HANG ON, THE SILLY SEASON IS BEGINNING
Part 2: Who is staying, who is going, who is in demand at your club
1. MELBOURNE
Draft picks: 33, 42, 54.
Delistings/retirements: Nathan Jones (ret), Neville Jetta (ret), Austin Bradtke (del), Jay Lockhart (del), Aaron Nietschke (del), Aaron vandenBerg (del).
What they need at the trade table: Well they just won the premiership and look set to contend for the next couple of years, so not a lot needs to be done by the Demons in 2021.
Who they are chasing: Did have interest in Adam Cerra but he wants to go Carlton, with the Demons unable to produce a deal that would get him out of Fremantle.
Who rivals clubs will ask about: The Dockers asked for Luke Jackson in exchange for Cerra but the Demons said no way. Jake Melksham fell out of favour and may be open to a third club if one approaches. Who will they lose: Outside of the retirements and delistings the Demons will have a settled squad for 2022.
2.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Draft picks: 17, 72.
Delistings/retirements: Lin Jong (ret).
What they need at the trade table: Recruiting a ruckman is a priority. The Bulldogs would also love more draft points to help match what will be an early bid on their star father-son prospect, Sam Darcy.
Who are they chasing: The Dogs are one of the clubs sniffing around contracted Port Adelaide big man Peter Ladhams, who wants to be a No.1 ruckman rather than play second fiddle to Scott Lycett. Collingwood’s Max Lynch is another option.
Who rival clubs will ask about:
Collingwood and Carlton both showed interest in Patrick Lipinski, while fringe players Lewis Young, Mitch Wallis and Jordon Sweet are others on rivals’ radar. Young, Wallis and Sweet have contract offers in front of them if they choose to stay. Promising ruck-forward Tim English wants to remain at the Western Bulldogs but that probably won’t stop the two West Australian clubs from at least enquiring.
Who they will lose: Lipinski has requested a trade to the Magpies and will find his way there on a three-year deal.
3.
Draft picks: 16, 60, 70, 71.
Delistings/retirements: Tom Rockliff (ret), Hamish Hartlett (del), Joel Garner (del), Tyson Goldsack (ret).
What they need at the trade table: The Power needs to improve its midfield depth, after the Western Bulldogs rammed that home in the prelim final. But there is a belief at Alberton that this will come from the improvement of young guns such as Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma and even Miles Bergman.
Who are they chasing: After Jordan Dawson chose the Crows, the Power has yet to make a call on whether or how hard they will chase forwards Jeremy Finlayson (GWS) and
PORT ADELAIDE
Tim O’Brien (Hawthorn). Port has met with both.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Emerging ruck/ forward Peter Ladhams is exploring his options, with the Power not yet viewing him as a No.1 ruckman. He has received interest from rival clubs. But Port says it will take something “significant” for the club to part with Ladhams. Who they will lose: Outside of Ladhams – if he does end up going – don’t expect any other departures. Hartlett might struggle to find a new club, while Jarrod Lienert doesn’t have a new deal yet.
4.
Draft picks: 30, 32, 34, 52.
Delistings/retirements: Lachie Henderson (ret), Ben Jarvis (del), Josh Jenkins (ret), Stefan Okunbor (del), Cameron Taheny (del).
What they need at the trade table: The smart alec answer is youth, but the Cats are very much still in win-now mode. A dynamic midfielder would be perfect, given the club’s ageing and slowing onball division.
Who are they chasing: Former Crow Daniel Talia is one player the Cats have expressed interest in, with key defender Lachie Henderson retiring. The 30-year-old can sign as a delisted free agent.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Collingwood inquired for the second straight year whether tall swingman Nathan Kreuger wanted to become a Pie – and this time he said yes. Fremantle wants to broker a trade for Jordan Clark, while Brisbane’s shown interest in ruckman Darcy Fort.
GEELONG
Who they will lose: Trade negotiations for Kreuger have already begun, while Clark is open to a move but yet to fully commit to the Dockers. Fort might be keen for a fresh start if he feels like there’s a smoother path to senior football, and midfielder Charlie Constable is another exploring his options.
5. BRISBANE LIONS
Draft picks: 14, 18, 47, 51, 57, 73.
Delistings/retirements: Grant Birchall (ret), Archie Smith (ret).
What they need at the trade table: There is a ruck gulf behind Oscar McInerney since Stefan Martin departed, so acquiring an experienced back-up who could play forward – factoring in Eric Hipwood’s knee injury – would work.
