A Victorian rival has met with Luke Parker as the Sydney veteran weighs up a trade.
Plus Geelong confirms its interest in Bailey Smith and reveals where the move is at.
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“He has disrespected Port Adelaide” | 01:26
KANGAROOS CHAT WITH SWANS CHAMP OVER MOVE
North Melbourne has spoken with Sydney champion Luke Parker over a move south in 2025, reports The Age.
Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson publicly confirmed the club’s interest in veteran midfielders like Parker in an SEN interview last month.
“Ollie Wines we’d like to have a chat to,” Clarkson said.
“Luke Parker, Dane Rampe coming out, he’s 34 now. Cal Ward, there’s these guys that are just terrific leaders who have been part of successful programs and are high quality men.
“You’re never confident (of landing these players). I don’t know what the hit and miss ratio is for all other clubs, but I reckon mine is one in ten. You miss nine beauties that you’d love to get to your footy club.
“You’re never confident but we know that’s what we’re searching for. We’ll go to market and see how we can go.”
But according to the report the Kangaroos spoke with the 31-year-old, who is contracted until the end of 2025, several weeks ago.
Parker is believed to be willing to consider an exit, and has not shut down trade talk when asked about it in recent weeks.
“I’m contracted to Sydney, I’m looking forward to this finals series,” Parker said on SEN on Monday.
“You can never rule out what the future looks like. At the end of the year, I’ll sit down (and) talk to the coaches and the footy club about what the future looks like, but at the moment, I’m contracted and just enjoying this finals series and focusing on that.”
Eagles loom as Dogs face Bevo decision | 02:57
IS SMITH HEADING DOWN THE HIGHWAY?
Geelong coach Chris Scott has confirmed on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 the club is hopeful of landing Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith in the upcoming trade period.
The social media sensation is yet to officially nominate a club but he is expected to accept a “long-term deal” at the Cattery.
“The opportunity for more midfield time is appealing and he has multiple business interests on the Surf Coast,” Seven’s Mitch Cleary reported on Monday night.
Smith has had a partnership with Geelong-based clothing brand Cotton On for several years.
Asked whether Smith has nominated the Cats, Scott told AFL 360: “No, he hasn’t told (us) – I’m not aware of it if he has.
“Yeah (we are hopeful) but we’ve got a lot of balls in the air at the moment. It’s a little bit different to the situation that we see, I think Josh Battle’s an unrestricted free agent, so he has nominated Hawthorn, he’s going. You can’t make those decisions when there’s a trade situation.
“So my understanding is he hasn’t nominated a club, and there’s a fair chance that even if one of those conversations have happened that I’m not privy to it exactly, Andrew Mackie and Bailey’s management would’ve worked through that.”
The trade is likely to be difficult to strike, due to the Cats’ run to the preliminary finals giving them a first-round pick that will fall at No.15, at best.
The Bulldogs want more than a late first-round pick – either multiple picks, or an earlier first-rounder – for the 103-game star.
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