Get all the latest news in the trade, free agency and draft landscape 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.

CURNOW TO CONTINUE TRADE PUSH

CHARLIE Curnow will continue to push for a trade out of Carlton as the Blues hold firm on it requiring a super deal to move the two-time Coleman medallist.

Curnow returned from a holiday in the US last week and has reiterated to the Blues he wants to leave the club.

Geelong, Sydney and Gold Coast are all navigating ways to launch trade plays for Curnow, with the Cats the local option for the former Geelong Falcon but the club also having the least trade collateral.

The Suns are exploring ways to get involved in the Curnow chase, while also having interest in Western Bulldogs key forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, but do not want to lose any of young trio Bailey Humphrey, Jed Walter or Ethan Read to open up a trade.

Gold Coast has recently made new contract offers to Walter, including a two-year extension past 2026 as well as a longer offer through to free agency. 

The Suns do have draft capital, including picks No.6, 13 and 16, and will likely get another first-round pick for Sam Flanders' move to a Victorian club, but they need to stagger their picks to be able to match bids on as many as six Academy prospects. 

Sydney's pick No.9 will be the starting point to its bid for Curnow, but Carlton is also looking for quality players to be a part of any deal if it is to be budged on Curnow exiting with four years to run on his contract. 

Carlton has been linked with interest in Swan Ollie Florent separate to the Curnow discussion, although Florent, who also has four years remaining on his contract, is not pushing for a trade. – Callum Twomey

YOUNG HAWK ON RIVALS' RADAR

NORTH Melbourne and Essendon are among the clubs weighing up a move for uncontracted Hawthorn defender Jai Serong, who is assessing his options after a frustrating year on the fringes at the Hawks.

It's understood the Kangas and the Bombers have enquired about the versatile 193cm youngster, while the Swans have also shown an interest after an impressive season at VFL level for Box Hill.

Serong couldn't crack Hawthorn's senior side this season, but averaged 21.4 disposals and 7.3 marks per game playing as a third tall defender and wing option through the reserves across the campaign.

The younger brother of Fremantle star Caleb, Serong has played 10 senior games over four seasons on Hawthorn's list after arriving as the No.53 pick in the 2021 draft but hasn't been seen at senior level since playing in a semi-final last year.

Serong is one of a number of Hawthorn players considering their futures after the side's preliminary final exit last weekend, with Sam Butler also weighing up a potential move to West Coast.

Restricted free agent James Worpel is likely to take up a four-year offer from Geelong, while contracted youngster Henry Hustwaite also has interest from rival sides after making just four AFL appearances this season. – Riley Beveridge

SUNS LIFT FREE AGENT OFFER

GOLD Coast has upped the ante to keep free agent Brayden Fiorini, lifting its offer to a three-year deal amid rival interest.

The Suns unrestricted free agent has interest from Essendon and Port Adelaide as he weighs his future.

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The Suns had tabled a two-year deal but have recently increased it to a three-year term in a bid to keep the 28-year-old.

Fiorini has previously looked at leaving the Suns but after breaking into the team mid-season he played 18 games for the year, including Gold Coast's two finals.  

The Bombers and Power are chasing Fiorini to add more experience to their lists. – Callum Twomey

DOGS BOOST COACHING PANEL WITH LIONS GREAT 

THE WESTERN Bulldogs have appointed Luke Power as their new head of development.

The three-time premiership Lion quit Carlton earlier this month, where he was the Blues’ VFL coach for the past three years after three years as their head of development.

He was pursued by multiple clubs, including Essendon, but has landed at the Dogs as the club’s head of development in a newly created role, which was flagged by Inside Trading earlier this month. 

He will work with current Dogs development coaches Ben Reid and Alex Johnson on Luke Beveridge’s coaching panel.

Power has a long history with talented youngsters, having been a coach at the Giants after his playing career ended there and also been head coach of the AFL Academy program.

He is the brother of Dogs football manager Sam Power. - Callum Twomey

ANOTHER SUITOR FOR POWER GREAT

CARLTON has joined the pursuit of retired Port Adelaide champion Travis Boak.

The Blues met with the three-time All-Australian midfielder on Wednesday.

Former Power head of football Chris Davies has just joined Carlton to lead the football department.

Blues coach Michael Voss spent seven years as an assistant at Alberton before landing the gig at Princes Park, where he worked closely with Boak as Port Adelaide midfield coach.

Carlton is undergoing sweeping changes to its football department, with Aaron Hamill, Tom Lonergan, Aaron Greaves, Luke Power and Brad Ebert all departing since the end of the season.

Boak met with the Western Bulldogs on Monday and toured the Whitten Oval.

