AFL trade period day one updates: Dan Houston, Clayton Oliver and ...
Gold Coast's number 13 draft pick could be the key that unlocks the Dan Houston AFL trade deal for Collingwood.
But as the trade period opened on Monday, the Suns were keeping their options open as they also try to recruit Richmond star Daniel Rioli.
As expected, Melbourne forward Alex Neal-Bullen was traded to Adelaide for pick number 28, three days after polling third in the Demons's best-and-fairest voting.
Veteran West Coast key forward Jack Darling went to North Melbourne for the Kangaroos's number 67 pick.
Houston, Port Adelaide's two-time All-Australian defender, and Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith are two of the biggest names trying to secure trades ahead of the October 16 deadline.
Rioli and teammates Shai Bolton (to Fremantle) and Liam Baker (to West Coast) also want new homes. But the Tigers are saying it's up to other clubs to come up with deals for the contracted trio, while restricted free agent Jack Graham has signed with the Eagles.
Much of the talk on Monday was around Houston, who wants to join a Melbourne-based club.
Collingwood is hopeful Joe Richards's desire to join Port Adelaide can help them secure Houston.
Richards, who has played just nine games for Collingwood, made his request to join the Power official as the trade period opened.
But the Suns are keen to recruit Magpies defender John Noble and that might put their number 13 pick into play.
The Magpies, Carlton and North Melbourne have all been linked to Houston, who has three years left on his contract.
Richmond defender Daniel Rioli also wants to reunite with his former coach Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast.
Suns list boss Craig Cameron hinted the likes of Collingwood and Richmond could be in the box seat for pick 13.
"Our plan with pick 13 is to deal with clubs that we need some players from," Cameron said.
On arrival at Docklands Stadium on Monday, Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch said his club was "very" interested in Houston.
"We'd love to see him in our colours next year but there's obviously a lot to play out over the next 10 days or so," Leppitsch said.
Carlton list manager Nick Austin has noted that Houston is yet to nominate his preferred club.
"I'm assuming we're in the mix, but he wants to get back to Melbourne — that's clear," Austin said.
Power football boss Chris Davies said Houston understood any deal had to be right for the club.
"He hasn't ruled anyone out, nor have we asked him to rule anyone out yet," Davies said.
"It's a good position for us to be in, to have multiple clubs who want a player.
"I would imagine they'll work themselves up into some sort of fever pitch … that they'll be willing to give us what we do want."
Smith has confirmed he wants to join Geelong and if it comes off, that will be one of the most momentous deals of this trade period.
Geelong will have its work cut out to bring Bailey Smith to the club. (AAP: James Ross)
Bulldogs list manager Sam Power made it clear they would drive a hard bargain for Smith.
"We think Bailey's worth a lot," he said. "We expect a lot for Bailey."
Geelong also arranged a meeting with disgruntled Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver last week at Cats star Rhys Stanley's farm.
But the Demons insisted at Friday's best and fairest night that Oliver, who attended the function, is not on the trade table.
Tigers football manager Blair Hartley was to the point when asked about the trade period and Rioli, Bolton and Baker.
"It's really on other clubs … to come to us," he said.
GWS have shown some initial interest in Essendon's Jake Stringer, who wants more security than he currently has with one year left on his deal with the Bombers.
— reporting by AAP
Catch up on the action from day one of the AFL trade period with our blog.
Key Events
Gold Coast Sun Levi Casboult announces retirement
1 hours agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 6:34am
OFFICIAL: Jack Darling traded to North Melbourne
3 hours agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:24am
OFFICIAL: Alex Neal-Bullen traded to Adelaide
4 hours agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:09am
3h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:20am
Alex Neal-Bullen traded from Melbourne to Adelaide in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick (currently No.28).
Jack Darling traded from West Coast to North Melbourne in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick (currently No.67).
56m agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 7:14am
That is all for the blog on day oneThis is where the live blog coverage of the AFL trade period, day one, will come to an end.
Two deals were made official on day one:
Alex Neal-Bullen traded from Melbourne to Adelaide in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick (currently No.28).Jack Darling traded from West Coast to North Melbourne in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick (currently No.67).ABC Sport will be back tomorrow for more live coverage as deals continue to shape the AFL landscape.
1h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 6:55am
Will the Saints offer Membrey a new deal?What do you think the likelihood is of Membrey leaving the Saints? I would have figured after a solid season the club would be looking to hold onto him. Especially after signing King until 2032.
