AFL trade wrap: Second Dog set for ‘agonising’ deadline wait; low pick to unlock Giant deal

We’ve now gone 72 hours without a trade, as AFL clubs continue to hold their nerve and drive a hard bargain.

But plenty is going on behind the scenes.

Catch up on Thursday October 10’s trade news in our blog below!

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2.40PM – ANOTHER DOG POISED FOR ‘AGONISING’ WAIT

Bailey Smith mightn’t be the only wantaway Bulldog that could be forced to wait until deadline day for his trade wish to be granted, with Jack Macrae facing a similar nervous wait.

Macrae, a triple All-Australian, last month informed the Western Bulldogs he wanted to be traded to the Saints, despite having three years remaining on his lucrative Dogs contract.

Bulldogs list manager Sam Power on Monday told AFL Trade Radio his club, at that stage, hadn’t spoken with St Kilda about a trade for Macrae, who was dropped to the VFL later in the 2024 season and was the Bulldogs’ starting sub in three of his last four AFL games of the year.

And AFL Media reporter Josh Gabelich on Thursday said the situation hadn’t progressed.

“It’s been slow-going so far. Sam Power and Steve Silvagni are yet to have one conversation around Jack Macrae,” Gabelich told AFL Trade Radio.

“There is still enough time … but this feels like a deadline day move, which would be agonising if you are the player.”

Macrae, across the past three seasons, has averaged 26.8 disposals, 6.0 score involvements, 4.7 clearances and 4.0 marks per 100 minutes, according to Champion Data.

2PM – STILL NOTRADES!

An update, on a non-update … we still haven’t seen any trades go through!

Despite the likes of James Peatling, Tom Barrass and Jack Lukosius expected to move along today – there has been no update on any of the trio.

It almost feels like clubs are waiting for each other to make the first move, as the deals of multiple clubs wait patiently on the movement of others.

Fremantle and West Coast’s dealings with Richmond will hopefully quicken up sooner rather than later.

12.30PM — STRINGER TRADE GATHERS STEAM AS KEY TRADE PIECE REVEALED

A humble fourth-round pick looms as a key piece of a potential Giants-Bombers trade for Jake Stringer as the Giants continue to ponder the prospect of adding the star goalkicker.

Multiple reports on Wednesday indicated Stringer is keen to join the Giants on a multi-year deal, despite having one season to run on his Essendon contract.

SEN reporter Sam Edmund said Stringer was “likely” to move clubs.

“The Jake Stringer picture will come into sharper focus today when GWS formalise its approach. But Stringer at this stage is likely to join on a two-year deal,” Edmund wrote on X.

“While a bit to play out, sources said Pick 56 could be used in the exchange.”

Stringer has one year remaining on his contract worth around $400,000, but has been seeking a longer deal elsewhere, with Essendon reportedly happy to facilitate a move to allow that.

Speaking on AFL Trade Radio on Thursday, Bombers list boss Matt Rosa said “no official request” had come from Stringer, but confirmed Essendon was aware of the Giants’ interest.

“We caught up with GWS over the weekend and they expressed that Jake is someone they could potentially be keen to explore,” Rosa told AFL Trade Radio

“We’re keeping in constant contact with Jake’s management group and we’ll work through that one as more info comes to light.”

Rosa said the club and Stringer’s camp had been in constant dialogue around the length of Stringer’s contract, with the Bombers aware he’s been exploring his options while “looking for security at the age he’s at”.

Asked whether Pick 56 could be used in a Stringer-Giants trade, Rosa said: “I won’t speculate on that given no official request has been made. But like any other player, the fact that Jake’s a contracted player, it’d have to be adequate compensation.”

10:08AM – VIC POWERHOUSE ALL BUT RULED OUT OF HOUSTON RACE

Carlton appear almost certainly out of the race for dual All-Australian Dan Houston, as Collingwood’s bid for the Power star strengthens.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reported on Thursday morning that given the Blues’ assurance they will head to the draft with their first-round pick, their ability to acquire Houston at an optimal price for Port Adelaide seems long gone.

