There’s more than 15 deals still to be completed ahead of Wednesday night‘s trade deadline in what looms as a frantic few days.
So where are the big moves at? And how will they ultimately get done?
With insights from list managers and industry sources, foxfooty.com.au runs through how the seven biggest trades get done.
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Tom Hawkins signs 1-year Cats extension | 00:28
STATE OF PLAY: What your club has done this trade period… and what’s left to do
Shane McAdam to Melbourne
A deal that’s somewhat unexpectedly dragged out to the second week of the trade period as the clubs haggle, with Melbourne having reportedly offered up its future second-round pick (the Dees have a second one tied to Sydney). A generous enough offer for the 28-year old, who played seven games this season, though that 2024 pick would likely be in the 30s. Adelaide has been determined to try and snare a player from Melbourne, targeting South Australian pair Tom Sparrow and Harrison Petty. The Crows have recently come hard for Petty in particular, reportedly putting an enticing offer to the swingman. However Melbourne has no interest in moving Petty, who has two years remaining on his deal. One list manager foxfooty.com.au they believe Adelaide has “exhausted” its bid for Petty and that may have been why talks have pushed out so much.
What gets it done: Melbourne gives up its future-second round pick
Xaviver Duursma to Essendon/Brandon Zerk-Thatcher to Port Adelaide
Straight player swaps are so rare these days, with the Lewis Jetta-Callum Sinclair exchange in 2015 the last of its kind. But all signs are pointing to Duursma and Zerk-Thatcher being involved in one this week, with one list manager telling foxfooty.com.au they think that’d be a fair deal, and frankly, it makes a lot of sense after the pair’s careers have levelled out. Essendon is happy to retain Zerk-Thatcher, 25, if need be, having offered the defender a three-year extension to remain at the club. The backman is coming off a strong season under Brad Scott to emerge as an important part of the Bombers’ back six and really put the former Pick 66 on the map, so it’s understandable why the club wouldn’t want to let him go. By contrast, Duursma is perhaps higher regarded given his immediate impact in the competition after getting drafted with Pick 18 in 2018. The 23-year old wingman however hasn’t reached the same heights as fellow first-round draftees Connor Rozee and Zak Butters and has generally struggled to have a significant impact at AFL level in recent years, with Port open to facilitating a deal. The Power will push to get a favourable pick swap too, or some sort of sweetener, but it’s perhaps based on Duursma’s reputation more than actual production. It’s also worth noting that, from a team needs perspective, both the Bombers and Power need capable defenders, but Duursma is contracted and Zerk-Thatcher isn’t. Port has picks 25, 41 and 49, while Essendon owns picks 9, 31 and 52.
What gets it done: Straight swap
Dogs’ young gun getting monster contract | 01:31
Esava Ratugolea to Port Adelaide
The stalemate is perhaps the most intriguing deal to watch over the coming days and one expected to go down to the wire after Port’s initial offer of Pick 24 (now Pick 25) – a selection it got from a pick swap with Fremantle – was rejected by Geelong. Though the Cats are the side playing hard ball given Pick 24 is more than a reasonable offer, pressure is building on the Power given the amount of deals they still need to complete. One industry source told foxfooty.com.au there’s been tensions between the two parties over the exchange – and even limited dialogue – suggesting Port has “incensed” some clubs with its lack of urgency to get deals done. Of course, Ratugolea has only shown signs as a defender, while the 25-year old had a stint in the VFL this year and mightn’t even be in Chris Scott’s preferred back six. One list manager told foxfooty.com.au the Power would need to offer Pick 24 and something else to get it over the line, and that Ratugolea could yet get walked to the draft if need be. It comes after the forward-turned-defender tried to move to Alberton last year, but this time he’s out of contract. It’s ultimately hard to see Port offering much more than Pick 25, with selections 41 and 49 rounding out its draft hand.
