It’s just past mid-season but the AFL trade news and rumours are already ramping up ahead of the 2024 player movement period.
With several players approaching free agency and the trade period coming, speculation is starting to grow.
Interested clubs: Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood
Hawthorn emerge as Barrass contender
July 25, 2024
Despite their ongoing chase for St Kilda’s Josh Battle, Hawthorn have thrown their hat in the ring for West Coast gun Tom Barrass.
According to Mitch Cleary, the Hawks are making enquiries about the 28-year-old defender, who is also being chased by the Bulldogs and Collingwood.
Hawthorn missed out on both Ben McKay and Esava Ratugolea last trade period, and is believed to be targeting Barrass to play alongside Battle, not instead of snaring of the Saints defender.
The Hawks hold currently pick 8 in the upcoming draft, meaning they have stronger capital to trade for Barrass than both the Bulldogs and Collingwood.
Bulldogs to use Bailey Smith for Barrass offer
June 26, 2024
Western Bulldogs could use the capital picked up in a Bailey Smith trade to entice West Coast star Tom Barrass.
The Bulldogs are desperately in need of a class intercept defender with rumours Barrass is attainable.
Trading Smith could net the Bulldogs at least a first-round pick with more selections possible in the deal.
Barrass is contracted at the Eagles until the end of 2026, when he becomes a free agent.
Dustin Martin trade news, rumours
Interested clubs: Gold Coast
Martin won’t play at Richmond next season
July 23, 2024
Dustin Martin has ‘checked out’ of Richmond and won’t be playing at the club in 2025, reports suggest.
The Tigers gun hasn’t played since Round 16 because of a back issue but was reported to be in New Zealand on holiday last week and also to have played a round of golf.
Speaking on Footy Classified, Sam McClure stated Martin’s behaviour in the last few weeks suggested that a departure from Punt Rd was inevitable.
“Richmond would like for him to play at least one more time, a farewell game,” McClure said.
“He won’t play at Punt Road beyond this season. Clearly, with his lack of training and lack of coming to the club in the last weeks, he has, to some degree, checked out of that part of his career.”
Gold Coast, led by Martin’s former Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, would be the most likely destination for the three-time Norm Smith Medallist.
Clayton Oliver trade news, rumours
Interested clubs: Adelaide, St Kilda, Collingwood
Adelaide favourite if Oliver leaves Melbourne
July 23, 2024
Tension is building between Melbourne and Clayton Oliver with a move to Adelaide possible, according to a prominent journalist.
Oliver was talked about as a possible trade at the end of last season but no move ended up eventuating.
However, Sam McClure reports Oliver could be available in the upcoming trade period and Adelaide are in the box seat if he departs the Demons.
“I think he’s clearly up for grabs. If he’s going to leave Melbourne, which is an if at this stage, it will be to the Adelaide Crows,” McClure said on Nine.
“This is a complicated one. Adelaide have made it very clear to the rest of the competition that their first pick is up for grabs – that’s not saying it’ll absolutely be for Clayton Oliver.
“As we sit here tonight, I don’t Melbourne are over the hump with saying they absolutely want to let go of Clayton Oliver.
“There’s frustration and tension building between the two parties, Clayton Oliver is frustrated about lately starting on the bench, this new role that he’s been given, he doesn’t think he’s being utilised the best way he can be. He’s on six years at more than $1.1 million (a season).”
Oliver ‘gettable’ for AFL clubs
July 16, 2024
Melbourne star Clayton Oliver could be on the move for 2025 after speculation of a Demons departure last season.
Despite the Demons denying wanting to trade Oliver, who is contracted for six more years, speculation is growing that the midfield gun is available.
Footy Classified‘s Tom Morris revealed that AFL clubs were telling him that Oliver could be traded by Melbourne for the right deal.
“There has been a lot of chat between other clubs and among other clubs that I’ve spoken to over the past few days around Clayton Oliver. They believe that he is gettable,” Morris said.
“I’ve spoken to the Demons today, they fiercely deny this. They say that Clayton Oliver is going nowhere, he’s got six years remaining on a lucrative deal and they like the way he’s playing.
“His seven-year deal, which he is almost one year through, is worth about $10 million including the TPP (total player payments) uplift. It’s a lucrative deal.
“If he did leave Melbourne at the end of the year, or in future years, he would probably be the highest paid player at the club he goes to.
“I can’t see how a deal gets done with another club, but other clubs are telling me it’s absolutely on.”
Adelaide and St Kilda were two clubs interested in Oliver last season, while Collingwood could use another gun midfielder alongside Nick Daicos.
Dan Houston trade news, rumours
Interested clubs: Melbourne
Houston eyed by Victorian clubs
July 18, 2024
Victorian clubs are keeping a watch on Dan Houston despite the Port Adelaide gun being contracted for three more seasons.
According to Callum Twomey, Houston is a possibility to move back to Victoria, where he was drafted from the Oakleigh Chargers.
Melbourne is the only club named to linked with the 2023 All Australian, but other Victorian clubs will emerge if the player is on the market.
Houston is part of Port Adelaide’s leadership group and has played 163 games for the club.
Dylan Shiel trade news, rumours
Interested clubs: St Kilda
Saints renew interest in Shiel
July 18, 2024
St Kilda is understood to be considering making another play for veteran Bomber midfielder Dylan Shiel.
The Saints entertained an offer for Shiel during the 2023 trade period but withdrew their interest after the 31-year-old hurt his knee in pre-season.
After a struggling 2024 campaign, St Kilda will look to add a big-bodied midfielder with Shiel an option, reports Mitch Cleary.
Shiel has battled with injuries for most of 2024 but has played the last two games for Essendon, gathering 26 and 28 possessions.
Bailey Smith trade news, rumours
Interested clubs: Geelong, Hawthorn, Collingwood
Geelong ‘heavy’ favourite to snare Bulldog star Smith
July 16, 2024
Geelong has moved into pole position to snare Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith.
With the 23-year-old almost certainly on the move, The Age’s Sam McClure announced the Cats were in the box seat.
“Geelong, heavy, heavy favourites,” McClure said on Footy Classified.
While on the same program Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said: “You can tell that they’re (Geelong) in it up to their eyeballs. It’s just a matter if there’s another club in it
“He (Mackie) didn’t want to say anything.”
Lloyd was referring to comments made on Smith by Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie, who played down the rumours around the Bulldog.
“Nah (we haven’t offered Smith a contract). Like I said, we don’t go into any details around opposition players,” Mackie told 3AW Radio.
“We understand interest, Bailey is out of contract.
“There’s no real rules. The window is obviously post season, October, where you get to move players in and out of your list.
“You’re naïve to think that you get to a point at the start of October and it’s like, ‘we’ve got to push the button on a few things’.”
