SEN’s Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund has provided his latest insight into the upcoming AFL trade period.
With rumours and reports heating up ahead of what is set to be a busy period of player movement, Edmund provided updates on several key figures.
On top of updates on Cam Zurhaar, Tom Mitchell, Esava Ratugolea and Josh Dunkley, Edmund also provided an update on GWS star Tim Taranto.
He suggested the former No.2 draft pick is set to request a trade to Richmond in the coming days after Collingwood was also thought to be in the race in recent weeks.
See Edmund’s comments on each player below.
Cam Zurhaar
“Cam Zurhaar will stay, they’re negotiating at the moment at North Melbourne, this is a big re-signing for them because his head had been turned at some degree by Essendon at others, he had a contract on the table since June,” he told SEN's Crunch Time.
“Obviously at that stage, there was all sorts of doubts over David Noble, then there was all sorts of doubts about who was going to be coaching. Now they have a coach – and a bloody good one – I think it’s going to be a two-year deal for Cam Zurhaar to stay at North Melbourne.”
Tom Mitchell
“Brownlow Medallist, weighing up a trade request that would see him join a third club.
“Long rumoured, long speculated but now real, and I think if the right suitor emerges and the deal is right from a trade perspective, then this move will absolutely happen.
“There’s been sightings, there’s been St Kilda sightings, there’s been Essendon sightings, quite a few café sightings in recent times… a year to run on his contract but steadily phased out of that midfield which I think is interesting, some concern on his disposal and then they’ve got that next generation of player coming through that Sam Mitchell really wants to foster as well.
“I think Essendon would have to ask the question, it makes sense given the sort of player they’ve been after.
“St Kilda would surprise, but if he’s up for grabs and he’s on the market and the deal is right then you get a pretty bloody good player, I would have thought. “
Esava Ratugolea
“Esava Ratugloea, a year to go on that contract, a one to watch in terms of testing the waters, he’s a chance of making it as a defender elsewhere I reckon, Paddy McCartin style if you like, a switch back to an athletic interceptor, he’s showed what he might be able to do at that part of the ground.
“GWS came calling when Jeremy Cameron was traded and the Cats famously said get stuffed, I wonder now whether enough water has gone under the bridge where Esava will be looking just to play football, to be honest, he’s been frozen out at Geelong with the depth they’ve got there.”
Josh Dunkley
“Josh Dunkley, I think we’re going to hear on this very, very soon.
“The Brisbane offer is comparable, the Port Adelaide offer is the big one financially.
“The Dogs are really relaxed about it, we’ve spoken about it a lot, they say he’s super invested, engaged and behaving really along the lines of a player where everything points to him staying.
“But until he signs and the fact it’s gone so late in the season, there are some nervous people around that, but largely speaking they’re pretty comfortable and relaxed over where that one sits.”