AFL Trade week will kick off on Monday and it’s expected to be one of the most hectic in recent memory.
From young Demon Luke Jackson to Magpies veteran Brodie Grundy, there’s plenty of players looking for a new home for 2023 and beyond.
We take a look at the 20 biggest deals currently on the table and how the trades could get done:
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Billy Frampton to Collingwood
The Frampton-to-Pies deal should be one of the more straightforward exchanges of the trade period, with Crows list Justin Reid revealing this week he expects a future third-round pick will get it done. The 25-year old utility is out of contract, and after only playing 21 games for Adelaide across three seasons, the club is clearly happy to orchestrate a trade. “We‘ll just wait for Collingwood to come back and see what that looks like,” Reid said on AFL Trade Radio. “They‘ve got a bit on their plate as well, so I guess they’ll work through a few things. But I think that should get it done.”
Brodie Grundy to Melbourne
The Pies are keen to off-load Grundy’s lucrative $1 million-per-season deal until 2025, and therefore do lose some bargaining power in a move despite the dual All-Australian being among the best ruckmen in the competition when he’s up and firing. It means the Dees could land Grundy on the cheap, potentially for one of the first rounders it receives from Fremantle – but certainly not the top 10 pick they’re reportedly demanding. Otherwise Melbourne could land Grundy for its second-round pick (currently 32) and another third rounder. It could ultimately come down to how much of Grundy’s salary Collingwood contributes towards, with the bigger the sum the better the return it’ll get.
Sydney boosted by Papley’s new deal | 00:50
Ollie Henry to Geelong
The young gun is keen to return to Geelong and play alongside his brother Jack in a huge boost for the reigning premiers as they also look to bring in Tanner Bruhn in a key coup. Although the Pies will reportedly drive a hard bargain for the former Pick 17 and ask for a first-round selection back in a trade. The Cats’ Pick 18 would likely appease Collingwood and anything around that range seems like a fair price given Henry was taken with the 17th pick just two years ago. Another scenario could see Geelong land Jack Bowes and Pick 7 from Gold Coast and split the selection for two later picks and send one to the Pies.
Blake Acres to Carlton
Another one of the simpler looming trades as the 26-year old Acres prepares to land at his third club on a three-year deal after stints at St Kilda and Fremantle. AFL Media reported this week that the deal will be centred around a third-round pick, however Carlton doesn’t have any selections between 28 and 62. It means the Blues, who are bracing for a more quiet period where they prioritise the draft, will need to get inventive and potentially trade down from their Pick 28, or trade a future selection.
Denied! Lobb to stay a Docker? | 00:41
Rory Lobb to Western Bulldogs
Whether or not this actually happens will clearly be a big watch over the next week after Fremantle initially declared it doesn’t plan to trade Lobb given he has a year to run on his deal. Although the 29-year old is coming off a career-best 36-goal season and Fremantle might demand more, a second-round pick would be the fairest price. The Dogs’ Pick 29 is the obvious trade chip to get it done or a future second, and you sense the Dockers will eventually come to the party.
Griffin Logue to North Melbourne
Another Docker on the move after agreeing to join North Melbourne on a five-year deal – reportedly irrespective of Alastair Clarkson’s uncertain fate. The Kangaroos are likely to use the first of their two picks they received from the AFL’s assistance package (a 2023 second rounder and 2023 third rounder) to land the swingman, selections that would cease to exist if they’re not used in trades for listed players like Logue. It’s a fair outcome for North for a key position player aged 24 years old and former top 10 pick.
Another one! Zorko puts pen to paper | 00:19
Darcy Tucker to North Melbourne
The second Docker set to move to Arden Street, Tucker’s situation is a little more complicated given he’s contracted until the end of 2023 when he then can become a free agent. Would Fremantle agree to a deal for North’s 2023 third rounder it got from the AFL’s assistance package? Anything more feels overs for a 25-year old player who made 14 senior appearances in 2022 including two as the unused medical sub, but Freo has said any deal would need to be “mutually beneficial.” The Roos don’t have any picks between 1 and 55, so it’s likely a future selection that gets this deal done.
