Silly season gets closer and closer and with it comes wild trade speculation and with that comes the opportunity to get creative on behalf of each team.
We’ve decided to put together one trade for all 18 teams with the aim of building something both fun and capable of filling a need in 2024.
Of course, these are all hypothetical, and as the headline suggests, just a bit of fun.
NOTE: All draft picks are based on indicative draft order after AFL Round 14
Adelaide receives: Mason Redman
Essendon receives: Tom Doedee, Pick 28
Is it as simple as this?
Both restricted free agents yet to put pen to paper, and at Round 15 that’s a worrying sign for the two clubs alike.
Redman is a South Australian (despite not growing up near Adelaide) while Doedee is a Victorian. If they do both want out, it feels like an easy win.
With Doedee set to miss a significant chunk of next year with an ACL, it’s likely the Crows would have to throw in a sweetener. But Matthew Nicks has got young talent coming out of his eyeballs and for a readymade defender who wants to be there, Adelaide would be happy to overpay to put themselves right in the premiership window.
But there's not a heap separating Redman and Doedee as players.
Keep in mind, this only happens if the clubs match bids for Redman and Doedee if they want out in free agency
Seb Mottram
Brisbane receives: Lachie Whitfield, Future 3rd Round Pick (GWS)
GWS receives: Future first-round pick (2024)
Brisbane already have Will Ashcroft, and by all reports his younger brother Levi Ashcroft is looming as a very early pick in next year’s draft.
If the Lions rate the younger Ashcroft brother as a very early pick, they’ll know their pick likely to get swallowed up by a bid from a rival club which allows them to get creative.
We think this gives Brisbane a golden opportunity to offload that pick for a quality player and some points later in the draft to use on an Ashcroft bid.
Enter Lachie Whitfield, the Giant is in strong form and is a player in his prime which suits Brisbane’s premiership window.
The 28-year-old is contracted until the end of 2027 and the Lions probably don’t have a heap of cap space, but perhaps GWS would be willing to pay part of the remainder of his deal to get another first-rounder in.
He’d be an ideal replacement for Daniel Rich, this could be a win-win for both parties.
Lachlan Geleit
Carlton receives: Pick 1 (West Coast), Hayden McLean (Sydney)
West Coast receives: Pick 4 (Carlton), Pick 6 (Sydney), Future 2nd Round Pick (Carlton), Pick 41 (Sydney), Pick 60 (Carlton)
Sydney receives: Tom De Koning (Carlton), Future 2nd Round Pick (West Coast), Pick 69 (Carlton)
Okay, bear with me here…
West Coast gets exactly what thy need, turning pick 1 into two top 10 picks and numerous additional assets to help their rebuild.
Sydney gets their guy in Tom De Koning, but doesn’t pay the farm given they get back what could be pick 19 or 20 in 2024.
And Carlton swings for the fences, going all-in for Harley Reid, while replacing De Koning positionally with Hayden McLean.
McLean isn’t a world-beater, but structurally would make sense inside 50 next to Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, while Marc Pittonet carries the ruck load.
Will this happen? No. But it’s fun to think about!
Nic Negrepontis
Collingwood receives: Ben King, Pick 43
Gold Coast receives: Future 1st Round Pick (COL), Pick 18, Pick 23, Ash Johnson
While any trade involving Ben King would likely come next season when he comes off-contract, Collingwood would love to get their hands on the gun Gold Coast forward.
The Suns probably wouldn’t budge this year if the Magpies came for him, but he would be the perfect player to add to Craig McRae’s forward line this off-season.
Given he’s under contract for 2024, you’d imagine the asking price would be around three first-round picks, but Collingwood only have their own for this year and next.
Perhaps this year’s second-round pick (tied to Carlton) and exciting tall Ash Johnson going the other way could bring the Suns to the negotiating table.
It’s a pipe dream, but one Collingwood would love to discuss.
Lachlan Geleit
Essendon receives: Alex Sexton
Gold Coast receives: Future 3rd Round Pick (ESS)
Essendon needs goal kickers, that much is clear.
