Whispering_Jack

4 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

Would be nice to think this could be a possibility but I think we all know we will probs end up taking the deal. We backed ourselves into a corner and now have to pay for it.

Same with track imo he isn’t coming back and we will end up taking pics.

This isn’t a great trade period for us unfortunately and we r paying the price for previous mistakes.

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 -

On 10/10/2025 at 21:00, Tarax Club said:

Whispering_Jack your daily summaries are required reading for the discerning demon supporting cognescenti. Saves the angst of wading through voluminous fugazzi and being being none the wiser.

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.

3 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

@Whispering_Jack MFC 7&8 hypothetical would be picks 11&12 given Uwland, Paterson, Annable & Dean as nominated priority players. So unlikely to get Robey and Xavier Taylor. But young guns like (Josh) Lindsay, Farrow, Addinsall and Dovaston as options. Lindsay was potentially a number 1 pick 12 months ago. He’s a star. He’s delivery is elite. He’s smart. He’s sidestep is also excellent.

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 Central

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

I think we would be expecting at least this and the capacity to land a decent player, perhaps in conjunction with the Oliver trade.

The 2025 AFL National Draft order as at the weekend in the middle of draft week -

ROUND ONE

1 West Coast Eagles 

2 West Coast Eagles 

3 Richmond

4 Richmond

5 Essendon 

6 Essendon

7 Gold Coast Suns

8 Gold Coast Suns

9 Hawthorn 

10 Carlton

11 Sydney

12 Western Bulldogs

13 West Coast Eagles 

14 GWS Giants

15 Gold Coast Suns

16 Adelaide

17 Brisbane Lions

18 Gold Coast Suns

19 Geelong 

20 Fremantle 

21 Essendon 

22 Carlton 

23  Brisbane Lions

ROUND TWO

 24 Melbourne 

25 North Melbourne

26 North Melbourne

27 Essendon

28 Melbourne

29 Gold Coast Suns

30 Essendon 

31 Hawthorn

32 Sydney

33 Western Bulldogs 

34 West Coast Eagles

35 GWS Giants

36 Gold Coast Suns

37 GWS Giants  

38 West Coast Eagles 

39 Collingwood 

40 Geelong 

41 West Coast Eagles 

42 Melbourne 

43 Hawthorn

ROUND THREE

44 Brisbane Lions

45 Brisbane Lions

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 Brisbane Lions

57 Adelaide

58 West Coast Eagles 

59 Collingwood 

60 Geelong 

61 Collingwood 

ROUND FOUR

62 Hawthorn

63 Sydney 

64 North Melbourne

65 St Kilda

66 Melbourne

67 Carlton 

68 Brisbane Lions

69 Fremantle 

70 Gold Coast Suns

71 Melbourne 

72 Carlton 

73 Adelaide

74 Gold Coast Suns

75 Adelaide

76 Hawthorn 

77 Collingwood 

78 Geelong 

79 Brisbane Lions 

Today was fizzle Friday ~

• Brody Mihocek and Pick 71 heads to Melbourne for Pick 61 and Melbourne's 2026 R3 selection.

• Mihocek on his conversations with the Melbourne captain -

"He said it will be like a new club, and there are a lot of fresh faces coming in. I've always admired Max Gawn."

• a Three way deal -

PORT ADELAIDE Gets Corey Durdin, 2026 second-round pick (tied to Carlton) and Gives

Pick 29, 67

CARLTON Gets Ben Ainsworth, pick 67 and Gives Corey Durdin, 2026 second-round pick

GOLD COAST Gets Pick 29 and Gives Ben Ainsworth

• Campbell Chesser has been traded to Carlton. Pick 41 heading the way of the Eagles.

4 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Seems we gave up a lot to preserve pick 40 this year. We should have used the preseason draft.

It’s okay, we’ll get it back in the Oliver trade … er

As we near the end of trade week 2025, I’m so disillusioned with the state of football journalism to the point where I’m seriously considering closing this thread because of the groupthink among the presenters on AFL Trade Radio. Too much nodding of heads in agreement at the most ludicrous scenarios being put forward … and their inconsistency.

