Collingwood will reportedly be “all over” one of the competition’s premier key forwards — but he’s still contracted for another season.
Plus the biggest call of the looming trade period could spark a four-club ruck merry-go-round.
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FOUR-MAN RUCK MERRY-GO-ROUND LOOMS AS BLUE’S $5M DILEMMA TO SPARK CHAOS
The biggest free agency call of 2025 could spark a massive ruck merry-go-round with Tom De Koning needing to give up $5 million to remain at Carlton.
The longer the Blues gun waits, the more likely it appears he is to accept St Kilda’s mega offer of $12.5 million over seven seasons, which dwarfs the cash-strapped Blues’ offer of $7.5 million over seven years.
As Nine’s Tom Morris reported on Wednesday night: “Most people in the know think a $5 million gap will be simply too difficult for TDK to refuse.”
But De Koning moving to St Kilda would not be to partner existing Saints No.1 ruckman Rowan Marshall, who is already one of the competition’s best, but to replace him.
That could see Marshall turfed from the Saints and weighing up moves to Adelaide or Geelong, according to Morris.
“The longer this goes, the more likely he (De Koning) is to leave, which would set off an unprecedented chain reaction, according to the clubs and managers I spoke to today,” Morris said on Nine News.
“So let’s take a look how the dominoes would fall. There’d be no room for Rowan Marshall at St Kilda, who is contracted but wants to be the number one ruck, he’d be pursued by Geelong and possibly Adelaide as well.
“If it is the Crows, this would lead to the out of contract Reilly O’Brien’s exit – and this would see Geelong renew its interest in contracted Docker Sean Darcy.
“As for Carlton, they could chase O’Brien or Darcy to fill the hole left by De Koning.”
But not everyone is a fan of St Kilda committing that much money to one player, with De Koning potentially earning $2 million in 2026 on a front-loaded deal at Moorabbin.
Collingwood great Tony Shaw warned on Twitter: “Any club offering that money for one player is negligent in their salary cap management.
“A ruckman one jump from disaster is another risk. Not to say player unrest of those who have been loyal to club ambitions. Buyer beware.”
PIES TO BE ‘ALL OVER’ SUNS FORWARD
The Magpies are expected to seriously pursue Gold Coast spearhead Ben King, whose contract at Carrara runs through to the end of the 2026 season.
The 24-year-old, who signed a two-year extension with the Suns ahead of the 2024 campaign, has long been linked to a Victorian return after being drafted to Gold Coast with the sixth overall pick in 2018.
“Traditionally, he’s done his deals over summer or at the start of a season, so he hasn’t waited too long into his contract year to get that done,” AFL Media’s Cal Twomey said on Gettable.
“I think that probably changes next year to use the free agency leverage. Collingwood will be all over him. I keep saying it, but they will be.”
King is the current Coleman Medal leader with 29 goals through just nine games; on track to eclipse his career-best tally of 55 he set in 22 matches last year.
The Pies figure to have a key-forward need in the coming years given Tim Membrey (turning 31 years old) won’t be around in the long term, Brody Mihocek is 32, and Dan McStay can’t seem to get a clear run without injury.
KEY DONS CONTRACT CALLS
Essendon has 14 players set to come out of contract this year, with critical end-of-year calls to decide the direction of the club’s list under Brad Scott’s guidance.
All of Sam Draper, Zach Reid, Nick Bryan, Todd Goldstein, Dylan Shiel, Ben Hobbs, Will Setterfield, Jaxon Prior, Jye Menzie, Saad El-Hawli, Jayden Laverde, Alwyn Davey Jnr, Vigo Visentini and Luamon Lual are currently without contracts for 2026 and beyond.
“It seems a lot, doesn’t it? … This includes some rookies as well, so I think it’s fascinating to look at what they’re going to do,” said the Herald Sun’s Glenn McFarlane on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
“A lot of the back-end stuff this year is going to work around whether some of these guys go on. Some of them are absolute locks. Zach Reid is a lock; he’ll get a three-year deal to free agency, or he might even get a longer-term deal — he certainly deserves that now.
“Sam Draper, Nick Bryan — I look at some of these names (that are) almost certain to stay. They’re obviously not playing this year, but those deals will get done.
“The fascinating one is Goldstein, (he’s) 37 in July. Wants to play on. Shiel is an interesting one. I think he’s a chance to go one more. He’s good enough, he’s got an older body, so you need to sort of look after (his fitness) there.”
McFarlane added a couple of fringe midfielders including a former first-round pick have likely put enough out there to justify another contract.
“Ben Hobbs has probably done enough (to earn a new deal). A couple of clubs, certainly Collingwood and others, were looking at Hobbs last year,” McFarlane continued.
“Setterfield is interesting. The coach loves him, they need that tagging type, so I think he’s a chance to go on.
“Prior’s playing every game, Menzie is a question mark, up and down (form) … And then you look at a few of the rookies. I think there are a lot of guys there that are going to need a good back end of the season to actually get through and (be signed on) again in 2026.”
Visentini should look to put his best foot forward in the second half of the year given the Bombers’ decimated ruck stocks, while Davey is yet to assert himself at the level since arriving in 2022 as a third-round pick.
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