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.

LION OPEN TO EXPLORING MOVE

BRISBANE defender Keidean Coleman is open to exploring rival interest with a year to run on his deal at the Lions.

Coleman has been an unlucky story in the Lions' flag success, after missing their run of premierships firstly through injury and then not being selected for their triumph over Fremantle last week.

It's understood Coleman has made clear he would look at trade options through this period ahead of reaching his free agency next year. 

The 26-year-old played 13 games this season, for a career tally of 79 at the club. Whether a rival emerges with an offer strong enough to tempt the Lions to move is another matter as they look ahead for an historic four-peat flag attempt in 2027 under a new coach after Chris Fagan's retirement.

Coleman became one of the competition's most damaging half-backs in 2023 and featured in the Lions' Grand Final loss to Collingwood that season, when he had 26 disposals in the Grand Final and finished second in the Norm Smith Medal voting behind Bobby Hill.

But his knee injury at the start of the following season started an unfortunate injury run that has seen him miss their flags. 

The Lions are bidding farewell to champion midfielder Lachie Neale, who has joined Collingwood, and 2025 premiership midfielder Sam Marshall, who has requested a trade to St Kilda. – Callum Twomey

CROWS' SLIM COMPO HOPE

JORDON Butts' free agency move to the Western Bulldogs will be completed on Saturday, however the Crows' hopes of an end-of-first-round pick have been cut after clubs were left disappointed with their compensation selections given out on Friday.

The Bulldogs are set to lodge their paperwork on Saturday for Adelaide's unrestricted free agent, with the 95-gamer to join the Dogs on a five-year deal.

However, Adelaide's hopes of getting a band two compensation pick – at the end of the first round – were hit with a big blow after the compensation selections given to clubs on Friday.

In the AFL's first free agency move of 2026, Toby Greene left Greater Western Sydney and joined Geelong, with the Giants given a band three selection after their second-round pick (at No.26).

The Giants, like Brisbane with its departing free agent Lachie Neale, had been hoping to land a band two pick at the end of first round pick for losing their champion captain, but the age of Greene – and Neale – at 33 years old diluted the compensation under the AFL's formula.

The same will apply for Neale, who will trigger a compensation pick after their second-round selection, which would come at No.39.

The one glimmer of hope for the Crows in Butts' compensation pick is that he will switch clubs as a 26-year-old, which makes a difference in the League's formula compared to Joel Amartey, who switched clubs as a 27-year-old. 

But clubs were of the view on Friday that would likely not be enough to make the difference between the Amartey band three compensation with their pair of deals around the same mark between $750,000-$800,000 a year. 

Richmond also lodged its paperwork to sign free agent Kieren Briggs from GWS as expected, with the Giants receiving pick No.46 for him.  – Callum Twomey

SHORT'S PIES MEETING

JAYDEN Short has met with Collingwood as he continues to look at finishing his career away from Punt Road.

Short and his management have already met with the Pies about their interest in a shift to Collingwood under Craig McRae, who was a former assistant coach of Short's at Richmond.

The two-time premiership Tiger is keeping open-minded about the options available for his future and is set to meet more clubs next week as the trade period gets underway. 

Short has two years left on his deal at Richmond, where he has played 211 games since making his debut in 2016, but he has made clear his desire to explore a move to a new club next year. 

Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch told Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio on Friday that getting Short over the line, to join the Pies' other recruits Jesse Hogan, Lachie Neale and young Blues ruckman Flynn Riley, would be difficult

"It's going to be one of those deals that at this point of time is going to be one of the hardest to do. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but there's a bit of work to go with that one," Leppitsch said. – Callum Twomey

DELISTED DOCKER IN BOMBERS' MIX

BAILEY Banfield is on the radar of Essendon after being delisted by Fremantle at the start of this week. 

After playing 21 games last year, Banfield managed only one senior game in 2026, finishing on 119 games across nine seasons at the Dockers. 

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Essendon is chasing some experienced options to add to the list ahead of 2027 and have been granted two extra rookie spots as part of assistance package from the AFL. 

It’s understood that Banfield met with the Bombers this week and is keen to continue his career in Victoria if an opportunity presents. 

The 28-year-old struggled for opportunities in 2026 following the arrival of Judd McVee and a settled mix in Fremantle’s defence, but is highly rated for his professionalism and character, which was recognised on Brownlow Medal night when he won the Jim Stynes Award.

Essendon is still working through its targets, but have missed out on Sam Marshall, Luke Pedlar and Jake Riccardi this week after chasing all three. 

Geelong midfielder Jack Bowes requested a move to the Bombers on Thursday, while Western Bulldogs forward Laitham Vandermeer has attracted attention from Essendon. – Josh Gabelich

HAWK TO MULL SUNS' INTEREST

AIDAN Schubert will spend the weekend working through his future as Gold Coast ramped up its efforts to pry him out of Hawthorn after Calsher Dear's unexpected re-signing at the Hawks.

