AFL
2 months ago
Trade Wrap: Will Cox be in the AFL in 2026?
By SEN
Presented by
The 2025 AFL trade period is here and there is plenty to talk about.
AFL Trade Radio is up and running and hitting the airwaves every day.
Will Cox be in the AFL in 2026?
Despite playing in their preliminary final last week, Mason Cox finds himself sitting in football's equivalent of no man's land with his future unclear at the Magpies.
After being told by club officials to look elsewhere with no guarantee that he will be signed on for next season, there is plenty of speculation as to where the American could land in 2026.
"Mason Cox is in football no-mans land at the moment," Edmund stated.
"I still think it makes sense for Collingwood to keep him...at the moment he is free to look around if he can find a suitor."
Co-host Josh Jenkins is surprised by the decision, believing that one of the other 17 AFL clubs will swoop in.
"He will be on an AFL list next year," he said.
"You can guarantee that...I can't believe that Collingwood would just keep him as a back-up."
1:09pm - Offers a plenty for Flanders
The battle for Sam Flanders is heating up fast.
The Gold Coast Sun, who had a stellar 2024, has gained interest from several Victorian clubs.
SEN's Sam Edmund posted on X that St Kilda have led the charge by being willing to offer their first-round pick to bring him in.
"The Sam Flanders sweepstakes has exploded." Edmund said on X.
"Saints in the box seat with a contract offer worth $900k a year for 5 years.
The Saints also have offered pick 7 in a bid to tempt the Suns. Flanders has met with multiple clubs as he ponders his future.
"Contracted till 2027 at Gold Coast."
Later that day, Edmund provided an update on the story, adding that Essendon were reportedly willing to offer Pick 22 and 25 to the Suns for him, with Gold Coast wanting players in return.
"Essendon also still in play here." he added.
"The Bombers have indicated they will deal their two picks in the 20s.
"Suns want players back, however, whether in this potential exchange or others."
12:35pm - McCartney confirms signing for GWS
GWS list manager Jason McCartney has confirmed that Essendon's Jayden Laverde is set to join the side in 2026.
After playing 14 games this season, the defender was not offered a contract for 2026, which has allowed the Giants to swoop in and have him agree to join the club.
"Jayden Laverde has agreed to join our club, that was last week," he said on Trade Radio.
"That'll be by a mechanism post the Rookie Draft, probably by the SSP period. We'll have a look at that market.
11:45am - Merrett still expected to leave Bombers
Zach Merrett could still leave Essendon despite a firm stance from the club’s hierarchy.
New President CEO Andrew Welsh insists the captain will remain a Bomber but Tom Morris can still see him getting out and joining Hawthorn prior to the trade deadline in mid-October.
“I think Merrett still goes because I think he’s got more moves to play,” Morris said on SEN’s Fireball.
“I don’t think that he’s going to just listen to Andrew Welsh, go to the best and fairest and get through the trade period and accept it.
“I think he’s going to make sure that Essendon knows that he wants to get out. He hasn’t formally requested a trade yet and he hasn’t spoken publicly about the reasons why he wants to get out yet, but he let the door ajar at the Brownlow Medal.
“Yes, Essendon can hold him and they’ve got every right to hold if the deal’s not there. But Hawthorn are still confident and I believe Merrett is still confident he can get out.
“A lot of what Essendon is doing at the moment is just strategic. I don’t think they’re actually resolute that they have to keep him.”
10:00am - What can the Crows or Suns offer Dees for Trac?
Christian Petracca remains a fascinating name in trade circles.
The Melbourne star is attracting interest from Adelaide and Gold Coast, but what would implore the Demons to enter trade negotiations?
SEN regular and Channel 9 newsbreaker Tom Morris speculated on what might go close to satisfying the Dees.
“They are both open to talking to him,” Morris said on SEN’s Fireball.
“The big open question is can they give something that would satisfy Melbourne?
“Last year Melbourne was ‘no’. This year is, ‘Well, we’d prefer not to but give us your best offer’. And that’s the difference.
“The door is ajar and Petracca wants to go but for different reasons than last year.
“Melbourne would ask for two first-rounders but I don’t think he’s worth that anymore. Not the Petracca in 2025. A first-rounder and something else - whether that’s enough for the Dees remains to be seen.
“It’s a big, big call for him to make. Last year he was p---ed off. This year he’s not, he just wants a fresh start.”
7:30am - Collingwood “lowballing” Elliott
Are the Magpies “lowballing” Jamie Elliott?
That’s what Kane Cornes is wondering after it was reported that Collingwood had offered two years at no more than $1 million total.
The veteran free agent is coming off a career-best 60-goal season and is attracting interest from the Gold Coast Suns.
Cornes feels Collingwood’s reported offer - which is believed to be under $500,000 per year across two - is “unfair” on Elliott given the club is paying the likes of Harry Perryman and Dan Houston significantly more.
He said on SEN's Fireball: “What do you think about Collingwood lowballing Jamie Elliott, yet paying Perryman and Houston the big bucks - what do you reckon about that?
“Do you think that’s unfair? I read that the offer was in the 400s for Jamie Elliott. 400s?
“No wonder he’s thinking about leaving.”
David King interjected: “You just found another way to get Houston in there again haven’t you?”
Cornes continued: “I like Houston, I’m a Houston guy. I just think it’s unfair on Jamie Elliott when he’s had the season that he’s had.
“He’d be worth in the 600s, at least.”
King: “I’m surprised more clubs aren’t swooping.”
Cornes: “There’s one ready to swoop. They’re active as well, Gold Coast.
“I don’t mind what they’re doing.”
Morris agrees that the Pies are under-offering Elliott.
“I think they’re lowballing him,” said Morris.
“He has a huge decision to make. I can understand why they’re not offering him three years given his injury history.
“But he is worth more than $450,000-$500,00 in the current market. If he goes to Gold Coast and misses a flag at Collingwood then how would he reconcile that for the rest of his career?
“He has a massive decision and it’s imminent, coming in the next few days.”
