Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Toby Greene has officially joined Geelong, Carlton have a new goal-kicking forward, and Collingwood have already landed Lachie Neale – but a premiership Magpie could be on the move – after a bumper opening day of the AFL’s player movement period.
Neale’s highly anticipated move to the Magpies was confirmed, the three-time premiership great and two-time Brownlow medallist inking a three-year deal after eight seasons with the Lions. The compensation pick headed to the Lions is currently No.39.
Speaking on Collingwood podcast The Black and White Wrap late on Friday, Neale said it felt “surreal” to call himself a Magpie.
“I obviously played against Collingwood a lot of times, and you certainly hear the Magpie army, especially at the ‘G but everywhere in Australia,” he said.
Collingwood are expected to complete the trade for star forward Jesse Hogan and for the transfer of club legend Scott Pendlebury on Monday.
A source familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Hogan, who has to be traded because he is not eligible for free agency at the Giants, would likely be swapped for a fourth-round pick. The Magpies have Sydney’s fourth-round choice this year.
Pendlebury, who is headed to the Gold Coast on a four-year deal (two playing, two coaching), is also likely to be traded for a fourth-round pick from the Suns. This would avoid Gold Coast diluting their compensation for Ben King, who is headed to the Hawks as a free agent.
The Magpies have also been linked with Richmond’s Jayden Short, but sources told this masthead Collingwood and Richmond are yet to have any formal discussions. He is contracted for a further two years.
The Suns have targeted young Hawk Aidan Schubert for a separate deal that would compliment the club’s exchange of King as a free agent. Schubert, who has shown promise at Box Hill, has little prospect of a regular AFL game next year, given King’s arrival, the re-contracting of Calsher Dear for two more years, the four-year commitment of seasoned key forward Mitch Lewis, and veteran star Jack Gunston continuing on.
Adelaide list boss Jarryd Roughead said he expects the Western Bulldogs to lodge paperwork on Saturday for defender Jordon Butts.
Butts, 26, is set to move on a five-year deal, having last month completed a medical at the Whitten Oval.
“‘Buttsy’ has been a big part of the defence over the past eight years that he’s been at the football club. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see him there out on the park due to some injuries the second half of the year,” Roughead told Trade Radio.
“But, as we know, players these days have the right to exercise their free agent status. It’s sad to see him go, but that’s the lay of the land these days.
Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch has revealed the Magpies won’t stand in Jordan De Goey’s way, should the veteran midfielder find a new club when the AFL trade period opens on Monday.
De Goey, 30, is off contract at the end of next season, and is keen to secure a long-term contract before finishing his career.
The 204-game veteran had a strong 2026 campaign, managing 22 games after two seasons impacted by injury.
Leppitsch said on Friday that De Goey and his management had held “mature conversations” with the Magpies, and the player had the club’s imprimatur to seek a new home should an opportunity arise.
It’s official. The Giants’ captain and best player is out the door to Geelong.
GWS confirmed on Friday they would receive a second round draft pick as compensation for the 33-year-old, who is an unrestricted free agent.
“Toby has been an incredible part of this football club for 15 years and we’ll never lose sight of what he’s given to the Giants,” GWS list boss Jason McCartney said.
“While we’re disappointed that his journey with us has come to an end, we’re also incredibly proud of what he achieved and the role he played in helping build this club.
“An inaugural player at the club, Toby arrived at the Giants as a teenager and grew into a remarkable leader who not only performed at the highest level but just as importantly, he helped shape the club into what it is today.
“While again it’s difficult to see him go, we respect Toby’s decision to return home to Victoria and we thank him for the enormous contribution he made to the club.”
It seems Melbourne captain Max Gawn’s meeting with young Hawk Calsher Dear was not enough to prise him away from Dingley.
Dear will instead stay at Hawthorn, inking a two-year contract extension.
The 21-year-old had attracted interest from the Dees, Geelong and Collingwood, and Scoop in September reported during grand final week that Gawn had invited him to his classy wine bar, Motor, to discuss a potential move during trade period.
However, the Hawks confirmed on Friday morning that the son of 1991 Norm Smith medallist Paul Dear would stay in brown and gold.
The first free agency paperwork has dropped, with Carlton making Joel Amartey’s move from Sydney official. He is seen as an ideal replacement for Charlie Curnow, who departed for the Swans 12 months ago, and is set to partner Harry McKay inside 50. The Swans will receive second-round compensation (currently pick No.36) for Amartey, who is expected to sign a five-year contract with the Blues worth up to $750,000 a season according to industry insiders.
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the AFL free agency period.
Heavyweight deals involving restricted free agents Zak Butters and Ben King will dominate. Will Port and Gold Coast match offers from the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn, respectively, and force trades? Or will they accept the compensation on offer, which in Port’s case is pick five for Butters?
Monday is when the actual trade period starts, with all the clubs gathering at Marvel Stadium for negotiations that in some cases will keep bubbling along until deadline day, which is Wednesday, October 14.
Follow our live coverage each weekday during trade period, along with our daily trade editions of the Real Footy podcast.