While Peter Wright’s return has been welcome and he burst back onto the scene with five goals, the rest of the forward line is a work in progress.
Harrison Jones’ 2023 campaign has been ruined by injury, Sam Weideman has provided another option but is still yet to put together enough consistently good football, while even mid-season draftee Jaiden Hunter’s season could be over before it begins as a result of a back complaint.
The Bombers' need reinforcements, so why not go after someone like 29-year-old Alex Sexton?
The Gold Coast forward has been a sub in five games, having only played six matches this year. He’d come at a bargain basement price and relative low risk and would slot in nicely alongside his former teammate Peter Wright.
Laurence Rosen
Fremantle receives: Jack Darling
West Coast receives: Pick 42
The Dockers are in desperate need of an experienced forward alongside young talents Jye Amiss and Luke Jackson.
Not saying Darling is going to be the difference between playing finals and winning grand finals, but he has been a very consistent forward for over a decade.
A four-time leading goal kicker and premiership player, Darling is contracted until 2025 meaning Fremantle would have to absorb that contract and or add another year on top.
Given the Eagles are in a significant rebuild phase, letting someone like Darling go wouldn’t hurt their end goal.
Staying in Western Australia is something that’s important to Darling meaning a move to Fremantle would be feasible from that side of things.
A late second or early third seems fair.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
Geelong receives: Darcy Parish, Pick 51
Essendon receives: Pick 11, future 1st round pick (GEE)
Geelong has battled admirably in the lack of a contested beast in the midfield, but the Cats won’t allow themselves to be in this situation again.
Patrick Dangerfield is 33 years old and Cam Guthrie is 30. Both won’t be around forever, while Tom Atkins, Tanner Bruhn and Max Holmes need more help in there.
Darcy Parish is the perfect player to fit in the mix. An out-of-contract 25-year-old who could star in the hoops for the next half-a-dozen years and is a contested beast. He played for the Geelong Falcons growing up.
The Cats also need picks in this year’s draft, which is why they’d overpay in exchange for Parish and two late picks coming back.
All of this is assuming Essendon forces a trade for Parish by matching a contract offer as a restricted free agent.
Seb Mottram
Gold Coast receives: Noah Cumberland, Pick 63
Richmond receives: Pick 47, Pick 56 and Pick 65
Noah Cumberland, a native Sunshine Coast boy, has shown a ton of promise at Richmond, but hasn’t quite nailed down a spot in the club’s best 22. The 22-year-old is contracted for 2024 and would be a fun addition to a Suns forward line alongside Bailey Humphrey, Ben King, Jack Lukosius and Mabior Chol.
With Alex Sexton likely on the way out of the club, Cumberland looms as a younger version and somebody with a huge upside going forward at AFL level.
Nic Negrepontis
GWS receives: Pick 1
West Coast receives: Picks 5, 7 and the Harry Himmelberg compensation pick
This one would turn the 2023 draft on its head.
Something similar has already been floated regarding GWS and an attempt to again land Pick 1.
It would take three first-round selections for any club to entertain this scenario, but given the position West Coast is currently in, perhaps they would be open to it.
The Giants currently hold picks 5 and 7, so will need to use those, as well as any potential compensation they get if Harry Himmelberg leaves as a restricted free agent. The club Himmelberg potentially departs to is not so relevant when undertaking this task.
That compo is already been forecast as a first-round pick, giving the Giants a trio of first-rounders to trade with the Eagles for no.1, thus landing them generational talent Harley Reid.
This would be some sort of play from the Giants, who jockeyed their way up the list to select Aaron Cadman with Pick 1 last year via a four-club trade involving North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and, of course, the Eagles.
Andrew Slevison
Hawthorn receives: Ben King and Pick 56
Gold Coast receives: Pick 3, 2024 1st round pick and Changkuoth Jiath
A forward combination of Mitch Lewis and Ben King would propel the young Hawks straight into finals contention in 2024.