- Kate
Hello Kate.
You ask a terrific question.
Tim Membrey is a free agent after the conclusion of his three-year contract with St Kilda.
Will the Saints offer him a new deal? It is hard to say.
Do they have enough space in the cap for what Membrey will want, after signing Max King to a mega deal?
It is something that will be watched closely over the coming days.
Key Event
1h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 6:34am
Levi Casboult has announced his retirement from the AFL.
The 34-year-old made the announcement on Monday, bringing to an end his 198-game career.
(AAP)Casboult played 12 seasons for Carlton, before heading to the Gold Coast at the end of 2021.
“It’s been a long time coming, I can look back and say I got the most out of myself and I left no stone unturned over 15 years,” Casboult said.
“I have met so many incredible people and I will always be grateful for everything my career has given me.
“My greatest achievement is my family and I think that coincides with when I started playing my best footy, it gave me such a good perspective on life and a greater purpose.
“I’m now looking forward to weekends with the family, caravanning together, watching kids’ sport, supporting Hayley as she chases her dreams, and embracing my favourite role yet - just being Dad.”
2h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 6:10am
Gary Rohan offers heartfelt thanks to Geelong and says he is not retiringHey Chris. What is happening with Gary Rohan? Any team signed him yet?
- Felicity
Hello Felicity.
I hope it is fine with you that I answer your question (although if I were a punter I would love if Chris De Sliva responded to my comment).
Premiership Cat Gary Rohan posted on his social media account yesterday, days after he was de-listed from Geelong.
In the post, which features him with the premiership cup following the 2022 grand final win, Rohan thanks Geelong for his six-year stint and says he is not retiring just yet.
There is no future news on the future of Rohan.
2h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 5:43am
Is the possibility of Clayton Oliver leaving the Dees for Geelong still alive?Is there still any chance they geelong will be able to pick up oliver.
- Lachlan
G'day Lachlan.
Melbourne Demon Clayton Oliver certainly is one of the major talking points in this year's draft.
He still has many years left on his contract with the Dees, but persistent rumours have suggested he has wanted to leave the club.
Today however, it seems like Melbourne and Geelong — who Oliver has met with — were happy to quash that speculation.
"Clayton will be at the club next year 100 per cent. He has never been offered for trade." — Demons list manager Tim Lamb
"Clayton's manager was aware it might be in his best interests to have a chat but it was pretty brief. As far as we are concerned it was fleeting. We are respectable of Melbourne and their stance. We will put it to bed." — Geelong head of football Andrew Mackie
3h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:56am
Eagles fans react to Jack Darling's departureHonestly if I was the eagles I would have given the roos a draft pick in return for getting darling off our hands...
- LW
Hi LW, thanks for the comment!
It appears West Coast's fans aren't exactly heartbroken that Jack Darling has left the club.
Nevertheless, it is the end of an era for the Eagles, whose forward line was dominated by Darling and Josh Kennedy for so long.
Darling leaves having kicked 532 goals in 298 games for West Coast. He is second on the club's all-time goals list behind Kennedy.
What a duo they were for so long!
3h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:42am
Jack Graham set to join West Coast as a free agentIt's not necessarily a trade, but we've got another move about to happen.
Jack Graham has informed Richmond that he will join West Coast as an unrestricted free agent, per AFL.com.au's Riley Beveridge.
Graham played 131 games for Richmond and will leave the Tigers as a two-time premiership player after playing in the 2017 and 2020 teams.
He played 14 games in 2024 and averaged 17.4 disposals per contest.
3h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:29am
Could Chad Warner move clubs this summer?Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick with some interesting comments on Swans star Chad Warner, who is a WA native.
"There is no doubt we have got a significant interest in him if he was to want to come back home," he told SEN Perth.
"He’s contracted next year. Sydney are on the record saying he will be playing with them and we feel he will be playing in the red and white next year but funnier things have happened.
"We will certainly monitor the situation."
Sydney's Chad Warner is expected to remain at the club in 2025.(Getty Images)Key Event
3h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:24am
The trades are FLYING in now, hope you can keep up!
Jack Darling is officially a Kangaroos player, according to AFL.com.au's Riley Beveridge.
Key Event
4h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:09am
We finally have liftoff in this year's trade period!
