Another trade period has been completed, with every club — to varying extents — playing a part in the madness.
We grade every team’s performance during the 2026 AFL trade period in our Report Card, with analysis from Fox Footy’s Trading Day and the foxfooty.com.au team.
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More coverage…
WINNERS AND LOSERS: Cash splashers, shrewd movers shine; star left disappointed
DEADLINE DAY: SIX deals done in 18 minutes, late Hawks shock… but big man move falls over
MEGAWRAP: What all 18 clubs did this AFL trade period… and how draft hands look
‘I’m surprised Adelaide didn’t do this’ | 01:41
ADELAIDE CROWS
Who left: Jordon Butts (free agency, Western Bulldogs), Luke Pedlar (trade, Port Adelaide)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 15, 32, 35, 43, 56, 92
Three Word Analysis: Gap Years Fail
Jon Ralph says: “They lost Jordon Butts for free agency, so they get a pick for him, and they’ve done absolutely nothing. I just think that they could say to themselves ‘we were the minor premiers two years ago’ but if you look at their season this year, they muddled through, they won a final, and then they got absolutely obliterated by Brisbane … they didn’t want to bring in B-graders, they didn’t want to use salary cap space for players who wouldn’t play in that team, but so many clubs – Hawthorn, Geelong, Western Bulldogs – have gone significantly past them, and you’d have to say that in standing still, they’ve gone backwards. They might be a better team next year, but that’s a big challenge.”
David King says: “I think they’re putting a coach into his eighth season and they’re urging to bring some success to the place in a really tenuous position. You had the first finals victory of his tenure this year, and I just worry that without significant improvement and without any acquisitions of note, those teams around them have all got better; they’ve all improved. Have they put a bigger gap on the Adelaide Crows? Are they now falling out of that top five, six sort of area, and where does that leave you? They’ve been a terrific club over the last couple of years, top of the table a couple of years ago … but it’s left to too few. They need someone to share the load, and for it not to be just Dawson and Rankine.”
Leigh Montagna says: “They do, but I see it slightly differently. Everyone wants to be impatient and go ‘now, now, now’, but their age profile is still in a bracket where they need to wait for the right player. You can do what St Kilda did and overpay players that aren’t exactly the perfect fit and get hounded for it – I understand it’s not going to help Matthew Nicks, I get that – but maybe for the bigger picture of Adelaide, they’re being patient (and) they’re waiting for next year to land that game-changer that can make the difference and get them back up to the top four. I understand that Adelaide fans will be frustrated watching these other teams (make moves), but maybe it’s the long game, and sometimes you’ve got to be patient to get the results.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: D+
BRISBANE LIONS
Who left: Lachie Neale (free agency, Collingwood), Sam Marshall (trade, St Kilda), Will McLachlan (trade, Melbourne), Keidean Coleman (trade, Essendon)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 21, 27, 28, 45, 79, 97
Three Word Analysis: Still Getting Tattoos.
Jon Ralph says: “Only two of their top-10 in their best and fairest were 30 and over. Dan Annable and Levi Ashcroft are 19, Ty Gallop is 20, Logan Morris is 21, Will Ashcroft, Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot 22, Kai Lohmann is 23 – it is a list profile of a side that’s about to embark upon a dynasty, not one that’s going for four in a row. It’s insane.”
David King says: “When you look at their list, they’re still getting tattoos. It’s a list to die for. This is what the competition look at with envy. How do you acquire around the edges whilst you’re able to capitalise on father-sons and academies? I do think Lachie Neale will leave a bit of a hole in the midfield. It’ll require Will Ashcroft to be Will Ashcroft every week … But they’re going to be there again, they’re too well run as a football club to not be.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C
‘Compromised’ draft to cause chaos? | 05:44
CARLTON
Who left: Hudson O’Keeffe (trade, Western Bulldogs), Flynn Riley (trade, Collingwood)
Who arrived: Joel Amartey (free agency, Sydney), Lachie Whitfield (trade, GWS)
Draft picks owned: 13, 18, 31, 50, 61, 72, 90
Three Word Analysis: Now It’s Real.
