Two new suitors emerge for Oliver, Swans target Curnow

1 day ago 2

Two new suitors have emerged for Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver, while the Gold Coast Suns have begun work on a deal to land Christian Petracca, as the AFL trade period began on Monday.

As recruiting chiefs from all 18 clubs met at Marvel Stadium to kick off the annual 10-day exchange period, the Sydney Swans also made a splash, declaring Carlton’s Charlie Curnow was a “priority” signing.

Clayton Oliver is looking for a new home, with GWS, Collingwood and Adelaide expressing interest.

The Suns are adamant contracted forward Bailey Humphrey will not be traded, even for Petracca, while they continue to explore signing Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Suns recruiting boss Craig Cameron said his club would continue to seek information from the Bulldogs and the AFL on Ugle-Hagan’s mental health program. He missed the entire 2025 campaign because of personal issues.

“We haven’t done a medical. We still have some things we need to talk to the AFL about, with regards to his current status ... there are those things to go through. I don’t think this will happen in a rush,” Cameron said.

Oliver, the four-time Demons best and fairest, was a major talking point, having been told last week by the club to explore fresh opportunities amid a cultural refresh under new coach Steven King. The Demons are expected to pay up to $700,000 per season on the remaining five years of his monster contract to help him join another club.

Oliver has already met with Giants coach Adam Kingsley and players including Finn Callaghan and Lachie Ash on a boat on Sydney Harbour, while it emerged on Monday that Collingwood and Adelaide are also interested.

Magpies’ list and talent strategy boss Justin Leppitsch said the Pies had yet to meet with Oliver, but suggested the Demons’ willingness to contribute to the robust midfielder’s wage could help get a deal done.

“Of course, that is a factor. There is talk with his contract - you may not have to pay the whole lot. We haven’t even gone through those steps yet. We have to go through those processes,” Leppitsch said.

Christian Petracca has nominated the Gold Coast Suns as his preferred new club.

Crows list management and strategy boss Justin Reid said his club was in the early phase of assessing Oliver.

“We certainly take phone calls, and we do our due diligence. There is a bit more work that has to go into that, but I think the quality of players like that, or individuals, you certainly need to do your work. But there’s no guarantee what we will do there yet,” Reid said.

Melbourne list boss Tim Lamb expects the Suns or any club interested in Petracca to “pay up” - but remains willing to retain him and Oliver.

The Demons have met with Humphrey, but Lamb did not want to discuss the specifics of what a Petracca deal could look like.

“All I’ll say is, Christian is a contracted superstar of our club and the competition,” Lamb said.

“He’s a modern-day great. He’s already had a hall of fame career. He’s a legend of our footy club, so if someone wants him, come and talk to us - and pay up.”

Cameron said midfielder-forward Sam Flanders will join the Saints before the end of the week, but he did not divulge specifics. It’s expected the Saints will offer pick seven which could be used in a trade for Petracca.

Geelong’s football department chief Andrew Mackie said the Cats would not pursue Oliver, as they had secured restricted free agent James Worpel from Hawthorn.

Mackie said the Cats were chasing St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall, but no deal had been done with Saints list chief Steve Silvagni when the pair had spoken over the weekend.

Carlton forward Charlie Curnow may be on the move north in this trade period.

Curnow’s future at Princes Park is a major point of discussion. While the Blues knocked back his initial trade request, rival clubs are of the belief he is available despite having four years remaining on his contract.

Swans’ head of list strategy Chris Keane said securing Curnow would be a “priority” for his club.

The Cats are also interested, but Mackie said delivering a deal which to satisfy the Blues would be difficult.

However, Blues’ new football boss Chris Davies said he expects the star spearhead to remain at the club.

Essendon list boss Matt Rosa said Zach Merrett will remain at the club next season.

Merrett blindsided the Bombers by meeting with Hawthorn last month, but has yet to request a trade. He is contracted until 2027, and last week won his sixth Bombers best-and-fairest award.

“It’s been an interesting little period but nothing’s really changed,” Rosa said.

“Clearly, Zach has been gathering information and, as we’ve stated as a club, Zach’s a champion of our football club, and he’s a required.

Jack Silvagni joined the Saints as an unrestricted free agent on a good enough deal to give the Blues an end of first round pick as compensation.

“There is a lot of respect between Zach and [coach] Brad [Scott] ... it’s not ideal when your captain has met with another club, but we’re really confident and comfortable we’ll work through it.”

“Conversations are ongoing though, and there’s been really good dialogue between Zach and the club, but yeah, Zach will be an Essendon player next year.”

Saints talent and acquisition boss Graeme Allan insisted he had not told his own list boss Steve Silvagni that the Saints were pursuing Silvagni’s son, Jack, from Carlton.

Jack has joined the Saints as an unrestricted free agent on a four-year deal.

“I didn’t tell his dad. We are great mates, but I didn’t tell him, so he was shocked. He was shocked. He was. Then it was Ross [Lyon] who came over the top. When Ross comes over the top, get out of the way,” Allan said.

Allan said the Saints would be aggressive again next year in their hunt for more high-priced talent, declaring they still had plenty of room under the salary cap.

The Saints have signed Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning on a long-term $12 million deal, while star midfielder Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has become the league’s first $2 million-a-season man.

“Not a problem. We’ll go hunting again next year,” Allan said.

“We have plenty of money.”

Allan said the Saints had barely paid 95 per cent of the salary cap this season - the minimum league requirement.

In other developments:

Gold Coast free agent Brayden Fiorini has attracted interest from Essendon and Port Adelaide;
Collingwood premiership ruckman Mason Cox is exploring his options;
Lamb said it appeared increasingly likey defender Steven May will complete the final year of his contract at Melbourne;
The Blues are working towards deals for West Coast winger Campbell Chesser and Western Bulldogs utility Buku Khamis.

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