2026 Trade/Free agent targets for HFC

[CD Xbow]

Concussion in Sport Group is sport funded, very influential and has been driven by Paul McCrory who even the afl had enough of. Michael Makdissi studied under him, Peter Brukner hadn’t changed his tune either.


The link eventually gets you there.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alan-Pearce/publication/359864213_Concussion_in_sport_conflicts_of_interest_drive_scandal/links/625387a1cf60536e2353c23a/Concussion-in-sport-conflicts-of-interest-drive-scandal.pdf?origin=scientificContributions

Thanks for posting. Paul was always a slime bag, but I would never have guessed the depths of his dishonesty. He did so much harm to the field.

I must say his fall from grace gives me great joy. Very great joy! Thank you Paul for being such a stupid, lying bastard that you got caught out so publicly. In a domain as corrupt as the AFL it is truly a great achievement.

It restores my faith that sometimes the bad guys do get caught.

 

[phlogiston]

Yes, a massive study done in Paris hospitals where they looked at the severity of head injuries between those wearing bike helmets and those not. They found that, in terms of a concussion, helmets did nothing to prevent one, but in terms of severe head injury there was some (negligible) benefit. But since more accidents occurred with people wearing helmets (more prone to take risks) they decided that it was up to the individual as to whether they should be worn.

But what did the study say in terms of helmets protecting riders from impact head injuries? That is, after all, the primary purpose of helmets (whether it be bicycle, motorbike, or racing cars). I am reading your comments as "severe head injuries" ≠ "impact head injuries" BTW, as (at least when I last checked) A&E staff categorise them separately.

I had a bike accident in December. Broke my arm, and got concussion from my head hitting (bouncing along) the ground, but I was also spared my skull smashing open. Best $70 I've spent, especially when I looked at my helmet... that could have been my skull.

If you've got a link to the study that would be good. TIA.

 

[fairdinks]

Free agent Walsh off the board.

It's a pity because I thought his type was an ideal fit for our midfield......but, an 8-year thumper to stay a blue - take the money and run. I have a feeling this may end in tears a lot sooner than 2033

 

[ppphawk]

Free agent Walsh off the board.

It's a pity because I thought his type was an ideal fit for our midfield......but, an 8-year thumper to stay a blue - take the money and run. I have a feeling this may end in tears a lot sooner than 2033

Didn’t seem like that much money in the end. Less than what Essendon were offering weddle

 

[FB19]

Guess we should target sides like lions and suns with high picks who can’t get midfield opportunity. How’s Fletcher get in or Marshall? Humphrey or even Will Powell as a left field option. We were keen on Matt Johnson on the draft who went to freo who might be worth a look too.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Free agent Walsh off the board.

It's a pity because I thought his type was an ideal fit for our midfield......but, an 8-year thumper to stay a blue - take the money and run. I have a feeling this may end in tears a lot sooner than 2033

Would have liked him but injury prone and no way for that contract length.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Has the club announced any SSP selections?

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Has the club announced any SSP selections?

Nathan Carroll

 

[eldorado]

Nathan Carroll

This will never grow old....

 

[Steven Tyler]

This will never grow old....

It already has

 

[Beandip]

Nathan Carroll

This is what peak male performance looks like...

 

[moginie]

This will never grow old....

Nathan Carroll has.

 

[hawkinoz]

Revealed: The official list of AFL free agents in 2026

Surprise Eagle joins in-demand stars among restricted free agents available at the end of the 2026 season

www.afl.com.au

2026 RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY LIST​

BRISBANE
Zac Bailey

GOLD COAST
Ben King

HAWTHORN
Jarman Impey

MELBOURNE
Bayley Fritsch

PORT ADELAIDE
Zak Butters

WEST COAST
Bailey Williams

2026 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY LIST​

*Denotes player is eligible for free agency after being previously delisted in their career.
^Denotes player is eligible for free agency after previously changing clubs as a free agent.

