AFL off-season preview: All the trade rumours

The AFL’s trade period is just around the corner, beginning on Monday October 12, and it’s set to the be the biggest in the history of the league.

Yesterday I looked at the AFL’s free agents and where they might be headed in 2016. Today, I’m looking at the players who are likely to changes clubs through a trade in this year’s off-season.

Player movement is becoming more and more commonplace. In the last three years – coinciding with the introduction of free agency in 2012 – at least twenty players have moved clubs via a trade each year.

Compare that to the 2008 trade period, when a total of just six players were traded to new clubs.

In 2015 for the first time in AFL history I expect at least thirty players to be traded to a new club.

This year the trade period will be revolutionised by the introduction of the ability to trade future draft picks.

All things considered, you can see why this year’s trade period is set to be the biggest and busiest yet.

In this post I’ve attempted to collect every legitimate trade rumour I’ve come across so far this off-season. I don’t expect all of these players to be traded – some will choose to stay with their current clubs – but I’d say the majority of them will find new homes in time for the 2016 season.

Arguably the biggest names on the trade table this season is Harley Bennell. Gold Coast told the supremely-talented midfielder/forward that he would be traded this year after a number of off-field indiscretions.

Bennell’s manager confirmed yesterday that his preferred destination was Fremantle where it’s believed he’ll sign a three-year deal.

Gold Coast would want to be richly compensated for the man they took with pick 2 in 2010 but that’s unlikely to happen given they made the call to push Bennell out.

Fremantle may get him as cheaply as a second round pick with a lack of other avid suitors around to start a bidding war for his services.

Also leaving Gold Coast is key forward Charlie Dixon who has requested a trade to Port Adelaide. Gold Coast have agreed to organise a trade, and Port Adelaide are reportedly ready to put their first round draft pick, pick 10 on the table.

Whether this will be enough to satisfy the Suns or not is not clear yet.

Bennell and Dixon are not the only big names leaving Queensland with Brisbane’s Jack Redden also requesting a trade some time ago.

West Coast appears the most likely destination for Redden at this stage and are likely to give up their first round pick to secure Redden.

However, the Eagles are also the most likely destination for Sydney’s 2012 premiership player Lewis Jetta and the Swans are also likely to have designs on West Coast’s first round pick in exchange for him.

West Coast ruck duo Callum Sinclair and Scott Lycett have been mooted as possible trade options to solve West Coast’s dilemma but it’s believed the Eagles are hell-bent on retaining both, and neither has requested a trade at this point.

Essendon’s Jake Carlisle has requested a trade and it is believed he will nominate St Kilda as his preferred destination today. The Bombers are keen to secure pick 5 from the Saints in return, but St Kilda have already ruled this out.

Another big name set to shift clubs is Greater Western Sydney’s Adam Treloar, who wants to move to Collingwood. He has reportedly been offered big money by the Magpies and will likely cost them their first round pick this year and then some.

The Giants are again facing an exodus of players as their talent-laden list prevents many of their highly-rated recruits from getting opportunities at AFL level.

Aside from Treloar the only other big name Giant looking to leave is key forward Cam McCarthy who has requested a trade back to Western Australia, with Fremantle reportedly offering him a large contract.

The Giants have already stated that they will not trade the under-contract McCarthy but they said the same thing about Tom Boyd last year and may be persuaded if the Dockers put up an attractive trade offer, potentially involving their first round picks for the next two drafts.

Curtly Hampton has requested a trade to Adelaide where he’s hoping to get more opportunity after struggling to get games this year.

Carlton are also reportedly putting together a deal that could involve as many as four or five Giants players, after trading in Kristian Jaksch and Mark Whiley from the Giants last year.

Lachie Plowman, Liam Sumner, Andrew Phillips and Jed Lamb are the players Carlton is reportedly targeting. The Giants have a need to shrink their list and will probably be happy to make a deal.

Essendon have reportedly also shown some interest in Jed Lamb, however Lamb’s manager insists that he will either stay with the Giants or go to Carlton.

The Blues have reportedly also got some interest in Adam Tomlinson but at this stage he looks unlikely to be traded.

Tomas Bugg has also reportedly requested a trade, Melbourne seems like his mostly likely destination at the moment but other suitors may yet emerge.

Altogether you’d say the Giants are doing a pretty good job of keeping their list together, having signed up most of their best side for the longterm – most of the players they’re losing are NEAFL regulars.

McCarthy is just one of a number of players from the 2013 draft considering moving clubs after only two years in the system.

James Aish, pick 7 in that draft, is a bit up in the air with Brisbane hopeful he’ll re-sign. The report is that he wants to go to Collingwood but will only go via a guaranteed trade, and Brisbane have told him they will not trade him but will instead force him to go to the draft if he leaves – something he does not want to do.

Collingwood’s Nathan Freeman, taken at pick 10 in that draft, has not debuted in his first two years due to hamstring injuries but is looking for a trade to St Kilda in search of a fresh start – and a larger pay packet.

There have also been rumours that Richmond’s Ben Lennon, pick 11 from that draft, might seek more regular opportunities at AFL level at another club, with Carlton reportedly interested. However this kind of talk has dried up recently and it might be the case that nothing comes of it.

Adelaide’s Matt Crouch, pick 23, remains unsigned at the Crows and has reportedly been targeted by a few Victorian clubs, but is yet to give any indication that he wants to leave Adelaide and will likely re-sign.

