News 2015 Trade News Compendium

[JasRulz63]

Matthew Kreuzer re-signs with Blues, Jake Melksham walks out on Bombers

The Brisbane Lions remain are interested in contracted Carlton midfielder Tom Bell – originally a Queenslander – and will explore trade options with the Blues.

The Lions, however, are waiting on moves for Jack Redden, most likely to West Coast, and possible compensation for Matthew Leuenberger to move – probably to Sydney - as a free agent.

The Lions remain uncertain whether uncontracted midfielder James Aish will remain in Brisbane. The Lions want him to stay but he has yet to decide to re-comit and has received interest from Carlton, Adelaide and StKilda.

The Lions had previously expressed interest in Carlton key position player Levi Casboult but it is understood the Lions are not this year pursuing the Blues big man.

 

[JasRulz63]

Trade whispers

The Suns and Roos have already met with Seedsman, but the Brisbane Lions, who were previously linked with him as part of a possible trade for James Aish, are unlikely to pursue the 23-year-old.

In a remarkable turnaround, Aish could yet re-sign with the Lions despite resisting the club's attempts to re-sign him for much of the 2015 season.

Some rival clubs suspect Hawthorn could yet make a play for Aish once its finals campaign is over, yet it's understood fellow preliminary finalist North Melbourne won't be pursuing him.

Fremantle is now widely seen as the frontrunner to secure Brisbane Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger.

It's believed Leuenberger is the preferred target of both the Bombers and Swans given they almost certainly won't have to trade for him, with the Lions not expected to match any free agency offer.

 

[JasRulz63]

AFL trades: Melbourne continues to baulk at Jeremy Howe’s contract demands

BRISBANE ruckman Matthew Leuenberger is set to join Essendon or Sydney.

The Lions’ free agent is expected to quit the Queensland club and has narrowed his options down to the Bombers and Swans.

A decision could be made on the 27-year-old’s future this week.

Leuenberger is expected to earn in the vicinity of $400,000 — $450,000 on his next contract, likely earning the Lions a second-round pick in free agency compensation.

 

[ZoBlitz]

West Coast Eagles poised to swoop on Monday

But come Monday the Eagles’ list-management team will be in overdrive. And most of their attention will centre on deals to secure Jack Redden from Brisbane and Lewis Jetta from the Swans.

South Australian Redden was not initially on West Coast’s shopping list but the contracted Lion has requested the Eagles to be his choice of new club. And they have sought permission from Brisbane to open negotiations with his management.

Should the Swans miss out on luring Brisbane ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, who has been offered a massive contract to join Fremantle as a free agent and much more than Sydney is allowed to pay him, the Swans will request a ruckman and an early draft choice in return for Jetta, who wants to return home to Western Australia.

Leuenberger has also held talks with Essendon. Brisbane are expecting free-agency compensation from the AFL of a pick at the end of the first round or after their second-round selection in the national draft. The Eagles, who may have to give up their first-round draft selection to secure Redden, may initially strike problems in satisfying Sydney’s demand for an early pick and a player for Jetta.

Should they lose vice-captain Selwood, West Coast are expecting AFL compensation of an end-of-first-round draft pick, which could help them package deals for both Redden and Jetta.

And out-of-contract Lions midfielder James Aish remains in the running to join Carlton as his second club, while the Saints also have an interest in the midfielder.

But Aish will not be part of the deal that lands contracted Carlton on-baller Tom Bell to the Lions for a second or third-round draft pick. St Kilda coach Alan Richardson remains hopeful that out-of-contract Bomber Jake Carlisle chooses the Saints as his club of destination when he returns from overseas.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Lions grow more confident of retaining James Aish

"We'd like to think James is going to stay," Leppitsch told Channel Nine.

"He's away at the moment in Bali, having a good time and just relaxing. Hopefully the decision's pretty imminent.

"We think it's (a) pretty good (chance he will stay).

"James all year has been undecided, I think it's been played out a lot in the press, I think he's pretty comfortable about staying at the Brisbane Lions."

Leppitsch revealed a number of senior Lions officials were still attempting to talk wantaway midfielder Jack Redden into staying at the club.

"(There's) a lot of people on that mission at the moment. Jack is deciding whether his best football is at the football club or whether it's somewhere else. We're having those conversations all the time with him."

