Bombers position ‘unchanged’ on Merrett after Hawks’ offer, as Swans chase Curnow

Well, we’ve passed the point of no return for processing of trades for today, so it’s time to take a deep breath and wait for tomorrow’s finale.

We were expecting more movement today, including the likes of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan getting to Gold Coast and now it all comes down to just one day of dealmaking.

We have had some news relating to offers from Sydney for Charlie Curnow and Hawthorn for Zach Merrett, but nothing official for either deal – and right now Curnow seems much closer to a move than Merrett.

Aside from them, we have the Demons duo of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, the Lions’ Callum Ah Chee, St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall and a big handful of others, all of whom will have to get done – IF they get done – between 2pm and 7:30pm AEDT.

UPDATE: We have a late, late one that was obviously done before 5pm AEDT but is only just coming through now. It’s another move from the Gold Coast, with Connor Budarick and 2025 round four Pick 70 to Western Bulldogs for round two Pick 37.

Please join us tomorrow for the grand finale, with Dean Bilton and Chris De Silva taking you through every last-minute manoeuvre.

Thanks to everyone for joining us on the blog today, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

Ronan,

It’s always been pretty clear that the Demons are taking very different approaches to Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver this trade period.

Melbourne has directly asked Oliver to look for other options, and they are clearly ready to pay some of his contract in order to get him out the door.

There is no doubt he will not be at the Dees next year.

Petracca is a different proposition – they are ready to see him leave the club, but not at any cost. They wanted to get Bailey Humphrey back, and it seems the Suns’ young gun was keen to get to the Demons as well. But that has been a flat no from Gold Coast – but time is on Melbourne’s side, not the Suns.

If it takes two top-10 picks to get it done, then that might be the deal, and I wouldn’t expect this to go through any time before the final hour / half-hour / 10 minutes of the trade period.

Buckle up!

On Trade Radio, Josh Jenkins has run the rule over Melbourne as things stand – and he has concerns for 2026.

Jenkins said he wasn’t interested in the much-vaunted off-field connection at the Demons, which hadn’t been backed up by events.

“It [that connection] was more talk than action,” Jenkins said.

“I’m more worried about what’s going to happen on the field – how they’re going to attack the game.”

Jenkins said new coach Steven King has been touted as someone who will bring in a more attacking game plan, but warned that he will take over a team that is struggling in the areas they need to implement that game plan.

“Melbourne is number 15 for metres per disposal … it’s not just a lot of handballs, they just don’t take much ground when they kick it,” he said.

He also pointed to the Demons being number four in ball retention: “But that’s because they kick it backwards, they kick it sidewards.”

Sophie,

There has not been anything official from the AFL, but Sam Edmund on Trade Radio has just said that Changkuoth Jiath has agreed a three-year deal with Melbourne, pending agreement between the two sides.

Hawthorn had reportedly let CJ – who signed a three-year contract in August last year – know he could explore his options, so this is likely to get done officially tomorrow afternoon.

The Dees have picks 24, 28, 42, 66, 71, 84, 102 to play with.

We’ll see what gets the job done.

This one was made official while I was responding to some of your queries.

It’s nothing we weren’t expecting, but it’s gone through now.

Brayden Fiorini leaves the Suns and goes to Essendon, in return for a round three pick tied to the Bombers.

His decade at Carrara comes to an end, after 41 goals in 123 games.

“Having been in the system for 10 years I feel I can bring leadership and experience to the young and exciting group, both on and off the field. I want to bring my high work rate, footy IQ and help support the club’s direction,” Fiorini said in a statement from the Bombers.

“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge, and it’s great to be moving closer to home and to be joining a Club that is hungry for success. I can’t wait to be a part of that.”

Essendon’s General Manager – List and Recruiting, Matt Rosa is excited to bring Fiorini aboard.

“We see a clear role for Brayden on the wing, it’s a role-specific target we were after leading into this period. There’s no doubt he’ll complement our midfield mix,” Rosa said.