David King says: “Now you get a pre-season to embed Josh Fraser’s view on the game, his mechanics. We saw some fresh faces come in last year and hit the ground running really well. But this is it now … It’s interesting with the Whitfield acquisition and what that does to Billy Wilson. Does it affect his minutes and role? Because I think that’s a player they need to make sure they get the most out of in the next 24 months to find out what is the ceiling for this guy. Amartey is an interesting one for me, because I’m not sure whether he’s a prime key forward or a second banana. If he’s a second banana, that’s fine because he’s got Harry (McKay) down there and he’ll still get some good looks. Or is he an absolute key ‘kick it to me’ forward? And what does that do to Harry? At least they’ve been busy … I like the aggression.”
Leigh Montagna says: “It’s amazing what’s happened not just from the wins and losses under Josh Fraser, but maybe the list management strategy. I’m sure when they were 1-8 under Michael Voss they thought they needed a full rebuild and get more youth in the door. Now, they’re going to get Cody Walker, but now they’ve gone the other way and got Lachie Whitfield at his age, thinking that their window might now be in the next three years. It’s fascinating for me to put a finger on where I see Carlton next year, I’m still; not sure. But I like the way they’ve gone about it this trade period.”
Jon Ralph: “They don’t have enough points for Cody Walker if Essendon bids on him at Pick 1, but he’s not seen by any of the 18 clubs as the best player in the draft … If he is bid on at Pick 2, they’ve got him.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B+
‘He stays a Collingwood player’ | 01:50
COLLINGWOOD
Who left: Scott Pendlebury (trade, Gold Coast)
Who arrived: Lachie Neale (free agency, Brisbane), Jesse Hogan (trade, GWS), Flynn Riley (trade, Carlton)
Draft picks owned: 11, 30, 67, 68, 70, 88
Three Word Analysis: The Neale Deal.
Jon Ralph says: “Neale is No.1 in every category that Collingwood needs in terms of clearances, contested possessions and disposals … they held their line and didn’t give up Pick 28 for Jayden Short, I thought that was really interesting. They’ll go to the draft with a first-rounder then Pick 28. They’ve brought some kids in across the last couple of years, but they know they need to keep bringing in experienced players to keep Nick Daicos happy and bringing in the underbelly of kids to develop.”
David King says: “He’s missed six games in six years. He’s going to continue to be what he’s always been. No.1 clearance player the last four years in front of Caleb Serong and Patrick Cripps and No.2 for contested possessions behind Patty Cripps. I think he’s a top-liner. It is a one-man fix, in my opinion, the clearance and contested possession game … It takes pressure off all of your defensive systems. If you continue to win clearance, you play the game in your forward half and it’s an easier set-up behind the ball. He’ll set standards with training. He’ll help Nick Daicos get more outside ball than that less damaging inside ball … You can just see what he’s going to bring.”
Leigh Montagna says: “They’re walking the tightrope with the age, but I love it, why not? They just need to be fit and healthy. If they can get all their troops fit and available, this year they were hard to beat, but they can be pushing up into that top-six bracket.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A-
AFL draft whispers unpacked | 02:51
ESSENDON
Who left: Zach Merrett (trade, Hawthorn), Jordan Ridley (trade, Geelong)
Who arrived: Jack Bowes (trade, Geelong), Keidean Coleman (trade, Brisbane)
Draft picks owned: 1, 17, 25, 80
Three Word Analysis: Still Lack Leaders.
Jon Ralph says: “Jack Bowes comes in as a mid-20s player who, let’s face it, got pushed out of the Geelong midfield – that’s no disgrace. He played some really quality football there. And Keidean Coleman comes in. The only cautionary note on Keidean Coleman is he’s never averaged more than 20 possessions as a half-back. He played 17 games across the season – VFL and AFL – and didn’t set the world on fire coming back from a couple of really significant injuries. It’s a good draft hand – it’s not seven or eight picks in the top 20 … Ethan Drever is the likely Essendon pick (at No.1) – he’s a midfielder, he’s got pace, he’s got pizzazz, and so they’re building this extraordinary stockpile of kids, and it’s a bit of a stopgap bringing in those two (Bowes and Coleman), because you’re losing Merrett.”
David King says: “I think nothing will change at Essendon until they can get a torch-bearer that’s prepared to stand in front of the group – a Luke Hodge-style leader; they’re hard to find … I just think their leadership group doesn’t have that … and that (the influx of young players) is why they needed to get one during the offseason. They really needed to probably pay overs, because that group (McGrath, Langford, Martin, Redman, Durham, Caldwell and Fiorini) is one of the poorer leadership groups in the competition right now. Your captain finishes outside the top-10 in the best and fairest … they just don’t have two or three guys to stand at the front and say ‘follow me’ … they didn’t land one this year.”
