Superstar may turn down $18m offer to join premiership fancy
This year’s AFL trade and free agency period could be one of the biggest ever, with a plethora of superstar names all likely to move on.
Port Adelaide champion Zak Butters headlines those names, with Geelong, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs seen as the frontrunners to secure his services and potentially make him the highest-paid player in the game’s history.
Port Adelaide star Zak Butters. AFL Photos via Getty Images
With that in mind, we’ve picked out 10 of the biggest names potentially up for grabs come the end of the season and provided the latest on where they sit, starting with Butters.
Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
The Port Adelaide superstar is certainly out the door, the question is where. Richmond has the most money on the table at reportedly $18m or $2.25m per season over eight years. They also hold pick two, which would be the best pick available for trade.
The Western Bulldogs have generally been seen as the frontrunner for a full year now, given he grew up supporting them, and they have the salary cap space to pay him whatever he wants.
However, a Fox Footy report over the weekend suggested Geelong might just be in the lead as we approach the final month of the season.
Perennial contenders, the Cats can offer the regional lifestyle and have never shied away from targeting the game’s best players.
Butters is a restricted free agent, with Port Adelaide adamant they will match any offer that comes for him, forcing his suitor to trade multiple first rounders for him. Whether the Cats have the ammunition to get a trade done is the question. It’s what ultimately cost them Charlie Curnow last year.
Zac Bailey (Brisbane)
The Brisbane star forward is the kind of player every team is looking for as that dynamic mid-forward who hits the scoreboard.
He reportedly remains on the fence about whether to stay with the Lions or head to Adelaide, who have offered him a contract worth $10m over seven years.
Brisbane cannot match the money, so for Bailey it comes down to loyalty versus cash and returning to South Australia, where he played junior footy.
Zach Merrett (Essendon)
Completing our trilogy of differently spelled Zacs is Essendon star Zach Merrett, who will seemingly attempt to force his way out of the Bombers and join Hawthorn for a second straight season.
The Bombers denied the trade last year, holding their then-captain to his contract and turning down pick 10, two picks in the 20s and depth midfielder Henry Hustwaite.
With Merrett a year older, but still contracted through the end of 2027, the Dons still have the right to refuse any trades and hold him, but will likely relent this time around as they enter a new era under a new coach.
This will make him the first Essendon captain to ever play for Hawthorn (or vice versa). Another notch in their storied rivalry.
Ben King (Gold Coast)
Speaking of Hawthorn, they will attempt to bring in both Merrett and Gold Coast key forward Ben King in this trade period.
King was seemingly very close to signing an extension with the Suns earlier in the season, but his partner’s desire to return to Victoria and the club’s horrific slide down the ladder will ensure his exit.
Hawthorn is reportedly the team that has lured his services, and they will slot him in next to Jack Gunston, Mabior Chol and Mitch Lewis in 2027.
King is a restricted free agent and the Suns could match the offer, but they’re likely better off letting him walk which would trigger band one compensation, handing them pick six in the draft.
Lachie Neale met with Collingwood this month. AFL Photos
Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
The Lachie Neale saga has dragged on across the year from an off-field perspective, but it remains unclear where he will play his footy in 2027.
Collingwood is reportedly the frontrunner to land the dual Brownlow Medallist, but with his children now living in Perth following a public split with his wife Jules, West Coast remains in the mix.
The Eagles reportedly have strong interest in Neale and can match or trump any offer the Pies can put on the table.
For Neale, who has accomplished everything in the game, it really comes down to where he wants to live next year.
Toby Greene (GWS)
GWS captain Toby Greene is yet to sign an extension and the likelihood of him finishing his career in Victoria appears to be growing by the day.
Geelong has reportedly put a three-year deal to the veteran forward to come play alongside former teammate Jeremy Cameron.
Greene, arguably the defining player of the Giants’ 15 years in the competition, would leave a huge cultural hole for the club, but would feel entitled to chase a premiership in the final years of his career.
Jesse Hogan (GWS)
The Giants could lose a couple of veterans in this trade period, with Jesse Hogan reportedly looking elsewhere in the hopes of finding contract security.
The key forward has battled injuries since winning the 2024 Coleman Medal and has reportedly not been happy with the offer GWS has put to him.
Gold Coast, to replace King, and Collingwood, are seen as the frontrunners for Hogan if he chooses to leave.
Jake Stringer (GWS)
Another Giant, Jake Stringer is reportedly on the outer at the club after a business venture of his went south.
Stringer has had an excellent season and will be in the mix for the All-Australian squad, but may need to find a fourth club in 2027.
Collingwood has been strongly linked, as they seemingly are to every player in their 30s, but there will likely be other suitors if this ramps up.
Calsher Dear (Hawthorn)
With Hawthorn bringing in King, coupled with their key forward depth, father-son youngster Calsher Dear may be squeezed out the door.
The talented key forward showed a ton of promise in his first season, but has battled injuries and form since.
Melbourne, Geelong and Carlton are reportedly said to be quite interested and in the race for his services.
St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)
The St Kilda star requested a trade to Geelong last season, but the Saints held the contracted ruckman to his deal and refused to move him, despite bringing in Tom De Koning on one of the most lucrative deals in league history.
Marshall remains contracted for 2027, but the ruck split has largely not worked for the Saints this year, and he would likely be keen to get out once again.
Geelong can’t possibly get every deal done, but the likes of Richmond, GWS and Carlton may show interest given their ruck depth.
The Saints will likely play hard ball again.
Others to note
Nick Murray (Adelaide) - Linked to North Melbourne
Jordon Butts (Adelaide) - Linked to Western Bulldogs
Luke Pedlar (Adelaide) - Linked to Essendon
Ollie Hollands (Carlton) - Linked to North Melbourne
Jordan Ridley (Essendon) - Linked to Gold Coast, Brisbane
Nathan O’Driscoll (Fremantle)
Gryan Miers (Geelong) - Linked to Carlton
Kieren Briggs (GWS) - Linked to Richmond
Mitch Georgiades (Port Adelaide) - Linked to West Coast
Joel Amartey (Sydney) - Linked to Carlton
Buku Khamis (Western Bulldogs) - Linked to Carlton