Then along comes a journalist who I might not have always agreed with in the past and this happens:

Robbo, Baz, Caro and the case of the missing Trade Radio audio

“It's the mysterious case of the missing audio and AFL censorship.

Filling air time on the AFIs Trade Radio product is a tough gig and the Thursday morning crew, hosted by Channel Nine's Tom Morris and former Essendon great James Hird, decided to give an old friend a call.

They got former Herald Sun chief football writer Mark "Robbo" Robinson on the line to tell a few stories from the good old days of trade week like Chris Judd's move from West Coast to Carlton.

The chat soon veered onto more recent topics and this is where things got interesting”.

…

“This is where Inspector Clouseau needs to be called in.

At the 41-minute mark of the podcast review of the show Morris throws to Robbo coming up next. But there is no Robbo on the other side of the break. In fact he is nowhere to be found.”

…

For those who are wondering what all the fuss is about, this is a taste of Robbo on Trade Radio.

‘Some of the players are really starting to s**t me,’ he said” … and he goes on to specifically criticize Bailey Smith’s recent conduct and then raised said,

"I'm disappointed in Greg Swann and in Andrew Dillon for allowing that to go through to the keeper without punishment."

He also went on to express disappointment about Clayton Oliver's expletive-laden response to a TV reporter last week,

"The Clayton Oliver stuff. Fair dinkum. Does the AFL understand that the whole country is watching their players act like absolute bozos and it's a bad reflection on the AFL and the players where it's f-n this and they drop c-bombs," he said.

Why AFL Trade Radio dropped this from its daily audio is answered somewhere between the lines. The audience is being told to believe what the AFL wants them to believe.

Lots happening today

• @cac1963 on Christian Petracca - "We have had some preliminary discussions, it will take a little while to work through, but we have been talking to Melbourne about a deal."

• … on BH - "We are really clear though, we are NOT trading Bailey Humphrey, we just won't look into that at all."

• and on JUH - "We were looking at someone who was committed to getting himself back to playing football. He met with our leadership group. He will do a medical with us today, and we need to get the AFL to clear it as well, but we are progressing that."

• Callum Twomey - There's been progress on a deal for West Coast's Campbell Chesser to get to the Blues. Carlton's pick No.41 is in there as part of the mix of options.

• There's been progress on a deal for West Coast's Campbell Chesser to get to the Blues. Carlton's pick No.41 is in there as part of the mix of options. • Tim Lamb interviewed -

1. "Gold Coast have made their position clear Bailey Humphrey is not on the trade table and you need to respect their position."

2. Re Clayton Oliver - "From the media speculation it appears he wants to get to the Giants but we haven't spoken with them. A deal would need to get worked out."

3. Re Brody Mihocek- "At this stage it is looking likely he could be a free agent. We are talking to Collingwood on a couple of things. We are comfortable bringing him in a free agent."

4. Appears that Steven May remains a Demon.

For more see @BLWNBA ’s post above.

• Riley Beveridge expects Charlie Curnow to be playing in new colours in 2026.

Today’s action

• Sam Flanders has been traded to the Saints for Pick 7.  

• "So make of this what you will, Clayton Oliver no longer follows Melbourne Football Club on Instagram but he does follow GWS Giants." - Tom Morris

NOTE: An indication of Clarrie’s maturity which probably explains it all. 

• “The expectation is the Oscar Allen move gets lodged today and lands West Coast pick No.2. Deven Robertson will also get his way to the Eagles at some stage.” - Cal Twomey on West Coast’s next moves.

• The three-club trade has been approved and is in the system . The Eagles received Brandon Starcevich plus picks 12, 33 and 52, with the Dockers getting picks 19, 23 and 46. The Lions receive picks 16, 22, 44 and 50. 

• Paperwork has also been lodged for the Judd McVee trade - pick 23 heading to Melbourne. 

• Starcevich has gone from the best team to the worst team. He’s only the fifth restricted free agent in 14 years to leave a club and join a team that finished in the bottom-six on the ladder.” - Cal Twomey 

• in the afternoon, paperwork lodged for Oscar Allen's free agency move from West Coast to Brisbane with the Eagles handed Pick 2 as compensation. 