Leigh Montagna says: “(Coleman) is a good get; they need some senior bodies and they need some elite kicks – he’s all of those things. We know he’s had his injury issues, but if he’s fit, he’s going to be in their best dozen players who can make a real difference … nice work by the Bombers.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+
FREMANTLE
Who left: Nathan O’Driscoll (trade, Richmond)
Who arrived: Dom Bedendo (delisted free agent, Port Melbourne VFL)
Draft picks owned: 19, 40, 60, 63, 78, 96
Three Word Analysis: Trust The Process.
Leigh Montagna says: “They’ve kept it pretty stable – and they’re going to use that Grand Final loss to fuel them for next year to get back … They’re just going to trust the process and trust the group they’ve got. There’s still a lot of natural improvement in their list. You think about Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Patrick Voss – who are still only 22 and 23 years of age – Isaiah Dudley, Murphy Reid, Heath Chapman, Karl Worner, Neil Erasmus, Matt Johnson, even Luke Jackson is 24 – there’s a lot of guys with their best footy ahead of them. Hopefully Alex Pearce gets back fit early in the season. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be contending again.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C-
Wilkie stunned by Marhsall departure | 01:41
GEELONG CATS
Who left: Jack Bowes (trade, Essendon)
Who arrived: Toby Greene (free agency, GWS), Jordan Ridley (trade, Essendon), Rowan Marshall (trade, St Kilda)
Draft picks owned: 36, 57, 62, 75, 93
Three Word Analysis: Scott Moore Stars.
David King says: “They’ve got an insatiable appetite to get better. They just hand-pick what they want. They open the doors to all options – that’s what I love about Geelong, they’re brave enough to make an error. When you look at those ins … we’re all sick of it, but they’re there again and credit to them. When you look at their acquisitions over the last few years, they’ve very rarely missed. Are they still on a knife’s edge with eh age of the list? Of course they are. But they just seem to get those players who keep them there in contention, year in and year out.”
Leigh Montagna says: “They are stacked. They couldn’t even get rid of players out of their football club. There was talk about Gryan Miers and Sam De Koning, but they’ve all stayed. Now when you look at the talent forward of the ball and in their front half … their medium to smalls are now stacked. Chris Scott has got more weapons to play with, just to manoeuvre and move the magnets to get the very best out of his flag.”
Jon Ralph says: “Toby Greene will kick 50 goals next year. He kicked 34.28 playing midfield and forward (in 2026).”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A-
Concerns over Suns forward line? | 01:02
GOLD COAST SUNS
Who left: Ben King (free agency, Hawthorn)
Who arrived: Scott Pendlebury (trade, Collingwood), Aidan Schubert (trade, Hawthorn), Sam Butler (trade, Hawthorn)
Draft picks owned: 8, 85
Three Word Analysis: Need Dimma Magic.
Jon Ralph says: “They bring in Aidan Schubert, who’s a kid. His new coach Damien Hardwick think he’s the next Tom Lynch, but it’s probably years away. They did re-sign the likes of Jed Walter, Bailey Humphrey, Touk Miller and Jake Rogers, so they did stem some of the bleeding. But I think Matt Rowell is probably as short odds as Zak Butters was this time last year to go home. It’s easy to hate on Ben King, but it’s really hard to replace 230 goals over the last four seasons.”
Leigh Montagna says: “They’re in an interesting phase. That’s why right now Damien Hardwick needs to weave his magic. They got the premiership coach to their football club to change the direction and the fortunes, but they’re in a situation now where Damien Hardwick needs to try and convince the other players to stay – including Matt Rowell – he has to work out a way to get the best out of a really young forward line led by Jed Walter, Aidan Schubert, Ethan Read and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, how he uses Christian Petracca, what he does with Scott Pendlebury – it’s a big off-season for Damien Hardwick to find the magic formula to get the Suns back to where they should be, which is playing finals with the talent they’ve got on their list.”
David King says: “I’ve got no doubt Damien Hardwick has taken a lot of responsibility internally for what happened in the midpoint of the year where they lost their way with the way they wanted to play. They tried to do too many things to their gameplan and they lost their identity. I don’t think it’s a reach to say they get that back almost instantaneously … If they can substitute half of King’s goals, I think they’ll be fine. I’m one who probably will have them in my top eight, because every lever they pulled lasts season was a failure – and they can correct in a heartbeat.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B+
GWS GIANTS
Who left: Toby Greene (free agency, Geelong), Kieren Briggs (free agency, Richmond), Jesse Hogan (trade, Collingwood), Lachie Whitfield (trade, Carlton)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 9, 20, 26, 59, 77, 86
Three Word Analysis: Trusting The Youth.
