We’re a few days into the AFL trade and free agency period and still waiting for our first trade of the year – will it come today? Join The Roar today from 9am AEDT for a live blog of all the news and rumours.
What is that first deal likely to be? It’s hard to say, but there’s a bit of talk that Jarman Impey’s move from Port Adelaide to Hawthorn might be the first exchange of the year to be formally ticked off.
In terms of the larger trades that are at work though there has been at least a little bit of progress in some of the big name deals.
Jake Lever’s move to Melbourne looks a much smoother process than it did just a week ago when he requested the move, with Melbourne reportedly willing to consider giving the Crows two first-round picks as requested if they get something back the other way.
Essendon however seem to face a serious battle to get all of Jake Stringer, Demon Smith and Adam Saad on their list. They reportedly made an offer of pick 11 to Gold Coast for pick 19 and Saad which has been knocked back.
The Bombers have said they’re open to trading Aaron Francis home to South Australia if the right deal comes up, and there’s also some talk of Travis Colyer being on the trade table.
Speaking of Gold Coast, they may be in the market to do a pick swap with St Kilda, with the deal likely revolving around the Saints giving up picks 7 and 8 for Gold Coast’s pick 2 and an early second-round selection.
However that may be complicated by the possibility of St Kilda still being in the market for more established talent, with some speculation that despite GWS ruling out trading Adam Tomlinson, he may still be a chance to move.
Darcy Lang also appears to have three potential suitors in Gold Coast, Carlton and North Melbourne, with the latter’s pursuit reportedly being the most advanced.
Join The Roar today from 9am AEDT for a live blog of all the news and rumours.
Don Freo
Guest
That's got legs. Drew is a funny man. He could make it work. At least you should copyright the name.
mds1970
Roar Guru
An idea hit me tonight of a way to reform this trading business. Which should make it work in a quicker and more orderly way. It would enable clubs to effectively trade picks they don't have, would pave the way for a more consistent free agency compensation; and would show comparitively how players being traded are valued. Haven't written an article for ages, but putting the finishing touches to one now. Stay tuned.
TomC
Roar Guru
That'd be kind of fun actually. Set up an anonymous twitter account with 'AFL' and 'trade' in the title and throughout the trade period tweet a mix of confirmed news and ridiculous guesses and see how far the latter spread through the internet.
Cat
Roar Guru
Took a quick squizz through his previous tweets, don't see anything accurate amoungst them
sammy
Guest
https://twitter.com/THEAFLSHOUTER/status/917994384016240641 make of that what you will
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Just read North football chief Cameron Joyce told NMFC On Air on Wednesday that North "has spoken to other opposition midfielders the media has yet to identify". Given they're not willing to trade picks (except for a Martin or Kelly type), but have cash that must be spent, what's the chance they'd be interested in an experienced, on-the-cusp-of-best-22 free agent like ... Nick Suban? Josh? Josh...?
Mattyb
Guest
Dododoro is involved in 3 of the deals waiting to get done though.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I think Tom has put a bit of a cynically harsh spin on it. He did say he had direct talks with clubs and one club was considering him as the primary ruck option. It may be manager's spin to fan interest, but it wasn't so vague and intangible as interest being woven out of non-non-interest.
Cat
Roar Guru
AFL announcing the official compo pick will the sum up tomorrows entire trade day.
Macca
Guest
Benji - that game was as close as you could get on the score line and it was far from interesting because it was lopsided everywhere else (plus all the theatrics and delays) - a close scoreline doesn't mean an interesting match, just teams that shouldn't win do.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Meh, close enough. Of course it happens as you're closing up the blog, though!
Josh
Expert
Not quite a trade! But some kind of concrete news at least.
Josh
Expert
Cat
Roar Guru
Watts, from what I have read, really wants to stay in Victoria though ... I won't feel comfortable until he's gone somewhere or the trade period is over. Hoping the failed pursuits of Stringer and Watts means a better chance Menzel is offered a fairer deal.
Macca
Guest
No not a trade AD - the finalisation of a free agency deal that was agreed to last Thursday.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
What? Is that a trade I'm seeing? Hallelujah!
Josh
Expert
I've heard Port Adelaide's offer involves more $ and I think that's where the "difficult to get a deal done" part comes from. I reckon you're probably fairly safe here Cat... famous last words though.
Josh
Expert
Cat
Roar Guru
I wish Geelong wasn't keen on Watts but I didn't get that feeling from the interview. I got the sense that Melbourne is asking a higher price than Geelong is willing to pay. If Melbourne lowered their demand I think Geelong would renew interest. Though I hope not.
Josh
Expert
Brisbane confirm they've received an end-of-first round pick, No.18 overall, for Rockliff. That pushed their current second-round pick down to 19, so they have picks 18 & 19 (as well as 1 and 12 inside the first round).