Get all the latest news in the trade, free agency and draft landscape every week in Inside Trading, AFL.com.au's dedicated column for player movement. Find out the latest on contracts, deals, trades, draftees, rules, agents and who is going where from the AFL.com.au team.
DOUBT CAST ON DEMONS DEAL
THE UNCERTAINTY facing Melbourne's off-season has thrown Dan Houston's move to the Dees into question, with other Victorian clubs expected to enter the race for the Port Adelaide star.
Houston has eyed a return to Victoria, where he has a strong pull back home, in recent months, with Melbourne his fancied landing spot. Rival clubs expected the move to be all but locked in.
However, the Demons' tumble down the ladder out of the finals race, coupled with list uncertainty on superstar midfielder Christian Petracca, has raised doubts over Houston's preference for the Dees.
It is a significant twist that opens the door for other clubs to enter the conversation for Houston if he continues to pursue a move back to Victoria or could even see him end up remaining at Alberton Oval if no club is willing to offer considerable draft capital to make a trade happen.
The Power have been targeting Greater Western Sydney's unrestricted free agent pair Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming, even before Houston's Victorian intentions were clear.
They would need strong draft return to part with Houston, who is contracted for four more years and enjoying career-best form over the past two seasons.
Richmond (pick one), North Melbourne (two), St Kilda (five), Melbourne (six), Essendon (nine), Carlton (10), Hawthorn (11) and Geelong (15) are the Victorian clubs currently holding first-round picks, although the Hawks' selection will be the centrepiece of their offer to West Coast for Tom Barrass. – Callum Twomey
TOP DRAFTEE SET TO MAKE DECISION
SOUTH Australian draft prospect Alex Dodson is set to choose pursuing a football career over basketball.
The talented dual sportsman has juggled both sports in his junior career, having been a member of the state junior basketball program at the under-18 championships last year and training with Adelaide's NBL club the 36ers.
The 203cm prospect has also represented Australia's under-18 team in basketball.
However, Dodson is expected to pursue a football career and shapes as a potential top-20 selection in this year's draft as the leading ruck prospect. Dodson will test at the Telstra AFL Draft Combine in October and clubs anticipate him to be nominating for the draft in November.
He starred at the under-18 carnival for South Australia and won All-Australian honours as the best ruckman in the championships and has taken that form back to Sturt's under-18 side.
He had 32 disposals, 34 hitouts and 10 clearances against Woodville-West Torrens two weeks ago and backed it up with 20 disposals and 32 hitouts last week against Central District.
The 18-year-old's mobility, ball-handling for a ruck prospect and skills have shone this year as he has risen up draft boards and his football call will be a coup for the code. – Callum Twomey
BOMBERS ASSISTANT EYES OPTIONS
ESSENDON VFL coach Blake Caracella could make a return to Richmond as an assistant coach.
Caracella, who is out of contract at Essendon after steering its VFL team this season, is understood to have had discussions with the Tigers on a possible return to Punt Road.
The 2000 Bombers premiership player is assessing coaching options for 2025.
Richmond is surveying its assistant candidates after the exit of former Carlton coach David Teague last month left at least one vacancy on Adem Yze's coaching panel.
Caracella has been an assistant coach at Collingwood, Geelong and then Richmond, where he joined in 2017 and served as an offence coach in two of the Tigers' premiership campaigns.
He then joined the Bombers' coaching panel in 2020 and has been at the club since, including taking the reins for a senior game in 2022 when then senior coach Ben Rutten was unavailable under health and safety protocols.
The 187-gamer, who also won a premiership with Brisbane and finished his career with Collingwood, will coach what is likely to be Essendon VFL's final game on Sunday.
In the team will be his son, Noah, who will make his VFL debut after playing this season with the Geelong Falcons. Noah is eligible to join the Bombers as a father-son selection this year. – Callum Twomey
CROWS YOUNG GUN PENS NEW DEAL
ADELAIDE young gun Riley Thilthorpe has agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension to remain at the Crows until he becomes a free agent at the end of 2028.
The 2020 pick No.2 wasn’t out-of-contract until the end of next season, but has committed early after making an eye-catching return from knee surgery over the past five weeks.
Inside Trading revealed last month the Crows were in talks on the new deal.
The Crows were keen to extend the 200cm forward for even longer but can now turn their attention to a busy off-season ahead at West Lakes.
