The AFL Finals series has just three games left as the trade period continues to heat up.
SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund has the latest on several names whose signatures are still being chased across the league.
Edmund also revealed Port Adelaide is fearful of West Coast tempting Mitch Georgiades into a trade request, while he also has more details on Brodie Grundy’s future.
The AFL’s free agency window opens on September 30, while the trade period kicks off on October 3.
See Edmund’s latest update below:
Luke Jackson (Melbourne)
“The anticipation, the expectation as reported by Cal Twomey this morning, is that Luke Jackson will use his exit meeting to request a trade from Melbourne to Fremantle,” Edmund told SEN’s Whateley earlier on Tuesday.
“He’s been going to Fremantle forever, let’s be honest. There has been a glimmer of hope, a flicker, a murmur out of Melbourne that perhaps they’d get to keep their man after all, but that won’t be the case.
“This will act as a domino for a range of movements. Brodie Grundy to Melbourne (continues to get mentioned), Lloyd Meek to GWS or any of the other numerous interested clubs, and the (several) Dockers, we’ve spoken about all year that had been low-balled or slow t be offered contracts by virtue of the Luke Jackson Tsunami. That’s (Blake) Acres, (Griffin) Logue, all those guys to leave the club given they’ve obviously been low-balled throughout the year in preparation for this Jackson acquisition.
“It's widely expected his cards will be put on the table today and he’ll make the high-profile move to the Fremantle Dockers.”
Brad Hill (St Kilda)
“The Saints are still, as of this morning, completely in the dark about Brad Hill’s intentions for next year. But the jungle drums continue to beat on a reunion for him and Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne.
“He’s got two years to run on a five-year deal at the Saints, as we know, worth up around the $900,000 a year mark. North would be his fourth club, stints at Hawthorn, Fremantle and the Saints, so he’s been prepared to move clubs in the past, even in contract.
“So that one is certainly doing the rounds and has been strongly whispered for some time, even though the Saints – officially – say they’re in the dark.”
Geelong, Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry
“With Geelong, obviously priced out of Grundy, like they were with (Jacob) Hopper, who will sign a very lucrative contract with Richmond providing a trade deal can be struck between GWS and Richmond, all with (Tim) Taranto making the same move.
“Cats coach Chris Scott on AFL360 wouldn’t confirm last night Tanner Bruhn had nominated his side, but at the same time, he did say he’d love to bring him in. Now Ollie Henry is an option to pursue as well.
“He’s been reluctant to sign at Collingwood during the year given they knew Dan McStay was coming in and the fact that that offer, when it did come from Collingwood, wasn’t to the level he had hoped for. So he’s held off on that and he’s also fallen out of favour this year with Ash Johnson coming from nowhere, coming from the clouds if you like.
“I wonder if the Cats reset, pivot if you like. They wanted Hopper, they wanted Grundy, they wanted both, they missed out on both, do they now go for Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry? It’s a pretty good second prize and the promise of much more from those two players.”
Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs)
“Josh Dunkley, logic says the longer it goes the more it appears Brisbane is the most likely destination given there’s been no announcement and the Lions season is still alive and there’s generally an etiquette to these sorts of things when players are nominating clubs so are still in the premiership race.
“We know the family connection and girlfriend connection. His sister Lara plays for the Queensland Firebirds in Super Netball, girlfriend Tippah is signed, but only signed at the Adelaide Thunderbirds for the 2023 season and went to school in Brisbane and was raised there as well.
“I think if you’re looking at this logically, and we can overthink things, Josh Dunkley is out of contract, hasn’t re-signed forever at the Western Bulldogs, and hasn’t nominated Port Adelaide despite having several weeks to do so. What’s the hold-up? It just has to be Brisbane, doesn’t it?
“We thought Brisbane wouldn’t go this far and maybe Josh Dunkley didn’t either and that’s why we’ve got this state with him.”
Conor McKenna
“Conor Mckenna made headlines a few weeks ago telling his county side that he wanted to come back to play AFL, to have another crack at it. I’ve spoken to Brisbane about this, the Lions’ information about this is Conor McKenna wants to come back to Australia, but he doesn’t want to come back to any state, in fact, he wants to come back to Victoria. So that’s the initial feedback from them.
“They do have an interest and they have had an interest before, whether they’re playing it down or not, they don’t expect to be a factor when it comes to Connor McKenna.”