Blues busy, new target for Magpies, raid on Crows: AFL trade news wrap

We've reached the final round of the AFL season, meaning 10 clubs will turn their attention to the off-season as early as Monday.

While these clubs are set to assess where things went wrong in 2022, contending clubs are already looming as major players in this year's trade market.

The past week has seen Carlton emerge as interested suitors for a pair of interstate players, with a handful of Crows gaining the attention of Victorian clubs.

Meanwhile, a Saints veteran could head to Arden Street, and we list five potential targets for the Suns.

Saints veteran open to leaving Moorabbin, Roos interested

St Kilda veteran Brad Hill is reportedly open to leaving Moorabbin at season's end, potentially joining a fourth AFL club.

Hill is currently contracted to the Saints until the end of 2025, having joined St Kilda on a long-term deal priced at roughly $900,000 per season at the end of 2019.

Now, nearing the completion of his third season with the Saints and the 11th of his career, Hill is assessing his options for 2023 and beyond, according to AFL Media's Cal Twomey.

“He has three years to go on his contract, but my understanding is he’s open to a potential trade which of course would be his fourth AFL club across his career,” Twomey told SEN.

“He’s had three years at the Saints and been shuffled around in different roles. He really hasn’t got going, clearly, to his previous form."

According to News Corp, North Melbourne is believed to be making a play for Hill, with the Roos potentially reuniting the veteran midfielder with his former coach Alastair Clarkson.

FULL STORY: Hill linked with North Melbourne move

Blues tipped as front-runners for Dockers winger

The Carlton football club has been revealed as the front runner for Fremantle winger Blake Acres.

Although many clubs are reportedly after Acres, Carlton is in the box seat, according to SEN WA's Kim Hagdorn.

Blake Acres during the 2022 AFL Round 19 match between Richmond and Fremantle (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

“Blake Acres looks more likely to take a deal elsewhere," Hagdorn said on SEN WA Drive.

"There’s several deals on offer, three and some of four years, for Blake Acres to leave Fremantle.

"He could well be going to Carlton. They’ve jumped to the front of the race."

Acres is out of contract at the end of this year and is yet to put pen to paper at Fremantle.

Dogs duo linked to Kennel exit

Jason Johannisen and Zaine Cordy do not have a locked-in contract at the Western Bulldogs next year and may find themselves elsewhere in 2023.

The pair are both free agents and have the opportunity to move on and secure a better deal. It may lead to an opportunity for a longer contract with better money than the Dogs can offer.

The seemingly imminent recruitment of Rory Lobb and Liam Jones has made a spot for contracts tighter at the Kennel, as reported by The Herald Sun.

Coach Luke Beveridge is looking to fill that key defender position at the Dogs, and Cordy is not high on the list. Jones returning to the club makes the decision to re-sign the key defender much more difficult.

Beveridge has been open about re-signing Johannisen, however, he will be looking to try and get the most out of what is left of his AFL career.

FULL STORY: Bulldogs pair could face chop

Young Crow tipped to join Carlton

Contracted Adelaide defender Fischer McAsey has been touted to join Carlton at season's end, with the Blues looking to bolster their key defensive stocks.

McAsey, an East Brighton product, is currently signed to the Crows until the end of next year after turning his back on reported interest from Victorian clubs early into last season to re-sign on a two-year deal.

Remaining out of favour at West Lakes, McAsey is again gaining links to a return to his home state of Victoria, with Carlton emerging as a landing spot for the 198cm-tall backman.

According to RSN's Mark Stevens, McAsey is highly likely to venture to Ikon Park ahead of 2023.

Adelaide Crows Training Session — MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: Fischer McAsey of the Crows marks in front of Darcy Fogarty of the Crows during an Adelaide Crows AFL training session at AAMI Park on May 25, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

"Fischer McAsey, Pick 6 2019 draft, he's played 10 games at Adelaide, can't quite get into the Adelaide side, it's been a mystery," Stevens said. "Just hasn't had a run at it.

"A Melbourne boy, you can write this one down... Carlton, they're all over Fischer McAsey. I believed he'll be at the Blues next year.

"They need some more key defensive stocks. I think they need quality defenders... they probably need one more."

McAsey has been utilised as a forward target throughout this season at SANFL level, booting 15 goals from 16 appearances.

