00:00:00
Speaker 1: It's day one of the AFL trade period where the Code Sports team does our best work. We've just heard from the representatives of all 18 clubs here at Marvel Stadium. But first, North Melbourne is closing in on its next senior coach, Glenn McFarlane and John Ralph next to me. They've just reported that a name is set to be unveiled. Maka, what do you have to tell us?

00:00:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, Jamie Graham, fantastic disappointment will be, Ralphie. Unbelievable. He's 43.

00:00:22
Speaker 3: We know he's had a great tradition in footy as an assistant coach.

00:00:25
Speaker 2: He's done such a great job. at the Dockers.

00:00:27
Speaker 3: He will meet with the Kangaroos board again today, expected to be ratified very soon.

00:00:32
Speaker 2: This could happen pretty quickly, Ralphie, couldn't it?

00:00:34
Speaker 4: Yeah, he's not a superstar as an AFL player, but he's certainly a superstar as a person. So he's a people person, and you probably need to be as well when you've got that varied Fremantle forward line with a lot of personalities there, of course, with the Prancing Pony and also Mason Cox. So it's been challenging for other candidates. They all met across the weekend with the North Melbourne selection panel. So the likes of Jan Siracusa, Hale and also Xavier Clark will not secure this role. They have not yet been told that as of yet. And Nathan Buckley pulled out probably late last week. It is a fantastic story, though, for Jamie. So, look, some challenging family circumstances in which he adopted his younger sister after his mother's drug addiction and then suicide. And so she's grown up now, but it just shows the extraordinary sacrifices that he was prepared to make.

00:01:20
Speaker 5: Effectively retired as a player.

00:01:22
Speaker 4: And then took on his younger sister in And since then, he's made every post a winner as a person and also as a football coach, Macca.

00:01:29
Speaker 3: Yeah, and to come back for this last sort of meeting with the board, we've seen this story before, haven't we? We saw it with Ken Hinkley in Tasmania, Mark McVeigh at Essendon as well.

00:01:37
Speaker 2: And the Kangaroos made it very clear that they wanted a first-time coach.

00:01:40
Speaker 3: Now, he is a first-time coach, but he's got some outstanding experience with a number of... different clubs and he's come so close before hasn't he it's been very close to getting another gig and really deserves his opportunity.

00:01:50
Speaker 4: Now yeah that's right he missed out on the Carlton and the Essendon gigs and you could say that he was definitely second in the Carlton gig interesting to talk to Essendon today and they said it's so great that Mark McGay has been able to be in some of those exit interviews because he's able to convince players like Darcy Parrish we want you to be at this football club what does it mean for North Melbourne because they've got let's face it a couple of players who would like to get out of Arden Street.

00:02:09
Speaker 1: It could prove to be really important timing. So we just heard from 18 list managers and football managers. Brady Rawlings from North Melbourne was one of them. He was being grilled on whether they were going to unveil a coach during this trade period because it could affect the decisions of their out-of-contract duo, Zane Dersmer and Josh Goda. Brady Rawlings said that they're eager to convince both of those players to stay. So Zane Dersmer wants to get to Melbourne. Josh Goda wants to get to Hawthorne. Right now I'd say it's more likely that Goda leaves than stays. But Zane Dersmer could be a bit up in the air. He might try and sit down with the new coach, if it is Jamie Graham. And North says that they want to take their number five pick to the draft. That's not up for grabs, but they are really looking to pry Nick Murray out of Adelaide still. So they're keen to use that future first round selection as part of a trade. Wouldn't be a direct swap for Nick Murray, but Brady Rawlings says they're happy to involve it.

00:02:54
Speaker 5: You think Dersmer's still going to leave?