Jon Ralph says: “It’s an exodus, it’s a fire sale. But unlike Collingwood all those years ago, it is actually of GWS’ doing. They’ve improved their draft hand – they’ve got Ethan Matthews an academy kid coming through – but they lose their elite half-back in Whitfield, their talismanic captain in Greene and they lose players who’ve won the last six goalkicking awards … I think what they’re saying is: ‘We cannot win the flag next year, so of course we’ll miss those players. But we might win it in years after that. if we’d kept those players, we’d lose so many of those young kids who walk out to rival clubs.’”
Leigh Montagna says: “It’s a bold strategy, but they’re taking a step back to go forward. They’re going to trust their youth – and when you take a look at the Giants’ list of youth, it’s under-appreciated how much talent they have 23 and under. They are stacked … They’ve still got a really good core of senior players, particularly in the backline and through the midfield … They’ll have cash to splash. They might be trusting their youth and in the next two years going to use the money to get free agents, not necessarily get through talent through the draft. Because how much money would they have freed up with the players they’ve let go? Cash is king.”
David King says: “The romantic in me would’ve loved Toby Greene to have finished there. But you understand the reality of this business now.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C
Merrett pumped to land at stable club | 11:27
HAWTHORN
Who left: Finn Maginness (trade, Western Bulldogs), Aidan Schubert (trade, Gold Coast), Sam Butler (trade, Gold Coast), Bodie Ryan (trade, Melbourne)
Who arrived: Zach Merrett (trade, Essendon), Ben King (free agency, Gold Coast Suns), Josh Goater (trade, North Melbourne)
Draft picks owned: 29, 37, 71, 94
Three Word Analysis: No Excuses Now.
Leigh Montagna says: “They’re the premiership favourites now. It should be full now, the (premiership) puzzle. They’ve got everything they need, no excuses now for Hawthorn. Whether they were a midfielder short last year or not, that’s been put to bed now with Zach Merrett. Ben King coming in as well, all of a sudden they’ve got an abundance of tall forwards. They lose some depth … but they’re in it for the now.”
Jon Ralph says: “Not one of those outs is in their top 30 players. They would’ve thought they would’ve they’d have to give up three first-round picks and some significant players and probably lose Calsher Dear to Melbourne – and none of those things happened. They were the clear winner in the King and Merrett deals, they keep Dear, they keep Noah Mraz, who got a massive offer from Essendon. I think they’re the clear premiership favourite and they have got draft collateral for the next couple of years … They’ve got the depth and they’ve got the match-winners. It’s the perfect combination.”
David King says: “I love this acquisition (of Merrett). In big moments in big games, I think he’ll stand tall for them. He’s been desperate to get there. He wants to win a flag more than anyone at Hawthorn right now … he’ll prepare himself to within an inch of his life to get that tattoo.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A+
MELBOURNE
Who left: Jack Viney (trade, West Coast), Trent Rivers (trade, West Coast)
Who arrived: Zane Duursma (trade, North Melbourne), Will McLachlan (trade, Brisbane), Bodie Ryan (trade, Hawthorn)
Draft picks owned: 4, 14, 48, 52
Three-word analysis: In Zero Rush.
Jon Ralph says: “They would’ve loved to bring in a senior key position player, and they didn’t get that player in Calsher Dear. I think what they did next shows they’re not really in a rush. They didn’t get frantic, and they didn’t pivot to a B-grader. Obviously they brought in Zane Duursma at pick No.4 (in 2023); he’ll be a bit of a slow burn. By his own admission, he needs to really come to grips of the professionalism of the game. But, they didn’t pivot to a (Lachie) Whitfield or (Jayden) Short — they just know what path they’re on under Steven King, and they’re not in a rush. Six picks within (the top) 15 in the last three years. They traded into pick No.4, and they’ve got pick No.14 a well, so they’ll get one of those seven ‘consensus best’ players in the draft. They’re in very, very good shape, but they’re not rushing and I think that’s a great thing.
