Essendon has upped the ante in a bold bid to lure one of the game’s brightest young talents.
Plus, family ties could help convince Lachie Neale to choose a Victorian-based club, while Adam Saad is “unlikely” to be at Carlton next season. Read on in AFL Trade Whispers!
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Round 17
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BOMBERS’ $6M PLAY FOR YOUNG STAR
In a bold play, Essendon has reportedly increased its offer to undecided Gold Coast forward Jed Walter.
Similar to teammate Ben King, Walter’s future at the Suns remains uncertain, having not put pen to paper on a new deal as rival clubs – including Hawthorn and Geelong – come calling for the off-contract 40-gamer.
It’d been reported previously that Gold Coast offered the 21-year-old a five-year deal to stay at Carrara, which was said to be more lucrative than Essendon’s initial $800,000-a-year offer.
But according to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey on Thursday, the Bombers have since upped that offer, in an indication of the seriousness of their pursuit.
Twomey believes the fresh proposal is “close to $6 million across five years”, but maintains it’s still “unclear” whether the move will be enough to sway the Palm Beach Currumbin product.
If King leaves for Hawthorn in the offseason, staying likely becomes a more attractive option for Walter than leaving – which, conversely, could be the route he opts to take if King signs on.
Per Twomey’s report, Walter is “considering multiple” contract options with Gold Coast, which can barely afford to lose both him and King amid a middling 2026 campaign.
Essendon’s ongoing chase of the 2023 No. 3 draft pick comes as the club hopes to lock Nate Caddy down on a longer-term deal, with the two forming a tantalising hypothetical attacking tandem for the future.
Caddy is currently signed through 2028, with the incoming Tasmania Devils reported to be snapping at his heels as a potential marquee recruit.
It’s not just Walter who Essendon seemingly has in its sights, with Lachie Neale also a player of interest and set to meet with club officials this weekend.
Additionally, out-of-favour Geelong flanker Jack Bowes has reportedly caught the Bombers’ eye, as the club looks to bring established names in to supplement its young talent.
An exodus, though, also seems likely at Bomberland, with Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley believed to be keen on exits at year’s end, while other names remain in flux.
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‘UPSIDE’ IN NEALE’S POSSIBLE VIC MOVE DETAILED
Victorian family ties could help convince star Brisbane free agent Lachie Neale to choose Collingwood or St Kilda … or Essendon, reports The Age.
It comes as Seven’s Mitch Cleary reported on Thursday morning that Neale is set to meet with Essendon officials this weekend, as the Bombers now throw their hat in the ring.
There were suggestions earlier this year that if Neale, 33, chose to leave the Lions at season’s end, he’d most likely look to join a WA-based club, considering his former partner Jules and children had moved to live in Perth.
But the Magpies, Saints and now Dons have emerged as possible destinations for Neale, who’s averaging 30.2 disposals and 7.2 clearances for the Lions this season.
Cleary reported on Wednesday night that Essendon had flagged interest in Neale.
“We can also tell you that Lachie Neale, in recent weeks, before Brad Scott was sacked from the Essendon footy club, met with the outgoing Essendon coach about a future at the Essendon footy club,” Cleary told Channel 7.
“And I understand there are conversations and dialogue still ongoing between the Neale camp and the Essendon footy club.”
The Age chief football writer Jake Niall reported on Wednesday night, “one factor that has been overlooked” in the Neale footy future discussion was the location of the midfielder’s parents.
“Neale’s father Robbie … lives in Hamilton in western Victoria, which is a tick under three and a half hours’ drive from Melbourne’s CBD. His mother Amanda Taylor is in Bordertown,” Niall wrote in The Age.
Fagan addresses Lions star exit rumours | 01:31
“Bordertown is about five hours away by car from Melbourne, but his mother makes the trip whenever Neale plays for the Lions in Melbourne.
“(Playing in) Melbourne, thus, has some upside for Neale.”
Niall also reported the Lions felt “Collingwood were favourite” to land Neale if he left, but added Brisbane “hadn’t given up on retaining him”.
While the Magpies are keen to use their natural first-round pick at this year’s draft, the idea of acquiring Neale is appealing. Not only would he fill a clearance chasm, he also wouldn’t cost the Pies any trade capital as he’s an unrestricted free agent.
Cleary reported earlier this week Neale was “expected to meet” with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon this weekend. Lyon coached Neale for the first seven seasons of his AFL career at Fremantle before Neale was traded to Brisbane in late 2018.
Neale has one of the most decorated CVs of the modern AFL era as a dual premiership player, dual Brownlow Medallist, six-time best and fairest winner and four-time All-Australian.
‘HE REALISES THIS’: BLUE ‘UNLIKELY’ TO STAY
If Adam Saad is to play on into a 13th AFL season, it’s “unlikely to be at Carlton” – and potentially at a fourth club, reports Tom Morris.
Saad, a 2022 All-Australian, had been a mainstay of Carlton’s defence across his previous five seasons at the club.
But the 31-year-old has fallen out of favour at Carlton in 2026, playing just three games across the season. He’s averaged 20.8 disposals from eight VFL games.
Speaking on Wednesday night, Morris said the out-of-contract Saad was “keen to go again” in 2027.
Can Port get a fair trade for Butters? | 03:07
“Adam Saad wants to play on next year, but it’s unlikely to be at Carlton. I think he realises this,” Morris told Channel 7.
“Consider this an advertisement for Adam Saad to play on at one of the 17 other clubs next year, probably more realistically in Victoria.
“If you think he’s worth it call his management.”
The Blues parted with Pick 8 back in 2020 as part of a deal to acquire Saad from Essendon.
Saad began his career at Gold Coast in 2015, playing 48 games for the Suns before a trade to the Bombers, where he played 61 games in three seasons.
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