Overview: Day 3 shakes the trade landscape
The AFL Trade Period’s Day 3 brought a flurry of activity as major moves and long-awaited homecomings finally edge closer to resolution. From Michael big-name targets to multi-club blockbusters, clubs are racing to lock in deals that shape next season’s competitive balance. Central to the chatter: a high-stakes multi-club exchange involving West Coast, Brisbane, Fremantle and Melbourne, and the much-anticipated homecoming of Brisbane captain Brandon Starcevich to Western Australia.
Brisbane’s mega-deal and the Starcevich pivot
Brisbane’s front office pulled off the kind of deal that could define a off-season, turning a tricky negotiation into a tidy win. Starcevich, who had expressed a strong desire to return to his native WA and wear West Coast’s green and gold, officially informed the Lions of his wish to move. The result? A multi-club arrangement that not only relocates Starcevich but also lands Brisbane a bundle of draft picks and consolidates their hand for the coming years.
The Lions’ calculated approach is paying dividends. Had Starcevich chosen Fremantle, the trade balance could have swung the other way. Instead, Brisbane leveraged West Coast’s need to protect their asset base, converting potential loss into a strategic gain. The outcome is a delicate, balanced exchange that satisfies several agendas on the table.
What Brisbane gains
In the evolving deal, Brisbane secures a flow of picks that strengthens their draft hand. Reports outline picks moving between clubs, creating room for top-age targets and potential upgrades for the club’s list management. The immediate reward is a more flexible draft stance as Brisbane eyes Dan Annable and other prospects in the top end of the draft, supported by the ongoing Adelaide trade with Cal Ah Chee.
The multi-club deal: who’s in, who’s out
The overarching MEGADEAL (as some outlets described it) ties together West Coast, Brisbane, Fremantle and Melbourne in a four-way exchange. Here’s a snapshot of the agreed movements, as reported by AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey and other outlets:
- West Coast: IN Brandon Starcevich; picks 12, 33, 52; OUT picks 16, 22, 23
- Fremantle: IN Judd McVee; picks 19, 46; OUT picks 12, 33, 44, 50
- Brisbane: IN picks 16, 22, 44, 50; OUT Brandon Starcevich; picks 19, 46, 52
- Melbourne: IN pick 23; OUT Judd McVee
That framework, if ratified, points to a fair, even exchange where no club looks like an obvious winner or loser. It paves the way for the rest of the off-season business and potentially unlocks future negotiations with other clubs as the summer approaches.
Other morning movements and ongoing sagas
Beyond the mega-deal, several significant threads remain unsettled as Day 3 progresses. Among them:
- Clayton Oliver’s position with GWS and a looming meeting with Collingwood adds intrigue, with Oliver signaling a preference that could tilt the balance in the Magpies’ favour.
- No clear progress on Charlie Curnow’s trade status. Carlton remains keen on suitors with picks, while Geelong and Sydney are weighing their options.
- Zach Merrett’s future remains highly uncertain, predicted to take time and tricky negotiations to resolve.
- St Kilda’s potential bid for Gold Coast’s Sam Flanders and a possible pathway to Christian Petracca through draft picks continues to circulate in Melbourne’s trade discourse.
- Adelaide’s interest in Western Bulldogs midfielder Ryley Sanders hints at the broader midfields reshaping across the league.
What next for Brisbane after the mega-deal?
With the major pieces in place, Brisbane’s attention will shift to consolidating the list and leveraging their new pick structure to target top-end talent. The club’s longer-term plan seems to involve rebalancing their draft assets and closing deals that ensure a competitive window in the years ahead, even as they face ongoing negotiations with Adelaide and other clubs for additional players.
Bottom line: pace and pragmatism define Day 3
Day 3 illustrated a blend of swift resolutions and patient strategy. Triaging the complex multi-club framework while handling individual player desires—like Starcevich’s WA homecoming—demonstrates the league’s appetite for practical outcomes over drama. As the AFL trade period rolls on, observers can expect continued movement, with clubs balancing short-term needs and long-term list management goals.
