AFL
2 months ago
Trade wrap: West Coast should trade picks 1 or 2 from this year's draft
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.
Follow us live throughout the trade period and we will bring you all the breaking news.
17:05 - Should Eagles trade picks 1 or 2?
West Coast should trade picks 1 or 2 from this year's draft according to Trade Radio's Josh Jenkins.
The Eagles hold the first pick after finishing 18th and look set to get pick 2 as compensation once Oscar Allen moves to Brisbane as a free agent.
But given Jenkins thinks they need as much talent as possible to rebuild, he urged the Eagles to give away pick 2 in particular for multiple later first round selections either this year or next.
“I would be actively looking to move one of those picks,” Jenkins said on AFL Trade Radio.
“If you want the headline of having the number 1 pick and the best player in the country, that's fine.
“But move pick 2, because I think they need more than two players, they need more than two good players.
“With pick 2, do the reverse of what Carlton did last year when they had picks 9 and 12 and jumped up to 3 for a specific player.
“Either go back in this draft or get right into the next year's draft… they need more than two players, they need about six players to come in and do a role.”
14:36 - Christian Petracca spotted in Adelaide
Melbourne Demons star Christian Petracca has been spotted with manager Anna Scullie and wife Bella at the Adelaide Airport amid rumours of a desired shift to the Crows.
Petracca reportedly expressed his openness to leave the Demons following a deflating season that cost coach Simon Goodwin his job, with the club reportedly willing to move on from their star midfielder.
Reports suggest that the 29-year-old would be willing to shift to an interstate club, following a rather explosive trade demand in 2024 that extended only as far as the Victorian borders.
And as reported by 7News Adelaide reporter Josh Money, Petracca landed in Adelaide today, with all eyes on a potential shift to the minor premiers ahead of season 2026.
Petracca remains under contract at Melbourne until 2029, however will meet with the Crows as he weighs up a potential trade request.
13:07 - Eagles set for AFL assistance package
Wooden Spooners West Coast are expected to receive a package from the AFL within the coming days.
The Eagles managed just a single win in 2025, finishing dead last for the second time since 2023, while having finished in the bottom three for four straight seasons.
According to Cal Twomey, the club is expecting an assistance package consisting primarily of rookie list spots, allowing list management the freedom to add additional talent, while also granting the side an end-of-first round selection in the upcoming National Draft.
As revealed by Twomey, the club expected to be notified in the coming days.
12:05 - Suns first-teamer narrows future to two Victorian clubs
Gold Coast defender Connor Budarick is on the move, prioritising two Victorian clubs ahead of the 2025 Trade Period.
Now out of contract, Budarick featured in 19 games for the Suns this season including both of the club's first two finals in history.
However, the former academy product remains keen on a move, with the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne leading the charge.
According to Riley Beveridge, the Bulldogs hold firm as the frontrunners for the 24-year-old's talents, however both sides are well in with a chance of securing a deal in the coming weeks.
11:48 - Bulldogs emerge as potential home for WA-born Lion
Brisbane Lions' midfielder Deven Robertson has remained keen on a move away from the club following yet another season on the outskirts of the premiership side.
Playing just six games across his last two seasons at the club, Robertson is said to be exploring his options over the 2025 trade period.
While the West Coast Eagles have remained the favourites to land the 24-year-old, Riley Beveridge has reported that the Western Bulldogs have emerged as a potential suitor.
Robertson is out of contract with the back-to-back premiers.
11:12 - Out-of-favour Sun nominates club of choice
Gold Coast out-of-favour small forward Malcolm Rosas Jnr has nominated his club of choice following his trade request last week.
Rosas Jnr only managed four games in 2025, failing to solidify his place within the side over the past two seasons, and has now put forward the Sydney Swans as his next home.
With Richmond in the mix, the 24-year-old has chosen Sydney off the back of their disappointing 2025 season, looking to assist their struggling forward 50 under coach Dean Cox.
The out-of-contract Sun will look to call Sydney home as the free agent period officially opens in the coming week.
9:13 - Post-season commences... where do we start?
As the AFL season comes to a close, the action hardly slows as the official AFL Trade Period edges closer and closer. Just one week away from the window's opening, a number of star players have already been rumoured elsewhere, with a handful of free agent commitments and trade requests well and truly underway.
AFL.com.au journalist Josh Gabelich joined Kane Cornes and David King on SEN Fireball to re-cap the player movement pool ahead of next week.
Charlie Curnow
“We heard from Andrew Mackie yesterday on Channel 7, and he confirmed Geelong’s interest in him.
“He said it’s going to be difficult to get a deal done, we know Charlie Curnow would love to get down there, it’s where he is from and it’s his priority.
“It’s still going to be one of the really difficult ones to get done. If it gets done, it’s got the last two, three, four minutes of trade period written all over it. Deadline day, for sure.
“I think he stays at Carlton in the end.”
Early movement
“I think there’s going to be a lot of movement this year. A lot of fringe players move.
“I think we might see a Will Brodie get done fairly swiftly.”
The Fremantle midfielder is expected to join Port Adelaide.
Christian Petracca
“Adelaide clearly looms. They are really interested in Christian Petracca, and he is becoming more and more open to moving interstate.
“That’s been the vibe over the last two to three weeks with him. Gold Coast as well… I think he would have loved to have got to Hawthorn, but they are going to be all in for the duration of the trade period on Zach Merrett.
“It’s going to be hard for them to pivot if he is held to Essendon. He’s contracted, so that’s the tricky bit. I still think it’s a 50/50.”
Zach Merrett
“I still think he gets to Hawthorn in the end.”
Magpies forwards
“I think Jamie Elliott ends up staying at Collingwood. Brody Mihocek, I believe will end up going to Melbourne.
“Collingwood has already raised their offer for Jamie Elliott; they can’t afford to lose him. It would be a disaster if they lost Jamie Elliott.”
Sam Flanders
“Sam Flanders met with four clubs last week in Melbourne – St Kilda, Melbourne, Essendon and Carlton.
“He’s got a couple of offers in; he’s going to wait for all four offers to come to his manager before he makes a decision. Got two years to run with the Gold Coast Suns, but the view is now he’ll return to Victoria and play for one of those clubs.
“I think Melbourne is in the box seat because of his strong relationship with Steven King. I think that certainly helps given the time they spent at the Gold Coats Suns, interim coach at the back end of 2023.
“He needs a fresh start, he wants to play more in the midfield, he’s been squeezed in the last 18 months under Damien Hardwick.
“As Sam Edmund reported late last week, St Kilda has come very hard for Sam Flanders, so that spending spree appears to continue.”
King:“For his football, should he go to St Kilda, or should he go to Melbourne? I just think he’s going to get more opportunity at St Kilda.
Cornes: “St Kilda is a better proposition for him. I’d rather be playing at St Kilda than Melbourne – they seem a complete mess the Dees, don’t they?”
King: “Complete mess is strong.”
Cornes: “Their best player (Christian Petracca) wants out, (Judd) McVee is gone, who’s pulling the strings? New coach comes in… I’d rather go to the Saints.”
King: “I agree.”
Gabelich: “Melbourne is clearly going to be a big talking point in the trade period. They are going to be as active as anyone for who’s coming and who’s going.”