ADELAIDE
James Borlase*
Jordon Butts
Mitch Hinge*
Chayce Jones
Lachie Sholl
Taylor Walker
Tyler Welsh*

BRISBANE
Darragh Joyce*
Ryan Lester
Lincoln McCarthy
Lachie Neale
Dayne Zorko

CARLTON
Wade Derksen*
Francis Evans*
Nick Haynes^
Elijah Hollands*
Mitch McGovern
Nic Newman
Zac Williams^

COLLINGWOOD
Jack Crisp
Jeremy Howe
Tim Membrey^*
Scott Pendlebury
Steele Sidebottom
ESSENDON
Jade Gresham^
Matt Guelfi
Liam McMahon*
Jaxon Prior*
Will Setterfield*

FREMANTLE
Bailey Banfield*
Oscar McDonald*
Sam Sturt
Sam Switkowski
Corey Wagner*

GEELONG
Jed Bews
Mark Blicavs
Patrick Dangerfield
Jake Kolodjashnij
Keighton Matofai-Forbes*
Jack Martin*
Mark O'Connor
Rhys Stanley
George Stevens*

GOLD COAST
Oscar Adams*
Caleb Graham
Nick Holman
Ben Jepson*
Lachie Weller
Jarrod Witts
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Kieren Briggs
Stephen Coniglio
Toby Greene
Jayden Laverde*
Jake Stringer*
Conor Stone*

HAWTHORN
Jack Gunston
Mitch Lewis
Harry Morrison
Flynn Perez*

MELBOURNE
Tom Campbell^
Kade Chandler
Jai Culley*
Tom McDonald
Jake Melksham
Christian Salem
Tom Sparrow

NORTH MELBOURNE
Aidan Corr^
Luke McDonald
Toby Pink*
Bailey Scott

PORT ADELAIDE
Darcy Byrne-Jones
Ollie Wines

RICHMOND
Nathan Broad
Tom Lynch
Dion Prestia

ST KILDA
Ryan Byrnes*
Jack Carroll*
Patrick Said*
Liam Stocker*

SYDNEY
Joel Amartey
Harry Cunningham
Joel Hamling*
Jake Lloyd
Dane Rampe

WEST COAST
Tom Cole
Jamie Cripps
Matthew Flynn^
Harry Schoenberg*

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Oskar Baker*
Lachie Bramble*
Ryan Gardner*
Buku Khamis
Tom Liberatore
Lachie McNeil*
https://www.afl.com.au/fixture/?Competition=1&Season=85&Round=1344

Guess we should target sides like lions and suns with high picks who can’t get midfield opportunity. How’s Fletcher get in or Marshall? Humphrey or even Will Powell as a left field option. We were keen on Matt Johnson on the draft who went to freo who might be worth a look too.

How do we assess value if they are not playing 1's

I can see Humps being pushed down to 2's soon if he doesn't perform, then what is his value.

Given the talent jam at Suns, he may fail to break in back when others are performing.
Jed Walter is in 2's now, if Suns keep winning big and have no injuries, he is not going to be stuck in 2's.

 

[Spanish Sahara]

Revealed: The official list of AFL free agents in 2026

Surprise Eagle joins in-demand stars among restricted free agents available at the end of the 2026 season

www.afl.com.au

2026 RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY LIST​

BRISBANE
Zac Bailey

GOLD COAST
Ben King

HAWTHORN
Jarman Impey

MELBOURNE
Bayley Fritsch

PORT ADELAIDE
Zak Butters

WEST COAST
Bailey Williams

2026 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY LIST​

*Denotes player is eligible for free agency after being previously delisted in their career.
^Denotes player is eligible for free agency after previously changing clubs as a free agent.

ADELAIDE
James Borlase*
Jordon Butts
Mitch Hinge*
Chayce Jones
Lachie Sholl
Taylor Walker
Tyler Welsh*

BRISBANE
Darragh Joyce*
Ryan Lester
Lincoln McCarthy
Lachie Neale
Dayne Zorko

CARLTON
Wade Derksen*
Francis Evans*
Nick Haynes^
Elijah Hollands*
Mitch McGovern
Nic Newman
Zac Williams^

COLLINGWOOD
Jack Crisp
Jeremy Howe
Tim Membrey^*
Scott Pendlebury
Steele Sidebottom
ESSENDON
Jade Gresham^
Matt Guelfi
Liam McMahon*
Jaxon Prior*
Will Setterfield*

FREMANTLE
Bailey Banfield*
Oscar McDonald*
Sam Sturt
Sam Switkowski
Corey Wagner*

GEELONG
Jed Bews
Mark Blicavs
Patrick Dangerfield
Jake Kolodjashnij
Keighton Matofai-Forbes*
Jack Martin*
Mark O'Connor
Rhys Stanley
George Stevens*

