Collingwood is preparing for a blockbuster Grand Final showdown against the Brisbane Lions, but they’re keeping just as busy off the field.
While the footy world’s attention focuses on the big game, it’s the upcoming AFL Trade Period that is starting to build in momentum.
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Teams have already been feverishly preparing their playing lists for 2024 even before the 2023 season comes to an end, scoping the market for trades that can improve their stocks.
The rumour mill is winding up and ready to swing at a rate of knots as the league’s silly season kicks off on October 9.
Here’s the latest chatter from around the league.
North star linked with blocksbuter Collingwood shift
Todd Goldstein informed North Melbourne he will be seeking a move away from the club where he’s spent the entirety of his career.
The star ruckman has elected to look for a fresh opportunity elsewhere with Collingwood emerging as the frontrunner to secure his services.
Essendon and St Kilda had reportedly expressed interest, but it’s the Pies who loom as his likely landing destination.
Goldstein, 35, played 20 games throughout the 2023 season where he averaged 13 disposals to go along with 29 hit-outs per game.
He is an unrestricted free agent meaning the Pies can recruit him at no cost from a draft perspective.
Demons to reject Crows trade demands
Adelaide forward Shane McAdam has informed the club his desire to join Melbourne, but the trade could hit one major snag.
The Crows are keen on landing a ready-made player in return from the Demons if they’re to let McAdam’s wish come true.
It’s a demand the Demons are set to reject, according to the Herald Sun.
The Herald Sun reported the Crows had flagged interest securing South Australian-raised Demons Harry Petty or Tom Sparrow as compensation for losing McAdam, who’s played 50 games in five seasons.
But Melbourne is keen to only part with “a third-round pick or low-round pick swap”, according to the report.
Fellow Crows player Tom Doedee is attracting interest from three clubs as he remains unsigned following an ACL rupture in round 12.
Doedee, 26, has been linked with the Brisbane Lions, but Sydney and Collingwood have also expressed interest in securing his services.
The Herald Sun reported the Crows expect rival offers for Doedee to be as long as five years and as much as $600,000 per season. Should that deal come to fruition, the Crows would likely be handed a second-round compensation pick.
Fourth club emerges for contracted Gold Coast Suns star
Hawthorn has turned its attention to Mabior Chol — and big-name forwards out of contract at the end of next year — after missing out on Kangaroos free agent Ben McKay, with the Suns forward now having interest from at least four clubs, according to multiple reports.
North Melbourne late last week confirmed McKay would exercise his free agency rights, with the key defender nominating Essendon as his preferred destination, despite strong offers and interest from the Hawks and, previously, the Swans.
SEN reported the Hawks had joined the race for Chol, who also had suitors at Adelaide, Brisbane and, most notably, North Melbourne.
As Chol is contracted to the Suns until at least the end of 2025, he’d have to be traded to a different club.
Chol played just eight AFL games in 2023, with star forward Ben King’s return creating a selection squeeze.
But Chol was an integral member of the Suns’ VFL premiership campaign to date, booting 40 goals and averaging 13.2 disposals and 5.4 marks from 16 matches. He kicked five goals in the Suns’ preliminary final win over Box Hill then four goals in the grand final triumph against Werribee.
The Age reported, though, the Hawks could also turn to King, as well as Port Adelaide’s Todd Marshall and Bulldogs duo Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Todd Marshall, whose deals all expire at the end of next season. However it’s widely expected King will re-sign with the Suns during the off-season.
– with foxsports.com.au