Who are they chasing:
Geelong’s Darcy Fort and Giant Kieren Briggs have both been linked to the Lions, while Hawk Jon Ceglar could also still be in play after almost making the move two years ago. All three ruckmen are contracted, so a trade would need to be facilitated. Out-ofcontract Pie Max Lynch is another ruck option, while delisted Blue Levi Casboult has been speculated about.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Brisbane dodged a bullet when Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale confirmed he was staying at the club. Midfielder Ely Smith was the Lions’ first-round pick three years ago but is yet to play a senior game, so a rival club could come calling. Who they will lose: There doesn’t seem to be a major concern for Brisbane entering the trade period but that can, of course, change in a hurry.
6. GWS GIANTS
Draft picks: 2, 13, 50, 68.
Delistings/retirements: Matt Buntine (del), Tom Hutchesson (del), Sam Reid (del), Nick Shipley (del).
What they need at the trade table: The Giants could weigh up trading down from No.2 if they believe they can pick their preferred target at a lower selection. But they would likely prefer future picks as compensation since they are limited with list spots.
Who are they chasing: No one. They will re-sign Matt Flynn and Jake Riccardi on two-year deals and the rest of their uncontracted crop on one-season arrangements.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Both Flynn and Riccardi had some interest but will remain at the Giants.
There might be an enquiry about young big man Kieren Briggs, who is stuck behind Braydon Preuss and Flynn in the ruck pecking order.
Who they will lose: Jeremy Finlayson, who is contracted until 2023, is hoping to land elsewhere, having already met with Port. Finlayson’s partner, Kellie, recently gave birth to their first child and they are keen to have more support.
7. SYDNEY
Draft picks: 12, 31, 67.
Delistings/retirements: Kaiden Brand (del), Malachy Carruthers (del), Sam Gray (del), Matthew Ling (del).
What they need at the trade table: The Swans would love to bring in a tall defender, given they lost Aliir Aliir last year – largely for salary cap reasons – and cocaptain Dane Rampe is 31 and fights out of his height and weight division. A younger ruckman would be ideal, too.
Who are they chasing: It’s unclear who Sydney has targeted, if anyone at all. Players who could fit the Swans’ needs include Port Adelaide’s back-up big man Peter Ladhams and Western Bulldogs swingman Lewis Young.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Adelaide and Port
Adelaide jockeyed for breakout Swan Jordan Dawson before he picked the Crows, while Carlton targeted George Hewett to add ballwinning and a defensive bent to its on-ball brigade.
Who they will lose: A deal will be done to make Dawson a Crow next year, while restricted free agent midfielder Hewett will sign a long-term deal at Carlton.
8. ESSENDON
Draft picks: 11, 48, 53.
Delistings/retirements: Patrick Ambrose (ret), Ned Cahill (del), Cale Hooker (ret), Lachie Johnson (del), Irving Mosquito (ret), David Zaharakis (del).
What they need at the trade table: Coach Ben Rutten spoke about internal improvement hopefully solving their contested ball issues, but left the door ajar to fill gaps across the field.
Who are they chasing: The Bombers signed unrestricted freeagent defender Jake Kelly after eight seasons at Adelaide. They were unsuccessful in trying to lure Malcolm Rosas from Gold Coast, but have also inquired about contracted Saint Ben Long. Luke
Dunstan and Trent Dumont are potential free-agency midfield options.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Clubs needing ruck depth may inquire again about Nick Bryan since Sam Draper has firmly established himself as the long-term No.1 big man. But Bryan re-signed for two years in June. Jayden Laverde is out of contract next season and just had a career year down back that may have piqued rivals’ interest.
Who they will lose: The Bombers look like they may keep everyone they want to.
9.
Draft picks: 10, 29, 35, 49, 65.
Delistings/retirements: Nathan Vardy (ret), Daniel Venables (ret) , Will Collins (del), Brendon Ah Chee (del), Brayden Ainsworth (del), Ben Johnson (del), Jarrod Cameron (del), Mark Hutchings (del).
What they need at the trade table: A lack of young talent and depth are chief criticisms of the Eagles after they missed out on the finals.
Who are they chasing: Outside of Sam PetrevskiSeton (the No.6 pick in the 2016 draft) requesting a trade from Carlton to the Eagles, it seems like West Coast won’t be too busy in the trade period.
Who rival clubs will ask about: Jarrod Brander has yet to be offered a new contract and Carlton is interested, which could make a deal for Petrevski-Seton a whole lot easier for the Eagles.
Who will they lose: Brander looms as the one the Eagles will lose this trade period. Don’t expect too many others to follow.
WEST COAST