Whilst Jacob Koschitzke has shown potential, he is unlikely to become a seriously elite key forward.
The emergence of Josh Weddle and Seamus Mitchell in 2023 coupled with a calf injury will push 'CJ' down the pecking order.
While he has huge potential, the Hawks have great depth across half-back and Jiath would be one player with high currency the Hawks can afford to put up for trade.
Brad Klibansky
Melbourne receives: Elliot Yeo
West Coast receives: Future third-round pick (MEL)
Melbourne are at a stage now like Geelong were for much of the last decade where they’re a destination club for players trying to have one last tilt at a premiership.
As we know West Coast are looking to rebuild, perhaps Elliot Yeo would be a player they’re happy to cash in on.
At 30 next year, Yeo has no chance of winning another flag with the Eagles and could be convinced to move to a contender in Melbourne.
Given his age, the Demons wouldn’t have to give up much and like Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara’s moves last off-season, the Eagles could probably be convinced to pay for some of the remaining one year on his deal.
While the Demons have a strong midfield, they often look one short in that area and adding Yeo wouldn’t hurt, especially if they back their medical team to get his body right.
It’s a low risk move that could reap big rewards.
Lachlan Geleit
North Melbourne receives: Isaac Smith
Geelong receives: Future 3rd Round Pick (NM)
If you’re North Melbourne and potentially looking at moving on numerous veterans including Ben Cunnington, Aaron Hall, Liam Shiels, Hugh Greenwood and possibly Jack Ziebell and/or Todd Goldstein your list is about to get significantly younger.
You need veterans around to set standards and where better to target than Geelong? The Roos should be asking the question of Isaac Smith, who obviously has worked closely with Alastair Clarkson.
He may be 34, but after coming to the game late he could have another two years in him working with a young midfield group before moving into a coaching role.
Nic Negrepontis
Port Adelaide receives: Esava Ratugolea, Future 3rd Round Pick (GEE)
Geelong receives: Pick 37, Pick 39
Port Adelaide had a fair crack at Esava Ratugolea last year, do they go again?
Trent McKenzie and Aliir Aliir have held up well as their side’s primary key backs with support from Ryan Burton and Miles Bergman. But it’s clear to see why the Power went so hard at Ratugolea last year and expect them to do so again.
This time around, the 24-year-old is out of contract as well. The Cats have more key defenders than they can poke a stick at and while they’ve invested plenty of time in Ratugolea, would likely let him go.
It’s just for the right price. Ratugolea showed plenty in his first season down back before a hamstring injury and has improved his contract worth on last year when the Cats wouldn’t let him go for a second-round pick.
Bergman could also have a massive say on what could play out here, with all signs suggesting the impressive defender is leaving Alberton.
Seb Mottram
Richmond receives: Mitch Georgiades, Pick 73
Port Adelaide receives: Jack Graham, Pick 26
Richmond must soon recruit a key forward for life after Jack Riewoldt.
It’s unclear whether the 34-year-old goes around again in 2024, but regardless, the Tigers need someone to replace him sooner than later.
Most of the very best tall forwards are already locked away by their respective clubs, but there are some on the market who could be of interest to the Tigers.
Port Adelaide’s Mitch Georgiades is out of contract this year and could be keen on a change of scenery to revitalise his career. Even if a return to Western Australia is a greater possibility, the prospect of playing for a big Melbourne club might be enticing.
Georgiades is currently out with a ruptured ACL, which will sideline him for part of next season, but at 21 he is a player for the future.
One current Tiger who might possibly be used to help fill their key forward vacancy is Adelaide native Jack Graham.
Graham was a target for the Power last year but opted to stay put at Punt Road. He has had an up and down 2023 to date, however, his most recent form has been solid. He could provide depth behind Travis Boak and Ollie Wines add a hard edge to the Power midfield which will be run by Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis for the next decade.
In a perfect world, the Tigers would love to keep him, but may have to give up something if they wanted to lure Georgiades away from Alberton.
