Silvagni missed the entire 2024 season following a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season, and also missed Carlton’s run to the finals in 2023 due to a knee injury.

By bedding down Silvagni in defence, in a key defensive tandem with the formidable Weitering, the Blues have been able to deploy veteran ex-Giant Nick Haynes as an intercepting tall back this year.

St Kilda are pursuing Carlton free agent Tom De Koning and offering a massive contract worth close to $1.7 million over at least seven seasons – an offer that the Blues acknowledge they cannot compete with if the ruckman decides to leave. The Blues have a seven-year offer worth more than $1 million a year on the table.

Maynard sticks with Magpies

Maynard, considered the modern embodiment of Collingwood, signed on until the end of 2029 and will likely remain a Magpie for life.

North Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Adelaide and Sydney were all interested in the free agent and while they were sceptical that he was a player Collingwood would be prepared to lose, the longer he remained unsigned the more hopeful they became.

It didn’t get to the point of clubs making formal contract offers, but Maynard was made aware he could earn close to $1 million a year for four or five years if he were open to leaving. That sort of contract would have earned Collingwood a first-round draft pick in free agency compensation.

“I love this club. From the players and staff to our incredible fans, everyone contributes to making Collingwood the club it is,” said Maynard.

“To the Magpie Army – it’s a privilege to represent you each week. No matter where we play, you show up in force with passion and loyalty, and I can’t wait to keep running out in front of you for years to come. Up the Maggies!”

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Given the popularity of the tough defender, who has played 218 games since being drafted with pick 30 in the 2014 AFL national draft, it always seemed unlikely Maynard would leave. But the arrival of two more half-back flankers in Dan Houston and Harry Perryman last off-season created the idea that Maynard could become surplus to requirements in a team searching for options to bring in a draft pick.

However, Maynard’s form had been excellent in 2025 despite the fact he has carried a foot injury. He ruptured his plantar fascia a fortnight ago and will miss at least one more game after this week’s bye.

Having traded this year’s first-round national draft pick as part of the deal to get Houston, Collingwood are in the market for draft picks with two next generation academy players and potential father-son players available to them this year.

As the rules stand – and they may be subject to change with the advent of trading future picks two years in advance this year – Collingwood can’t trade their future first-round pick to get back into this year’s draft because they have traded two future first-round picks in the last four-year cycle. AFL rules cap how many future picks clubs can trade in a four-year period.

Athletic ruck and key forward Zac McCarthy is the best of the draftees for whom Collingwood have priority access. The academy player, who is extremely athletic, had a poor first game in the national championships last weekend for Vic Metro but has been touted as a possible late first-round pick.

At 198cm, he is unlikely to be tall enough to be a first ruck at AFL level and more likely to play as a key forward and second ruck.

Tom McGuane, the son of Pies premiership player Mick McGuane, is an onballer considered a possible first-round pick but is more likely to attract a bid later in the draft.

Jai Saxena is a small forward in their academy and is likely to attract a bid later in the draft. Oscar Lonie, son of Ryan, is also available as a father-son.

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The Magpies have many veterans on the playing list, but with so many of them still playing extremely well – Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe in particular – they are making a case to be retained for yet another season next year.

Jamie Elliott is another older player performing at All-Australian level but at 32, is one who was always likely to continue next year.

Pickett’s monster deal makes him a ‘Demon for life’

Melbourne announced on Thursday morning that Pickett, 24, had signed a seven-year extension on top of his current contract which had two years remaining. Over the nine years, the contract is worth an average of $1.3 million a year, rocketing him into the top bracket of AFL salaries.

In an interview with this masthead last month, Pickett spoke of his connection to his home in Quairading, a town in Western Australia about one-and-a-half hours’ drive out of Perth, and also the Demons.

“There’s always homesickness,” Pickett said. “Anyone who’s from interstate, they’re always homesick, they always think about going home. I have honest conversations with Goody and [I’ve] been able to tell him I’m homesick, but there’s never really any talk about leaving at the moment.”

In the club’s statement, Pickett referenced the care Melbourne had shown him and his family.

“I love my teammates and my coaches, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the years to come. We have shared some special memories over the past few years here, and I’m excited for what we can achieve next,” he said.

“The club has shown so much care for me and my family, and I can’t thank them enough for their support. I would also like to thank the Demon fans for all the love.

“I get to live out my childhood dream, playing footy for the oldest club at the MCG, and I’m excited and grateful to be a Demon for life.”

With AAP

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