Hello Alex,

I’m doing well, thanks – this is my brief sojourn on the Trade Blog, and I have big shoes to fill with how well Dean Bilton and Chris De Silva have been going the last week and a bit.

As far as today goes, I have just been speaking to the AFL, and my understanding is that it is highly unlikely that any trades will be processed after 5pm AEDT.

There may be agreements reached after hours tonight, but they will not get processed until tomorrow, and as we know the earliest that anything can happen is 2pm AEDT.

AJ,

You may well be right. Essendon has had a rough time with big players moving away from the club in the last few years, and they are definitely taking a stand here (although it’s fair to say that Hawthorn have also waited way too long to come in with their first bid).

They are perfectly within their rights to do so – but if they stay behind that line in the sand for this year, that line will get washed away in a hurry this time next year.

I don’t think there’s any way Zach Merrett plays at the Bombers come 2027.

Jasmine, not really sure at this minute – there are a lot of deals that should already be done by now, but they all look like they’re heading for post-2pm AEDT tomorrow.

Depends what you mean by must do. Must do for who?

Sydney needs to get Charlie Curnow, no question. If the Swans don’t get it done, it could be the difference between them being just inside / outside the eight or pushing top four.

But for Carlton, how highly do they rate Curnow, and how much do they really want to reset?

I think if Sydney keeps pushing for pick 22 back, they may miss out. I don’t mind the idea of Logan McDonald in place of Will Hayward or Ollie Florent.

Having said that, I think both Hayward and Florent walk into the Blues side, so two new players plus two first rounders is not that bad a deal.

One way or the other, I think it will get done – unless the Cats find a good player to throw in the mix with their three first-rounders.

It looks like we’re on the verge of having our second confirmed deal of the day!

That is it for me in terms of the trade blog for today, a little disappointing one with only one measly pic swap taking place in terms of an official move.

Andrew McGarry will keep us live for a little longer to bring you any late trade news.

Just a note that we will be starting the blog a little later tomorrow due to the 2pm AEDT moratorium on any deals being made official.

I’ll be joined by Dean Bilton as we take you right through to the deadline and beyond.

Josh Jenkins, speaking on Trade Radio, isn’t impressed by this trade offer from Hawthorn.

“I don’t think this offer is any good,” he says.

“Pick 9 is a great cornerstone for a deal, but a future first –  Hawthorn just played in a preliminary final. On paper, they are stronger with Merrett next year.

“I don’t even include Hustwaite as part of the deal … if he turns into a Jack Crisp-steak knife, then OK, and then this future second could be pick 40 in a draft, I’m discounting that as well.”

It looks like Hawthorn’s offer for Zach Merrett hasn’t caused Essendon to change its stance.

I tend to agree that Cam Mackenzie at the very least is going to need to be thrown into this deal.

We do have a bit of an update on the Jamarra Ugle-Hagan front today!

Here’s what Tom Morris had this morning on Trade Radio.

I think if I’m the Blues, I’m still trying to get a better player than Will Hayward involved in that deal.

If not, I’m damn sure not sending back pick 22 along with Curnow to Sydney.

Instead of Ollie Florent, can you maybe get the Swans to chuck Logan McDonald in that deal?

I wouldn’t mind sending pick 22 if it nets me a better player back in return.

I don’t believe there’s any rules in place of how many teams players can nominate in a trade.

It’s just unusual for a player to nominate more than one because of negotiations and conversations that go on in the background.

I still think Charlie Curnow and Christian Petracca will both get moved as the two teams involved seem closer to an agreement.

I think the Hawks are going to run out of time with Zach Merrett.

Here’s what the streets are saying.

This is the whole problem Rosie. I’m sure there are players Essendon would like, but Hawthorn isn’t willing to give them up.

The players Hawthorn are willing to give up are of no interest to Essendon.

It’s why a lot of people think a third club has to get involved.

I was interested in Cal saying the Hawks have been trying to use their future picks to trade with a third club to get a better pick to send Essendon, I think they’re on the right path there.

If there’s a better pick involved, then you could potentially see some movement, even if the player involved is a VFL-caliber guy like Hustwaite.