Whispering_Jack

AFL FREE AGENCY PERIOD: DAY ONE AS IT HAPPENED Done deals: Jack Silvagni (unrestricted) Carlton to St Kilda — Carlton receive end of first round compensation (currently pick 20) Tom De Koning (restricted) Carlton to St Kilda — Carlton receive band one compensation (pick 9) James Worpel (restricted) Hawthorn to Geelong — Hawthorn receive end of second round compensation (pick 39) Pending deals: Jacob Wehr (unrestricted) GWS Giants to Port Adelaide Charlie Spargo (unrestricted) Melbourne to North Melbourne Clubs have a 72-hour period to match an offer for restricted free agents. Carlton (Tom De Koning) and Hawthorn (James Worpel) both declined to match offers on Friday.

Happening incognito

The first day of the Free Agency period is being overshadowed by trade news but I will be back once some information on that score is available. Meanwhile - • the Lions have confirmed defender Brandon Starcevich is leaving the club to join the Eagles. • "Melbourne will ask for players and I am sure Bailey Humphrey will be at the top of the list." - Cal Twomey on Christian Petracca choosing Gold Coast • Sam Edmund says he believes a Bailey Humphrey trade will happen (via Trade Radio). Lo and behold, later in the same day, Callum Twomey reports that Humphrey has just caught up with Steven King and Nathan Jones. Gold Coast adamant he is not up for trade. Time to come home Bailey! • Christian Petracca's trade request to Gold Coast comes as Sam Flanders met with Melbourne again this morning. Flanders caught up for coffee with new Demons coach Steven King and midfield assistant Nathan Jones. • and the Giants are all in on Clayton Oliver as it stands right now and the TR panel are talking about how Oliver could grow the GWS midfield? • add Fremantle to the list of interested clubs in out-of-favour Hawthorn defender Jai Serong. • St Kilda captain Jack Steele has been informed by the club that he is “welcome” to explore opportunities at rival clubs.

It's the work of a poster Haggas on the bigfooty Trade and Draft Forum - 2025 AFL Draft General Discussion at page 82.

Starts today … who will be the first?

This one’s colourful!

• Sam Edmond reports that Clayton Oliver will meet with new coach Steven King today to discuss a role change. • the story accelerated and next thing Tom Morris reported that Melbourne has told Clayton Oliver today they can't guarantee him a spot in the senior team in 2026, and would be happy to facilitate a fair trade if he can find a new home. If not, VFL football beckons. Clayton Oliver is apparently "frustrated" about what’s happening. On top of all that the Dees are said to be willing to pay $3.5 million over 5 years to get Oliver off the books. • Lions premiership forward Callum ah Chee requests trade to the Crows. Brisbane's Deven Robertson requests trade to West Coast. • Cal Twomey believes the race for Charlie Curnow is down to one team, with the Sydney Swans well ahead in the charge for the dual Coleman Medalist. • the Melbourne Football Club released a statement regarding the reported meeting with Clayton Oliver. The Demons say that Oliver is free to explore his options if he wishes after being told of the club's plans under new coach Steven King. • James Hird reckons, "The Adelaide Crows could well and truly do with Clayton Oliver," while others are speculating that Collingwood might be his best home. Is anyone interested in what Connor Buderick is doing after all that?

As usual, the journos are speculating and reaching their own conclusions. Sam Edmunds response to reports that Clayton Oliver will meet with new coach Steven King today to discuss a role change: “From what I’m told that may or may not be to Clayton’s liking, and all options are on the table here in terms of him being asked to explore his options, Clayton saying he wants to explore his options. “At the moment his immediate playing future is uncertain. He had been largely resolved in his own mind that he wanted to stay at Melbourne for the long term and make it work.“ When did Clayton say anything?

Today’s hot potatoes ~ • Cal Wilkie recommits to the Saints after Bulldogs pursued him with a significant offer. • Tom Morris claims that Christian Petracca has felt for the last few months that Melbourne was pushing him out. “Then on Monday he spoke to Damien Hardwick and Matthew Nicks. He will soon choose between the Suns and the Crows and it is a genuine 50/50." NOTE: Many attendees at the best and fairest would have had a somewhat different impression about the situation, but Morris should know, given his intimate involvement with the inner workings of Brand Petracca. • Cal Twomey was also talking about the decision Tracc has to make in coming days. “It is line ball whether it is Adelaide or Gold Coast. He is on the move, it is just about what the deal looks like.” Twomey also believes Charlie Curnow is in the mix for the Suns who can’t fit both of them onto their list. • Tasmania's full list rules have been revealed. The Devils will be given picks No.1, 3, 5*, 7*, 9, 11*, 13* in year one, No.5* and 9 in year two and three. Picks with * must be traded. They will get 11 first round picks over their first three years and six of those have to be traded. The AFL wants the other struggling clubs to be able to access other early picks. The clubs who lose players to Tasmania will be given at least one, maybe two floating picks. The Devils will also have a $5 million sign-on bonus. • Cal Twomey opines, “If you are Tasmania, do you offer Nick Daicos in 2028 an 8-year deal worth $2 million plus, as well as a $3 million sign-on fee? They have so much to play with.” • James Hird on the centre bounce being removed - "I think it is a bad decision re the centre bounce. it just favours the tallest guy in the ruck. You want guys with craft. I am disappointed it is gone." NOTE: Max should be happy about this. • Tiger defender Tylar Young has requested a trade to West Coast. AND JUST IN • Christian Petracca will travel to Gold Coast to meet with the Suns in person. More to come, no doubt

Re Marcus Prasad - See my comments above about the need for further information on any changes to our zone. Re Toby SInnema - we still have access to him as the changes don’t appear to apply to the 2025 draft eligibility criteria.

