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Most Victorian clubs would be able to create the salary cap space under the new collective bargaining agreement to make Reid an attractive enough offer to consider the move, with his big payday not to come until his fourth year.
However, only Richmond and Essendon already possess the sort of draft capital required to potentially entice West Coast to release Reid from the final year of his deal in return for a bounty of draft picks to add young talent to a list which has won just 10 games in three seasons.
Both clubs – along with West Coast – have two first round picks in this year’s national draft. Gold Coast enters the season with three first round picks.
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In an indication of the market, Melbourne president Brad Green said the Demons would need three first round picks to even consider trading Kysaiah Pickett before he is out of contract. Competition sources said Reid’s trade value would be at least two top 10 picks.
The Bombers have been linked with Reid however the Tigers already have Sam Lalor, who shapes as a similar type to Reid with both players still requiring a huge amount of development to become match winners.
Clubs will also be able to trade future picks two seasons into the future during this year’s trade period, which will add to the scale of the potential offers that could be made for Reid. At this stage Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide are without first round picks next season.
West Coast’s 87-point loss to Gold Coast – with a distracted Reid in the midfield – was the 27th loss by 10 goals or more in the club’s past 69 matches. Reid has played in eight losses of 10 goals or more in his 21 matches.
The Eagles could embark on a shape-shifting trade period if they lost co-captain Oscar Allen as a free agent and Reid for picks attacking the draft similarly to Richmond who selected seven players in the first 28 picks in the 2024 national draft.
The only top five picks to be traded before serving their first standard two-year contract are former North Melbourne No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis who joined Port Adelaide in 2023 and former Giant No.1 Tom Boyd who joined the Western Bulldogs in 2015.
Seven other top five picks have switched clubs after two years at the club which drafted them since Carlton traded Josh Kennedy and pick three to the Eagles at the end of 2007 to secure Chris Judd.
– Peter Ryan
Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson rubbished, in his own words on Monday, the bubbling speculation about his potential return to Victoria – and even a possible reunion with the Demons.
Kysaiah Pickett’s future remains a talking point, even with Luke Jackson indicating he was staying at Freo.Credit: Getty Images
Players have still requested a trade later in the season in these situations before, but Jackson was as emphatic as any of them, so it would be a surprising turn of events for him to do so. The interesting off-shoot of this issue is how Jackson staying might impact Melbourne forward Pickett’s own circumstances.
Pickett is contracted until 2027, so the Dees are under no obligation to trade him – and have no plans to – but he has flirted with the possibility the past two years without getting overly close to requesting a move.
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He already expressed this year that he suffered from homesickness at times, and a source with understanding of Pickett’s position told this masthead it was living in Melbourne during the AFL off-season that the 23-year-old struggled most with.
In-season, Pickett’s competitive juices kick in, and there are few problems. He has a close relationship with coach Simon Goodwin and loves the club, so that is not the concern.
Pickett’s ideal scenario would be to live in Darwin, and there is an assumption he will move back to Perth or Adelaide at some stage. However, Demons president Green went on the record with this masthead that they would demand two, or even three, first-round picks if he requested a trade to another club. – Marc McGowan
Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien is among the AFL’s restricted free agents this year as negotiations continue on his playing future.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the Crows have tabled a two-year offer to O’Brien, who turns 30 in August – but the durable big man is hopeful that will extend to three. In his favour is his impending free agency, while the club’s ruck depth behind him is thin.
Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien is a restricted free agent this year.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
The AFL is yet to reveal which of this year’s free agents are restricted or unrestricted, but The Age has confirmed O’Brien’s status.
South Adelaide product Sam Draper is on Adelaide’s short list and fits their strategy of luring local players home, including their interest in St Kilda rising star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who hails from Glenelg.
Essendon are yet to make an offer to, or sit down with, Draper, a separate source who was granted anonymity told this masthead, but the Bombers are confident of retaining him.
The Crows were also the latest club last year to make a play for Gold Coast’s Ned Moyle, who has rejected a number of rival teams’ overtures across the years and now seems most likely to be Jarrod Witts’ long-term successor after inking a deal until the end of 2028.
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O’Brien, who is part of Adelaide’s leadership group, was dropped for two games mid-last year – both losses – but has made at least 20 senior appearances in each of the past four seasons.
He also played all 17 matches in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign. – Marc McGowan
Another player who will be a restricted free agent is Brisbane Lions premiership defender Brandon Starcevich, who has interest from across the country, including his home state Western Australia and Victoria.
Brandon Starcevich sustained his third concussion in eight months at the weekend.Credit: Getty Images
There are complexities because Starcevich sustained his third concussion in eight months in Saturday’s four-point win over Sydney from a clash of heads with Swan Justin McInerney. Even so, Starcevich is among the best small defenders in the game.
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The Lions have presented him with several options to stay, varying from two to as many as six years, an industry source told this masthead. – Marc McGowan
Toby Bedford decided to bet on himself at the end of the 2022 season and take up an offer with the Giants after being stuck behind Pickett, Alex Neal-Bullen and Charlie Spargo at Melbourne.
