Trade Bell: The three clubs emerging Hawk is weighing up

What a busy 24 hours it has been in the trade space!

With Zak Butters officially nominating the Western Bulldogs as his preferred trade destination, it has had a flow-on effect on several other players and where they can land.

As a result, Tom Morris rang the trade bell on SEN's Crunch Time as to where the playing futures of several players currently sit.

Zak Butters

“This work (on a trade) has already begun, and it's filled the Butters camp with confidence that the Dogs will be able to suit up and offer a suitable trade.

“To get Butters to the club, it is a landmark day for this football club.

“They've never offered as much money for a player; they've never brought in a player like this.

“No A+ free agent has ever joined a club that's not top four, so this is a big day for the AFL as well.

“Geelong miss out and Richmond have been on the outer for a while.”

Jack Viney

“The news on Monday was that Jack Viney has been told by Melbourne that he's welcome to have a look around.

“With two years remaining on his contract, they can't guarantee him a spot in their best 23, and if he wants to go and have a look, he can."

Toby Greene

“Toby Greene has been in no rush to make a call, largely because he's been waiting on what Zak Butters is going to do.

“He's been waiting on what Rowan Marshall will do. He's been waiting to see if the Giants can convince Tim English and the Western Bulldogs to join the Giants.

“One of those dominoes has fallen now, so he knows that he won't be playing with Zak Butters next year at Geelong. From a footy perspective, that's been really important for him.

“There's been a strong list management component to what Toby Greene has been weighing up, along with his family priorities as well, closer to home, having a growing family, more support, less travel.

“There's some symmetry here as well. On Monday he had lunch at Rockpool with outgoing CEO Dave Matthews and the GWS Footy Committee.

“The last time I can remember a Giant star having lunch at Rockpool, albeit in Sydney, was when Dave Matthews hosted Jeremy Cameron in 2020. Now four days later, Cameron nominated Geelong.

“So, I wonder whether the Rockpool curse will strike again, but it's very much in the balance, Toby Greene. He's wrestling with it.

“The worst-case scenario, as he's told on AFL Nation, was if he leaves and the Giants win a flag, that would break him in half. So he does have some confidence that the Giants can bounce next year.

"Whether he has enough confidence that they can bounce over all the other priorities remains to be seen."

Rowan Marshall

“12 months ago, Rowan Marshall missed out on a move to the Geelong Football Club, and Andrew Bassett, the St Kilda president, said to Rowan Marshall, ‘If 2026 doesn't work out, we'll find a way for you to be traded’.

“Now the interpretation from the Saints is for the right deal; the interpretation from Rowan Marshall is they'll trade me if it doesn't work out.

“Now it hasn't worked out this year. Rowan Marshall wants to go again.

“He hasn't nominated Geelong, but he does want to get there. So now that they have the draft picks ‘cos they're not using on Zak Butters, I imagine that this is more easy to get done because of that factor.

“Marshall to Geelong all of a sudden becomes very real."

Sam De Koning

“Sam De Koning doesn't wanna play for St Kilda next year.

“He’s happy at the Cats. He's got a year remaining on his contract even though he was out of the team towards the end of the year.

“At this stage it doesn't look like that's gonna be part of the deal.

“The best way to describe it is he'll have to change his mind for that to be part of the deal. The Saints have been keen on him.

Jesse Hogan

“Nominated Collingwood, so he'll get there in the trade period.

“This will be a deal for a late pick, a two-year contract for Jesse Hogan."

Calsher Dear

“Calsher Dear has whittled down his four clubs to three.

“Carlton is no longer in the hunt for Calsher Dear; they're focusing on Joel Amartey.

“So Calsher Dear is looking at the Dees, he's looking at Geelong, and he's looking at Collingwood.

“I still think the Dees are ahead because they've offered that four-year deal.

“The Cats would like a player of Calsher Dear’s quality, and of course the Hawks have offered a two-year deal.

Christian Petracca

“Bumped into Christian Petracca having coffee with Scott Pendlebury at a coffee shop in Toorak on Wednesday morning, and Christian Petracca said to me, 'I'm happy at the Suns, I'm not going anywhere'.

“I've got no doubt there's been some agitation from people around him and around other clubs, but he is very happy on the Gold Coast, very happy at that club, and very happy to be playing with his childhood hero and Scott Pendlebury next year.

Joel Amartey

“I've still got an eye on Joel Amartey.

“Sam (Edmund) reported the other day that there's a million-dollar gap across five years between what Carlton are offering and what the Sydney Swans are offering.

“That is too big a gap for Joel Amartey to say no to. If the status quo remains, then I think Joe Amartey will play for Carlton next year and go there as a free agent, which would be significant."

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

“99% sure that Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will get a new deal, all things being considered at the moment.

Alix Tauru

“An interesting one popped up during the week around Alix Tauru at St Kilda.

“His management is the same as Leek Aleer's management, who were not too pleased with the Saints last year after what happened.

“I don't know whether Leek Aleer's management is speaking to other clubs to try to boost his price at the Saints or whether they're actually trying to get him out, but either way, other clubs are getting calls.

“Either way, there's other clubs who are going, ‘Hang on, why is Tauru available? How's this happening?’

“He hasn't played much AFL this year. He's spent most of the year in the VFL and was suspended a few times, so he's one to watch from the Saints.

“He's contracted, so they (Saints) have the whip hand."

Zac Bailey

“Zac Bailey recommitted for eight years at the Brisbane Lions.

“I think the moment this ticked from seven to eight years, Zac Bailey was on board, and that's flattened the Crows ‘cos they would have loved him at their club."

Josh Goater

“Josh Goater is one to watch at North Melbourne as well.

“They offered a one-year deal for him. He didn't like it.

“They've offered one year and a trigger. It's still not great.

“So other clubs are on watch for him as well."

Nick Vlaustin and Jayden Short

“Both (are) out of contract at the end of next year.

“There's no doubt the Tigers are looking at this year's draft and going, ‘How can we maximise what we've got this year before Tassie comes in’, before Kenny comes and raids the draft in 2027.

“So, the Tigers at the moment have picks two and 20.

“There's some interest in Nick Vlaustin. He lives down Geelong way.

“Sammy Edmund linked Jayden Short to Collingwood this week.”

The Sydney Five (Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice)

“The AFL has told clubs that none of this will be wrapped up before the end of the trade period.

“So, the message to clubs is buyers beware.

“If you want to trade and bring Heeney or Bice or Blakey or Jordon or Warner in, understanding that the legalities are playing out, and we don't know how that will transpire, then essentially do so at your peril.

“’Cos there's legalities on one side and in parallel to that is the club-imposed sanction."

Jordan Ridley

“It remains to be seen where he ends up, but North Melbourne is interested.

“Contracted, so Essendon hold the whip hand.”