Dear looked set to join Melbourne on a four-year deal before the Hawks upped their offer and coach Sam Mitchell laid out his plans for Dear, with the young key forward keen to fight for his spot in Hawthorn's attack. 

The Suns have long identified Schubert, who was drafted last year, as a target that the club is keen to land in a separate trade to the No.7 free agency compensation pick they would receive for losing Ben King to the Hawks.

Schubert has not wanted to entertain any interest from the Suns, and the Suns have not yet tabled a deal for him, however they have again made clear their interest in the 18-year-old key forward amid Dear's re-signing. Schubert signed a contract extension earlier this year through to the end of 2028. 

Hawthorn hasn't ruled out having a player be involved in a deal, but has shut down talks on Noah Mraz moving amid the Suns' interest then the Bombers' big offer for him. – Callum Twomey

SAINTS RE-SIGN EXPERIENCED FORWARD

ST KILDA has re-signed Dan Butler to a one-year extension, while Ryan Byrnes is also expected to play on into 2027.

Butler was one of three remaining uncontracted players at St Kilda, with Byrnes and Jack Carroll the others, but has recently signed a one-year deal for next season.

Butler's extension follows the news that Brisbane premiership player Sam Marshall has requested a trade to St Kilda, with the two clubs meeting briefly on Thursday to discuss the 20-year-old.

The Lions matched a bid on the Academy-tied Marshall with the No.25 pick in the 2024 draft, before he featured in the side's 2025 premiership victory.

However, he managed only two senior games in 2026, with the Saints currently having picks No.46, 64, 82 and future selections to deal with.

"All of those things will play out over the next week," St Kilda footy boss Lenny Hayes told Gettable on Marshall's potential value.

"We're pretty fortunate to have an experienced list management crew, so there's no doubt those discussions will be going on. We think he's going to add to our young midfield core and that value for him will be worked out over the next period." – Riley Beveridge

DEVILS TO INTENSIFY TALENT RAID

TASMANIA coach Ken Hinkley says the AFL's newest expansion side will intensify discussions with established talent next year, more than at its current rate, as the side looks to build out its inaugural playing list.

The Devils signed their first batch of players on Tuesday evening, welcoming seven of the country's best 17-year-old prospects as well as local youngster Hugh McCallum at an event in Hobart.

But the club has already been linked to rival AFL talent, most recently St Kilda's much improved young midfielder Max Hall ahead of his contract year in 2027.

Greater Western Sydney's impending free agent Tom Green, Collingwood tough nut Beau McCreery and St Kilda youngster Alix Tauru have also been linked to Tasmania.

Hinkley has already been deployed as a key feature in those discussions with established rival talent, but said those conversations are now set to progress even further next year.

"With the greatest of respect, I think all that stuff should just remain where it is at the moment and that's in the background of what we're doing and what we're not doing," Hinkley told AFL.com.au's Gettable on Friday.

"We'll be doing our absolute best to bring together a squad that can hit the ground running early days in Tasmania. That's ultimately our goal. Of course, with that, there's a lot of conversations that have to go on.

"Most of those conversations, as everyone would expect, would probably happen throughout next year more so than at our current rate. Next year is probably where it'll all ramp up a little bit.

"With some concessions that we have and some opportunities that we have, we have to make the most of them. We need to not just be part of the competition. We need to get into the competition, hold our own and progress really quickly." – Riley Beveridge

DRAFT GUN ANGLING TOWARDS FOOTY CALL

SYDNEY Academy gun Mason McGroder says he is "leaning" towards choosing footy, as he weighs up an AFL career against his potential as one of the world's most exciting junior athletics prospects.

McGroder has continued to impress AFL clubs at the national combine across recent days, despite being yet to officially nominate for November's draft following a year spent juggling footy and athletics commitments.

AFL clubs, and particularly the Swans where McGroder is tied through their Academy program, have long hoped the talented 194cm defender would opt in and nominate for this year's national draft.

That's despite a 2026 season where McGroder won a silver medal in the long jump at the recent World Under-20s Championships and took out a series of state and national titles in other athletics events like the 100m and 200m sprints.

McGroder has been approached by "around 10 to 15" college programs in the United States and is also considering the prospect of competing at a home Olympics in Brisbane in 2032, but has revealed he's still favouring choosing footy.

"It is definitely leaning and probably will be footy," McGroder told AFL.com.au.

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"But some of the college deals … they're very hard to turn down. Some of the numbers and experiences they can throw at you is something I don't want to think about, really. And then a home Olympics as well in 2032.

"It's been on my mind for literally two years now since the last world championships. I've been able to put it in my back pocket for a while, but now it's becoming an actual decision I have to make."

The AFL is yet to confirm the official deadline for nominations, but across recent years it has been the week before the draft. This year's national draft is due to start on November 19. – Riley Beveridge