After 18 games in four years at the Demons, including most as a substitute, Bedford has become a senior regular at GWS, graduating from the forward line to carve a niche for himself as a tagger in the midfield.
The 24-year-old’s three-year deal is due to expire at season’s end, but he could have a new one of the same length – and maybe even up to four years – as soon as this week, two sources familiar with discussions revealed to this masthead.
Bedford has played 44 of a possible 53 matches at the Giants since his arrival, which coincided with coach Adam Kingsley. He has fit in well as a personality, and his toughness, athleticism and competitiveness are held in high regard at the club. – Marc McGowan
A decision on Western Bulldogs defender Liam Jones’ future at the Kennel beyond this season won’t be made before the club’s round 12 bye in late May.
Bulldogs defender Liam Jones is out of contract at season’s end.Credit: Getty Images
Jones, 34, is still recovering from a high-grade hamstring strain he suffered in an intraclub match on the Gold Coast in February and could be another month away from returning.
The three-year deal the ex-Blue signed with the Bulldogs to end his COVID-19 exile from the AFL expires at season’s end, and he has been a valuable addition down back for Luke Beveridge the past two years.
Discussions about Jones’ future will not take place until the bye, according to an industry source who works in player contracts and spoke on the condition of anonymity. – Marc McGowan
Geelong champion Joel Selwood is conducting a review into the polarising AFL Academy as part of his post-playing role at league headquarters.
A squad with the best AFL prospects is handpicked before each season and coached by ex-Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer. They play representative games against VFL clubs and spend five days with an AFL team in the summer.
Joel Selwood is conducting a review into the AFL Academy.Credit: AFL Photos
There is a push from recruiters for the league to reignite the AFL Academy’s matches against their Irish peers, in place of the VFL clashes, while some talent scouts would also like to see prospects spend a fortnight at clubs rather than one week.
A more extreme suggestion was for the money spent on the academy to instead be used on an expanded AFL Under-18 Championships, where each team would play one another twice, in a home-and-away fixture.
There is support for this concept, but one recruiting source, who was granted anonymity to speak more freely, said he wanted to know what impact it would have on players, particularly with their schooling, and state competitions.
The common view from club figures to this masthead was that the AFL Academy had become less relevant because of the increased professionalism of, and investment in, the state, northern and Next Generation academies.
Selwood’s deep dive into the AFL Academy is part of the league’s broader competitive balance review into the talent pathway, including clubs and other relevant stakeholders having the chance to provide feedback. – Marc McGowan
Most Victorian clubs would be able to create the salary cap space under the new collective bargaining agreement to make Reid an attractive enough offer to consider the move, with his big payday not to come until his fourth year.
However, only Richmond and Essendon already possess the sort of draft capital required to potentially entice West Coast to release Reid from the final year of his deal in return for a bounty of draft picks to add young talent to a list which has won just 10 games in three seasons.
Both clubs – along with West Coast – have two first round picks in this year’s national draft. Gold Coast enters the season with three first round picks.
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In an indication of the market, Melbourne president Brad Green said the Demons would need three first round picks to even consider trading Kysaiah Pickett before he is out of contract. Competition sources said Reid’s trade value would be at least two top 10 picks.
The Bombers have been linked with Reid however the Tigers already have Sam Lalor, who shapes as a similar type to Reid with both players still requiring a huge amount of development to become match winners.
Clubs will also be able to trade future picks two seasons into the future during this year’s trade period, which will add to the scale of the potential offers that could be made for Reid. At this stage Carlton, Collingwood, Melbourne, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide are without first round picks next season.
West Coast’s 87-point loss to Gold Coast – with a distracted Reid in the midfield – was the 27th loss by 10 goals or more in the club’s past 69 matches. Reid has played in eight losses of 10 goals or more in his 21 matches.
The Eagles could embark on a shape-shifting trade period if they lost co-captain Oscar Allen as a free agent and Reid for picks attacking the draft similarly to Richmond who selected seven players in the first 28 picks in the 2024 national draft.
The only top five picks to be traded before serving their first standard two-year contract are former North Melbourne No.1 pick Jason Horne-Francis who joined Port Adelaide in 2023 and former Giant No.1 Tom Boyd who joined the Western Bulldogs in 2015.
Seven other top five picks have switched clubs after two years at the club which drafted them since Carlton traded Josh Kennedy and pick three to the Eagles at the end of 2007 to secure Chris Judd.
– Peter Ryan
Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson rubbished, in his own words on Monday, the bubbling speculation about his potential return to Victoria – and even a possible reunion with the Demons.
Kysaiah Pickett’s future remains a talking point, even with Luke Jackson indicating he was staying at Freo.Credit: Getty Images
Players have still requested a trade later in the season in these situations before, but Jackson was as emphatic as any of them, so it would be a surprising turn of events for him to do so. The interesting off-shoot of this issue is how Jackson staying might impact Melbourne forward Pickett’s own circumstances.
Pickett is contracted until 2027, so the Dees are under no obligation to trade him – and have no plans to – but he has flirted with the possibility the past two years without getting overly close to requesting a move.