What gets it done: Port Adelaide gives up Pick 25
Liam Henry to St Kilda
A deal that’s been in the works for some time as the breakout winger joins a host of key names to depart the Dockers in recent years. A delay might’ve been caused by the Saints’ lean draft hand until Friday, where the club received end-of-first-round compensation for Jade Gresham’s free agency departure to Essendon, currently No. 21. There a was a view Pick 21 might’ve been effectively forwarded onto Fremantle for Henry, however foxfooty.com.au can reveal St Kilda plans to take that pick along with its No. 13 selection to the draft.The Saints also hold selections 35 and 56 as well as what they get for Nick Coffield, while club list boss Stephen Silvagni on Friday said a deal was “reasonably close” and that he hoped it to be finalised in the upcoming days. Pick 21 feels like it’d be the most fair given Henry, 22, still has untapped potential, but both parties will naturally push for more to favour their side. It’s still possible Hawthorn, who was a key contender for Henry before he chose St Kilda, tries to re-enter the conversation, too, if the Hawks are prepared to offer Fremantle more than what the Saints are.
What gets it done: St Kilda gives up its future second-round pick
‘They should be challenging for the 8!’ | 02:23
Lachie Schultz to Collingwood
The shock of the trade period that first emerged last week in Schultz’s bid to return to Victoria for family reasons. It was revealed that after Taylor Adams’ trade request from Collingwood, the club moved to try and land Schultz 12 months early after knowledge he’d seek a move from the Dockers when he comes out of contract at the end of 2024. One list manager told foxfooty.com.au it’dhave to be future first-round pick – not Collingwood’s current first rounder, Pick 19, given it’s set to move back multiple spots – plus something else going to the Dockers. A player manager told foxfooty.com.au Fremantle is also hoping to secure a second-rounder in the trade. It’s believed to be what the two parties are at odds over as the Pies contemplate walking away from negotiations. Of course, Collingwood could do so with hopes of signing Schultz, 25, as a free agent at the end of next season, where it’d give up nothing from a trade perspective. However the premiers are right in the sweet spot, so the prospect of adding Schultz and Dan McStay to a forward line that just won a premiership would be tantalising. Another list manager told foxfooty.com.au they think Collingwood would end up “bowing” in negotiations and that it had to get the deal done now.
What gets it done: Collingwood gives up its future first-round pick and future third-round pick, Fremantle gives up Schultz and its future fourth-round pick
Mabior Chol to Hawthorn
The key forward is set to join Hawthorn after it won the race for his services over the likes of Adelaide and North Melbourne. One list manager told foxfooty.com.au the Hawks would need to “pay up” for Chol, who has two years remaining on his contract with the Suns, given Hawthorn reportedly offered the 26-year old a four-year deal with a trigger for a fifth year to lure him Waverley. But having only one really good season to his name – a 44-goal campaign in 2022 when Ben King was sidelined – makes it hard to assess his value. Another list manager told foxfooty.com.au they think Chol’s worth a third-round pick. Assuming Hawthorn remains in the bottom six next year, it does of course boost the value of its natural draft position.7News reported it could be a three-way trade with Richmond for Jacob Koschitzke, who, according to The Herald Sun, Hawthorn has “optimistically” asked the Tigers for a pick inside the top 25 for despite the Hawks only offering the forward a one-year extension and picking him in 12 senior games this year. That top-25 pick asking price was labelled “ridiculous” by one list manager.
What gets it done: Hawthorn gives up its future third-round pick
Jack Gunston to Hawthorn
It only emerged on Friday Gunston was seeking a move back to Hawthorn after one season at Brisbane – a season he finished outside the senior team as the Lions reached a grand final. Foxfooty.com.au understands Gunston falling out of favour at Brisbane despite being recruited to help the club win a premiership played a key role in his decision to seek a second move in 12 months after joining the Lions as a free agent. Foxfooty.com.au canalso reveal the 32-year old’s management hasn’t yet considered discussions with other Victorian clubs, though pending talks with Hawthorn, that could yet materialise in the next couple of days. The Hawks confirmed on Friday they would “assess” a potential move for Gunston, who’s currently on holidays in the United States with a host of current Lions and former Hawthorn teammates, but that they’re prioritising their other targets. That includes landing Mabior Chol and Massimo D‘Ambrosio plus facilitating Jacob Koschitzke’s move to Richmond. Young Hawks tall Brandon Ryan emerged as a player of interest for Brisbane, however Hawthorn reportedly doesn’t plan on trading the 25-year old.
What gets it done: Hawthorn gives up Pick 54