00:02:56
Speaker 4: And on a weekend where, let's face it, Hawthorne were able to celebrate Nick Watson, who was the player taken after him. He won his first Hawthorne best and fairest it just shows the challenges there Jordan Ridley look they were very keen on him and all of a sudden Geelong just says no we'll have him we'll have him yeah so look Jamie Graham he's going to be a fantastic coach but it underlines the real challenges for a coach from North Melbourne it is a smaller market club and it's not always been one of the sexiest clubs out there let's hope that Josh Goda can stay but let's face it he's going to a club where he's no guarantee to be in that football side in the next 24 months they've got you know the likes of Amon they've got the likes of Impy there got Massimo D'Ambrosio on a wing they've got But the fact he's prepared to leave North Melbourne to go to a club with an uncertain future, it shows that North Melbourne's got a heck of a lot of work to do.

00:03:39
Speaker 1: An interesting watch on whether Jack Scrimshaw gets squeezed out as well of Hawthorne. They've got so much list depth there, especially in defence. So go to go through. Bit of a watch on Jack Scrimshaw. The Zach Butters trade, how that's progressing. Western Bulldogs have basically said that Todd Marshall coming to them is dead in the water.

00:03:54
Speaker 2: Dead in the water.

00:03:55
Speaker 3: Absolutely dead in the water. This is what you call brinkmanship. It's day one of the trade period and there's that brinkmanship from both Port Adelaide and from the Western Bulldogs.

00:04:03
Speaker 2: They were very clear, the Western Bulldogs, they want to get this deal done.

00:04:06
Speaker 3: They want to get it done as soon as they can because they've got some other players they really want to bring into this group. Port Adelaide, very interesting. Just threw the little burly out there in the water there, Ralphie, about Richmond. We're still having some ongoing discussions with Richmond just in case things don't work out with the Western Bulldogs.

00:04:20
Speaker 2: I think that's fascinating. Is there any chance of that, do you think?

00:04:24
Speaker 4: If I was Richmond, I'd be prepared to give up pick one for Zach Butters and so on. Or pick two, rather, which is how Vesna has picked one. And so I think there'll be a lot of things said on the first day of the draft period, trade period, that don't actually come through. But I think what's obvious now is the Bulldogs will lodge that deal. And then, of course, the Port Adelaide Footy Club will have picks four and five. And then they think to themselves, OK, what do we do with pick five? Obviously, we're prepared to trade one of those two picks. They won't get a start of second round compensation pick because that Dougie Cochran pick won't be a live pick. It's very complicated, obviously, those compensation schemes. And they'll just go to the market. How do we find a way to get a better deal than if we match a bid and then we get the Bulldogs to trade for Zach Butters? So it's probably two or three very late draft picks. I think there's a way. And on Todd Marshall, they've effectively said to him, we're not really interested in you. We are open to a cap dump for any other club. You give us a first round pick, we'll effectively pay for his contract. So there are certain ways, Macca, in which, look, the Bulldogs get out of this without having to give up too much. but Port Adelaide gets a better draft hand in the next two or three years than, let's face it, the deal I was going to do with the Western Bulldogs.

00:05:33
Speaker 3: Well, we know they've got some players they need to take over the next couple of years, haven't they, in that sense? So they're really important to get. That's why this trade period is so crucial for them, absolutely crucial.

00:05:42
Speaker 4: And it's unbelievably complicated as well, but that's why there are a lot of clubs out there that would want pick five because of the points value. They would also want pick four because of the points value. So right now, the Western Bulldogs will be thinking to themselves, is there a way in which we can effectively just offer this.

00:05:57
Speaker 5: Bloke $ 18 million.

00:05:58
Speaker 4: Port Adelaide takes pick five as compensation, and we got off scot-free. There's probably another side deal in the works here, but the Bulldogs would still be extremely confident they get their man, and they'd be thinking to themselves, yeah, I wonder whether there's a way where we don't have to absorb Todd Marshall and, of course, him in our salary cap. And we can, let's face it, have Zach Butters and off we go towards the Premiership next year.

00:06:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, there's a lot of multiple clubs who are going to be involved in this for sure.

