.
He played two games for Sydney before completing a full pre-season with the Cats.
He didn’t look out of place in Geelong’s VFL team, racking up 11 marks in his 19-possession game with two intercept marks and six rebound 50s.
The brother of Sydney swingman Tom and former No. 1 overall pick Paddy came onto the scene as a 25-year-old playing brilliant footy for Lorne last year to put himself on the draft radar.
Geelong thought long and hard about drafting him but ultimately decided he wasn’t quite ready.
The Cats will look at him again but clubs need to have a long-term injury or spare list spot to be able to take a pick in the mid-season draft.
CROWS MIDFIELD STALWART WANTS TO PLAY ON
Matt Crouch wants to play on for as long as he can, saying his AFL rejuvenation is being fuelled by his young teammates who have given Adelaide a flying start to 2025.
Crouch’s career was at the crossroads a few years ago but the 29-year-old has hit back hard across the past year and a half.
He is out of contract at the end of this season but says he wants to help drive the Crows back to the finals for the first time in eight years.
“I feel like I am in a good spot right now, my body feels good,” Crouch told the Herald Sun,
“Hopefully I can be around for a bit.
“I still love playing. I want to see it through and I feel like the group is in a good spot.”
Originally published as Moneyball: The latest AFL trade news and whispers across the competition
McGuane: Baffling decisions send Dons backwards at rate of knots
Three weeks ago, Matthew Lloyd said Essendon should win 12 or 13 games this year. Now the Bombers are in a rebuild? MICK McGUANE takes a deep dive into what’s gone wrong at the Dons.
AFL star’s bombshell $1.4m contract call
Sydney’s young superstar Chad Warner is set to settle his future in the coming weeks, with a monster $1.4m deal in the works.