Key posts
AFLW withering on the vine, says Peter Ryan
By Peter Ryan
Those in charge of AFLW must act urgently to stop the competition from withering on the vine.
They have failed the participants for too long with poor decision-making, and AFLW players and coaches are frustrated.
The AFL doesn’t seem to know what to do except play into the hands of the competition’s critics with marketing gimmicks rather than supporting those involved with a clear vision, belief, investment and certainty.
Club people are concerned about the competition’s direction and the public, except from a cohort of passionate fans, seem disengaged – though it’s hard to know for certain, given the lack of transparency around television ratings.
Weitering inks monster extension
By Jon Pierik
Carlton vice-captain Jacob Weitering has inked a six-year contract extension, tying him to the club until 2031.
The All-Australian defender had a year to run on his contract.
Weitering, 26, was the No.1 draft pick in 2015 and has become one of the Blues’ key players.
“Carlton made a significant investment in me in 2015, and I couldn’t imagine playing football anywhere else,” Weitering said.
“I have always wanted to be a one-club player, and I feel like I have grown up alongside my teammates in my nine years here.
“When I first started at the club, we went through some tough times, but I couldn’t be more confident in the stability and direction of the football club as we head into the coming years. It has taken a lot of hard work as a collective to get to this point and that hard work is far from over.”
This deal has deadline day written all over it
By Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan
This one has deadline-day deal written all over it. Barrass’ move to Hawthorn became more complicated once the Hawks sent pick 14 to Carlton for the Blues’ future first- and second-round selections on Friday.
That trade followed an impasse between Hawthorn and West Coast over the 29-year-old key defender’s worth. The state of play is simple: the Eagles want two first-round selections for Barrass, while the Hawks are willing to part with a future first- and second-rounder – and West Coast can take their pick on Hawthorn’s or Carlton’s.
Barrass will arrive at Waverley Park on a four-year contract, with a trigger for a fifth season, if a deal is struck in the days to come, but there is work to do. He is contracted at West Coast for three more years.
Blues are the wildcard in Houston stakes
By Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
The Blues are the wildcard in the Houston sweepstakes.
Carlton’s trade period-shaping pick swap for Hawthorn’s No.14 on Friday adds to the pick 12 they already owned, and means they can appease Port Adelaide’s trade demands for Houston.
The Blues, who want to make at least one first-round selection in this year’s high-quality draft, are content with keeping the extra pick, or using it to move up the draft order, but have not ruled out a Houston move if Collingwood cannot secure Gold Coast’s 13.
They sent their future first- and second-round selections to the Hawks for 14, while acquiring Brisbane’s 2025 second-rounder in a separate deal beforehand to satisfy the league’s future trading rules.
How will the Rioli deal get done?
What we do know is that pick six will be in Richmond’s keeping in any deal with Gold Coast for the Tigers’ newest club champion – but what else is involved is still being thrashed out.
Richmond want more than pick six, but the Suns are unwilling to give up their No.13 as well, particularly given how much separate interest there is in that selection. Gold Coast need enough draft points to match a bid on academy product Leo Lombard, but could part with some of their return for 13 to get the Rioli deal across the line.
The Tigers are set to gain an extraordinary first-round hand in this year’s highly touted draft.
Demons are unlikely disruptors
By Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
The Demons have emerged as unlikely disruptors in which Victorian club Port Adelaide’s star defender Dan Houston ends up at by Wednesday night, only months after being in pole position for him.
Melbourne and Essendon have agreed to terms that will mean the Bombers trade pick nine to the red and blue, according to a source familiar with negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The deals still to be done
By Marc McGowan and Peter Ryan
There’s three days to go in the AFL trade period, and while it all started relatively sedately last week, things are about to heat up as club’s push it until the 11th hour to finalise their deals.
Let’s look at the main transactions that need to be finalised between now and 7.30pm on Wednesday.
Dan Houston
This is getting interesting. Port Adelaide’s dual All-Australian defender, who is contracted for four more seasons, has not nominated a club but wants to get back to Victoria. Collingwood and North Melbourne are trying to pursue assets to convince Houston to choose them, while Carlton have the picks to reach a deal with the Power but seem content to use them at the draft. Melbourne’s deal for Essendon’s No.9 pick – which the Roos had tried to trade for – should be ratified on Monday, and fortuitously swings the Houston situation in the Magpies’ favour. The Demons were in competition with Collingwood for Gold Coast’s No.13 selection, which the Pies need to be able to broker a deal with the Power for Houston. Collingwood’s John Noble wants to get to the Suns, while Joe Richards has requested a trade to Port, so they could be tied in together. The Western Bulldogs do not appear to still be contenders. There is also still a possibility Houston remains at Alberton.
Bailey Smith
The Bulldogs believe Smith’s trade value is about pick 10, whether a selection in that realm or an equivalent return – but Geelong have only No.17. The out-of-contract midfielder missed the entire past season recovering from an ACL rupture, but was the No.7 pick in the 2018 draft, has 103 games under his belt, and does not turn 24 until December. The Dogs rejected the Cats’ offer of pick 17. If Geelong added their selection No.38 to 17, that would combine to be worth slightly more than pick 12 on the AFL’s draft value index. Would Smith risk going into the national or pre-season draft to get to the Cattery if the impasse continues?
Welcome to day eight of the AFL trade period
By Jon Pierik
Hello, and welcome to day eight of the AFL’s trade period.
I am Jon Pierik and The Age team, including Marc McGowan, Peter Ryan, Michael Gleeson and Jake Niall, will keep you up to date throughout the day on all the moves and behind-the-scenes action.
There is still much to play out over the final three days of trading. This includes the expected Bailey Smith trade to Geelong, where will Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston end up, and what will happen with Clayton Oliver – if anything, at all, for the Melbourne star. Jake Stringer, meanwhile, is inching closer to a move to the Giants.
Hopefully, major deals are done today, or will they largely be kept for the final few hours on Wednesday? We’ll see.
Feel free to jump into our comments section, if there is anything you are keen to say.