GOLD COAST
Oscar Adams*
Caleb Graham
Nick Holman
Ben Jepson*
Lachie Weller
Jarrod Witts
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Kieren Briggs
Stephen Coniglio
Toby Greene
Jayden Laverde*
Jake Stringer*
Conor Stone*

HAWTHORN
Jack Gunston
Mitch Lewis
Harry Morrison
Flynn Perez*

MELBOURNE
Tom Campbell^
Kade Chandler
Jai Culley*
Tom McDonald
Jake Melksham
Christian Salem
Tom Sparrow

NORTH MELBOURNE
Aidan Corr^
Luke McDonald
Toby Pink*
Bailey Scott

PORT ADELAIDE
Darcy Byrne-Jones
Ollie Wines

RICHMOND
Nathan Broad
Tom Lynch
Dion Prestia

ST KILDA
Ryan Byrnes*
Jack Carroll*
Patrick Said*
Liam Stocker*

SYDNEY
Joel Amartey
Harry Cunningham
Joel Hamling*
Jake Lloyd
Dane Rampe

WEST COAST
Tom Cole
Jamie Cripps
Matthew Flynn^
Harry Schoenberg*

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Oskar Baker*
Lachie Bramble*
Ryan Gardner*
Buku Khamis
Tom Liberatore
Lachie McNeil*
https://www.afl.com.au/fixture/?Competition=1&Season=85&Round=1344



How do we assess value if they are not playing 1's

I can see Humps being pushed down to 2's soon if he doesn't perform, then what is his value.

Given the talent jam at Suns, he may fail to break in back when others are performing.
Jed Walter is in 2's now, if Suns keep winning big and have no injuries, he is not going to be stuck in 2's.

Humphrey won’t be playing in the 2s, that’s just silly. Was best on ground in OR

 

[essaynode]

Revealed: The official list of AFL free agents in 2026

Surprise Eagle joins in-demand stars among restricted free agents available at the end of the 2026 season

www.afl.com.au

2026 RESTRICTED FREE AGENCY LIST​

BRISBANE
Zac Bailey

GOLD COAST
Ben King

HAWTHORN
Jarman Impey

MELBOURNE
Bayley Fritsch

PORT ADELAIDE
Zak Butters

WEST COAST
Bailey Williams

2026 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY LIST​

*Denotes player is eligible for free agency after being previously delisted in their career.
^Denotes player is eligible for free agency after previously changing clubs as a free agent.

ADELAIDE
James Borlase*
Jordon Butts
Mitch Hinge*
Chayce Jones
Lachie Sholl
Taylor Walker
Tyler Welsh*

BRISBANE
Darragh Joyce*
Ryan Lester
Lincoln McCarthy
Lachie Neale
Dayne Zorko

CARLTON
Wade Derksen*
Francis Evans*
Nick Haynes^
Elijah Hollands*
Mitch McGovern
Nic Newman
Zac Williams^

COLLINGWOOD
Jack Crisp
Jeremy Howe
Tim Membrey^*
Scott Pendlebury
Steele Sidebottom
ESSENDON
Jade Gresham^
Matt Guelfi
Liam McMahon*
Jaxon Prior*
Will Setterfield*

FREMANTLE
Bailey Banfield*
Oscar McDonald*
Sam Sturt
Sam Switkowski
Corey Wagner*

GEELONG
Jed Bews
Mark Blicavs
Patrick Dangerfield
Jake Kolodjashnij
Keighton Matofai-Forbes*
Jack Martin*
Mark O'Connor
Rhys Stanley
George Stevens*

GOLD COAST
Oscar Adams*
Caleb Graham
Nick Holman
Ben Jepson*
Lachie Weller
Jarrod Witts
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Kieren Briggs
Stephen Coniglio
Toby Greene
Jayden Laverde*
Jake Stringer*
Conor Stone*

HAWTHORN
Jack Gunston
Mitch Lewis
Harry Morrison
Flynn Perez*

MELBOURNE
Tom Campbell^
Kade Chandler
Jai Culley*
Tom McDonald
Jake Melksham
Christian Salem
Tom Sparrow

NORTH MELBOURNE
Aidan Corr^
Luke McDonald
Toby Pink*
Bailey Scott

PORT ADELAIDE
Darcy Byrne-Jones
Ollie Wines

RICHMOND
Nathan Broad
Tom Lynch
Dion Prestia

ST KILDA
Ryan Byrnes*
Jack Carroll*
Patrick Said*
Liam Stocker*

SYDNEY
Joel Amartey
Harry Cunningham
Joel Hamling*
Jake Lloyd
Dane Rampe

WEST COAST
Tom Cole
Jamie Cripps
Matthew Flynn^
Harry Schoenberg*

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Oskar Baker*
Lachie Bramble*
Ryan Gardner*
Buku Khamis
Tom Liberatore
Lachie McNeil*
https://www.afl.com.au/fixture/?Competition=1&Season=85&Round=1344



How do we assess value if they are not playing 1's

I can see Humps being pushed down to 2's soon if he doesn't perform, then what is his value.