Given both players are out of contract this year, a straight swap could work for all parties involved, but the Power might want a better draft pick to subsidise the deal so we’ll thrown in an exchange of fourth and second-round picks.
Andrew Slevison
St Kilda receives: Miles Bergman
Port Adelaide receives: Jade Gresham
There it is, simple as that.
Jade Gresham is coming out of contract at the end of the year and the interest for the 25-year-old has been significant.
If I were the Saints, I'd be seriously considering letting him go, but obviously getting something in return.
For some reason, it just hasn't worked out for Gresham at the Saints.
Taken with pick 18 in the 2015 National Draft, Gresham has managed just three top ten finishes in their best and fairest.
That's not a great turnaround for a first-round pick.
However, let's look to the future.
The Saints have been said to be keen on young defender Miles Bergman, enjoying his best season to date in the seniors, Bergman looks a great fit for the Saints.
Whilst being used down back under Ken Hinkley, Bergman played in the midfield for Vic Metro in 2019 and he showed some serious class.
And if there's one thing the Saints need in their midfield, it's class.
He's also a Bayside boy from Melbourne, the lure home is real.
Given Port Adelaide is contending for top spot at the moment and are a lock to play finals this year, a player like Gresham would be handy around goal.
Despite facing some challenges this year, Gresham is a very smart player and you just feel a change in setting would be perfect for the 25-year-old.
This trade only works if the Saints match a contract offer from Port Adelaide for Gresham, forcing the club into a trade.
Hugh Fitzpatrick
Sydney receives: Jack Darling and pick 38
West Coast receives: Joel Amartey
The Sydney Swans have a love affair with key forwards. Tony Lockett, Barry Hall and Lance Franklin have not only been wonderful players for the club but have consistently got bums on seats.
With Franklin likely to hang up the boots at season’s end, the Swans will be left with Hayden McLean (24 years old) and Logan McDonald (21) to lead the attack. The pair have amassed 75 games collectively and are in need of an experienced forward who can help the Swans transition through this tricky period post Buddy.
Enter 267-gamer, All-Australian and Premiership winner Jack Darling who could use a change of scenery in the twilight of his career. The 31-year-old has struggled in the past two and a half seasons with the Eagles. In exchange, West Coast can receive 23-year-old forward Joel Amartey who can join Oscar Allen as another tall and be a valuable second ruck option.
Charles Goodsir
West Coast receives: Pick 13
Essendon receives: Tom Barrass
A full scale rebuild seems to be the only solution to West Coast’s woes at this point, so any reasonable deal that nets the Eagles a first-round pick should be done in a heartbeat.
Tom Barrass has become a stellar defender in recent years, and is exactly the kind of player that Essendon would be after to shore up their backline.
While the Eagles would certainly like to keep a player of Barrass’ talents, at 27 years old he simply doesn’t fit the timeline going forward.
Considering none of West Coast’s veterans will net them much in the way of picks, they have to take value when they can get it.
Jack Makeham
Bulldogs receive: Jeremy McGovern, pick 36
West Coast receives: Pick 15
The Bulldogs are in dire need of some defensive talent right now. Having fallen apart on that side of the football multiple times this season, an experienced key defender like Jeremy McGovern would go a long way in plugging that hole.
McGovern has been a victim of the Eagles’ injury hoodoo the past couple of seasons, however when we’ve seen him, he has shown that he is still every bit of the defensive maestro he has been throughout his career.
Pairing him with the Dogs’ only current key defender Liam Jones would unlock both players and become a stellar frame for a strong backline.
Despite these clear benefits, a first-round pick for a 31-year-old with an injury history is a hard pill to swallow, so the deal would come under the condition that West Coast paid for the bulk of McGovern’s contract.
The Bulldogs would still have their own first rounder after the deal (pick 15 comes via the Lions) and wouldn’t have to add another sizeable salary to their books for another two years.
However, if the Dogs would rather take on McGovern’s deal and keep both of their first-round picks, they could still get the deal done with pick 34.
Jack Makeham
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