Leigh Montagna says: “I don’t mind it, I like the strategy they’re going with. They’re being patient and building. Again, two picks inside No.14 in the draft. They’ve nailed their draft picks over the last four or five years, that’s what they have done well. It’s mean they’ve built a really good core group of young players that have come through. The question is, whether that group can be fast-tracked to get success while Max Gawn is at the peak of his powers. That’s where when the two collide, special things can happen. I think they’re moving in the right direction … but can they get there quick enough while Max is still playing, and have one more crack at a premiership under Gawn’s leadership?
David King says: “I’m different to a lot of people regarding Zane Duursma. I think he’s a player of significant talent, and a lot of people will say: ‘Oh, but just talent doesn’t do it for you’. He’s played at a club that lacks system and consistency in all of his tenure there, the three years that he was there. Yes, he’s a low-possession guy, but when you’re not sure how the team are moving the ball, it is hard to continually turn up to the right spots and positions. I think Melbourne has got a beauty here. I’m disappointed the Kangaroos allowed him to walk out the door for what they did, but from a Melbourne point of view, they should be rapt with what their recruiting department’s done. I can have this guy having a 30-35-goal season … a player that maybe you don’t fall in love with every week, but they have those games. I think Melbourne is going to get the best out of this guy.
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C+
Blakey thanks North ahead of move | 02:21
NORTH MELBOURNE
Who left: Zane Duursma (trade, North Melbourne), Josh Goater (trade, Hawthorn)
Who arrived: Nick Blakey (trade, Sydney)
Draft picks owned: 33, 49, 66, 74, 84
Three Word Analysis: Finally Adding A-Graders
Brady Rawlings says: “We had a good crack at trying to get Nick Murray in the door after trying to get Nick Blakey, so clearly trying to help our backline and improve that area on the ground. Things probably didn’t go the way we would like with trying to get others to satisfy their needs – we had one last crack at it, throwing all the currency we had, and that wasn’t enough either. Great to get Blakey in the door, but we would have loved to get Murray as well.”
David King says: “It was huge to get a player of Nick Blakey’s calibre — what does it do for the football club? Finally, an A-grader comes to North Melbourne … It is a difference-maker; the best half-back flanker in the competition. Yes, you can argue the off-field stuff and where that all sits, and there may ramifications down the path, but right now, I think this was critical for this football club to get someone who can set standards with ball use across half-back … you’ve got to have an identity as a football club, and I think they lost that at points last season. So, this will be aggressive, and I think that he’ll certainly be a player of influence for North Melbourne for a number of years.”
Leigh Montagna says: “(Blakey) is a game-changer. His ball use, it’s a great welcome gift for Jaymie Graham to have him at half-back now with what he can do. I think what they gave up was fair – I know some people think it’s a lot, but we’ve spoken a lot about the future picks and how diluted they are going to be … so I think North Melbourne have done the right thing. It shows when you’ve got your house in order and players can see it … (they) see where the club is heading, and then you are able to attract some star talent.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A-
PORT ADELAIDE
Who left: Zak Butters (free agency, Western Bulldogs)
Who arrived: Luke Pedlar (trade, Adelaide)
Draft picks owned: 7, 12, 22, 24, 34, 46, 65
Three Word Analysis: All About Dougie.
Leigh Montagna says: “We know about Butters, but they’ve got a really strong hand in the next few drafts: Three first-rounders, a couple of first-rounders in 2028 … and there’s a reason why Dougie Cochrane is going to go Pick 1. I don’t know if it’s been spoken about enough, but this guy is a potential superstar. People are comparing him to Jason Horne-Francis, Harley Reid – it’s that sort of calibre and potential he has. This year, all eyes on Dougie and then they can get to work with some academy and father-sons and potentially target some players in the future.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B+
Tigers land pick 5 in huge pick trade | 00:44
RICHMOND
Who left: Nil
Who arrived: Kieren Briggs (free agency, GWS), Nathan O’Driscoll (trade, Richmond)
Draft picks owned: 2, 5, 44, 81
Three Word Analysis: Get Picks Right.
Jon Ralph says: “They kept Jayden Short when the Magpies’ offer was a future second-rounder. They brought in Nathan O’Driscoll on a late pick, and Kieren Briggs as ruck support. But, that pick swap (with Port Adelaide) is critical. They end up with pick No.2 and 5 … they’ll end up with 4 and 7 after those Academy (and NGA) picks come in. They’ve got options: Is it the 205cm ruck Harry Van Hattum, who looked amazing at the start of the year … (or) is it one of the Sandringham Dragons: Gus Teixeira or Arki Butler. They’re exciting half-forwards/midfielders. After six years since the last of their premierships, they have got the most extraordinary long band of young picks — it’s just whether they’re any good. We haven’t seen so many of them, Josh Smillie leads the charge of players who we’re just not quite sure about. They’ve got the picks, now they have to develop them.”