Thilthorpe signed a three-year extension halfway through his first season in 2021 and has now followed the lead of Sydney spearhead Logan McDonald – who was selected two picks after him – by signing through to free agency at the end of his eighth season.
The 22-year-old missed the first four months of the season after suffering a torn meniscus in a pre-season practice match against West Coast in March.
But since returning as the sub against St Kilda in round 18, Thilthorpe has kicked 11 goals in five appearances to emerge as one of the most exciting young key forwards in the AFL.
Thilthorpe combined with Darcy Fogarty last weekend for seven majors in the win over the Western Bulldogs to build momentum into the off-season.
Adelaide has also offered key defender Mark Keane a significant long-term contract amid rival interest from not only Collingwood, but other Victorian clubs.
The Irishman signed a two-year contract extension in the week he made his first appearance for the Crows in the round 20 Showdown win over Port Adelaide.
Keane has clearly risen in value since then, playing 25 of 26 games to prove he can play regular senior football in a defensive key post.
The Crows' new offer might not be enough to prevent Keane from requesting a trade in October, but they haven't just let the situation ride, given the former Pie's form has exceeded the rookie contract he is playing on in 2024. – Josh Gabelich
DONS TALL WON'T RECEIVE NEW DEAL
LUCKLESS Essendon tall forward Jaiden Hunter won't receive another contract for 2025 after undergoing back surgery.
Hunter has been informed he won't get another deal at the club after an unfortunate injury run since arriving at the Bombers as a mid-season pick last year.
Just weeks after landing at the Bombers, the Perth tall forward was discovered to have a back stress fracture and missed the rest of the VFL season.
Then over pre-season he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a training session and was ruled out for the 2024 season.
The 22-year-old posted on his Instagram account overnight that he had required back surgery in Western Australia and that he was having a break from the game.
"Had almost no luck and a lot of frustration with my body so I'm taking a very small break from football to finish these two rehabs at my own pace and get myself full right. I'll be back again playing next season even better than I was," Hunter wrote. – Callum Twomey
TIGERS MAKE BID TO KEEP FLAG STAR
RICHMOND has made a play to retain midfielder Jack Graham, though his future remains in the air amid significant interest from West Coast.
As revealed on AFL.com.au's trade and draft show Gettable last week, the Eagles have tabled a four-year deal to Graham in an effort to lure him across as an unrestricted free agent.
But the Tigers have also extended a contract offer to keep Graham and remain hopeful he will still commit his future at Punt Road.
It's understood the Richmond offer is not as long as West Coast's four-year bid, but the Tigers would like to keep Graham ahead of an important off-season for the rebuilding club.
Richmond, which currently holds the No.1 pick in the draft, is bracing to lose Liam Baker to either Fremantle or West Coast while contracted stars including Dan Rioli and Shai Bolton are also mulling interest from rival clubs.
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Rioli, who is contracted until 2027, could land at Gold Coast under his former coach Damien Hardwick while Bolton, who has a deal until 2028, is keen to get to Fremantle.
Graham, who met with Port Adelaide while still under contract at Richmond in 2022, is an unrestricted free agent this year following 129 games for the Tigers. He was a member of the club's premiership teams in 2017 and 2020. – Riley Beveridge
CROWS BEST POSITIONED FOR DEE
ADELAIDE is in the box seat to land Melbourne premiership player Alex Neal-Bullen, who has requested a trade back to South Australia.
The Crows are considered the frontrunners for the hard-working half-forward, who is keen to move back home for personal reasons to be closer with family despite having two years to run on his deal.
Adelaide is viewed as the favourite for Neal-Bullen ahead of Port Adelaide, with Neal-Bullen's trade value set to be discussed soon between the Dees after they confirmed his departure on Wednesday.
The Crows hold a first-round pick, second-round pick (tied to Melbourne), third-round pick and fourth-round pick this year as well as their full set of 2025 picks.
The 28-year-old Neal-Bullen has been a constant for the Demons since the start of 2021, playing 94 of a possible 95 games in that period, including their 2021 Grand Final win. – Callum Twomey
GIANTS UP OFFER FOR MIDFIELDER
GREATER Western Sydney has upped its offer to keep in-form midfielder James Peatling, but a rush of clubs remain keen on the mid-season success story.
St Kilda, Melbourne and West Coast are among the long list of clubs with interest in the 23-year-old, who now has a two-year offer in front of him to remain at the Giants.
