Whispering_Jack

Progressive Voting: 131. Tyla Hanks 109. Kate Hore 70. Elizabeth McNamara 69. Maeve Chaplin 51. Tayla Harris 48. Megan Fitzsimon 36. Eden Zanker 32. Shelley Heath 17. Paxy Paxman Ryleigh Wotherspoon 15. Olivia Purcell 14. Sinead Goldrick 4. Tahlia Gillard Lauren Pearce Saraid Taylor 2. Maggie Mahony 1. Alyssa Bannan Gabrielle Colvin Laela Ebert Molly O’Hehir Jemma Rigoni

I think he’s a few years away, possibly 2028.

The 2025 AFL National Draft order after the trades - ROUND ONE 1 West Coast Eagles 2 West Coast Eagles 3 Richmond 4 Richmond 5 Essendon 6 Essendon 7 Melbourne 8 Melbourne 9 Carlton 10 Hawthorn 11 Carlton 12 GWS Giants 13 West Coast Eagles 14 Western Bulldogs 15 Gold Coast Suns 16 Adelaide 17 Brisbane Lions 18 Gold Coast Suns 19 Geelong 20 Fremantle 21 Essendon 22 Hawthorn 23 Brisbane Lions ROUND TWO 24 Gold Coast Suns 25 North Melbourne 26 North Melbourne 27 Essendon 28 Gold Coast Suns 29 Gold Coast Suns 30 Essendon 31 Sydney 32 Sydney 33 Western Bulldogs 34 West Coast Eagles 35 GWS Giants 36 Gold Coast Suns 37 Melbourne 38 Richmond 39 Collingwood 40 Geelong 41 West Coast Eagles 42 Sydney 43 Carlton ROUND THREE 44 Brisbane Lions 45 Collingwood 46 North Melbourne 47 Fremantle 48 Adelaide 49 Port Adelaide 50 St Kilda 51 Brisbane Lions 52 Gold Coast Suns 53 West Coast Eagles 54 Carlton 55 Adelaide 56 Collingwood 57 North Melbourne 58 West Coast Eagles 59 Brisbane Lions 60 Geelong 61 Collingwood ROUND FOUR 62 Hawthorn 63 Sydney 64 Adelaide 65 St Kilda 66 Melbourne 67 Carlton 68 Brisbane Lions 69 Fremantle 70 Western Bulldogs 71 Melbourne 72 Carlton 73 Adelaide 74 Western Bulldogs 75 Adelaide 76 Hawthorn 77 Collingwood 78 Geelong 79 Brisbane Lions

Not a biggie here. • Richmond receive Patrick Retschko - Geelong receive a sixth-round pick (99) But how about this one? Melbourne has reeled in three first round picks while giving back three seconds as Christian Petracca finally became a Gold Coast Sun. In a deal that dragged on into the final day as the two clubs haggled over the picks that were swapped back and forth. Melbourne netted picks 7, 8 and a future first while sending the second rounders back to Gold Coast. • No deals for Zac Merrett, Callum Ah Chee, Baku Khamis and Rowan Marshall

• “Jack Steel has been traded to Melbourne for a future third round pick.” - Cal Twomey • Deal lodged for Clayton Oliver to become a Giant. Future third-round pick leaving the Giants to Melbourne.

• Melbourne's interest in Jack Steele is reciprocated by the St Kilda captain. Steele has stated his preference is to stay at the Saints, but he is open to joining the Demons subject to a trade. Two years to run on a contract so negotiations would take place on who pays what.

Trades ~ • Carlton receives Oliver Florent - Sydney Swans receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Carlton) • Melbourne receives Changkuoth Jiath - Hawthorn receives a second-round pick (42) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Melbourne) • Sydney Swans receive Jai Serong and a 2026 fourth-round selection (tied to Hawthorn) - Hawthorn receives a 2026 third-round selection (tied to Sydney) • Carlton receives a first-round pick (currently 9) and three second-round picks (31, 42 and 43) - Hawthorn receives two first-round picks (10 and 22) • Adelaide Crows receive Finnbar Maley and a fourth-round pick (64) - North Melbourne receive a third-round pick (57) and a 2026 fourth-round pick (tied to Adelaide)

Midday mail • Tom Morris on Rowan Marshall - "Geelong is still adamant they still want him. This will go down to the wire. St Kilda might flat bat it. Geelong are still trying. He doesn't want to play for St Kilda next year. This one will go down to the wire." • Cal Twomey - "They (Melbourne) lose Judd McVee at half back and bring in CJ, who has always been on the fringe of the Hawks 23. That will be a late pick." (Me: make that late pick the one we get from GWS for Clarry) • Cal Twomey - Melbourne has emerged as a contender for St Kilda midfielder Jack Steele. The midfielder has to weigh up whether he would leave the Saints.