David King says: “They’ve just got to get them right, it’s as simple as that. We love Grlj, Lalor, Hotton, Cumming. We’re unsure about a few of them, but when you miss out on Jobe Shanahan — who looks like a star — and Murphy Reid when you’ve got enough to acquire those guys, it does put a bit of pressure on you in the rebuild phase … there’s no easy rides. Just because you’ve got pick No.2 and 5, it doesn’t mean you’ve got an easy ride and they’re absolute locks.
Jon Ralph says: “The other issue, is they’ve only got four players 30 years or older. (Tom) Lynch turns 34 in a couple of weeks, (Nick) Vlastuin is 33 in April and (Toby) Nankervis is 32. They’re such critical players, and there’s no doubt those players would’ve moved on by the time this club moves into finals consideration; let alone premiership consideration.”
Leigh Montagna said: “They’re going to be so young next year … they might have three or four players a week that have got 100 games (or more) experience. That makes it awfully hard for the kids and coach.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B
ST KILDA
Who left: Rowan Marshall (trade, Geelong)
Who arrived: Sam Marshall (trade, Brisbane Lions)
Draft picks owned: 10, 16, 41, 51, 69, 87
Three-word analysis: All Eyes Watching.
Jon Ralph says: “I think they had a hand tied behind their back (because) they got all those acquisitions last year. They lost Rowan Marshall, but they did bring in pick No.16, and they brought in Sam Marshall who’s got an elite tank. He hasn’t yet got an appreciable one-wood that’s going to stand out; he might just be a nice midfielder. The problem is, they needed half-back run (and) another player to help out with Max King. They didn’t really get either of those … there’s a sense of nervousness around St Kilda, around Ross Lyon. What is they’re 3-8 (next year)? There’s a lot of worried people I think at St Kilda.
Leigh Montagna said: “That’s why all eyes will be on St Kilda next year. They’re going to be a big talking point on where they’re at with their list build, and with their development, and their coach situation. It’s going to be a big year for them, and they need to deliver. They weren’t able to do it this season (so) they need to get fit and healthy. But, they’re going to be a big talking point with a lot of eyeballs on where they’re at.
David King says: “I think the fixture will be most critical for Ross Lyon. The first six to eight rounds of next season, he needs to be ‘nose in front of the ledger’ after Round 8.
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C
‘One of the best defenders in the comp!’ | 04:46
SYDNEY SWANS
Who left: Joel Amartey (free agency, Carlton), Nick Blakey (trade, North Melbourne)
Who arrived: Nil
Draft picks owned: 6, 38, 39, 47, 54, 76, 95
Three Word Analysis: Must strike now.
Jon Ralph says: “Sydney made a judgement call, and I would say they made a character call (on Nick Blakey) as well. There wasn’t another seismic incident here in the past of Blakey, but I think there were just another couple of spot fires there that they would’ve said to themselves: ‘He’s not going the bloke who’s going to spearhead the cultural overhaul there’. It would’ve been almost impossible to keep this bloke on if he didn’t want to be a part of the solution. There was no fond farewell; they were happy to get up the draft order for a bloke who, let’s face it, has been so important to them for so long. He felt he got scapegoated, I think his old man felt he got scapegoated. SO, they made a really strong decision for them. It will be challenging for Sydney, there’s still rocky roads. Their superstar Isaac Heeney, he’s getting ‘papped’ (paparazzi) all of a sudden, everywhere he walks. When he plays his first game, there’ll be a lot of emotion there, but there’ll also be challenges too. They’re issues they’re going to work through, and I’m sure they’ll be fine. They’ve got the right leaders in place and they made the right call on the punishment, but it’s not just clicking your fingers and ‘everything’s fine’ again at Sydney — there’s going to be some challenges over the summer.
David King says: “Do you think it’s (like) talking dirty about an ex on the way out? The fact they haven’t lauded him on the way out has probably said more at times. Do you think in six to 12 months time, the Swans will look back and think: ‘Maybe we could’ve handled that better?’”
