Essendon’s asking price for departing defender revealed: AFL trade news

Essendon are reportedly asking for a first-round pick in return for wantaway defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher.

The South Australian is keen to return to his home state via a move to Alberton following six seasons in the red and black, with the opening of his off-contract status used to seal a deal west.

With Zerk-Thatcher not eligible for free agency, the Power will need to broker a trade with Essendon to acquire the 25-year-old’s services, however they face a hurdle in looking to satisfy a number of rivals who have players keen to move to Port Adelaide over the coming weeks.

Along with Zerk-Thatcher, Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea and Western Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet have both lodged requests to move to SA and join Ken Hinkley’s group, with the Power needing to get creative to satisfy all three clubs.

Port Adelaide currently holds picks 38, 44 and 71 and might need to spit their 2024 first-round selection into multiple picks to add to their draft hand.

Geelong are said to be asking for an opening-round pick for Ratugolea, though, while Essendon are now reportedly following suit in their demands for Zerk-Thatcher.

“They’re saying the best pick you have right now is Pick 38, in a really poor draft, that gets pushed back to 45.

“So right now Port Adelaide’s trying to satisfy the Cats on Esava Ratugolea, the Dogs on Jordon Sweet.

“It’s not gonna be a bumper trade period but the fights are gonna be spectacular.”

Port Adelaide are unlikely to include personnel in their dealings with the Cats, Dogs and Bombers, and currently have just two players unsigned for 2024 that aren’t eligible for free agency.

Small forward Orazio Fantasia makes up one-half of that list, however he has recently expressed his confidence in signing a one-year extension with the Power. The other half is fringe ruckman Sam Hayes, who has played just 11 games during his time in South Australia.

Veteran pair Travis Boak and Scott Lycett are unsigned and eligible to exercise their rights as free agents, with the former expected to recommit for an 18th season.

Contracted midfielder Xavier Duursma and Ollie Wines have been floated as potential targets for the trio of Victorian clubs, however the Power are believed to have squashed the idea of the duo exiting Alberton this off-season.

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It’s grand final week, and while the best two sides of the season prepare for the decider, 16 other clubs are working toward the incoming off-season exchange period that is now a week away.

Free agency will open this coming Friday, with the following Monday to see the trade period commence and the deals beginning to be signed off.

The past week has seen Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Carlton among the headlines in the rumour mill.

A pair of players that could be making their way to Princes Park this off-season have surfaced, with Gold Coast’s Elijah Hollands and Western Bulldog Hayden Crozier both linked to the Blues.

 

Hollands is contracted at Carrara for a further 12 months but has been flagged as a potential trade target, and could join his second club and younger brother Ollie at Carlton in the coming weeks.

Crozier is still without a contract for 2024 and may find his way to the Blues as a delisted free agent should he not be offered a new deal by the Dogs.

Demons onballer James Jordon has reportedly decided on a move to Sydney as he exercises his rights as a free agent.

Jordon is eligible for free agency after being delisted by the club in 2020 before being re-listed through the rookie draft.

A Swans fan growing up, Jordon is now set to join John Longmire’s side as an unrestricted free agent.

Collingwood have been named as the club leading the race for departing Kangaroo Todd Goldstein as Essendon and St Kilda also reportedly chase the veteran ruckman.

Goldstein’s desire to find a second club after over 300 games in the blue and white was confirmed by North Melbourne last week, with rivals beginning to line up to add his experience and services.

The Magpies are said to be keen on the ruckman and are front of the queue ahead of the trade period.

After missing out on Esava Ratugolea, Ben McKay and Liam Henry so far this off-season, the Hawks are said to be placing their focus on forwards who fall off-contract in 2024.

The likes of Todd Marshall, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Ben King are all unsigned next season and could be of great interest to Sam Mitchell as he looks to steer the Hawks back to the top over the coming seasons.