Izak Rankine to Adelaide
This one feels like it’s going the distance, with reports stating the Suns have already dug their heels in for the former Pick 3. It’s hard to see any scenario where Adelaide doesn’t give up its fifth overall selection for Rankine given the club’s only other picks are 23 and 77. Gold Coast does have access to highly-rated key forward Jed Walter next year and might want to ensure it has enough 2023 picks to secure him and thus allow the Crows to keep their Pick 5. If they decided to go down that avenue, Adelaide’s Pick 23 and a future first rounder could seal the deal.
“From New York to Bali” | 00:53
Jeremy Sharp to Fremantle
Gold Coast list boss Craig Cameron revealed this week the club would need to receive something “compelling” to trade the 21-year old Sharp, who’s contracted for 2023. “Nothing has moved very far on that at this stage, so I think it’s just a wait and see there,” he said on AFL Trade Radio. With Fremantle not having any picks from 13 to 72, it likely needs to get other deals done before it can acquire Sharp. One of the selections the Dockers get for Acres, Lobb, Logue or Tucker should make it happen, with a late second rounder or early third around the price point.
Jack Bowes
Essendon and Geelong are considered the frontrunners among several suitors for Bowes, who the Suns are dangling along with Pick 7 in a rare package to off-load his heavily back-ended deal until 2024, estimated to be worth around $850,000 next season. Gold Coast will allow Bowes to pick his destination for 2023, so assessing a potential deal is tricky. The Suns won’t just be giving away the Bowes/Pick 7 package for nothing though, with Suns list boss Craig Cameron this week saying they’re minded on what they’ll ask for but want a “fair” pick back – likely a late future first rounder or early second.
Tasmania a step closer to AFL licence | 00:29
Tanner Bruhn to Geelong
The Cats will have to get a little crafty to land both Tanner Bruhn and Collingwood’s Ollie Henry this trade period. Both are Geelong Falcons juniors, with Bruhn initially set to land at the Cattery before the club coughed up three first round picks to the Giants for Jeremy Cameron back in 2020. Now two years on, the pick 12 Bruhn wants to get home. Geelong has pick 18 in this year’s draft but that is unlikely to satisfy the “disappointed” Giants alone. Plus that pick is set to be the one heading to the Pies for Henry. Geelong’s interest in Jack Bowes and the attached pick seven will be the key to a deal for Bruhn. Whether that pick seven is then split remains another point of debate. The 20-year-old Bruhn has played 30 games for the Giants, including 17 in 2022.
Bobby Hill to Collingwood
Bobby Hill will be Greater Western Sydney’s easiest deal this trade period. After unsuccessfully trying to depart the Giants at the end of 2021, Hill is now out of contract and has nominated Collingwood as his club of choice. It’s likely Collingwood’s future second round pick will get the deal done – given they only have a first round and three third rounders this Draft. “I’ve been talking to Graham Wright for a week and a half, that’s something we’ll be able to facilitate and that will be something that would be done pretty early in the trade period and he will make his way to Collingwood,” Giants footy boss Jason McCartney said.
Giants will be ‘adequately rewarded’ | 00:31
Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto to Richmond
The GWS duo are the biggest fish to land this trade period, given they are heading together to the Tigers, where they’ve both been offered seven-year deals. Tim Taranto is an easier prospect for Richmond and GWS to reach an agreement on given he’s out of contract. The Tigers have in play picks 12, 19, 30 and next year’s first-rounder. As things stand, the Giants want two first-rounders in exchange for Taranto’s services but, like the deal for Jeremy Cameron with Geelong, a second-round pick from the Giants could come back the other way. For Hopper, a first-round pick will be on the cards in exchange for a player taken with pick No.7 by the Giants. “In chats with (Tigers head of footy) Blair Hartley and the Richmond guys, they understand the quality of these players and that it’s going to take a bit of work with one still in contract. We’ll keep working through that though,” McCartney said.