Peatling has played 15 games this season in his best year at AFL level and on Saturday was given the full 10 votes judged best on ground by both Adam Kingsley and Chris Fagan in the Giants' come-from-behind win over Brisbane.
He had 20 disposals, nine clearances, six tackles and six inside-50s against the Lions, having bounced back from being the Giants' substitute for three games between round 15-18.
Peatling joined the club at the 2021 mid-season draft intake after being overlooked for two drafts then joining the Giants' VFL program. – Callum Twomey
EXCITING PIE WEIGHS OPTIONS
COLLINGWOOD has tabled a contract offer to lively small forward Joe Richards, who is weighing interest from multiple clubs including Port Adelaide.
Richards made an eye-catching start to his Pies career earlier this season, breaking through for eight senior games before his campaign was curtailed midway through the year by a fractured foot.
The zippy attacker has attracted rival interest from across the competition, primarily from the Power, and is expected to mull his options over the final fortnight of the season.
Richards, a former schoolteacher, became one of the stories of the 2022 draft when he was selected by Collingwood as a 22-year-old following an outstanding campaign with the Wangaratta Magpies in the Ovens and Murray Football League.
He is one of a number of small forwards being considered by rival clubs with Carlton's Matt Owies, Sydney's Jacob Konstanty and West Coast's Liam Ryan among those attracting interest. – Riley Beveridge
CATS KEEN TO LOCK IN MATURE-AGE SENSATION
GEELONG has moved quickly to lock away mature-age recruit Lawson Humphries, offering the West Australian a two-year contract extension.
The Cats are working through a deal that could keep Humphries at Kardinia Park until at least the end of 2027.
Humphries has the option to rollover a third season now, under the new collective bargaining agreement, but could accept Geelong’s offer of two years.
The 21-year-old has played the past seven games for Chris Scott after earning a debut against Essendon in round 16, producing eye-catching moments with his kicking skills on both feet.
Geelong selected Humphries with pick No.63 – the second-last overall selection and the club's sixth pick – in last November's Telstra AFL Draft.
Humphries opted against signing with a manager ahead of the draft but has since signed with Tom Seccull from Hemisphere Management. – Josh Gabelich
TIGERS' NO.1 AUDITIONS CONTINUE
RICHMOND has looked at auditioning more potential No.1 draft picks through its VFL program as the Tigers look set for a bumper draft crop, with the club attempting to get classy midfielder Murphy Reid into the team as well.
The Tigers will have top pick contender Harvey Langford play for their VFL side this weekend, following midfield pair Finn O'Sullivan and Jagga Smith in recent weeks.
Smith and O'Sullivan will return to play for the Oakleigh Chargers this weekend, with Smith's three-game run for Richmond now done. O'Sullivan may play one more game for the Tigers but it is to be determined.
The Tigers requested Sandringham Dragons talent Reid to play for them as well in the VFL, however he will play for the Dragons this week. His VFL affiliate is the Sandringham Zebras, so if Reid was to play at the level it would have been for them.
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The Tigers have also had interest in getting Eastern Ranges midfielder Josh Smillie to feature in their VFL side however, like Reid with the Zebras, the Ranges have ties to Box Hill Hawks. Smillie will play out the year with the Ranges.
With the Richmond injury list cutting into the Tigers' VFL squad as well, the club is able to ask for AFL approval to have potential draftees play for them to fill their team line-ups even if their Coates Talent League regions don't match up as affiliates with the Tigers.
Richmond has used the opportunity to trial three of the top contenders for the No.1 choice. – Callum Twomey
EX-ROO ON RADAR
FORMER North Melbourne player Thomas Murphy has caught the eye of scouts as a potential mature-age recruit after an impressive run of form in the VFL.
Murphy was delisted at the end of 2020 by the Kangaroos after three seasons and nine games.
But this year, playing as an powerful inside midfielder for Frankston, Murphy has put himself back on the map after progressing from a half-back role.
The 189cm midfielder, who has averaged 23 disposals and five tackles this season in the VFL, had a standout game recently for the Dolphins with 27 disposals and 2.2 against Casey Demons.
The 26-year-old wasn't on the list of more than 60 players to win invites to test at the state Telstra AFL Draft Combine in Victoria, but has been attracting interest as clubs survey the market for experience. – Callum Twomey