FULL STORY: McAsey on Blues' radar

Melican open to leaving Sydney

Sydney Swans defender Lewis Melican is reportedly open to being traded to a rival club, despite having one more year to serve on his three-year contract at the Swans.

With Paddy and Tom McCartin impressing in Sydney's key defensive roles, Melican has struggled to break into the side since signing that three-year deal in 2020.

Melican is shaping as an ideal option for clubs that are seeking sturdy, tall backmen.

"Lewis Melican has been off the radar a little bit since the McCartin brothers have held down the key defensive post," AFL.com.au's Callum Twomey told SEN Breakfast this week.

"He was a key part of their side in previous years, but hasn’t played this year.

"He’s open to a trade and clubs are aware of that. Key defenders are worth their weight in gold and clubs are really searching for them."

Since being drafted as a rookie at the end of 2014, Melican has played 52 games for the Swans.

FULL STORY: Rival aware of Swans defender's situation

Pies setting sights on Crows swingman

Adelaide Crows defender Billy Frampton, who is uncontracted beyond this season, has begun to develop interest from rival Victorian clubs ahead of the trade period.

He has amassed a versatile 24-game career, being used as a ruckman, key forward and key backman, and it is understood that Collingwood has set its sights firmly on the 200cm-player to load up on their meagre stock of key position players, according to AFL.com.au.

A move to lure Frampton to the Magpies would add intrigue to the future of Brodie Grundy, who is currently contracted at Collingwood until 2027, as he becomes the trade target of several clubs, including Melbourne.

Frampton's six-game 2022 campaign has yielded an average of 13.7 kicks and 4.3 handballs, largely up on his career average, but he has seemingly fallen out of favour at the Crows.

Billy Frampton during the AFL match between Essendon and Adelaide, Round 4, 2022 (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media

He began his career at cross-town rival Port Adelaide after being drafted in 2014, where he played three games across five seasons. He was then traded to the Crows for a future fourth-round pick, and has played 21 games thus far.

READ MORE: Frampton on Collingwood's radar

Breust gaining attention of rival clubs

Luke Breust's future at Hawthorn remains up in the air despite being contracted for next season, per reports from AFL Media's Callum Twomey.

Despite having a deal with the club for 2023, the two-time All-Australian is reportedly keen to play beyond his 13th season, leading Twomey to speculate that the veteran could be open to extending his career at another club.

“There’s a real watch this space on the Hawks star,” Twomey said to AFL Media.

“Last year he knocked back interest from the Giants in a deadline day decision.

“He is contract for next year, but rivals are aware he is keen to extend his AFL career beyond 2023. That could mean there are clubs who are willing to look at him during this trade period.

“I think other clubs will come knocking this time around.”

The Giants had an interest in Breust during last year's trade period after the veteran was reportedly put on the trade table by the rebuilding Hawks, but remained in brown and gold and continues to serve as a valuable leader on and off the field.

Dogs sniffing around unsigned Crow

The Western Bulldogs are reportedly keen on acquiring the services of Adelaide small-forward James Rowe.

Rowe is out-of-contract with the Crows and has been in and out of the side all year, and could be picked up by Western Bulldogs as a delisted free agent if not offered a new contract.

According to SEN SA's Andrew Hayes, the Dogs are ready to come again for the young Crows forward.

"James Rowe is probably not going to get a contract at the Crows, that's the word," Hayes said.

"The Dogs are red hot into him, they were going to draft him, hence why the Crows had to nominate Ugle-Hagan to get rid of most of the Dogs' points.

"But now it looks like they are going to pounce on James Rowe."

Rowe would add to the healthy competition of small forwards at the Bulldogs, with Mitch Wallis, Laitham Vandermeer, Rhylee West, Jason Johannisen and Cody Weightman all competing for a spot in the side.

READ MORE: Rowe linked with Whitten Oval move

Five targets for the Suns

The general feeling around the Suns is that they're on the precipice of something truly great, with a host of their major stars putting pen-to-paper on new deals.

One of the main sore points that will likely develop over the summer is the saga with out-of-contract star Izak Rankine with the 22-year-old looking like he will go back home to Adelaide, specifically the Crows, on a bumper deal.

Injuries to Lachie Weller and Wil Powell and the semi-transition of Jack Lukosius to the forward-line mean that the side's half-back line is in need of some reinforcement with the trade period being the likely window to address this.