Alex Neal-Bullen has been traded to Adelaide in exchange for pick 28, per AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey.
4h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 4:05am
Who's next up for Port Adelaide after Charlie?Where are Port Adelaide going to get some big bodied forwards? Draft picks won't help in 2025
- Ian
Hi Ian,
It's going to be interesting to see how Port replaces Charlie Dixon after his retirement.
My guess is the runway is clear for Ollie Lord next season, provided he has a solid pre-season.
Lord is just 22 and played just 19 games in two seasons, but at 197cm and 92kg, he's probably going to grow into that power forward archetype.
4h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 3:56am
A look at Richmond's draft handwhat picks do you think the tiges are gonna get after the draft period and what picks do you think are fair for shai, liam and dan?
- Dean
Hi Dean,
These are the picks the Tigers currently have in their hands: 1, 24, 32, 42, 44, 50, 60, 69, 75.
Fremantle's earliest picks are 10 and 11, you'd expect at least one or both of those to go to Richmond for Shai Bolton.
West Coast has picks 3, 26 and 62. I reckon 26 is probably fair for Liam Baker, but the Tigers will want more, and 26 will blow out further with academy selections and father-son.
Gold Coast currently has picks 6, 13, 23, 29, 41, 49 and 77, but could deal 13 to Collingwood. Do they give up 6 for Dan Rioli? It's hard to say.
I hope that answers your question!
4h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 3:43am
Tense trade dealings aheadDo you think there'll be many trades that go down to the wire?
- LM
Hi LM, thanks for following along!
The short answer to your question is yes. We've already seen this morning that clubs are digging in and playing hard ball, so negotiations will be tense and slow.
Given the Bulldogs's history with the trades of Adam Treloar and Josh Dunkley, I'd expect the Bailey Smith one to go right down to the wire.
If Clayton Oliver gets his wish, which doesn't look like it at this stage, that will go right down to the deadline as well.
5h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 2:48am
A Tim Kelly throwback?As a wounded Eagles fan, the Baker discussion is giving me flashbacks to the Tim Kelly saga. Both roughly the same age and stage of their career at the time of trade, with similar levels of hype. Kelly has been great for us, but we sold the shop to get him and it had huge rammifactions for our list management. I am very worried the club will pay overs for Baker. I hope we have learned from history.
- Daniel
Hi Daniel, thanks for following!
Understand your scarring when it comes to the Tim Kelly trade.
The three picks the Eagles gave up ended up becoming Cooper Stephens, Jeremy Sharp and Nick Bryan.
However, I don't think Liam Baker will cost that much in terms of draft capital, so no need to fear.
Key Event
5h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 2:17am
Western Bulldogs list boss Sam Power has proven himself to be a tough negotiator over the years, and this year will be no different.
When asked about the situation with Bailey Smith, who wants to go to Geelong, Power says the Dogs "expect a lot" in exchange for him.
On Jack Macrae, Power says "it would have to be a suitable deal for us".
Key Event
6h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 2:09am
It doesn't look like we'll see Dustin Martin running around in the Gold Coast next year.
“I think Dustin’s own words were that he was happily retired,” Suns list boss Craig Cameron told Trade Radio.
“I don’t think it’s for our footy club to add to that narrative, so that’s where it sits.”
Dustin Martin looks like he will remain retired.(Getty Images)6h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 2:06am
The latest on Sydney and Luke ParkerHi, what are the Swans up to with Luke Parker leaving the team to join North Melbourne?
- Rato
Hi Rato,
Luke Parker has requested a trade to North Melbourne, but Sydney's list boss Chris Keane said earlier that the deal is "not as straightforward as people think".
6h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 1:59am
Who's leading the race for Dan Houston?Right now, who has a higher chance of houston, carlton or collingwood? If collingwood, could they trade Joe Richards and some draft picks for him? What would carlton need to offer
- Luca
Hi Luca!
At this stage it certainly appears that Collingwood is the frontrunner for Dan Houston.
Given Port is keen on bringing across Joe Richards from the Pies, it won't be a surprise if the two clubs combine the pair in the same deal.
Carlton's hardline stance on wanting to stay in this year's draft probably makes it hard for them to appease Port in a trade.
6h agoMon 7 Oct 2024 at 1:56am
Here's what the Saints are up toSt Kilda list boss David Misson on exactly what the Saints' plans are during this trade period.
