With finals still going for six teams, the other teams are starting to look at trades while players start to make decisions about their futures.
Delisted players are also on the search for new homes, while there are plenty of rumours going around. So let’s have a look at some possible moves.
Cam McCarthy
Yes, I’m aware that Greater Western Sydney have stated that they will not release McCarthy under any circumstances, but Tom Boyd anyone?
McCarthy has requested a move back to Western Australia for family reasons. Looking at the options over in the west the Eagles have no need for any forwards. But across town Fremantle would not mind another forward to help out Matthew Pavlich if he continues playing next year.
For a trade you could look at what GWS needs and that is a ruckman. The Giants need someone to help out Shane Mumford while their young ruckman continue to develop. In that instance Zachary Clarke could make up part of the trade deal if it was to happen, or an exchange of draft picks.
Steve Johnson
After being delisted by Geelong, Johnson has said he is open to continuing his career at a different club next year. This seems to be a repeat of what happened with Paul Chapman, being delisted and then playing two more years at the Bombers and showing that he still had something to give.
So who could be a good fit for Johnson? Carlton, with their young side, may do well to have an experienced head in the forward line to help the younger players out. The other rumour is that the Tigers have looked at Johnson as well, who would give them another strong small forward and help them win a finals game.
Josh Green
A story going around is that Green wants a fresh start and may leaving the Brisbane Lions for a new home. The small midfielder/forward was the top goalscorer for the Lions in 2014-15.
He has been linked to his former coach at Clarence in Tasmania, Brendan Bolton. With Green contracted for next season Carlton would have to trade for him with a player swap or trade picks, if not both. Tom Bell could be part of that deal if rumours that he would like a return to Queensland are true.
Matthew Suckling
Suckling has not signed a new contract with the Hawks for next year and is an unrestricted free agent. With his damaging left foot from the 50-metre arc he is a dangerous player to have in a team.
Some are saying that the Lions are after Suckling but are still weighing up if they want to go for him via free agency. The other choice is to trade or pick him up via the pre-season draft instead of free agency path, but this puts them in the back seat if there are other clubs interested.
Matthew Leuenberger
Leuenberger is the name that has been linked with a move since the start of the season with him falling behind Stefan Martin as number one ruckman.
Leuenberger will most likely move on and it could well be to the Swans, but that all depends on whether he is willing to take no more then $350,000 a season.
The other team in the hunt for Leuenberger is Greater Western Sydney, who are after a partner for Mumford and someone to help out if he goes down.
So that is just some of the trade ideas or rumours that are going around. Will they all happen? Probably not but this year looks to be a very interesting trade period.
Macca
Guest
I don't think we are too far away TomC to be honest I'd be happy with the 12 and Astbury for 21 and Yarran you suggested and I think Richmond would be pretty happy to be able to bring their second round pick forward 10 spots in a shallow draft under my offer. I don't think either offer is valuing Yarran that highly - most the talk has Yarran getting a late first round pick which I think is valuing him above either offer we have discussed.
TomC
Roar Guru
Agreed on Astbury. But I definitely don't rate Yarran as highly as you do, which I guess we already knew.
Macca
Guest
TomC - For me I if the blues got pick 12 for Yarran I would be absolutely rapt but if all we got for him was to shift up 9 spots I would be disappointed (if Yarran wasn't contracted that would be his price) - there needs to be some middle ground and Astbury would be around the mark - he would fit the blues as they need to find KPP's, he is in the right age profile and I think if he had just a little more luck (I mean the kid missed a game because he got stung by a stingray) he could be a pretty handy player.
TomC
Roar Guru
Personally, I'd say 21 and Yarran for 12 is a good deal for the Blues. Maybe if Carlton was keen on someone like Astbury he could be included.
Macca
Guest
It would be something like that TomC although maybe Yarran and 20 for 12 and 30 or a fringe player. It is a tough one because Yarran for 12 on the face of it seems too much for the Tigers to give up and I don't think the blues will take Yarran and 20 for 12. On top of that I think Yarran could be a real weapon for the Tigers and possibly help them bridge the gap between them and top 4 and Yarran is contracted to the blues but seems to have done a deal with the Tigers so I would think the BLues have the whip hand.
TomC
Roar Guru
Yarran and pick 20 for pick 12, you're thinking? 20 will be pushed down to 21 most likely.
Macca
Guest
See Yarran was a no sow at the blues B&F - looks like a deal has been done with Richmond the most likely. They have pick 12 at the moment which would be a good pick up for the blues.
Macca
Guest
Balthazar - It all depends on who you lose but McPharlin & Pavlich would be a pretty decent loss and at the very least the loss of the others will dramatically reduce your depth - which is very important to a premiership challenge. Not saying you will drop off the face of the earth but you have some big decisions on list management and transitioning this year.
Mark
Guest
Sydney trading Tippett for Leuenberger? You really have no idea, do you?
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Hopefully you were rolling around in a tonne of wood chips as you typed that Balt. Or at the very least located in a high density pine plantation.
Edgar Slosh
Roar Guru
None of those players will be enough if GWS decide they want to be the laughing stock of the AFL. They will want a first round plus Clarke
Balthazar
Guest
Macca, not necessarily. Leaving aside Sylvia, McPharlap is definitely a loss. The Dockers have played better in the centre without Crowls. Duffield's place has already been taken already by Sheridan and Mzungu has been in and out of the team all year. He's fighting for the last spot with de Boer, Suban and C Pearce who are all younger than him. Clearing out these older players will give space for A Pearce (McPharlap, who's welcome to stay on but won't), Connor Blakely (Crowls), Langdon (kid was a steal, will replace Mzungu). Touch wood, Morabito might play on if he's over the bone bruising and he needs to be squeezed in somewhere
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
He's had half a season's worth to see he's possibly going to be a quality player.
Macca
Guest
Balthazar- Right now you have 10 plus Pearce who will be 30 that haven't said they will retire - if half of them do call it quits then that will lower your age significantly but it will also effect the quality of your 22. Dalgety - You are right Mayne is a proven commodity but he is 27, McCarthy is 20 and McCarthy has shown enough to see that he is going to be a quality player - Mccarhty is worth more.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Macca for starters I'm not sure time will tell as I don't think he'll be on the table. But Mayne is a proven entity and McCarthy is not. Mayne, with his pressure skills and as more a medium forward type, would fit very nicely into a set-up including Patton and Cameron, better than McCarthy you'd think. Mayne can still play the role of second tall if needs be and is a great age (with lots of finals experience) for a side like GWS who are hoping to transform themselves over the next few years.
Balthazar
Guest
7 April may be after the start of the season so I didn't include him. Forgot Gu but I reckon he'll be gone too. Still leave me with only 5 (or 6 if Pav plays on) over 30
Macca
Guest
1) McPharlin 2) Pavlich 3) Sandilands 4) Crowley 5) Johnson 6) Duffield 7) Mundy 8) Griffin 9) Dawson 10) Mzungu Plus D Pearce Turning 30 in on the 7th of April
Tom Baulch
Roar Guru
McCarthy will go back to Perth Bennell could go anywhere Carlisle either Blues (First pick in preseason draft) or Dogs Aish will stay Redden will not go to freo Leuenberger will go to WA Suckling will go to Brisbane I agree with Adcock going to Suns Treloar looks set to go to Collingwood or Tigers
Balthazar
Guest
I couldn't find 10 who would be 30 at the start of the season without including Colin
Balthazar
Guest
Yeah, I agree with Slosh. it's all about the academy players (my email above was more about who would be replaced by the 2, although perhaps it's ambitious to say Bennell could take the place of 4 players)