Jarrad Jansen, pick 36 from that draft, has requested a trade from Geelong to Brisbane, having failed to make his debut in his first two years despite impressing on occasion in the VFL.

Including Tom Boyd’s trade last year, that makes potentially seven players from that draft who could move in their first two years in the competition, including five of the first fourteen players picked.

Safe to say that the balance of power regarding player movement has well and truly swung into the players’ favour in the last few years, and today’s young draftees are becoming more and more aware of that fact.

Carlton will lose Lachie Henderson and Chris Yarran this year and are hopeful of gaining first round picks in exchange for each of the two, though this seems unlikely.

Henderson has requested a trade to Geelong, and is unlikely to fetch pick 9 off them, while the rumours regarding Yarran have mostly pointed to Richmond. Hawthorn have apparently also made inquiries after him and may swoop in to steal him from the Tigers.

The Blues are also likely to lose Queenslander Tom Bell who is after a trade to the Brisbane Lions.

Brisbane are also reportedly keen on recruiting Richmond defender David Astbury to add depth to their backline, the Tigers are keen to retain him but may be convinced to make a deal.

The Lions also reportedly have an interest in Collingwood defender Adam Oxley who played some impressive games for the Magpies this year but fell out of the side late in the season.

In what shapes as a busy trade period for the Lions they are also at risk of losing Stefan Martin. They have repeatedly said he will not be traded but rumours persist regardless.

Port Adelaide’s Matthew Lobbe has been the subject of some rumours as he struggled to work in tandem with Paddy Ryder this year, but Port are believed to be insistent on retaining him, and he is contracted long-term.

Jake Melksham is a certainty to leave Essendon for Melbourne, where he has reportedly been offer a four-year deal and will be reunited with former asssitant coach Simon Goodwin.

The Demons are also likely to snare small midfielder Ben Kennedy from Collingwood as he looks for more opportunities outside of Collingwood’s increasingly deep midfield.

However, it’s believed the Demons will lose Jimmy Toumpas and Jeremy Howe. Toumpas is likely to return to South Australia with Port Adelaide the likely destination, Howe has attracted a few suitors with Gold Coast appearing to be the most interested.

The Demons have also put key forward Chris Dawes on the trade table but as yet no interested parties have emerged.

Paul Seedsman has requested a trade away from Collingwood in search of more opportunities. North Melbourne, Adelaide and Gold Coast are the three clubs reportedly most interested in his services.

Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith has requested a trade for more opportunities and it’s believed that he has nominated Geelong as his preferred destination.

Western Bulldogs defender Michael Talia is a certainty to move clubs, he’s had a falling out with coach Luke Beveridge after reportedly revealing some important details to brother Daniel Talia ahead of the Bulldogs’ elimination final loss to the Crows.

He’s a strong chance to join his brother at Adelaide but Sydney are also reportedly interested in his services, and other suitors may yet emerge.

Aaron Young and Andrew Moore are both likely to leave Port Adelaide in search of more opportunities after struggling to gain regular spots in the Power’s midfield this year.

A number of clubs are believed to be interested in them but a primary suitor hasn’t emerged just yet for either.

North Melbourne’s Aaron Black is weighing up his options after struggling to get out of the VFL this year, with Fremantle the most likely destination for the West Australian.

He’s yet to make any kind of formal request for a trade however and may decide to remain with the Kangaroos.

Ryan Schoenmakers has also been the target of some interest by Fremantle, but it’s believed he would prefer to remain at Hawthorn after winning a premiership with the team on Saturday.

2013 premiership player Jonathan Simpkin however is likely to look for opportunities outside Hawthorn after struggling for opportunities this year despite an impressive season in the VFL.

Bulldog Nathan Hrovat is also weighing up his options after a lack of opportunities with St Kilda interested in his services, Melbourne and Essendon are also possible destinations for him if he decides to request a trade.

Sydney’s Craig Bird is also looking at his options after struggling for senior opportunities this year, a number of clubs have reportedly shown some interest though it’s yet to surface which clubs these are.

Josh Walker of Geelong may look at a trade to Carlton – possibly as part of the Lachie Henderson deal – after limited opportunities at the Cats this year.

Gold Coast’s Daniel Gorringe was keen on a trade to Port Adelaide last year but nothing got done as the Power preferred to focus on Paddy Ryder. He’ll look for a trade again this year but no interested parties have come forward just yet.

Jarrod Witts of Collingwood has also come up in some rumours with the NSW product considering a trade home, however these rumours have gone cold recently and he may stay with the Magpies.

South Australian Cat Jordan Murdoch has also been mentioned as part of a possible trade for Patrick Dangerfield, should the Crows match the restricted free agent’s offer, but the Cats are reportedly keen to retain him.

Western Bulldogs’ Will Minson was regularly overlooked for gametime this year and might look at other opportunities if they come, there don’t seem to be any clubs pursuing him too hotly at the moment however.

Adelaide’s Cameron Ellis-Yolmen is also looking for more opportunities but doesn’t seem to have any clubs vying for his services just yet.

There were some rumours around Troy Menzel reportedly requesting a trade, possibly to Adelaide, but nothing seems to have come of this so far.

A possible move to Greater Western Sydney was mentioned for Angus Monfries yesterday, but this seems unlikely at best.

Lastly, keep in mind that there may be surprises to come! At the start of last year’s trade period we have no idea the likes of Allen Christensen, Ryan Griffen or Tom Boyd would be moving. Don’t be surprised if this year’s trade period has a few twists and turns to match.