The changes to the rules are substantial. Under the new rules, the cultural background of the parent is paramount; a player must have at least one parent born overseas to qualify for multicultural status. Clubs must spend more time with NGA prospects, have nominated them earlier, and proven that they have improved their football. Pacific and Central and South American regions have been added to the cultural eligibility criteria while European countries have been removed. With the inclusion of the Tassie Devils, North Melbourne loses its zone in the Apple Isle and the zones will be shifted around to accommodate them in Victoria. Obviously, more details are required to assess the effect on the MFC. We need to see what the boundaries are of the amended zones and know more detail about the families of the potential NGA prospects. It appears that there are no changes to 2025 draft eligibility criteria so on that basis, we can still get Toby SInnema but not Tairon Ah Mu, although we might have access to the latter’s younger brother who is also a talented young player. afl.com.auAFL cracks down on player eligibility in NGA revampClubs must spend more time with Next Generation Academy prospects and register their interest earlier in order to get priority draft access

Thanks Andy and happy birthday!!! I’m fully fit and prepared for the season ahead.

Timely for Max Gawn at this stage of his career. It could extend it by a couple of years with the capacity to have your back up ruckman playing on and off the bench. This could also assist players like JvR as they could concentrate on becoming settled as KPF's without tiring themselves out as relief ruckmen. It might also affect how teams go about their drafting this year.

Aussie Rules Rookie Me CentralTaylor credits "team footy" for flag successEastern Ranges defender Xavier Taylor lauded his side's even effort after being named best afield in Saturday's Grand Final.

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central2025 Draft Combines kick off tomorrowThe 2025 AFL and AFLW Draft Combines kick off this week as top prospects look to further raise their draft claims.

Champion.

The 10 most valuable players this trade period, in the eyes of Kane Cornes.

Rookie Me Central’s latest top 30 ~

Plenty of material covered today among the news, opinion and some speculation: • big names for discussion on the 2026 free agents list include Zac Bailey, Zak Butters, Ben King and Sam Walsh. • Riley Beveridge says the Swans are making good progress locking away Joel Amartey ahead of his free agency year. • Dees CEO Paul Guerra: "We met with Christian late last week where he expressed his desire to explore a fresh start in 2026. Christian is a once in a generation player. With this in mind, any decision regarding Christian's future will be made in the best interest of the MFC." • Cal Twomey on Petracca - it’s now about happening and is about satisfying Melbourne in a deal. • "St Kilda and Melbourne are in strong favouritism for Sam Flanders after he met four clubs last week." • The Saints are having a massive crack by bringing in so many players, but it is also a huge risk. • The Merrett situation will unfold. The test is how much does Essendon want out of the deal? • Liam Pickering’s hypothetical - "Would Adelaide be willing to give Melbourne a Jake Soligo type player to secure Christian Petracca? They might need to bite the bullet and trade a player like him in order to get their missing piece in the midfield." • the AFL announced its assistance package for the wooden spoon West Coast Eagles. They will receive Pick 19 and four extra rookie spots.

As per the above post, the AFL Commission has granted the West Coast Eagles a draft and list assistance package which includes: • An end-of-first-round selection in the 2025 Telstra AFL Draft (currently pick 19) • Four additional rookie list spots (funded by the Club) for AFL seasons 2026, 2027 and 2028 The AFL has reserved the right to review or alter the provision of assistance in 2027 or 2028. As a result, the 2025 AFL draft order now is ~ ROUND ONE 1 West Coast Eagles 2 Richmond 3 Richmond 4 Essendon 5 Essendon 6 Gold Coast Suns 7 St Kilda 8 Hawthorn 9 Sydney 10 Western Bulldogs 11 Fremantle 12 GWS Giants 13 Gold Coast Suns 14 Adelaide 15 West Coast Eagles 16 Gold Coast Suns 17 Brisbane Lions 18 Geelong 19 West Coast Eagles ROUND TWO 20 West Coast Eagles 21 North Melbourne 22 North Melbourne 23 Essendon 24 Melbourne 25 Port Adelaide 26 Essendon 27 Hawthorn 28 Sydney 29 Western Bulldogs 30 Fremantle 31 GWS Giants 32 Gold Coast Suns 33 GWS Giants 34 West Coast Eagles 35 Collingwood 36 Carlton 37 Geelong ROUND THREE 38 Brisbane Lions 39 Fremantle 40 North Melbourne 41 Brisbane Lions 42 Adelaide 43 Port Adelaide 44 St Kilda 45 Carlton 46 Sydney 47 Brisbane Lions 48 Fremantle 49 Adelaide 50 Brisbane Lions 51 Adelaide 52 West Coast Eagles 53 Collingwood 54 Geelong 55 Melbourne ROUND FOUR 55 Hawthorn 57 Gold Coast Suns 58 North Melbourne 59 St Kilda 60 Melbourne 61 Port Adelaide 62 Brisbane Lions 63 Carlton 64 Sydney 65 Collingwood 66 Fremantle 67 Adelaide 68 Gold Coast Suns 69 Adelaide 70 Hawthorn 71 Collingwood 72 Geelong 73 Brisbane Lions