Loading
He already expressed this year that he suffered from homesickness at times, and a source with understanding of Pickett’s position told this masthead it was living in Melbourne during the AFL off-season that the 23-year-old struggled most with.
In-season, Pickett’s competitive juices kick in, and there are few problems. He has a close relationship with coach Simon Goodwin and loves the club, so that is not the concern.
Pickett’s ideal scenario would be to live in Darwin, and there is an assumption he will move back to Perth or Adelaide at some stage. However, Demons president Green went on the record with this masthead that they would demand two, or even three, first-round picks if he requested a trade to another club. – Marc McGowan
Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien is among the AFL’s restricted free agents this year as negotiations continue on his playing future.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the Crows have tabled a two-year offer to O’Brien, who turns 30 in August – but the durable big man is hopeful that will extend to three. In his favour is his impending free agency, while the club’s ruck depth behind him is thin.
Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien is a restricted free agent this year.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
The AFL is yet to reveal which of this year’s free agents are restricted or unrestricted, but The Age has confirmed O’Brien’s status.
South Adelaide product Sam Draper is on Adelaide’s short list and fits their strategy of luring local players home, including their interest in St Kilda rising star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who hails from Glenelg.
Essendon are yet to make an offer to, or sit down with, Draper, a separate source who was granted anonymity told this masthead, but the Bombers are confident of retaining him.
The Crows were also the latest club last year to make a play for Gold Coast’s Ned Moyle, who has rejected a number of rival teams’ overtures across the years and now seems most likely to be Jarrod Witts’ long-term successor after inking a deal until the end of 2028.
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O’Brien, who is part of Adelaide’s leadership group, was dropped for two games mid-last year – both losses – but has made at least 20 senior appearances in each of the past four seasons.
He also played all 17 matches in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign. – Marc McGowan
Another player who will be a restricted free agent is Brisbane Lions premiership defender Brandon Starcevich, who has interest from across the country, including his home state Western Australia and Victoria.
Brandon Starcevich sustained his third concussion in eight months at the weekend.Credit: Getty Images
There are complexities because Starcevich sustained his third concussion in eight months in Saturday’s four-point win over Sydney from a clash of heads with Swan Justin McInerney. Even so, Starcevich is among the best small defenders in the game.
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The Lions have presented him with several options to stay, varying from two to as many as six years, an industry source told this masthead. – Marc McGowan
Toby Bedford decided to bet on himself at the end of the 2022 season and take up an offer with the Giants after being stuck behind Pickett, Alex Neal-Bullen and Charlie Spargo at Melbourne.
After 18 games in four years at the Demons, including most as a substitute, Bedford has become a senior regular at GWS, graduating from the forward line to carve a niche for himself as a tagger in the midfield.
The 24-year-old’s three-year deal is due to expire at season’s end, but he could have a new one of the same length – and maybe even up to four years – as soon as this week, two sources familiar with discussions revealed to this masthead.
Bedford has played 44 of a possible 53 matches at the Giants since his arrival, which coincided with coach Adam Kingsley. He has fit in well as a personality, and his toughness, athleticism and competitiveness are held in high regard at the club. – Marc McGowan
A decision on Western Bulldogs defender Liam Jones’ future at the Kennel beyond this season won’t be made before the club’s round 12 bye in late May.
Bulldogs defender Liam Jones is out of contract at season’s end.Credit: Getty Images
Jones, 34, is still recovering from a high-grade hamstring strain he suffered in an intraclub match on the Gold Coast in February and could be another month away from returning.
The three-year deal the ex-Blue signed with the Bulldogs to end his COVID-19 exile from the AFL expires at season’s end, and he has been a valuable addition down back for Luke Beveridge the past two years.
Discussions about Jones’ future will not take place until the bye, according to an industry source who works in player contracts and spoke on the condition of anonymity. – Marc McGowan
Geelong champion Joel Selwood is conducting a review into the polarising AFL Academy as part of his post-playing role at league headquarters.
A squad with the best AFL prospects is handpicked before each season and coached by ex-Magpie Tarkyn Lockyer. They play representative games against VFL clubs and spend five days with an AFL team in the summer.
Joel Selwood is conducting a review into the AFL Academy.Credit: AFL Photos
There is a push from recruiters for the league to reignite the AFL Academy’s matches against their Irish peers, in place of the VFL clashes, while some talent scouts would also like to see prospects spend a fortnight at clubs rather than one week.
A more extreme suggestion was for the money spent on the academy to instead be used on an expanded AFL Under-18 Championships, where each team would play one another twice, in a home-and-away fixture.
There is support for this concept, but one recruiting source, who was granted anonymity to speak more freely, said he wanted to know what impact it would have on players, particularly with their schooling, and state competitions.
The common view from club figures to this masthead was that the AFL Academy had become less relevant because of the increased professionalism of, and investment in, the state, northern and Next Generation academies.
Selwood’s deep dive into the AFL Academy is part of the league’s broader competitive balance review into the talent pathway, including clubs and other relevant stakeholders having the chance to provide feedback. – Marc McGowan
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution
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