‘Wants to go home’: Swans on 12-month clock to keep star; Oliver’s ‘time to go’ — Trade Whispers

A bombshell report claims a Swans superstar “wants to go home” after his side’s heavy grand final defeat.

Plus, one of the AFL’s biggest names is the talk of the trade world once more.

Stay up to date with all the latest player movement news with Trade Whispers!

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WA MOVE ON THE CARDS FOR SUPERSTAR SWAN

Sydney Swans superstar Chad Warner could be on his way back to Western Australia as the rumour mill goes into overdrive following his side’s embarrassing loss to the Lions on grand final day.

Warner remains contracted until the end of 2025 but both West Australian clubs believe Warner will request a trade back to his home state by the end of next year, according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph.

“WA-based clubs are of the belief it is his intention to return home at the end of next year. He’s stubborn enough to believe he can get through a whole season of a contract impasse. They believe it’s not an ambit claim, it’s not a contract negotiation,” Ralph told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“He and his partner, who’s also from Perth, just want to go home. They even believe that if Sydney had won this game, he might have put in a trade request. A really small chance, but it’s absolutely zero now,” Ralph continued.

“This is a 12-month saga. It’s not going to be easy for this club to negotiate through. It’s another distraction this football club doesn’t need coming off this loss.”

Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley wondered whether the Swans would get aggressive at the trade table as they seek answers after a second embarrassing grand final defeat in three years.

“I wonder how aggressive and proactive Sydney need to be given the performance in two of the last three years of some of these players,” Buckley said.

Warner had just 21 disposals and a goal in the ten-goal loss to the Lions in the grand final but was one of the Swans’ best performers in 2024.

RIVALS SET SIGHTS ON OLIVER AGAIN

For a second consecutive year, star Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver is seen as gettable by rival clubs, according to multiple reports.

The four-time club best and fairest winner has fought through a tough 2024 campaign, having had a limited pre-season after battling off-field concerns.

The star midfielder, who is contracted until the end of 2030, has also had to deal with knee and rib injuries during the season.

According to The Age, Geelong is believed to be a club who could be keen on adding Oliver, but Adelaide and St Kilda were also considering a move for the 27-year-old last year.

“My personal view, it’s time for these two parties to separate,” AFL360 co-host Gerard Whateley said on Monday night.

“I tend to agree with you there. There’s been too much happen now that the opportunity is arising for Clayton to potentially go a separate way and for Melbourne to get some sort of remuneration back for him,” Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt replied.

“I just think that at the moment, if we’re going to see the best of Clayton Oliver going forward, it’s going to be in different colours. There’s obviously a trade that still has to be done and there’s still a fair bit of length to go on Clayton’s contract as well.”