Collingwood is understood to remain interested in the former Port Adelaide skipper.

Greater Western Sydney has also met with him about a range of football department roles.

Clubs have been exploring leadership and culture roles with Boak, as well as assistant and development coaching positions with the 37-year-old.

Boak played 387 games – seventh most in VFL/AFL history – for Port Adelaide after being selected at pick No.5 in the 2006 AFL Draft. - Josh Gabelich

DELISTED SUN ON EAGLES' RADAR

TOM BERRY is on the radar of West Coast after being delisted by Gold Coast last week.

The Eagles are understood to be one of a few clubs who have enquired about Berry.

The 25-year-old played 23 games for the Suns in his first two years at the club, before a knee injury wiped out months of 2025 and limited him to just seven VFL appearances this year.

Berry was traded from Brisbane at the end of 2022 after 20 appearances in four seasons at the Gabba.

West Coast could secure extra rookie spots as part of a list assistance package after making an application to the AFL following a one-win season in Andrew McQualter’s first year at the helm.

The Eagles are exploring a range of experienced options to complement what they do at November's Telstra AFL Draft.

They currently hold picks 1, 15, 19 and 33, with Oscar Allen's free agency compensation still to be determined, but it is a strong chance to land at pick No.2, after the club's first pick. - Josh Gabelich

SWAN SIGNS ON

JOEL Hamling has signed a one-year contract to remain at Sydney in 2026. 

Greater Western Sydney explored a move for the key defender to provide some coverage at the Giants, but Hamling has extended his time at the Swans.

The 32-year-old moved from Fremantle to Sydney at the end of 2023, but didn't play a senior game last year before managing 14 appearances in 2025. 

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Hamling started his career at Geelong and was looking at joining a fifth club, but will spend his 15th season in the AFL at the Swans. 

The 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership defender has now played 105 AFL games.

Greater Western Sydney will add delisted Essendon key defender Jayden Laverde later this year, most likely via the Rookie Draft or pre-season supplemental selection period after completing a medical with him this month. – Josh Gabelich

FUTURE PICK PLANNING TAKES OFF

CLUBS are already planning how many future picks they will need to secure at this year's Trade Period to have them in a strong position to match father-son and Academy bids at the 2026 draft and beyond after the League's new rules were conveyed on Monday.

AFL.com.au revealed on Monday the AFL had decided against a draft 'lockout' for clubs with tied players, however had decided to dramatically tighten up the ability to match bids on top talents.

Clubs will only be able to match bids using two picks, rather than the indefinite number that is currently allowed, while there will also be a grading system of access for top four or top eight teams on the ladder.

Club chief executives were told on Monday by the League that they would get full details on the new rules next week before the start of the exchange period.

It has left clubs pondering how they can find extra early picks for next year for those with potential top players, and how the tougher rules will impact their plans. 

The AFL will also deliver an assistance package to West Coast next week before the Trade Period begins, with extra rookie access and selections (up to four) considered likely, with the AFL also weighing giving the Eagles a pick they have to trade. – Callum Twomey

DOGS' DARCY DRAFT PLAN

THE WESTERN Bulldogs could look to shift up the draft board with a bid set to come for father-son prospect Will Darcy.

Darcy is a raw talent but has been invited to test at the national Telstra AFL Draft Combine next month.

The Dogs currently have only picks No.10 and 28, but could target a move up the board using the second-round pick given the bid for Darcy could come around the middle of the second round.

Gold Coast has had interest in its pick No.6 and clubs will push to get that selection if the Suns can shift it out for more points to match for their Academy kids.

The Bulldogs' top choice will have to be on the table if Callum Wilkie pursues a move from St Kilda to take up the Dogs' lucrative four-year offer, however the Saints are not considered likely to budge if their gun defender looked at a move. 

Darcy caught the eye of clubs early this season playing at Scotch College in Melbourne's school system, before getting a taste of Coates Talent League action with the Oakleigh Chargers. – Callum Twomey

ROOS COACHING REJIG

NORTH Melbourne has rejigged its coaching structure around Alastair Clarkson, with the Kangaroos in the market for two development coaches. 

Michael Barlow has been promoted to midfield coach, replacing Leigh Adams who departed at the end of the season.

Tom Lynch has replaced Barlow as head of development at Arden Street. 

Development coach Adam Marcon has replaced Lynch as VFL coach in 2026. 

North Melbourne has appointed Zane Littlejohn as a strategy coach to work with Clarkson. 

Littlejohn spent the past three years coaching Box Hill in the VFL and working at Hawthorn in development. 

The Tasmanian also coached the state team in 2024 and 2025, after starting in the AFL system with six years at Brisbane. – Josh Gabelich