Given the talent jam at Suns, he may fail to break in back when others are performing.
Jed Walter is in 2's now, if Suns keep winning big and have no injuries, he is not going to be stuck in 2's.

Is Toby Greene as an unrestricted free agent gettable? Kane Cornes seems to think it's a good idea for him to finish his career at the Hawks. If we got him it would make up for Scully and the General.

source - First Up: Heat on Kingsley after Daicos 'allowed to run riot', why Toby should be a Hawk

First Up: Heat on Kingsley after Daicos 'allowed to run riot', why Toby should be a Hawk

Kane Cornes and Riley Beveridge unpack a huge start to Round Three

www.afl.com.au

 

[Since 2001]

Butters would be nice, but I think its geelong and dogs leading. My information is Geelong are leading the way, but a trade will be very hard to work out. Bulldogs have better trade assets and right there.

Bailey Humphrey is would be a great get and would be my number 1.

Ben King

34

Ben King

Age

25

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.5

4star

T

0.5

3star

G

1.3

5star

D

7.5

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.5

5star

D

6.8

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

0.2

3star

G

1.0

4star

rumored interest, I haven't heard this personally, but could we get both gcs players in?

Zac merrett, I've heard there is still a chance we make a play again. I wouldn't be mad.at this, but it must be once we've got our number 1 target in and getting zac on the cheap

 

[Da Game]

I still think Merrett is in play, I doubt we would commit to someone, offer support to not being traded then just walk away. I could be wrong.

 

[TylerDurden]

I still think Merrett is in play, I doubt we would commit to someone, offer support to not being traded then just walk away. I could be wrong.

Well he hasn't signed the Dons extension yet.

 

[SSSSSS]

Maybe Port don't match Butters if they get a top 3 pick

 

[hfc70]

Well he hasn't signed the Dons extension yet.

Let’s spend an entire Trade Period trying to prise Merrett out of the Scum.
It ain’t happening. Merrett knows it ain’t happening. His new management know it ain’t happening.
Let’s all take a deep breath & think about this logically.
We have targets but sadly Merrett is no longer one.

 

[TylerDurden]

Let’s spend an entire Trade Period trying to prise Merrett out of the Scum.
It ain’t happening. Merrett knows it ain’t happening. His new management know it ain’t happening.
Let’s all take a deep breath & think about this logically.
We have targets but sadly Merrett is no longer one.

I'm in agreement we wont deal with Welsh again.

Perhaps he's now trying to get to Geelong. Otherwise he'd extend with Dons.

 

[hfc70]

I'm in agreement we wont deal with Welsh again.

Perhaps he's now trying to get to Geelong. Otherwise he'd extend with Dons.

I agree, won’t be Hawks but I can see him moving (including interstate)

 

[MazHawk]

I still think Merrett is in play, I doubt we would commit to someone, offer support to not being traded then just walk away. I could be wrong.

Merrett is not in play and we wont be chasing him. From our pov that ship has sailed.
We will listen if Dons come to us and will only consider if the deal is well in our favour. That's the inside word.

During the year we might see headlines like 'Hawks still chasing Merrett' or suchlike but that will be a beatup by the Dons-centric media ... any talk regarding us and Merrett will be because Dons have contacted us. That word's solid from what I'm told.

 

[TylerDurden]

9.7K views · 71 reactions | Merrett was held to 10 disposals by Finn O'Sullivan last night. | Triple M Footy

Merrett was held to 10 disposals by Finn O'Sullivan last night.

www.facebook.com

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I'm in agreement we wont deal with Welsh again.

Perhaps he's now trying to get to Geelong. Otherwise he'd extend with Dons.

Can see Welsh doing this to 'shaft' Hawthorn.

Best he can get out of a shit situation and keep his fans happy