The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-11 · by Marc McGowan, Peter Ryan
Story summary
The Gold Coast Suns have finalized deals to sign Hawthorn (Hawks) forwards Aidan Schubert and Sam Butler, with the signings expected to take effect as early as Monday. The move comes after the Suns lost key forward Ben King to Hawthorn. Schubert has agreed to a five-year contract, while Butler's interest was piqued by a visit to the Gold Coast and connections to former Richmond player Dan Butler, who played under current Suns coach Damien Hardwick in 2017.
Butler is seeking increased playing opportunities after failing to secure a consistent position in Hawthorn’s lineup over his six seasons there. The Hawks' forward line now includes players like Nick Watson, Dylan Moore, and Jack Ginnivan, which limited Butler's chances for regular game time following a severe leg injury in 2024.
Hawthorn is expected to offer second-round draft picks as compensation for Schubert and Butler. In addition, Hawthorn’s key forwards for the upcoming season include Ben King, Jack Gunston, Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol, and Calsher Dear, with Gunston and Chol entering their final contract years in 2027.
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Hawk forwards Aidan Schubert and Sam Butler will become Gold Coast players as early as Monday as the Suns bolster their forward line following the loss of Ben King to Hawthorn.
asserted
Suns → become → Hawthorn
Schubert agreed to a five-year deal last week as the Suns brokered a deal which enabled them to accept compensation for the loss of King, while a Friday visit to the Gold Coast convinced Butler, whose brother Dan played in the 2017 flag at Richmond under Suns coach Damien Hardwick, to also make the move.
asserted
brother → agree → move
Butler is looking for more opportunities after being unable to cement a spot in the Hawks’ line-up during his six seasons at the club.
asserted
Butler → look → club
A shocking broken leg in 2024 hampered his progress as Nick Watson, Dylan Moore and Jack Ginnivan became Hawthorn’s dynamic trio of small forwards.
asserted
Watson → break → forwards
The Hawks will enter 2027 with Ben King, Jack Gunston, Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol and Calsher Dear as key forwards.
asserted
Hawks → enter → forwards
Gunston and Chol will be entering the final year of their contracts.
asserted
Gunston → enter → contracts
They are likely to receive second-round draft picks in exchange for the young Hawk forwards.
asserted
They → receive → forwards
Meanwhile, Richmond remains in the hunt to land Port Adelaide’s pick No.5, which is on the table as the Power determine what picks they need to land academy prospect Dougie Cochrane, who is expected to attract a bid with Essendon’s first pick.
asserted
who → remain → pick
The Tigers want to maximise their stock of young talent before Tasmania participates in the 2027 national draft.
asserted
Tasmania → want → draft
Essendon eyes Miers
Essendon are considering making a bid for Geelong midfielder/forward Gryan Miers in the final days of the trade period.
Miers, who is in Europe, has two years remaining on his contract and is not looking to leave Geelong.
asserted
who → consider → Geelong
However, he and the club are open to considering offers.
asserted
he → consider → offers
Miers, who played with a partial tear in his anterior-cruciate ligament in 2026, had a medical at West Coast before leaving overseas, but the Eagles decided against making an offer.
asserted
Eagles → play → offer
Essendon is yet to approach the Cats to talk about a trade.
asserted
Essendon → approach → trade
Vandermeer attracts interest
asserted
Vandermeer → attract → interest
Essendon also have an interest in Western Bulldogs forward Laitham Vandermeer but are yet to discuss a potential trade with the club, who landed Zak Butters, Jordon Butts, Finn Maginness and Hudson O’Keeffe last week.
asserted
who → have → Butters
Vandermeer could not break back into the team in 2026 after being a constant in the previous two seasons.
uncertain
Vandermeer → break → seasons
Viney move on cards
Melbourne premiership player Jack Viney is more likely than not to be traded to the Eagles this week, however details are yet to be signed off as West Coast finalises their offer to the Demons.
asserted
Coast → trade → Demons
Viney, who has two years remaining on his contract, travelled to Perth after this year’s grand final to meet the club.
asserted
who → have → club
He also had initial interest from Essendon, however the Bombers pulled out of the race last week.
asserted
Bombers → have → race
Port ponders Pedlar
Adelaide midfielder/forward Luke Pedlar is seeking more opportunities at Port Adelaide after injuries and form restricted him to just 10 matches in 2026.
asserted
injuries → seek → 2026
Port Adelaide had their hands full last week completing Zak Butters trade to the Western Bulldogs, but they will now turn their attention to securing Pedlar in a trade that is not expected to be too dramatic.
asserted
that → have → trade
Blues make play for Whitfield
The Giants opened the door for Lachie Whitfield to return to Melbourne in his exit interview before he comes out of contract at the end of next season.
asserted
he → make → season
However, they put a first round pick on his head.
asserted
they → put → head
Unfortunately for them, the club he wants to join – Carlton – are hamstrung with only two picks in the 20s available to trade as they hold on to their two first round picks to match a bid for father-son recruit Cody Walker.
asserted
they → want → Walker
Both clubs are likely to hold their position until Wednesday’s deadline draws nearer.
asserted
deadline → hold → position
Pies play Short game
Collingwood is the only logical destination for Richmond premiership player and best-and-fairest winner Jayden Short.
asserted
Collingwood → play → player
The long-kicking half-back may have to wait to see whether the Tigers can attract Lions’ defender Keidean Coleman to soothe their loss.
uncertain
Tigers → kick → loss
The Pies are also restricted when it comes to list spots, with Jordan De Goey more likely to stay unless something changes late, while Collingwood has continually shut down any prospect of Dan Houston departing.
asserted
Houston → restrict → prospect
How Goater gets to Hawks
Port Adelaide’s or Gold Coast’s 2027 third-round pick could seal uncontracted North Melbourne defender Josh Goater’s passage to Hawthorn.
uncertain
pick → get → Hawthorn
The Hawks scored the Power’s future selection in Friday’s five-club mega deal that sent Finn Maginness to the Western Bulldogs, while a separate pick swap between Hawthorn and the Dogs saw the former claim the Suns’ selection.
uncertain
former → score → selection
It may end up effectively a case of Maginness out, Goater in for the Hawks.
uncertain
It → end → Hawks
Nick Blakey is the biggest name left in the trade market.
asserted
Blakey → leave → market
He will get to Arden Street, but Sydney are well within their rights to demand a high price for a player with five years left on his contract.
asserted
Sydney → get → contract
North Melbourne’s pick six will be the prized offering in any trade – and has already been presented to the Swans in a more expansive deal.
asserted
pick → prize → deal
However, they will need to pay a high price to secure Blakey, whose relationship with his current club soured after the Pullman hotel scandal.
asserted
relationship → need → scandal
The Roos are among the clubs interested in Port Adelaide’s pick five, a compensation pick the Power will secure for losing Zak Butters as a free agent.
asserted
Power → secure → agent
Moving Murray
North Melbourne remain determined to find a way to bring contracted Adelaide key defender Nick Murray in, despite Blakey being their top priority.
asserted
Blakey → move → Murray
Murray has two seasons to run on his Crows deal, but has a five-year offer from the Kangaroos.
asserted
Murray → have → Kangaroos
The Roos will gain more draft assets from trading Zane Duursma and Goater, but it remains to be seen whether either deal would produce a pick good enough to tempt Adelaide.
asserted
deal → gain → Adelaide
North Melbourne are involved in various pick-swap scenarios that could attract something to use for Murray.
uncertain
that → involve → Murray
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