Mitch Cleary’s trade update on Shiel, Baker, Barrass, Bailey Smith & more

Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary has provided a trade update on a number of players being mentioned in trade circles.

Cleary joined SEN Breakfast to provided the latest on Dylan Shiel, Liam Baker, Tom Barrass, Josh Battle, Bailey Smith and Josh Battle.

Read what he had to say below:

Dylan Shiel (Essendon)

On St Kilda’s interest:

“I think it’s line-ball. I think there’s a good chance he is at St Kilda next year.

“They had a look last year when he had two years left on his contract.

“Then he had post-season foot surgery, then he tore his meniscus when playing with his daughter at home in a pretty innocuous incident. The Saints got cold feet off the back of that.

“Dylan has shown in the last eight to 10 weeks that his body is sound again. There’s interest there from the Saints again and with a year to run on his deal with the Bombers, I think it makes sense for him to go for a two or three-year deal at Moorabbin.

“The only curious part of this for me is the Saints have decisions to make on a lot of guys. They’ve got 20 players still out of contract which is the most in the competition right now. Among those are Seb Ross and Zak Jones, and Dylan Shiel is the same age, if not older than those guys.

“It’s a balancing act for those at Moorabbin.”

Do the Bombers want to get rid of Shiel?

“I don’t think there’s anything to suggest that Essendon are tipping him out, but I think they know their midfield is bursting with Elijah Tsatas and Ben Hobbs being overlooked for a lot of games.

“They’d be happy to keep him but I think there is a maturity around it that if Dylan has a better option and it works for all parties then they’d be more than happy for him to explore the Saints.”

Liam Baker (Richmond)

“With Matt Clarke, the list manager at West Coast, he was the man who recruited Baker to Richmond back in the day.

“There’s enough goodwill around this that Liam Baker wouldn’t be walked to the pre-season draft. His preference would be West Coast, but you think Fremantle probably have a better draft hand.

“The interest has been pretty strong from West Coast and it makes the most sense in terms of he went for them as a kid.

“I think there's been strong interest for a while, but I wouldn't completely rule out the Dockers on that one.”

Does the fact West Coast does not have a coach impact a potential move to the Eagles?

“There's been whispers around that the Eagles might have another crack at Dean Cox, and I saw Damian Barrett report that last night as well.

“I spoke to Dean Cox last week as part of pre-game for Seven Footy, and he was adamant that he's staying at Sydney and nothing will eventuate.

“But you never say never when their season is still running.

“Baker has a relationship with Jarrad Schofield (from WAFL club Subiaco), who's clearly part of the race as the interim.

“Is he going to get that job? You would say more unlikely than not, but you never say never.

“You speak to a lot of players who have moved clubs and the coaches play a big part in that. The fact the Eagles don't have one right now would be a factor for sure.”

Tom Barrass (West Coast) & Josh Battle (St Kilda)

On Hawthorn’s interest due to James Blanck’s knee complications:

“Blanck did his ACL in February and he's still yet to resume running.

“He’s had a series of infections, he’s been in and out of hospital a number of times. He's still on crutches with a compression sleeve on his knee, so he's had some recent surgery again.

“The Hawks hope that he's running by Christmas, but still no guarantee on when his return date is. They are hopeful it's in the early parts of next year. That just speaks to another layer as to why they're so keen on Barrass and Battle.

“They had high hopes for James Blanck, and I think he still is a big part of their future, but the fact that he can't take a trick with this knee injury just might speak to how keen they are on Tom Barrass, who at the age of 28, turning 29 this off-season, is high on their priority list.”

Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs)

On it being a 'done deal' to Geelong:

“I think it's where he'll end up.

“I’m very wary of saying ‘done deals’ because even in June-July last year, we all thought Tom Barrass was a done deal to Sydney and then it cooled late.

“So you never say it's completely over the line, but this is as good a done deal as you can get for an out-of-contract player, as opposed to a free agent. Bailey Smith is purely out of contract.

“I think it's pretty close to a done deal for Geelong next year, and everyone at the Bulldogs has got their head around the fact that he won't be playing for them next year.”

Tim Membrey (St Kilda)

Are North Melbourne interested?

“Not necessarily North Melbourne.

“There's definitely interest out there for Tim Membrey in the market.

“I’d say it's no guarantees at St Kilda next year. As a free agent he will explore the market.

“Melbourne is a club that comes up from time to time. They had a look last year at Membrey. Do they need someone else to go with these young key forwards?

“So that wouldn't be out of the question. I haven't heard specifically North Melbourne, but it would fit a need.

“Alastair Clarkson has been on the record saying they're looking for a mature-age support and a key forward as well. So that would tick a couple of boxes.”

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