Just to start the day ~ • Tom Morris on the Petracca deal: "The Petracca deal will happen, with Picks 7 & 8 to Melbourne and Pick 24 going back to the Suns. There is also a range of other pick swaps going on with Melbourne and Gold Coast. The Demons will get more draft capital over the next two years, and the Suns will get more points." • Morris on the Oliver deal: "GWS are offering a future 3rd round pick for Clayton Oliver." That might sound like a bad deal but look at what Gold Coast’s offering the Bulldogs for JUH - Pick 70. That makes the deal offered by GWS an absolute steal.

If that’s what we’ve done for two years (and none of us know for sure) then it wasn’t done particularly well. I understand the club wanting to cut its losses and I want nothing more than to see him rehabilitated and happy. But I question whether the course being taken is in his best interests.

To be clear, I’m not sure as to whether we backed ourselves into a corner or whether we were backed into a corner and if it was the latter, at the behest of who? I didn’t make my comment lightly because I’ve always been a supporter of Clarrie, he’s been a much loved and highly decorated player at the club and, by it’s implications, the Giants’ offer demeans him and his character more than anything else. In the long run, it might be better to show some strength, for both him and the club to sit back, take our time and find a way to help an individual who has lost his way.

Who handles player transfer negotiations in today's landscape? Within an hour of Steven King's meeting with Clayton Oliver, the media had already picked up on the story. Although the source of the information from Melbourne was unclear, it was widely accepted that the Demons would need to pay out half of Clarry's contract, and even then, they would receive minimal compensation in return. In line with those reports, Jon Ralph stated this morning: "Demons potentially paying as much as $700,000 to the Giants, which represents about 3.8 per cent of the salary cap". As expected, the Giants' offer now on the table mirrors the one proposed shortly after King's meeting. Melbourne is told to take it or leave it and the media expects (demands) it to do so. Another response could be that all negotiations are off the table. The Melbourne Football Club requires Clarry to report for duty when training commences in November, fully prepared to fulfill his contractual obligations and in suitable condition to do so. If not (on either count), the matter could become a legal issue between the player and the club and we possibly go one player short for season 2026.

MONDAY TRADES • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • GWS receives: a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (37) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103) TUESDAY TRADES Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (45 and 56) • Essendon receive Brayden Fiorini - Gold Coast Suns receive a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Essendon)

Progressive Tally 120. Tyla Hanks 96. Kate Hore 69. Maeve Chaplin 64. Elizabeth McNamara 51. Tayla Harris 48. Megan Fitzsimon 24. Eden Zanker 17. Paxy Paxman Ryleigh Wotherspoon 16. Shelley Heath 15. Olivia Purcell 14. Sinead Goldrick 4. Lauren Pearce Saraid Taylor 2. Maggie Mahony 1. Alyssa Bannan Gabrielle Colvin Laela Ebert Molly O’Hehir

Turned out a positive day for the Demons in the end - • Sam Edmund has some late news, Changkuoth Jiath agrees to join Melbourne on a three-year deal, but a trade needs to be agreed, of course. (I can see Tom Morris grinning as he tells his listeners that CJ is worth 3 first rounders) • Connor Budarick has been traded to the Western Bulldogs. Gold Coast will receive Pick 37 for Budarick and Pick 70 • Brayden Fiorini is officially an Essendon player. Gold Coast get a 2026 3rd rounder.

More explosive revelations ~ • North Melbourne won’t be pursuing Leek Aleer. The Roos have considered a move for him after St Kilda pulled out, but won’t be going any further. Aleer expected now to stay at GWS on the three-year offer the club has made for him. • Tom Morris - Hawthorn has offered a deal to Essendon for Zach Merrett - Pick 9, a future first, a second rounder this year or next and Henry Hustwaite. • Sam Edmund: Melbourne has an interest in Changkuoth Jiath. Jiath has an agreement with the Hawks to explore the market in search of greater playing opportunity. The Demons have emerged as a potential suitor for the rebounding defender, but there is no offer yet. • clarifying that swap of picks ~ Brisbane Lions receive a third-round pick (currently No.59) and a 2026 third-round pick (tied to Melbourne) - Collingwood receives two third-round picks (currently No.45 and 56) Only involves a pick tied to Melbourne as a result of the Brody Mihocek trade. • and the big one for today. A player likely to end up at GWS or GCS where he will find good company