Tom Mitchell to Collingwood
It’s fair to say the Tom Mitchell-Collingwood link is yet to be officially locked in, with no trade request from the midfielder or an approach from the Magpies forthcoming. But rumours of a potential move have continued to grow. SEN’s Stephen Silvagni says the Brownlow Medallist is currently not worth more than a second-round pick. “Sam Mitchell pretty much put a few of those older guys on the trade table and it was all upfront so it wouldn’t surprise me if he does leave,” he said on AFL Trade Radio. “What is he worth? He still has a year left on his contract so you’re probably looking at a pick in the second round. I wouldn’t have thought he was worth any more than that.”
Goodwin opens up on Jackson departure | 00:33
Luke Jackson to Fremantle/West Coast
Luke Jackson looms as the messiest trade of the off-season, with both West Coast and Fremantle still in play for the young ruck’s services. The Dockers are the overwhelming favourites to snare Jackson, but they can’t come close to meeting Melbourne’s demand of two first round picks as a deal. Freo’s first draft pick is at 13 and then there’s currently nothing until 72. Griffin Logue’s trade to North Melbourne will help the Dockers bolster their draft hand if they do cough up pick 13 and a 2023 first round pick for Jackson. West Coast meantime are open to splitting their pick two – which would become a three should Will Ashcroft go early as predicted. But list boss Rohan O’Brien has confirmed the Eagles won’t be offering that as a trade for Jackson. “There’s an air of confidence that we think we can convince him and hopefully get the deal done,” O’Brien said on SEN. “Opportunities like Luke don’t come along very often.”
Toby Bedford to GWS
GWS are gearing up for a massive trade period with a host of players wanting out. So the arrival of Toby Bedford should be one of the more straightforward deals the club has to make. The Giants already hold pick three and 21 – but that won’t be on the table for Bedford. It’s likely their third round selection, currently pick 40, could be the deal for the Demons – although they will have plenty of other picks coming back when deals for Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Tanner Bruhn drop.
Luke Jackson requests trade back to WA | 01:12
Ben Long to Gold Coast
Ben Long should land at the Gold Coast Suns with relative ease. While St Kilda were “disappointed” by Long’s call to head north, the Suns are sitting pretty this draft hand. They have a first-round pick and a whopping three further picks in the second round. They’ve also got another two picks in the third round. It’s expected a late second round draft pick or early third rounder would satisfy the Saints for Long.
Junior Rioli to Port Adelaide
It’s safe to say West Coast weren’t pleased with Junior Rioli’s decision to request to join the Power for 2023 and beyond after standing by the troubled star during his infamous drug ban. But now the request has come in, a deal will likely be reached thanks to Karl Amon’s departure to Hawthorn. Amon’s move was made official last week, and as a result, Port landed pick 27 as compensation. That second-rounder is likely to be the deal for Rioli – handing West Coast a potential five picks inside the top 40 this draft. Given the rebuild stage of the club, it’s a hefty draft hand for the Eagles.
Eagles gutted by Rioli’s trade request | 01:07
Josh Dunkley to Brisbane
Getting Josh Dunkley to the Lions is going to take a fair bit of effort from Brisbane’s behalf. The Dunkley deal is complicated by the fact the Lions need to hold onto as many draft picks as possible, to match the looming early bid on father-son selection Will Ashcroft. Touted as the best player in the 2022 draft, Ashcroft has already nominated Brisbane as his destination. But Brisbane don’t have a pick until 15 in their draft hand – meaning they’ll need to match a likely bid to snare Ashcroft. Pick one is worth a whopping 3000 points – plus they’ll likely need points for father-son Jaspa Fletcher. The Dogs want more than a first-round pick for Dunkley – although there are reports pick 15 and a future pick could get the deal done. The Lions will need to move a couple of players for picks and get creative if they are to land the Dunkley, Ashcroft and Fletcher trio this off-season.