00:06:23
Speaker 3: Both clubs have actually said they're out there willing, talking today, you know, and have been doing it for a number of weeks now. And we'll continue to do that. They want to get it done quickly as possible. But what the Bulldogs are saying also is no to English. He is definitely staying emphatic. I think you've reported this several times, Ralphie, that he's actually staying. But they couldn't have been any more emphatic today. You obviously reported, Ed, that the GWS Giants were absolutely keen as mustard on him as well. He's staying at the Dogs. And the interesting one is Rory Lobb will stay as well. Rory Lobb has been talked about. St Kilda and others have, you know, said to have had some interest in Rory Lobb. But the Dogs have said emphatically today Rory Lobb is staying and that he wants to stay at the Western Bulldogs in 2027.

00:07:02
Speaker 4: Yeah, and yet Lenny Hayes said, look, it's not completely out of the picture. We'll still keep chasing that one. So that's what happens in the first day of trade period. A lot of big statements don't always obviously come true.

00:07:12
Speaker 1: There's been a development in the Jack Viney tug-of-war, Ralphie.

00:07:14
Speaker 5: Someone's dropped the rope. And it's a surprise as well.

00:07:16
Speaker 4: Essendon says we're not interested in Jack Viney or more to the point we're prioritising young kids coming through. Jack Bowes is someone that, of course, they'll try and do a deal with with Geelong. But as much as he'd be an incredible cultural piece, as much as he'd really help with our leadership, we just feel like we want to bring young kids in. I do think that Darcy Parrish and Jack Viney in that midfield, I think that, look, neither of them are elite kicks.

00:07:38
Speaker 5: They're both, of course, elite characters. I'm just not sure that that would have worked.

00:07:41
Speaker 4: So you don't bring in two young draftees, which they did last year in Sharpe and Robey, and then not give yourself a chance to play them.

00:07:48
Speaker 5: And so that's a big decision there.

00:07:50
Speaker 1: There's something you have to give at Hawthorne. We've heard about Aidan Shoe, but potentially having his head turned by Gold Coast now.

00:07:56
Speaker 5: What's the latest with that?

00:07:57
Speaker 4: Well, he was just crestfallen, the fact that his name was even mentioned in these trade dispatches. But that was a couple of weeks back. We reported that he wouldn't be going anywhere.

00:08:04
Speaker 1: He's had his head turned, and I think he's aware of the fact that He is probably sixth in the pecking order.

00:08:09
Speaker 5: That's okay. He's only a first-year player. He's the youngest player in the draft.

00:08:12
Speaker 4: But I think Gold Coast has whispered enough sweet nothings to him to just be a little bit fascinated by it. So he'll go up and have a discussion with Gold Coast. And I think that that means that he's clearly open to it. I don't know how much. But you know what? When Damien Hardwick says to you, mate, I think you're the next Tom Lynch. I think you're a superstar of the game. I think that you can play next year. And he sees his path ahead that's maybe three or four years down the track at Hawthorne of getting a regular senior opportunity. I think that's got to be really appetising to him. And, of course, then they would do a separate deal. It's not officially a side deal. But then, of course, we would see Gold Coast taking pick seven as compensation for Ben King. And then another deal, which might be fair price. And that would be a pretty good outcome for Hawthorne to get Merritt and Ben King without a massive draft outlay.

00:09:01
Speaker 1: Macca Carlton is oddly confident I reckon that they can get Lockie Whitfield and even still have the points to match that bid for Cody Walker early in the draft do you think it can happen?

00:09:11
Speaker 3: No I think it can happen and they're getting increasingly confident that it can the issue at the moment is dealing with GWS and also with Lockie Whitfield there's obviously been a number of discussions and Chris Davies was quite clear today in that they want Lockie Whitfield they think he'd suit their fast running game they're trying to build under Josh Fraser they're trying to change some things some good kicks of the ball Ralphie that was an area that they really want to look at, and Cody Walker is the number one priority at the moment.

00:09:34
Speaker 2: They're convinced that will happen.

00:09:36
Speaker 3: They're dealing with Lockie Whitfield, and they've got to twist his arm.

00:09:39
Speaker 2: He's keen to come, I think, Ralphie.

00:09:40
Speaker 3: I think there's no doubt about that, but he hasn't actually said that to Carlton yet, so they're trying to push really hard with GWS.

00:09:47
Speaker 2: I think he'd be outstanding for them, I think, Ralphie.