Subsequently, it now looks as if only the Magpies and North Melbourne can move him out of Alberton.

And while the Kangaroos are obviously behind the Pies in the pecking order, their favourable draft hand and openness to trade a future first-round pick leaves them still in the hunt.

Joe Richards’ request to leave Collingwood for Port Adelaide has assisted the Pies’ negotiations on Houston significantly, with Ralph also reporting that “extensive meetings” have taken place between the Power, Magpies and Houston’s management in the last 24 hours.

Houston has not officially nominated a club of choice, but it is the understanding of most at this stage that Collingwood is a preferred destination.

9:37AM – FUTURE OF GIANTS YOUNGSTER SET IN STONE

First-round draft pick Conor Stone has taken up GWS’ contract offer for a two-year extension, signing on at the club until the end of 2026.

The 22-year-old was reportedly weighing up notable interest from Essendon, having played 13 games in four seasons for the orange and charcoal.

His commitment to the club is a rare win for the Giants this trade period, having lost Isaac Cumming (Adelaide), Harry Perryman (Collingwood) and Nick Haynes (Carlton).

They are also expected to lose James Peatling to the Crows on a four-year deal.

9AM – DAY FOUR UNDERWAY AS WANTAWAY PORT RUCK STALLS

Day four of the AFL Trade Period is officially underway!

The period has almost come to a standstill across the last two days, and as Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary reports, so have negotiations somewhat on out-of-favour Power player Ivan Soldo.

Soldo, who only moved to South Australia in last year’s trade period, is reported to want to relocate back to Victoria after playing just eight games in 2024.

“The Saints remain favourite for Ivan Soldo, but the hold-up for anything here is he’s yet to do a medical assessment at Moorabbin; therefore the Saints can’t fully commit to him,” Cleary said.

“Soldo of course has a history with an ACL four years ago (and) he is expected to undergo that assessment in the next 48 hours.”

He played 57 games at Richmond before his move to Alberton, including a premiership in 2019.

6AM – ALL-AUSTRALIAN MAKES HIS CALL AS THREE-WAY DEAL LOOMS

Dual All-Australian Dan Houston wants to play for Collingwood, according to The Age, with a potential three-way trade between them, Port Adelaide and Gold Coast on the cards.

The deal could involve up to four players with the Magpies’ Joe Richards keen to join the Power, his teammate John Noble wanting to get to Gold Coast, and the Suns’ Jack Lukosius looking to join Port Adelaide.

But as it stands Gold Coast has rejected the Pies’ offer of a future first-round pick and John Noble for selections 13 and 23, according to the report.

The Pies’ plan was to make that deal, then send pick 13 and Richards in exchange for Houston, but the Power are said to be unlikely to accept that offer.

The Suns would prefer to deal with Collingwood over clubs like Carlton (who have offered future picks for pick 13, which they would on-trade for Houston) and North Melbourne (who have offered their future first-round pick) because of Noble’s request to head north.

But they also want Collingwood to have the assets to land Houston, because that would provide Port Adelaide with an additional first-round pick, so they could happily send out their future first-round pick for Lukosius.

However the report stated the AFL has told Port Adelaide it will not need special approval to trade its future first-round pick, as was believed to be the case due to the Power using just two first-round picks over the last four years. However in one of those years they traded for 2021 No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis meaning he is effectively considered a used first-round pick.

While eventually these players may move to their preferred clubs in separate swaps, they are all intertwined and could end up moving in the same mega-deal.

Elsewhere GWS could confirm its interest in Jake Stringer on Thursday, with the Bomber interested in joining a third club and Essendon hopeful of luring the Giants’ Conor Stone as a potential replacement.

The Giants are also expected to soon send James Peatling to Adelaide, with the Crows’ future second and third-round picks tipped to be involved.

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