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge told Channel Nine that Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, a free agent, was not on the club's radar for 2016.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Re-sign or enter the draft: Lions' ultimatum to Aish

BRISBANE Lions football director Leigh Matthews has given James Aish a simple ultimatum – re-sign or face going into the draft.

Aish, the out of contract 19-year-old, has yet to decide on his future despite a new offer from the Lions sitting on the table for most of the year.

Speaking on Adelaide radio station FiveAA on Wednesday, Matthews said he was confident the South Australian would recommit at the Lions, but had bad news if he didn't.

"James Aish will either be playing at the Lions or he'll be going into the draft, he won't be traded, that I can guarantee you," Matthews said.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Trade whispers: Bird could fly from Swans

West Coast ruckmen Callum Sinclair and Scott Lycett look set to become an early agenda item when the Eagles ramp up trade discussions on Swans speedster Lewis Jetta and Brisbane Lions midfielder Jack Redden after the Grand Final.

...

The Lions are also understood to be interested in the ruck duo, mindful they will almost certainly have to replace restricted free agent Matthew Leuenberger next season.

The Swans seem to be locked in a two-club race for the Lions ruckman with Essendon, while fellow suitor Fremantle's interest is believed to have waned.

If the Swans did end up snaring Sinclair or Lycett in a trade for Jetta they would likely bow out of the race for Leuenberger.

James Aish is yet to inform the Brisbane Lions of his post-2015 plans with the club growing more hopeful that he will re-sign.

Rival clubs suspect that unless Aish is able to get to Collingwood in the trade period, he will re-commit to the Lions.

Hawthorn defender Matt Suckling could yet leave Waverley despite the Brisbane Lions' decision to withdraw its interest in the half-back.

The Lions courted Suckling for some months earlier this year but cooled on the unrestricted free agent recently, partly because they did not want to weaken any free agency compensation pick they receive for Leuenberger.

The Brisbane Lions are keen to trade for Richmond's David Astbury, but the key defender is contracted to the end of 2016 and the Tigers maintain he is a required player at Punt Road.

Brendan Whitecross is on Brisbane's radar, but the Lions will not risk lessening the value of any free agency compensation pick they get for Leuenberger by taking the Hawthorn utility as a free agent.

The Brisbane Lions have suggested they would be prepared to let James Aish go to the draft rather than trade him if he didn't agree to renew his contract with the club.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Watts wants to stay a Demon but 'funny things happen'

[Paul] Connors also said:

• Matthew Leuenberger was deciding on playing at the Sydney Swans or Essendon, with the race "too close to call".

• Stefan Martin will remain at the Brisbane Lions after contemplating a move home to Melbourne.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Blues play hard ball on Yarran, Henderson

McKay confirmed Lions youngster James Aish was another player on the Blues' radar.

 

[ZoBlitz]

 

[ZoBlitz]

James Aish likely to re-sign with Brisbane despite ignoring club’s contract offers

JAMES Aish now seems certain to stay at the Brisbane Lions, despite ignoring the club’s contract offer for much of the year.

Aish will this week return from a Bali holiday with the expectation he will put pen to paper on a new deal with the Lions.

It’s understood the 19-year-old midfielder had his heart set on a move to Collingwood, but the Pies’ imminent capture of GWS star Adam Treloar has meant Aish isn’t a priority.

There had been rumours that Aish’s hesitation to commit to a new deal was because of interest from Hawthorn, but the Lions don’t believe that to be the case.

Carlton said it was interested in the former No. 7 draft pick, but the growing feeling is Aish will stay put.

However, Matthew Leuenberger’s departure is set in stone. Leuenberger and Lions ruck partner Stefan Martin, who has also been linked with rival clubs, both told Brisbane they wanted to be No. 1 ruck.

The club has opted for Martin, leaving Essendon in the box seat to secure free agent Leuenberger, despite interest from Sydney. The Swans are also circling forgotten West Coast big man Scott Lycett.

Contracted Lions midfielder Jack Redden, who surprised the club by demanding a trade, has surprised it further by nominating West Coast as his club of choice.

But the South Australian could find it tough to get to the Eagles, with the 2015 runners up devoted to securing Swans speedster Lewis Jetta.

Carlton is resigned to losing Tom Bell, but is haggling with the Lions over what he’s worth. The Lions’ second round pick comes early at 21 and it’s next selection isn’t until 39.

Untried Geelong midfielder Jarrad Jansen is also headed north, looking for opportunities ahead of Patrick Dangerfield’s arrival at Simonds Stadium.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Could Casboult leave the Blues?

