NewsBite

Trading and drafting

Advertisement
Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury after they broke the record earlier this season for the most games played together as teammates.

The difference between this Good Old Collingwood and last year’s

Star Magpies ruckman Darcy Cameron says two factors are behind his side’s improvement in the opening stages of the season: enhanced belief, and the addition of seasoned recruits.

  • Jake Niall

Latest

The future of premiership stars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver remains the subject of discussion.

Opposition clubs think Petracca and Oliver are gettable. What would the Dees get back?

A winless start to the season has kept Melbourne’s off-season dramas running. Even speculation about the future of their two star midfielders won’t quit. But the question now is whether there’s a market for the duo and their bulky contracts.

  • Peter Ryan
Tom De Koning.

Why Tom De Koning won’t put a timeline on what could be a life-changing call

The Carlton star knows the speculation will continue to grow until he makes a decision, but he is doing everything possible to block it out. He spoke with his masthead.

  • Steve Barrett
Hawks star Jai Newcombe.

The sausage, not the sizzle: How ex-tradie Newcombe is building something real with the Hawks

These “Hollywood Hawks” paint more than just a pretty footy picture. They’ve got real substance, and leading the way is a former apprentice carpenter from Poowong in South Gippsland.

  • Jake Niall
Bombers star Nic Martin.

‘I struggled to understand what balance meant’: What Martin’s evolution means for a new Essendon

Nic Martin is an excellent player, but it’s his outlook on the game that gives Bombers fans such hope that their club is finally on the right track.

  • Peter Ryan
Blue-chip star: North Melbourne can expect rival offers for Luke Davies-Uniacke.

A Roo coup: LDU explains his new long-term deal with North; Voss says McKay is ‘in a good space’ ahead of his return

Luke Davies-Uniacke has spoken of his reasoning behind re-committing to the Kangaroos. Meanwhile, Michael Voss says Blues spearhead Harry McKay “can’t wait” to play on Saturday.

  • Sam McClure, Peter Ryan and Jon Pierik
Advertisement
Vic Metro’s Cooper Duff-Tytler is emerging as one of the top prospects for the 2025 AFL draft.

Famous brother and freakish ruckman: The early contenders to go No.1

The pecking order for this year’s AFL draft is starting to emerge.

  • Peter Ryan
West Coast Eagles co-captain Oscar Allen at his press conference.

How the Allen situation shows the AFL’s outrage machine is out of control

The reaction to West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen’s in-season meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and his wife Lyndall in Perth has bordered on embarrassing.

  • Marc McGowan
Port Adelaide’s Miles Bergman, Carlton’s Tom De Koning, North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke and Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell are yet to commit to their clubs for 2026.

Inviting drama: Should an AFL captain be meeting a rival coach?

These players are yet to sign on the dotted line, and they’ll be at the centre of trade talk in 2025. And with a club captain among their number, the chase is on.

  • Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
Isaac Kako and Nate Caddy were close friends before they became Bombers. They’ve already shown glimpses of their star potential.

Bombers look to lock in young gun long term as red-and-black reset continues

Essendon are keen to offer an emerging star forward a long-term deal, while the in-form Hawks are facing a contract squeeze. Elsewhere, we look at some of the rising teens the Tasmania Devils will have access to.

  • Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/topic/trading-and-drafting-64h