Trade Wrap: Blues closing in on delisted Magpie

Trade Radio 2026 is officially underway!

SEN's Sam Edmund and Kane Cornes kick us off from 7-9am, followed by Tom Morris and Tom Mitchell from 9-11am.

AFL Media’s Gettable with Cal Twomey and Riley Beveridge take over from 12-1pm.

Cam Luke and Liam Pickering are next up from 1-3pm with the Trade Feed before the Late Trade from 3-6pm with Damian Barrett, Brad Johnson and Marty Pask (5-6).

Check out the latest from Trade Radio on September 29.

Carlton is closing in on acquiring delisted Pie Wil Parker.

As Cal Twomey reports, the free agent has met with the club and is closing in on a commitment ahead of Friday's official free agency opening.

"We reported a little while ago that Carlton had met with Wil Parker, who played 14 games for Collingwood across three seasons," Twomey told Gettable.

"He has been delisted by Collingwood. What we can say today is that Carlton is closing in on signing Wil Parker a a delisted free agent.

"The free agency window doesn't start until Friday, but they have serious interest in Wil Parker among their half-back cohort.

"They've been looking at the half backs across the competition - Wil Parker has caught their eye.

"He has been to the club, he has met with the club in recent times and they are now closing in on a commitment from him to join as a free agent.

"Not 100 per cent done deal yet, but heading towards that.

"We know they want Lachie Whitfield as well and have interest in him. This one in Wil Parker in terms of a half back isn't going to cost them any draft collateral, just a spot on the list."

Devils keen on Saints star

The Tasmania Devils have their eyes on a St Kilda star.

Commencing their official AFL list build over the 2027 off-season, the club has kicked off conversations with a range of talented players.

And as Cal Twomey has revealed, the Devils have a star Saint in their sights.

“As Tasmania scours the competition for its first set of rival additions, a new name can be added to the Devils’ watchlist,” Twomey told Gettable.

“That is Max Hall from St Kilda.

“Max Hall is out of contract at the end of next year; there have been early discussions had on an extension past that for St Kilda.

“Hall’s starting point and view at the moment is that he wants to stay at the Saints and get something done, that’s where it stands.

“But we can say that he is a target for the Devils, who have signalled their interest in Max Hall.

“Given he is out of contract at the end of 2027, he qualifies as a free agent to Tasmania. All out of contract players can be accessed as free agents for the Devils and the Devils only.

“Of course, he is not a free agent to anybody else, he will just be out of contract at the end of 2027.

“The interesting twist on that though is that Tasmania only has access to one out-of-contract player as a free agent per club.

“They have also met with Alix Tauru and are chasing him next year as well. He of course is a St Kilda teammate of Max Hall.

“If they got down the path where they were really keen on both of them, clearly that can use one or two of their picks on one of them and get the other as a free agent.

“But they are in for a number of players across the competition.

“I don’t think this has progressed to the point of ticking off meetings and all the rest at this stage – as I say, the starting point for Max Hall is to remain at St Kilda and is pretty locked in in terms of Victoria and his farm that he has bought.

“And St Kilda was the club that gave him his opportunity; he has been a revelation since he was a mid-season pick in 2024, played every game for the Saints over the past couple of years.

“The Devils have been circling, and that’s where things are at at the moment.”

Demons in the hunt for premiership Tiger

Wantaway Tiger Jayden Short has garnered interest across Victoria, with Melbourne now in the hunt for the half back.

A two-time premiership Tiger, Short has informed Richmond of his desire to explore his options over the off-season despite remaining under contract for a further two seasons.

AFL.com.au's Josh Gabelich has reported that the Demons have asked the question, now the third Victorian club said to be investigating the potential move.

“Add Melbourne to the clubs interested in Jayden Short,” Gabelich told Trade Exchange.

“They have made some enquiries about the two-time premiership half back from Richmond.

“They met with Lachie Whitfield – they are in the hunt for the Giant – but Short is another option they are looking at.

“Clearly, they are in the market for a half back, they’ve been in the market all year long.

“Carlton is also pursuing Whitfield who is now interested in a move away from Greater Western Sydney despite being contracted for next year.

“But Short is one that has made it clear that he is interested in a move away from Punt Road. He is not just contracted for 2027 though; he has a contract for 2028.

“A fair bit to play out here – Collingwood has done the early running on him, St Kilda has enquired, but I am keeping an eye on Melbourne now, who clearly want a half back.