Bell is likely to make his way back home to Brisbane and Casboult may be thrown into the package for early draft picks but it's understood the 25-year-old is reluctant to leave the Blues.

"What we've been told is that Levi Casboult and Tom Bell could be part of a package to Brisbane because the blues want another high pick in the draft," Kevin Bartlett said on his SEN program.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Quick summary (thought this was quicker than reposting tweets):

• Aish - club still not sure what Aish's decision is but hope he is staying - the longer it's taken, the more confident Schwab is that he might stay
• David Astbury - he's contracted so up to Tigers as to whether they're prepared to deal for him
• Leuenberger - like to think we'd get an end of first round compensation pick for him if he left - the club could match the deal if it wanted to - if Leuy leaves then the club would look at bringing in another ruck option
• Redden - West Coast has shown the most interest - since he's under contract West Coast would have to satisfy the club with draft picks - Schwab couldn't think off-hand of any players the club would be targeting from West Coast in a trade situation
• Tom Bell - pretty confident that the club can get him across to Brisbane
• Matt Suckling - were previously interested but for list management reasons, won't be pursuing him anymore
• Steve Johnson - Leppa has had a chat with Stevie J's management - always look at a player of that class and quality and think he does offer a bit for a young group - haven't ruled it out but haven't gone that far either - idea would be playing contract followed by transitioning to a coaching career
• Josh Thomas and Lachlan Keefe - did think about possibly picking them up but decided against it

 

[ZoBlitz]

John Worsfold's first job as Essendon coach: get Matthew Leuenberger

On his first official day as Essendon coach, John Worsfold rang Brisbane Lions free agent Matthew Leuenberger to discuss a potential move to the Bombers.

Leuenberger is yet to declare whether he wishes to join Essendon or the Swans, in what is a close contest for his services.

The Bombers are also interested in Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith but Leuenberger is believed to be their top priority.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Lions confident they can cut a deal for Bell

"I'm pretty confident that we'll be able to do a deal with Carlton for Tom [Bell]," Schwab said.

"We're really keen to get Tom back to Queensland, so we're hopeful that'll happen."

"We were interested in Matty [Suckling] but for circumstances around list management, we've had to curtail that," he said.

"We won't pursue that."

Meanwhile, Schwab said the Lions would explore the possibility of extending departed Geelong veteran Steve Johnson's AFL career into a 15th season, before helping him transition into a coaching role at the club.

Schwab said James Aish was yet to inform the Lions of his intentions for next season, but expected a decision from the talented out-of-contract midfielder in coming days.

"He hasn't indicated one way or the other but he'll have to do that soon, of course, because trading is starting next Monday," Schwab said.

"We're hopeful that he wants to stay and the longer it's taken, the more confident we've been that that might be the case."

 

[danielcan]

 

[JasRulz63]

AFL trades: Brisbane hopes to get confirmation on James Aish, expect Tom Bell to be at the Lions

BRISBANE midfielder James Aish will make a decision on his future by the end of this week.

Aish’s manager Liam Pickering confirmed on Wednesday he would meet Brisbane talent acquisition and retention manager Peter Schwab on Thursday, and a decision was likely by Friday.

Pickering said Aish had yet to make a decision on where he wants to play next year.

“I will have a discussion with Peter tomorrow and we should be clearer on things by the end of the week,” Pickering said.

 

[ZoBlitz]

No rabbits in Hawks' trade hat

Suckling was courted by the Brisbane Lions mid-year but they withdrew interest, in part due to concern about diluting potential free agency compensation they would receive for Matthew Leuenberger.

Whitecross, who has overcome two knee injuries, played four senior games this year.

He is looking for more opportunities, whether that is at Hawthorn or elsewhere and has had interest from Brisbane.

 

[ZoBlitz]

AFL trades 2015: James Aish requests trade to Collingwood but Lions playing hardball

BRISBANE says it is prepared to lose James Aish for nothing in the pre-season draft after he asked to be traded to Collingwood today.

Lions chief executive Greg Swann drew a line in the sand today, adamant Brisbane was prepared to lose Aish to make a stand against player departures.

“We are not trading him. He either plays at Carlton or he plays for us,’’ he told the Herald Sun.

Aish returned from a trip to Bali this week and today declared his interest in being traded in a meeting with manager Liam Pickering and Lions talent acquisition manager Peter Schwab after two turbulent years.