Leigh Montagna said: “It’s interesting now. When you look at them on-field and their opportunity to win a premiership (after) losing Nick Blakey. You’ve got Callum Mills who’s going to be out for a year — I just wonder whether time’s running out for this group to win this elusive flag. We know they’ve been so close with the talented core they’ve had, but Dane Rampe, we’re not sure about his future. He’ll be 37 anyway, Brodie Grundy’s going to be turning 33. But, the big one is Chad Warner — a massive watch on him next year. Out of contract and being lured hard to go back to Western Australia … with Blakey gone (and) they lose Warner as well, you just wonder how difficult that window is going to be for this group to win that premiership. They’ve got to strike right now while Warner is definitely playing for them and while they’re still the right age bracket — (Tom) Papley and Heeney are turning 31. It’s going to be really interesting time, and they have to hit the ground running when they get back to pre-season. They’re in my six contenders … but they’re just a rung below. … that window is tightening.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: C-
WEST COAST EAGLES
Who left: Nil
Who arrived: Jack Viney (trade, Melbourne), Trent Rivers (trade, Melbourne)
Draft picks owned: 3, 23, 58, 64, 73, 82
Three Word Analysis: Adding List Cloggers?
Jon Ralph says: “They played hardball on the Rivers deal. They could’ve waited until next year to secure him, but they would’ve had to have given up potentially a lot of money. So they get him a year before free agency. They get Jack Viney and the expectation I would imagine is they’ve paid all of his deal, given they didn’t give up Pick 23. They get some senior players in, plus they have Picks 3, 23 and we know they’ll get an extra second-rounder. I’m interested in Andrew McQualter. As Corbin Middlemas told us on Midweek tackle, the club has decided not to extend his contract. It’s funny because they’ve got more money than sense, so if they were to pay him out at the end of 2027, who cares? It’s an insurance payout. But the fact they’ve decided ‘we’re not paying him out’ I think is a significant moment. It adds a heap of pressure for Andrew McQualter – and potentially it’s unfair.”
David King says: “I just look at the acquisitions over the last couple of years – Matt Owies, Jack Graham, Brandon Starcevich, Tylar Young, Liam Baker, Tyler Brockman – where does Viney sit in that? I just have a fear all of a sudden you can have too many players on your list that are cloggers, that you really don’t want in the same midfield or in the same team on any given day. Sure they can help with standards behind the scenes – Viney is a beauty, ripping guy and an absolute warrior – but how many of that type of player do you need?”
Leigh Montagna says: “I think their strategy is to have those bridge players while their young talent is developing, rather than doing what Essendon and Richmond are doing and playing all the kids and getting exposed. I think they’re trying to balance it out and I’m sure as they improve, they’ll move past the list cloggers and put more faith in the youngsters.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: B-
Butters speaks for first time as Bulldog | 03:37
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Who left: Nil
Who arrived: Jordon Butts (free agency, Adelaide), Finn Maginness (trade, Hawthorn), Hudson O’Keeffe (trade, Carlton), Zak Butters (free agency, Port Adelaide)
Draft picks owned: 42, 53, 55, 83, 89, 91
Three Word Analysis: In The Window
Jon Ralph says: “They land Butters without giving up a top-10 pick. They get Jordon Buts, they re-sign Arty Jones and Buku Khamis, they keep Tim English and Rory Lobb – it was masterful execution from the top down. It is a fantastic trade period. Their bottom six has been ordinary … all of a sudden they’ve got depth and they’ve got the best extractor in the game in Zak Butters, who transforms what they want to do.”
Leigh Montagna says: “Right now they are in the premiership window. They’re trying to catch the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn and Fremantle. But for me, with the addition of Butters and Butts, they’ve been patient and waited, now they’re ready to strike. They are a team that are going to come with a bullet in 2027. Last year they were 13th for age and experience – they weren’t as ready as some people might’ve thought. But when you combine that now with what they’ve been able to bring in, Cody Weightman gets another pre-season under the belt, Sam Darcy coming back and more games into Cooper Hynes and Ryley Sanders and Joel Freijah … if they can stay fit and healthy, they are a premiership threat.”
David King says: “I think this gives flexibility to this midfield. Maybe this gives you Bontempelli more forward or even behind the ball when required, Ed Richards rolls behind the ball when required. I think they need a damaging half-back flanker to go with all this … one of these gun mids is going to spill to the flanks and I’d love it to be a half-back flank.”
Foxfooty.com.au trade grade: A+
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