00:09:50
Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think what helps GWS, and they've said on the record, we want a first-round draft pick, but there is a way in which they can get up ahead of.

00:09:57
Speaker 5: An Ethan Matthews pick.

00:09:58
Speaker 4: Now, Ethan Matthews is a really crafty mid he's probably picked 10 or around the mark there, but if they can secure a pick ahead of him in the draft, they're going to need points for Ethan Matthews, because of course a bid would come after their initial selection. Now, Carlton is going to have to use both of their first selections, their Carlton pick and the Sydney pick. But then there's a couple of mid-20s picks that they have.

00:10:17
Speaker 2: 23, 24, that sort of bracket.

00:10:19
Speaker 5: So those picks have points.

00:10:20
Speaker 4: So it may well be that they give 23 and 24 for a player who will play at 32 next year for Lockie Whitfield.

00:10:27
Speaker 5: And he's on a reasonable deal. That's about fair.

00:10:29
Speaker 4: Two early second-round picks for Lockie Whitfield. You get the salary off your books. You take not only one of the top seven players in the draft, but also... Ethan Matthews, that's going somewhere for a very young GWS midfield.

00:10:41
Speaker 3: And I wouldn't say they're all chips in for next year, Carlton, but they're close to. They're actually going quite experienced. They realise some of the shortfalls they've got on their list. They've been pretty open and honest about that. One little joke that Chris Davies had, there is some real interest in Chris Fagan, obviously the three-time premiership coach, coming back to Melbourne.

00:10:58
Speaker 2: We know he wants to work in football.

00:11:00
Speaker 3: Carlton said they're prepared to give up a first-rounder for Chris Fagan, which would be outstanding. So they'll have some discussions. I think there's six clubs, Ralphie, that are pretty keen on Chris Fagan. Anyone would want to welcome him in through the door, but the Carlton Football Club is certainly one of them. They want to boost some of the support around Josh Fraser.

00:11:17
Speaker 1: Is it best package, do you think, he'll consider? Does he have allegiances to particular clubs, or where do you think it sits?

00:11:22
Speaker 2: Oh, I don't know that it's a money thing.

00:11:24
Speaker 3: I think he will want to, you know, and I don't think he'll want to be too, he'll want to be invested, but not too invested.

00:11:28
Speaker 2: He's had 10.

00:11:30
Speaker 3: Years of footy, so he'll want to be invested without going over the top in a huge role. Carlton would be a good fit for a young Josh Fraser. Fascinating to see where that goes with Chris Fagan.

00:11:41
Speaker 4: I think it's a coaching mentorship. Obviously, it's a highly paid coaching mentorship. The last thing he wants to be is the football boss. The football boss is the hardest decision or the hardest role in football. Your phone is never off. There's never a time where you feel like you can get away for a day or two. So if it was a club like North Melbourne or a club, not Essendon, now that they have, of course, John Longmire, but where you're doing significant work, where you're coaching the coaches, where that Neil Balm style, really steady hand at the tiller, where you're very well paid, but you're not doing a million hours. I think there's going to be a club out there that's going to really offer him that really bespoke role, and I hope he takes it on with a young coach and imparts so much of the wisdom that he has, not just the 10 years at the.

00:12:21
Speaker 5: Brisbane Lions, but a lifetime in football.

00:12:23
Speaker 1: A couple more tidbits before we go. Bobby Hill came out last week and said that he wants to play in the AFL in 2027. He's looking for a chance... add another club, but it doesn't look like a suitor has emerged yet, Maka.

00:12:34
Speaker 3: Well, it won't be Fremantle, I can tell you that. It's unlikely to be anyone at this stage. I think the general consensus is it's a wait and see with Bobby. Let him train with a team over in summer months. Fremantle are on the lookout for a small forward. Of course, Sam Swickowski, who finished eighth in the best in Ferris, has retired. So David Wall's made it very clear today they're in the hunt for a small forward. But he also said that with Bobby Hill, it just seems to, from a Fremantle perspective, it's too early. They want to make sure he's happy, healthy, and fit and firing and ready to go. And so it won't be this off-season with the Fremantle Dockers. But, Ralphie, would some club, do you think, out there, you know, take a chance in the off-season to let him train with them?