The club is hopeful he will relent and decide to return to play for the Lions again next year.

Pickering says he is disappointed that the Lions have taken such a stance with his client.

“People think this has been dragging on. It hasn’t, he’s been undecided about where he sees his future,” Pickering told Trade Radio.

“He really wants to come to Melbourne, he wants to play for Collingwood and it’s taken him a long time to really come to that decision.

“They’ve (Brisbane) got the power in the end and they would need to work out whether they want to lose James Aish for nothing or whether they want to do a deal.

“But at the end of the day, I understand what Leigh (Matthews) said but I’m a bit disappointed in what he said. James has been there for two years ... and he’s got every right to request a trade, so we’ll see how it pans out.”

“It just can’t keep happening to us. We have told Liam Pickering and that’s where we are at,” [Swann] said.

“We have met as a footy sub committee and decided we have got to stop this exodus ever year of people leaving us.

“We said we can’t continue to let it happen, we won’t let people leave on a whim.

“He was a pick seven, he was fourth in the Rising Star, he had this contract hanging over his head.

“So he’s a seriously good player and after losing five players (in 2013) we can’t continue to let it happen.”

“I think it depends on what happens with other players,” Pickering said of a trade deal between the Pies and Lions.

“Nathan Freeman has requested a trade to St Kilda and Paul Seedsman, I believe, is also on the way out so you don’t know where he might end up, so there could be a number of picks in the 20s.

“But that’s something the clubs need to work. We’ve got the players, the players need to tell us where they want to play and we inform the clubs and it’s up to them get the deals.

“Anyway you look at it needs to be done between Brisbane and Collingwood.”

 

[ZoBlitz]

James Aish requests trade to Collingwood

"He definitely won't be traded," Matthews said on 3AW.

"It's nothing to do with James - it's just the principle.

"He's a terrific young kid.

"He's a future captain.

"He's a really strong young kid.

"This isn't about him personally."

Aish is out of contract, meaning he can enter the pre-season draft, but Carlton would likely snap him up with the first pick.

"That will be a decision James has to make," Matthews said.

 

[ZoBlitz]

AFL trades 2015: Levi Casboult will consider his options if Carlton is willing to trade him, says manager

CARLTON forward Levi Casboult would entertain the prospect of a trade if circumstances demanded it, his manager says.

Anthony McConville concedes that while Casboult has one year to run on his contract at the Blues, he might consider leaving should the Blues be willing to trade him.

He said “a number of clubs” have shown interest in the 25-year-old, but wouldn’t reveal which, but the Brisbane Lions are reportedly interested in him.

 

[ZoBlitz]

listen to this on Audioboo

 

[ZoBlitz]

Matthews on Steve Johnson

Matthews said talks hadn't reached the official offer stage but confirmed a conversation about a possible dual role had already happened.

"The Brisbane Lions certainly thought it's a fairly young team so bringing in an experienced captain/coach type player for a year that would then go into a coaching role … is that something valid?" Matthews told 3AW on Thursday.

"I know the club has spoken to Stevie about that concept but I don't think there's even been offers made or anything like that, it's really sounding out an option that would be worthy of discussion.

"Steve, I would have thought, would have to decide what he wants to do and what his options are."

 

[ZoBlitz]

Trade winds: Treloar trade takes a big twist

Sydney Swans ruckman Mike Pyke is reportedly set to retire after the club's best-and-fairest count on Friday night.

According to The Age, Pyke will call time on his career with one year left to run on his contract, giving the Swans an extra spot on their list and freeing up salary cap space.

The club could now ramp up its bid to sign restricted free agent Matthew Leuenberger from the Brisbane Lions when the free agency period starts on Friday.

The Swans could also be in the market for a second ruckman after expressing interest in West Coast's Callum Sinclair.

It has been reported Leuenberger is weighing up offers from the Swans and Essendon.

 

[ZoBlitz]

'It's a long way off': Manager fears Aish may have to risk the draft

On Saturday, Aish’s manager Liam Pickering said it was definitely possible that his client may head to the draft if the Lions kept playing hardball.

"We'll discuss [those options] post the trading period. If he doesn't get traded, there's obviously three options," Pickering told SEN.

"We'll have to work through all that. At the moment it's a long way off.

"We've requested a trade at Brisbane, and Collingwood will have to do a trade if it's to happen."