AFL Trade Radio just blew up. Tom Morris departed from the script:

"Bailey Humphrey is intriguing me. Clubs are still agitating to get him out of the Suns. There is a view Damien Hardwick is somewhat sympathetic to Humphrey's personal situation."

8 minutes ago, Chelly said:

Love the fact checking on Cornes (and his minions who followed with the same thoughts). These AFL Trade Radio commentators are like zombies lacking originality of thought. What are they going to come up with for their zinger of the day?

The obvious one would be one about Kozzy Pickett being blindsided into signing his contract extension and wants out.

9 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Absolute nonsense. Petracca is a substantially better player than Rioli and is contracted for a significant period to come. Each draft is different but pick 6 this year is not going to be anywhere near close to pick 6. To suggest that pick 17 = the difference between Petracca and Rioli is an insult to Cornes’ intelligence if indeed, he has any.

9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

• "I think you give 6 and 17 for Petracca...that is more than fair for him. He is a better player than Dan Rioli, and Rioli got them pick 6."

I checked and Cornes was wrong. These were the terms of the Rioli trade:-

Traded Player:

Daniel Rioli: Richmond Tigers defender joins Gold Coast Suns on a five-year contract.

Trade Terms:

Gold Coast Suns Receive:

Daniel Rioli Picks 51, 61, 70, and 76

Richmond Tigers Receive:

• Picks 6 and 23

I haven’t read the whole thread so I don’t know if it’s been picked up but it says something about Cornes and his credibility which was never a strength. It’s something he shares with others in his business.

The morning started on a bad note for Kane Cornes and just got worse.

• "I think you give 6 and 17 for Petracca ... that is more than fair for him. He is a better player than Dan Rioli, and Rioli got them pick 6." - Kane Cornes on what is fair for Christian Petracca.

NOTE: I checked and Cornes was wrong. These were the terms of the Rioli trade:-

Traded Player:

Daniel Rioli: Richmond Tigers defender joins Gold Coast Suns on a five-year contract.

Trade Terms:

Gold Coast Suns Receive:

Daniel Rioli Picks 51, 61, 70, and 76

Richmond Tigers Receive:

• Picks 6 and 23

Next time, please do your research.

This set the tone for a day of commentary bordering on the inane and sometimes comical.

• "The tension in this discussion is whether Geelong should give up a pick in this year's draft or next year's draft. St Kilda is more interested in next year's draft." - Tom Morris on Rowan Marshall

• "The most simplistic view in all of this is that is not the case. People will say this has been planted from the Merrett camp to destabilise Essendon. I have been chasing this story for several weeks." - Tom Morris on the view the Zach Merrett camp leaked the Essendon drugs story

• Tom Morris (dramatically) - Adelaide took a look at Clayton Oliver but pulled out leaving the available choice to Collingwood and GWS Giants. Meanwhile, Oliver completes a medical at GWS as Collingwood plans a meeting.

• "I feel like at Melbourne I played the small forward role and it gave me good building blocks but it was a rigid role, without freedom. I spoke to North about playing a role with a bit more freedom. I play my best when playing on instinct." - Charlie Spargo

•  DONE DEAL - the first trade is in.  Paperwork has been lodged on the Liam Reidy trade. Carlton will get Reidy and Picks 53 and 71, Fremantle will get Picks 50 and 68.

• GCS player Brayden Fiorini has nominated Essendon as his new home.

• DONE DEAL - Sydney has secured a trade for Malcolm Rosas jnr.

The two clubs have agreed a deal that will see Sydney land Rosas and Pick 62, while Gold Coast will receive Picks 51 and 69.

• Callum Twomey - Over the past week multiple clubs have reached out directly to Nick Daicos & to his management to gauge any interest he has in a move.

• Saints and Suns reportedly agree to a pick 7/Sam Flanders trade.

• a complicated pick swap is being hatched between Brisbane, Fremantle and West Coast for Brandon Starcevich.

* my hunch is that it could unlock the McVee trade.

28 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Absolute nonsense. Petracca is a substantially better player than Rioli and is contracted for a significant period to come. Each draft is different but pick 6 this year is not going to be anywhere near close to pick 6. To suggest that pick 17 = the difference between Petracca and Rioli is an insult to Cornes’ intelligence if indeed, he has any.