“They’ve looked at a range from Whitfield all the way to Marcus Herbert, but Jayden Short might be the most attainable.”

In-demand Giant to stay in Western Sydney

Jake Riccardi is going nowhere.

The in-demand out-of-contract forward is set to remain with GWS, set to sign a four-year deal with the Giants, per Cal Twomey.

Riccardi garnered significant interest from Victoria, with Richmond and Essendon seemingly the most interested in his services.

He will remain a Giant in a new-look forward line without the likes of Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene and Jake Stringer.

Kane Cornes’ top 10 people and/or teams under the pump throughout the 2026 AFL trade and free agency periods.

1 - Zach Merrett (Essendon)

“He is the most under-the-pump footballer going into next year that I can remember in recent times," Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio.

"You want to force your way out, go to Hawthorn, you want to play well.

“What level of play is he going to provide for Hawthorn next year?

“Is he going to into the midfield and win a big clearance on Grand Final day like Will Ashcroft and Caleb Serong were able to do for their respective sides.

“I want to see if he can stand up on the biggest stage of all.”

2 - Jason Cripps (Port Adelaide)

“Now it is staring them in the face that they finally have to confront this rebuild.

“Zak Butters omission and how they get this deal done, there is a level of pressure that club is absolutely feeling with this.

“It is the start of what is going to be a pretty painful five years, but getting this period right will ease the pain.”

3 - Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne)

“They need a key defender, is it Murray? Is it Ridley?

“Brady sort it out.”

4 - Jason McCartney/Adrian Caruso (GWS)

“Definitely gone: Greene, Hogan, Briggs and the package (Jake Stringer).

“May go: Whitfield, Himmelberg, Riccardi.

“Of all the clubs I am concerned about, I am concerned about the Giants equally the most.”

5 - Hamish Ogilvie/Jarryd Roughead (Adelaide)

“They couldn’t have butchered anymore drafts, they are losing Pedlar, they are losing Butts, perhaps Murray.

“How are Adelaide going to get better?

“That list management group have a responsibility to get Matthew Nicks more tools than what he has got.”

6 - Zak Butters

“Zak Butters is under the pump… if you are going to put your hand up for $2 million, play like a $2 million player.

“With that comes expectation, comes pressure.”

7 - Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)

“There is now no excuses for the Western Bulldogs next year.

“Butters comes in, you have got five of the best 15 players in the competition, Darcy comes back in.

“If the Western Bulldogs are not there deep on prelim final weekend that is a gigantic failure.”

8 - Sonja Hood/Todd Viney/Jen Watt (North Melbourne)

“There is serious heat rising under the decision makers at North Melbourne after the Clarkson experiment failed.”

9 - Ross Lyon and St Kilda

“They took a huge swing last year and it didn’t work.

“How are the Saints getting better?

“How are the Saints going to watch that Grand Final, put on the tape and go you know what, in year five of Ross Lyon we need to be there?

“Are they anywhere near rising to that level we saw from Brisbane and Freo on Grand Final day?”

10 - Gold Coast and Damien Hardwick

“What the Suns are relying on is fixing a broken culture, getting a gameplan that works, the talent is there, but their list has got no better.”

Pearce injury could open Dockers door for retired Tiger

Retired Richmond premiership defender Nathan Broad still harbours ambitions to continue his AFL career.

The 33-year-old finished up at the Tigers at the end of the 2026 season but is open to playing on, perhaps back in his home town of Perth.

Could the Achilles injury suffered by Fremantle captain Alex Pearce in the Grand Final open the door for Broad at the Dockers?

That is the notion thrown up by Sam Edmund on Tuesday morning.

“The Alex Pearce injury was absolutely savage,” Edmund said on AFL Trade Radio’s Early Trade.

“We’re told that it’s not a full rupture but it’s a partial tear. Still a serious injury but not the dreaded 12-month injury.

“I’m not sure if this will prompt anything, possibly not…

“But Nathan Broad, mark my words, has a real interest in playing for Fremantle. Whether or not he gets there remains to be seen.

“He is really keen to continue his career. I’m not sure the interest is fully reciprocated.

“My understanding is there has been conversations between the two. It would make more sense at West Coast.

“He is 33 but has maintained his fitness. He has an appetite to continue. In his mind he wants to play AFL football.

“There’s a watch on him.”