00:13:10
Speaker 4: I think you follow the trail of breadcrumbs here. And I think those breadcrumbs right now are leading to Morabin. Now, it doesn't mean that he's certainly, by any means, in fact, he's probably less likely. But I think that a club is going to offer him a pre-season. Now, Lenny Hayes said today, I was at GWS, of course, when he was there. I'm really thrilled by the fact that he's working hard on himself on and off the field. And he's keen to get back into football. I think that obviously the Brad Hill connection there. He was at Brad Hill's 300th celebration. I think the likes of Gabby Allen and Stephen Silvani are exactly those kind of guys who'd say, we can't offer you a list spot. We can offer you a summer though. And you think about that young St Kilda forward line. He'd be perfect in it. There's a heck of a lot of work for him to do. But I think that he has enough talent in football that people offer second, third and fourth chances.

00:13:54
Speaker 5: And St Kilda might be that football club.

00:13:57
Speaker 3: Be some sort of redemption story if it could happen at some stage it may not be this year but it would be some sort of redemption story.

00:14:02
Speaker 1: Collingwood this boss justin lepich said that the pies had no qualms with with bobby trying to find a new club next year they obviously settled their contract in a way that makes it possible for him to play on and they said there'd be there'd be no hard feelings i'd rather see him happy healthy and playing at another club so it was all goodwill from collingwood there uh the pies did say that they're open to trading dan houston um justin lepich uh did not rule out listening to an approach from another club. He said there hadn't been an approach to Collingwood about Houston, but it's a really interesting one because he ended up coming fourth in the Best.

00:14:32
Speaker 2: In Ferris on Friday night.

00:14:32
Speaker 3: Yeah, and I was there on Friday night, and there was a little bit of a hush went around when he was announced as the fourth Best in Ferris. I think it surprised a few people. He had a much better year than the previous year.

00:14:42
Speaker 5: Does he deserve to be in the top ten in the Best in Ferris?

00:14:44
Speaker 3: I think he deserves to be in the top ten, sort of the back end of the top ten, but I thought four was pretty high. But as we know with Best in Ferris, we've seen that. in certain best and fairest over the, you know, I think there were some strange calls in best and fairest this year.

00:14:57
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I.

00:14:58
Speaker 4: Think what it illustrates again is that Collingwood's open for business, so of course they've done the deal now for Scott Pennerbury, that was pick 65 that they'll get for that.

00:15:05
Speaker 5: Jesse Hogan's pick 70-ish.

00:15:07
Speaker 2: Locking Neal on Friday.

00:15:08
Speaker 5: Yeah, Locking Neal on Friday.

00:15:10
Speaker 4: And so I think what their view is, is that if we could get some first round picks for the likes of Jordan Ngoi and potentially Dan Houston were open to it, I think they know it's not likely to happen there, but I think the only thing is when you shop those players, not aggressively, but you throw them out there as well. As Jordan said to us before, look, we know it's an industry with lots of mature people, but it's hard to go back from there as well.

00:15:31
Speaker 2: It is.

00:15:31
Speaker 4: So, you know, whether St Kilda gets multiple early picks for Rowan Marshall and is able to move.

00:15:36
Speaker 5: On as well, they haven't made that big gain right now.

00:15:39
Speaker 4: Whether they feel like that he would be perfect for them, what it shows to us, it's very, very early in trade period. And 10 days in, we'll be shocked at some of the things we said today. But, it shows you that there's some big names out there like Degoe and like Dan Houston, and you never know where those players might go in the end. Big watch on both of them because Richmond and Collingwood are some way apart on Jadon Short at the moment, according to Justin Lepich, and the Pies also need to open up a list spot for him. So a big watch on Houston and Degoe.

00:16:03
Speaker 1: That's all we have time for with day one of the AFL trade period, but you can follow all the news on the Code Sports and Herald Sun websites. We'll be bringing you all the action as the player movement period heats up with its high point on Wednesday night next week.