The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-09-15 · by Peter Ryan, Marc McGowan
Port Adelaide are seeking draft picks, rather than emerging players such as Bulldog midfielders Joel Freijah or Ryley Sanders, as they look to maximise their return for losing Zak Butters to the Western Bulldogs.
asserted
they → seek → Bulldogs
However, the clubs will need to strengthen a muted salary dump involving contracted Port player Todd Marshall joining the Bulldogs in exchange for two first-round picks to convince the AFL it is a fair deal after the league warned all clubs that deals struck separate to free-agency compensation will be heavily scrutinised.
asserted
deals → need → compensation
Both clubs are aware of that and have been liaising with the league to keep them informed of potential scenarios so they don’t fall foul of the rules.
asserted
they → liaise → rules
Port’s inclination towards picks is driven by their need to match a very early pick – potentially at No.1 – for next-generation academy prospect Dougie Cochrane in this year’s draft, and fellow priority access selections Louis Salopek and Zemes Pilot next year.
asserted
inclination → drive → draft
Ideally, they want to land Cochrane and also have selections in the teens this season to launch into a new era under Josh Carr – similar to how picking Connor Rozee, Butters and Xavier Duursma in 2018 turbocharged the back half of Ken Hinkley’s time as coach.
asserted
picking → want → coach
That is why the prospect of accepting the free-agency compensation for Butters and doing other deals to gain picks is being negotiated already, with the AFL aware scenarios are being explored that would reach their threshold of fair value.
asserted
that → accept → value
The Power have a number of players contracted beyond this season – such as Marshall, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Willem Drew and Miles Bergman – who may be considered as part of a possible deal with the Bulldogs.
uncertain
who → have → Bulldogs
The AFL is expected to judge any deal (beyond the compensation) on its merits, rather than ruling a plan out because the football world believes it to be connected to any Power decision to accept compensation rather than matching the deal.
asserted
it → expect → deal
The salary dump in which Geelong received Jack Bowes and pick No.7 from Gold Coast in 2022, and the trade deal involving the Eagles, the Lions and Fremantle that included Brandon Starcevich landing at West Coast after the Lions acquired Oscar Allen as a free agent, are being viewed as precedents for fair deals the AFL ticked off in the past.
asserted
AFL → receive → past
However, other clubs are watching closely, in an environment of scepticism and hyper-competitiveness heightened by Tasmania’s entry into the competition and the subsequent compromising of the 2027 and 2028 drafts.
asserted
clubs → watch → drafts
Gold Coast are in a similar position in determining whether they will accept compensation for the loss of Ben King, who is expected to join Hawthorn, or match their offer to force a trade.
asserted
who → determine → trade
The Suns could accept pick No.7 as compensation, or attempt to force a trade, which may allow them to access a player as well as a pick.
uncertain
them → accept → player
The Hawks could end up with a pick between Nos.15 and 18.
uncertain
Hawks → end → Nos.15
The other option is to accept compensation and then attempt to acquire a player from the Hawks, such as Bailey Macdonald, in a separate deal, having already enquired about talented youngster Aiden Schubert.
asserted
option → accept → Schubert
Crow wants to be a Roo
Contracted Adelaide key defender Nick Murray plans to request a trade in his exit meeting on Tuesday, a source familiar with his thinking told this masthead on the condition of anonymity.
asserted
source → want → anonymity
The Age revealed last month that Alastair Clarkson was leading North Melbourne’s pitch to Murray, and personally met with him.
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Clarkson → reveal → him
The Crow remains a top recruiting priority, despite the Kangaroos sacking the four-time premiership coach.
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Kangaroos → remain → coach
The roadblock for Murray, who has played only 32 senior games across the past three seasons while falling behind other defensive teammates, is that he is contracted until the end of 2028.
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he → play → 2028
Making that situation more problematic is that another of Adelaide’s tall defenders, Jordon Butts, is set to leave for the Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent.
asserted
another → make → agent
The Crows already re-signed James Borlase, and also have Josh Worrell, Mark Keane and Max Michalanney, but losing Butts and Murray would leave them light on key defensive options if they suffered injuries.
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they → re → injuries
North Melbourne’s 2027 first-round selection could be involved in any potential deal, given it would be lower than usual with Tasmania dominating the top of the draft next year, but that would depend on Adelaide being willing to trade Murray.
uncertain
Adelaide → involve → Murray
The onus on the Swans
Whether Carlton find a new sidekick for Harry McKay could depend on Sydney’s ability to find more cash for Joel Amartey.
uncertain
find → find → Amartey
The Blues have made Amartey their No.1 recruiting target, particularly with Buku Khamis deciding to stay at the Western Bulldogs, and have offered him a five-year deal worth significantly more than what the Swans have so far presented him.
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Swans → make → him
Sydney made a major splash last off-season by trading for Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow, who has kicked 74 goals in his first season in the Harbour City.
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who → make → City
Logan McDonald has also booted 48 goals, while Amartey has 28 from only 15 games.
asserted
Amartey → boot → games
Amartey’s preference is to stay at the Swans, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation, but Sydney will need to improve their financial terms for that to eventuate.
uncertain
that → stay → terms
Houston has no problem staying put
Collingwood defender Dan Houston has no plans to find a third AFL club despite him being consistently linked with the Saints, who are on the lookout for running defenders.
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who → stay → defenders
A source familiar with Houston’s situation, granted anonymity to speak freely, told this masthead that the two-time All-Australian was not going to leave the Magpies, where he is contracted for four more seasons.
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he → grant → seasons
Collingwood traded a future first-round pick, the No.36 selection in 2024, John Noble and Joe Richards for Houston two years ago as part of a three-club deal.
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Collingwood → trade → deal
The Saints have not lodged any official interest in Houston, the same source said.
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source → lodge → Houston
Houston averaged 21 disposals and almost two intercept marks this year, with his elite kicking skills a weapon for Craig McRae’s Pies.
asserted
skills → average → Pies
Sydney have not expressed any interest in trading for him, and Vlastuin is not looking elsewhere.
asserted
Vlastuin → express → him
However, Jayden Short, who played in two of Richmond’s flags under Damien Hardwick, remains a name to follow.
asserted
who → play → Hardwick
Short is contracted until the end of the 2027 season, but his management has gauged opposition interest in his client throughout the season, according to two club sources, and is also on Tasmania’s radar as a potential mature-age recruit.
uncertain
management → contract → recruit
Bombers move on a former No.5 pick
Essendon has not offered a contract to Elijah Tsatas, who was delisted on Tuesday alongside four teammates after four seasons on the Bombers’ list.
asserted
who → move → list
Tsatas was pick No.5 in the 2022 national draft but managed just 22 matches in four seasons.
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Tsatas → manage → seasons
He played his final AFL match against Melbourne in round 14, having been given the chance to prove himself in three consecutive matches after interim coach Dean Solomon replaced Brad Scott as coach.
asserted
Solomon → play → coach
Tsatas played well in the VFL, helping the team reach the preliminary final, but was delisted alongside free agency recruit Jade Gresham and injury-afflicted Matt Guelfi.
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team → play → Gresham
Mid-season draft selections Saad El-Hawli and Liam McMahon were also delisted.
asserted
selections → delist → ?
Tsatas is yet to gauge interest from other clubs but as a delisted free agent his path to another AFL club would be easier than if he was traded.
asserted
he → gauge → club
…and 14 more, not listed.
The Aporia
