‘Most popular Flanders since Ned’: Bombers blow four-club race for Suns gun wide open

A star Saint is set to knock back a lucrative deal to join the Dogs – with his loyalty potentially earning him the captaincy in 2026.

The Bombers have come to the table with a mammoth offer for a Suns star, plus Gold Coast are looming large for a Pies gun.

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ESSENDON DROP FLANDERS BOMB

Essendon have reportedly come to the table with an offer worth more than St Kilda’s $900,000 per-season, five-year deal to secure the services of Suns ball-getter Sam Flanders.

According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, who previously reported the Saints were “in the box seat” to sign Flanders.

The club has reportedly offered the no.7 pick at November’s draft to try and force the Suns’ hand. Gold Coast already currently holds the no.6 pick.

Flanders, who is contracted at Carrara for two more seasons, has met with multiple clubs as he contemplates a potential departure during October’s trade window.

Now Edmund has revealed the Bombers have come to the table with an offer that trumps their rivals.

“The most popular Flanders since Ned,” Edmund said on 7AFL.

“He has met with four clubs over the weekend, Carlton, Essendon, St Kilda and Melbourne. The money is massive.

“$900,000, Saints who have put pick seven on the table… even more money at Essendon, who have tabled their two picks in the 20s.

“They have got academy reasons for that to satisfy Gold Coast as well, he plays down here in Melbourne absolutely and he is blessed with choice.”

It comes after Flanders was previously linked to a potential Christian Petracca-to-Gold Coast trade, with Melbourne one of the clubs thought to be interested in the six-year Sun.

D-DAY LOOMS LARGE FOR PIES

Collingwood have increased their offer in a bid to keep Jamie Elliott from a move to the Gold Coast Suns.

But Friday looms as D-Day for the club who is also yet to secure fellow forward Brody Mihocek.

7NEWS’ Mitch Cleary believes Mihocek is more likely to depart, with his offer at Melbourne “so convincing it’s almost too hard to ignore”.

But Elliott faces a massive call on his future – with more money reportedly on offer at the Suns.

“Collingwood B&F is on Friday,” Cleary explained on The Agenda Setters.

“The thought is if they get through that night without extension announcement for Mihocek and Elliott, both will be out the door.

“The sense I’m getting out of Collingwood right now is Mihocek is more likely to leave. Elliott in an ideal world would stay at Collingwood.

“It’s just a matter of getting the offer to the right point to satisfy him to stay.

“I think the Mihocek offer from Melbourne is so convincing its almost too hard to ignore.” Collingwood won’t be budging as much on the Mihocek deal.”

Fellow panelist Sam Edmund believes Collingwood still has a lot of work to do to get an Elliott deal over the line.

“Collingwood have been playing contract catch up in the last couple of months,” he said.

“Collingwood have improved their offer – it was two years and mid-$400,000. Now it’s two years at mid-$500,000.

“But all the while Gold Coast now at the table formally with a three-year offer, guaranteed, with much more money as well.

“It’s inconceivable that Collingwood would let it get to this.

“You can understand, he’s 33, they’ve got an ageing list but this guy kicked 60 goals this year! I think it was a borderline offensive offer.

“It was low fours (hundred thousands) at two years (so under the average AFL wage) … he’s kicked 60 goals for the year – should have been All-Australian, eight goals in two finals.

“It’s like trying to get blood out of a stone at Collingwood.”

KEY SAINT SET TO STAY

Cal Wilkie is set to knock back a reported $4.5m deal at the Western Bulldogs, to stay at St Kilda for 2026 and beyond.

The All-Australian had drawn plenty of interest from the Dogs who are desperate to bolster their defensive stocks.

And given the Saints’ cash-splashing ways to lure Tom de Koning and Jack Silvagni to the club, Wilkie was seen by rival clubs as a gettable recruit this off-season.

But according to multiple reports, Wilkie is set to turn his back on the lucrative deal which would have earnt him around $1.1 million per-season.

“Cal Wilkie will stay after the club significantly upped his contract,” 9 News’ Tom Morris reported.

“Not only did he have a phone call with Luke Beveridge, it’s also understood he met with the Western Bulldogs coach (among other key staff) face to face in recent days. Eventually Saints president Andrew Bassat got involved to clinch the deal with Wilkie, who was seriously contemplating the Dogs’ lucrative offer.”

Wilkie, who has two years to run on his St Kilda deal, is regarded as a potential future skipper.

But his lack of commitment to the Saints had plenty of media speculating.

“At the moment, he hasn’t told the Dogs no … so the door’s ajar,” Sam Edmund said on Tuesday morning.

CROWS YOUNG GUN ‘UNTOUCHABLE’ IN PETRACCA CHASE

Melbourne is keen on landing a player in return for star midfielder Christian Petracca but the Crows are unwilling to give up exciting forward Josh Rachele, according to Seven’s Theo Doropoulos.

The Victorian has been suggested by many experts as the potential circuit-breaker for the deal, including Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis on Monday night’s edition of On the Couch.

Rachele’s name was floated as trade bait last off-season after he was dropped for not adhering to team-first values during games.

He then played 14 games in 2025, averaging more than two goals a week before injuries cruelled his season. He was rushed back in time to be the substitute for the Crows’ semi-final loss to Hawthorn.

Petracca would likely spend some time at half-forward if he joined the Crows but they’re unwilling to part with the No.6 pick from the star-studded 2021 Draft.

“Adelaide forward Josh Rachele will absolutely not be part of any deal involving Demons superstar Christian Petracca and a potential move to the Crows,” Seven’s Theo Doropoulos tweeted.

“The 22-year old is contracted until 2029 and is considered untouchable.”

CODE Sports reported Luke Pedlar could be involved in the deal given his interest in more midfield time.

The Demons confirmed on Tuesday Petracca was interested in leaving the club.

“We met with Christian late last week where he expressed his desire to explore a fresh start in 2026,” new CEO Paul Guerra said.

“Christian is contracted for a further four years and is a once in a generation player. With this in mind, any decision regarding Christian’s future will be made in the best interest of the Melbourne Football Club.”

Petracca, the No.2 pick in the 2014 Draft, is a four-time All-Australian, two-time best and fairest winner, Norm Smith medallist, one-time club leading goalkicker and premiership player.

SURPRISE SUITOR FOR FORGOTTEN LION

The Western Bulldogs will attempt to bolster their midfield, entering the race for forgotten Brisbane midfielder Deven Robertson.

AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge reports the 24-year-old is expected to find a second AFL home after falling out of favour at the back-to-back premiers.

He played all three finals in the Lions’ 2022 campaign, then 16 games in the 2023 Grand Final season, famously losing his shirt during a clash against Collingwood.

That off-season amid interest from West Coast, Robertson opted not to head home to Western Australia, instead signing a two-year extension.

But the decision backfired and having played just six games in the next two seasons, including four as the sub this year, the No.22 pick from the 2019 draft is set to leave the Lions.

The Eagles have renewed their interest while the Bulldogs are also keen to add cheap depth to their star-studded midfield.

Robertson averaged 26.1 disposals and 6.6 tackles in a strong 2025 VFL campaign.

The Bulldogs are also chasing Gold Coast defender Connor Budarick, with the Kangaroos the other suitor for his services.

Budarick has ruled out Brisbane and Essendon and has a two-year offer on the table to remain at the Suns.

The 24-year-old, who impressed early in the decade as a small defender but suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, played 19 games this year primarily in the forward line.