Gold Coast’s Jack Lukosius (left), Collingwood defender John Noble (middle) and Power star Dan Houston could form part of a huge trade. Photos: AFL MEDIA
One of the most tepid AFL trade periods of all time meandered through another lethargic day on Monday without any players switching clubs.
In fact, it’s been a full week since the last footballer made his way to a new team via a trade, making a mockery of the fact that the trade period lasts 10 days.
When free agency is taken into consideration, a grand total of nine players have changed colours in 11 days. What a snooze fest it has been.
However, multiple reports of a looming mega three-club, five-player trade made the biggest waves on Monday.
It’s believed that the deal would see Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston join Collingwood, Gold Coast duo Jack Lukosius and Rory Atkins head to the Power along with Magpies mature-age pick-up Joe Richards and Collingwood speedster John Noble cross to Gold Coast.
As always, the blockbuster trade would involve a cavalcade of draft picks changing hands.
Speaking of draft picks, so dull has the 2024 trade period been so far that the last five deals have only featured draft picks.
And another two happened on Monday as Adelaide traded their selection 46 to Melbourne in exchange for the Demons’ future third-round pick, but the most consequential deal involved Melbourne and Essendon.
The Bombers handed over pick 9 and their future third-round pick to the Demons, and received a 2025 first-round pick, as well as selections 28, 40, 46, 54 and 65 in this year’s draft, in return.
Given this year’s draft is being touted as one of the strongest of all time, and meant to be far more impressive than next year, why did Essendon part ways with a top 10 pick this year?
Well, the answer is simple. They did so in order to match any bids for exciting academy product Isaac Kako who promises to finally fix the Bombers’ long-standing small forward problems.
The Demons now have two top-10 picks (five and nine) at next month’s draft, which is very good going indeed. Suffice to say, Essendon will be death-riding Melbourne all season next year.
With less than 48 hours remaining in the trade period, there are still a stack of players who are yet to arrive at their destinations of choice.
Geelong and the Bulldogs remain at loggerheads over Bailey Smith, and the prospect of the Cats walking him to the draft remains a possibility with the Dogs unhappy with the current offer of pick 17.
Gold Coast is closing in on Richmond backman Daniel Rioli and is expected to part ways with picks 6 and 23 in order to reunite him with his old coach Damien Hardwick, as the Suns also aim to ensure they have enough points to snare academy product Leo Lombard.
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West Coast defender Tom Barrass and Richmond premiership duo Liam Baker and Shai Bolton all remain in limbo, mainly because of Hawthorn’s stunning decision to trade pick 14 last week.
Barrass is still expected to make his way to the Hawks, but Baker’s path to the Eagles isn’t as straightforward as it once appeared and suggestions that he might now be packaged up with Bolton and shipped to the Dockers potentially in return for picks 10, 11 and 18 will not go away.
Sydney champion Luke Parker has nominated North Melbourne as his preferred destination, but the Swans have rejected the Kangaroos’ initial offer of pick 62, Essendon forward Jake Stringer has been strongly linked to GWS and diminutive Bulldogs utility Caleb Daniel appears more likely now to join the Kangaroos.
Speculation might remain strong regarding Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver wanting to join Geelong, but the Demons remain adamant he isn’t going anywhere and they are displaying similar levels of confidence about Kysaiah Pickett.
St Kilda has its sights on Bulldogs veteran Jack Macrae but have reportedly cooled on Port Adelaide ruckman Ivan Soldo, a possible return to GWS for Essendon midfielder Dylan Shiel could be on the cards and the Eagles have declared an interest in Brisbane youngster Deven Robertson.
James Peatling wants to join former GWS teammate Isaac Cumming at the Crows, Carlton small forward Matt Owies has garnered interest from some clubs, particularly West Coast, as he remains without a contract for season 2025, and Brisbane’s Harry Sharp has requested a trade to Melbourne.
2024 PLAYER MOVEMENTS
*Pick 9 (Ess) and future third-round pick (Ess) traded to Melbourne in exchange for picks 28, 40, 46, 54, 65 and future first-round pick.
*Pick 46 (Adel) traded to Melbourne in exchange for future third-round pick.
*Pick 14 (Haw) traded to Carlton in exchange for future first-round pick and future second-round pick.
*Pick 34 (Carl) and pick 66 (Carl) traded to the Brisbane Lions in exchange for future second-round pick and pick 73.
*Pick 20 (BL) traded to Richmond in exchange for picks 32, 42, 43 and 45.
9. Jack Graham (Rich) joined West Coast as an unrestricted free agent. Richmond received pick 42 (AFL) as compensation.
8. Jack Darling (WC) traded to North Melbourne in exchange for pick 68.
7. Alex Neal-Bullen (Melb) traded to Adelaide in exchange for pick 28.
6. Isaac Cumming (GWS) joined Adelaide as an unrestricted free agent. GWS received pick 21 (AFL) as compensation.
5. Nick Haynes (GWS) joined Carlton as an unrestricted free agent.
4. Tom Campbell (StK) joined Melbourne as a delisted free agent.
3. Harry Perryman (GWS) joined Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent. GWS received pick 16 (AFL) as compensation.
2. Josh Battle (StK) joined Hawthorn as an unrestricted free agent. St Kilda received pick 8 (AFL) as compensation.
1. Elliott Himmelberg (Adel) joined Gold Coast as an unrestricted free agent.
