AFL trade period LIVE updates: Blues land ruckman; Swans get speedy Sun, Merrett eyes quiet exit; Magpies to meet Oliver; Curnow chase resumes

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3.16pm

Oliver tours GWS facilities; to meet with Magpies this week

By Jon Pierik and Peter Ryan

Collingwood list chief Justin Leppitsch expects to meet with Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver in Sydney this week.

Oliver flew to Sydney last week after he was told by the Demons to explore his options.

He has already met with Greater Western Sydney coaches and players, and toured the club’s training facilities on Tuesday.

Clayton Oliver is being pursued by the Giants and Magpies.

However, the Magpies have also expressed strong interest in the Demons’ four-time best-and-fairest winner, for they are keen to add to their midfield mix, having realised in their preliminary final loss to Brisbane they needed more depth.

Leppitsch said on Tuesday he was planning to meet with Oliver and his manager Nick Gieschen in Sydney this week.

“We’re just going through our due diligence on that one. It obviously came through late last week, so we got the call from his management and thought we’d definitely do the work. It’s a position of need for us so on face value, it’s something to look into,” Leppitsch told Trade Radio.

“We had a brief chat with Melbourne about what a deal could look like. We want to get through the first parts – is he good for Collingwood and vice versa?”

The Magpies are likely to make a final call by the end of the week.

2.58pm

McClure: Merrett still ‘desperate’ to join Hawks

By Sam McClure

Zach Merrett won’t officially request a trade to Hawthorn today, with the Bombers’ captain still contemplating the best way out of the club.

The six-time best-and-fairest remains desperate to join the brown and gold, but is attempting to do so while causing the least drama possible, out of respect for the Bombers.

Essendon skipper Zach Merrett has yet to declare he wants to be traded to the Hawks.

Competition sources still expect Merrett to officially request a trade – a request made directly to Essendon – which would force the Bombers to release a public statement.

But Merrett is also hopeful there’s a way out of Tullamarine that involves a quieter approach.

2.42pm

Which free agent will make the biggest immediate impact?

2.39pm

Blues welcome ‘true competitor’ Reidy

By Jon Pierik

Carlton head of list management Nick Austin said the Blues were delighted to have ruckman Liam Reidy join the club.

Reidy, who had a tour of his new digs at Ikon Park on Tuesday, said he had become frustrated by the lack of opportunity at Fremantle, where he played behind Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson.

The Blues had a vacancy to fill with Tom De Koning heading to St Kilda. Reidy will now battle Marc Pittonet and Hudson O’Keeffe to be the Blues’ frontline ruckman.

Liam Reidy was at Ikon Park on Tuesday having a tour of his new club.

Austin said Reidy, 25, would be the ideal fit.

“A true competitor, we see a lot of promise in Liam. His form in the WAFL in recent years has really caught our eye, with his athleticism and ability to cover the ground a standout,” Austin said.

“We see him being a significant addition to our ruck group alongside Marc Pittonet and Hudson O’Keeffe.

“We can’t wait to see Liam get to work in the pre-season and are excited to see what he can do at Ikon Park next year.”

Reidy spent three years in the west, having been recruited from Frankston in the 2022 rookie draft.

He played 52 games in the WAFL during his time at the Dockers, and was a member of Peel Thunder’s 2024 premiership.

He has joined the Blues in a deal where the Blues also receive picks 53 and 71, while the Dockers receive picks 50 and 68 in return.

2.10pm

Have your say: Is AFL trade period too long or, dare we ask, too short?

2.08pm

Confirmed: Swans snare Rosas jnr

By Jon Pierik

Former Gold Coast small forward Malcolm Rosas jnr is officially a Swan.

Rosas, 24, has joined the Swans in exchange for selections 51 and 69, while the Swans also receive selection 62 from the Suns as part of the deal.

The paperwork was approved on Tuesday afternoon.

Rosas, managed by Tim Lawrence from TGI Sport, had requested a trade to the Swans. A rookie draft selection in 2019, Rosas played 49 games for the Suns, booting 46 goals, but has managed only 11 senior games since Damien Hardwick joined as coach ahead of the 2024 campaign.

While he has generally played as a small forward, Rosas can spend time in the midfield.

The Suns and Swans will continue to be active through the trade period. The Swans have wantaway Blue Charlie Curnow as their “priority”, while the Suns are working on a deal with Melbourne to bring in Christian Petracca. They are also interested in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, the Western Bulldogs’ forward who did not play one game this season because of mental health and personal issues.

12.53pm

Bombers eyeing off highest draft picks

By Peter Ryan

There was an interesting revelation on Trade Radio from Essendon list boss Matt Rosa who said the Bombers have been in contact with both West Coast and Richmond to let them know they are interested in discussing a move up the draft board.

Let’s remember, the Eagles have pick one and are expected to have pick two in the national draft once the Oscar Allen free agency deal goes through, while Richmond presently hold picks two and three, which would become three and four if the Allen compensation works out as expected. The Bombers hold picks four and five, which would also be pushed back one spot.

The likely motivation for the Bombers would be to move into the position to draft Willem Duursma, who is rated as pick one or two by most draft pundits and recruiters.

Willem Duursma is the younger brother of Xavier (Essendon), Yasmin (Carlton AFLW), and Zane (North Melbourne).

That would see the Bombers with two of the three Duursma brothers (Xavier and Willem), and they have already made it clear they like North Melbourne’s Zane Duursma.

Zane is contracted at the Roos and won’t be traded during this trade period. But it’s interesting prospect from the club that played the four Daniher brothers – Terry, Anthony, Chris and Neale – together in a match against St Kilda in 1990.

11.59am

Here’s the updated national draft selection order - check out where your club sits

11.26am

Blues land ruckman

By Peter Ryan

Carlton have landed a back-up ruckman for Marc Pittonet, securing Fremantle’s Liam Reidy as well as picks 53 and 71 in exchange for picks 50 and 68.

The Dockers were open to trading the ruckman who performed well in the WAFL, but was starved of opportunity behind Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson.

In case you are wondering, Reidy is 25, has played three AFL matches and was added to the Dockers’ list from East Brighton/Frankston via the 2022 rookie draft.

The Blues needed a new ruckman after Tom De Koning left for the riches on offer at St Kilda.

11.23am

Spargo: I was stressed out

By Jon Pierik

Former Demon Charlie Spargo has explained why he opted to join North Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent.

Spargo, 25, played 108 games for the Demons, and was part of the 2021 premiership.

While he played every game in 2021 and 2022, he has managed just 25 senior games since because of injury and form.

On Tuesday, Spargo said the time for change had arrived, particularly after he had met with Kangaroos’ list boss, Brady Rawlings.

“Given my last two years with injury and struggling with continuity, my contract situation was stressing me out. Towards the end of the year it kind of picked up with North. I spoke with Brady [Rawlings] and came to the decision it was best for both parties,” Spargo told Trade Radio.

“I feel like at Melbourne I played the small forward role, and it gave me good building blocks, but it was a rigid role, without freedom. I spoke to North about playing a role with a bit more freedom. I play my best when playing on instinct.”

The Demons received an end of second round pick as compensation for Spargo.

Spargo has family history at Arden St, for his father Paul played 81 games for the Kangaroos between 1985 and 1992.