The day begins a bit like Groundhog Day but no doubt something will eventually happen to bring the AFL Radio team to life. • some news on JUH (he’s just emerged from the nightclub?) - "The Suns board is on board, the AFL is on board. All that is left is for Robbie D'Orazio and Craig Cameron to sort it out. It will happen today or early tomorrow." - Tom Morris on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to the Suns Callum Twomey • Sam Edmund expects Changkuoth Jiath to be on the move, but Carlton won't be his next home... • a three-way trade has been approved. Brisbane trade 2025 Round Three Pick 45 and 2025 Round Three Pick 56 to Collingwood for 2025 Round Three Pick 59 and 2026 Round Three selection (tied to Melbourne) in the respective Telstra AFL Drafts. There has to be more to this than reported and will try to find out. - "Gold Coast and Melbourne are meeting today around the Christian Petracca deal and the Jamarra chase is likely to tip into tomorrow. The Fiorini deal, there's some talking to be done there." • soon after the above statement was made, there followed an interview with Michael Oakes the manager of Bailey Humphrey in which he explained why his client was keen to get back to Victoria. Also on the subject of a trade: "Bailey is a contracted player and whilst contracted he has always known it is at the club's discretion. I think the Suns have been consistently resolute they won't trade him. I'd say so (he won't be traded). " • Sydney's first official trade offer for Charlie Curnow is in.

Trades today - • GWS receives a first-round pick (12) - Western Bulldogs receive a first-round pick (14) and a second-round pick (27) • West Coast Eagles receive Tylar Young - Richmond receive a second-round pick (38) • Port Adelaide receives Will Brodie - Fremantle receives a sixth-round selection (103)

Great start to the morning from the AFL Trade Radio gurus. They are on fire ~ • Tom Morris has impeccable sources (apparently, he lives in the Hardwick household): "Gold Coast will give 7 and 8 to Melbourne, providing they get 24 back. If this happens, it essentially means Melbourne will lose Petracca and McVee for 7 and 8... That's a pretty good deal. As much as Melbourne would have loved Bailey Humphrey to be part of this deal, I think that's been a nice wish but is off the table entirely. Petracca will be a Gold Coast Player, it will get done." • The same Tom Morris on Clayton Oliver: "The more Melbourne pays, the better pick they expect. They might be able to get Pick 35 or 37 off GWS, but I think it's very likely Clayton Oliver gets to the Giants for a future third rounder." • It's not looking like Steven May will be finding a new home in this trade period. • Max Heath was interviewed: "It is obviously pretty hard to leave a club you have loved for four years but the tutelage from Max Gawn and Tom Campbell was too hard to overlook."

WEEKEND TRADE • The Western Bulldogs will trade pick 12 to Greater Western Sydney for picks 14 & 37. To be lodged tomorrow, apparently in conjunction with a trade involving Connor Broderick.

Then there’s this interesting comment from Ralphie. Although not strictly AFL Trade Radio related it’s worth bringing into the conversation and asking every ATR commentator why they don’t apply this principle when they discuss the possibility of a trade of Christian Petracca to the Gold Coast Suns -

Problem is that nothing really happens on the weekends but I guess it’s worth mentioning that Cal Twomey has reported a pick swap agreed over the weekend and is set to be lodged tomorrow. The Western Bulldogs will trade pick 12 to Greater Western Sydney for picks 14 & 37. That latter pick (37) is separately set to be used by the Dogs to get a deal done for Connor Budarick. This could have some bearing on an Oliver trade if it goes ahead and a swap of picks takes place.

So we could still potentially swap picks and move up the list as well if there was a particular player we really wanted.

The Zero Hanger clickbait site has its current mock top 10 for the forthcoming draft as follows If the selections fall that way, Melbourne would under the media’s almost unanimous GCS trade for Tracc, select Sullivan Robey and Xavier Taylor while giving up pick 24. While these players might sound okay, there’s very little to show of Robey (he was a latecomer to the conversation) and Taylor may or may not turn out as good as the experts expect. Aussie Rules Rookie Me CentralSullivan Robey Draft ProfileSullivan Robey is the bolter of this year's draft crop, possessing physicality and power as a high-impact midfielder/forward.Aussie Rules Rookie Me CentralXavier Taylor Draft ProfileEastern Ranges prospect Xavier Taylor has ascended draft boards this year with his competitive nature and defensive versatility.I think we would be expecting at least this and the capacity to land a decent player, perhaps in conjunction with the Oliver trade.