The AFL’s most wanted, and are the Blues about to land their De Koning replacement?

Newly crowned All-Australian Lion Zac Bailey has become one of the competition’s most wanted as he prepares to enter restricted free agency next season.

Brisbane’s Darwin-born midfielder-forward was a first-round pick eight years ago out of Norwood after relocating to South Australia in 2016 to attend Prince Alfred College.

After missing out on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Adelaide are tipped to be one of the most aggressive suitors for Bailey, who is averaging a career-most 20 disposals this year, while kicking 34 goals in 23 matches so far.

The Crows have focused their recruiting efforts on home-grown products or players with South Australian ties, but they also tried to lure Errol Gulden out of Sydney with a gigantic long-term offer.

That strategy helped net them Jordan Dawson, Izak Rankine, Isaac Cumming and Alex Neal-Bullen, while Port Adelaide beat them to Jason Horne-Francis and Jack Lukosius.

Essendon have also been raised as one of the Victorian clubs poised to try to woo Bailey, on a deal worth as much as $8 million across six years.

However, one list management source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was discussing a contracted player, told this masthead that “every team in the competition would want him”.

The same source indicated that Bailey could command an annual salary north of $1.5 million, while another felt that was on the high side but that a player’s worth was whatever a club was willing to pay them.

St Kilda made Wanganeen-Milera the league’s first $2 million player last month on a two-year deal to hold off the Crows and Power.

There is no indication from the Bailey camp that he would push for a move this year, and clubs believe the Lions will move heaven and earth to retain one of Chris Fagan’s favourites.

Bailey is a fortnight from turning 26 and playing the best football of his life, including racking up 27 touches, six clearances and a goal in last week’s qualifying final defeat to Geelong.

Other big-name free agents next year include Zak Butters, Sam Walsh, Lachie Neale, Ben King, Toby Greene and Ollie Wines.

Ruck ‘n’ role

Strong ruck pairing Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson make it hard for their high-performing underlings to get a look in at the Dockers, which is why Liam Reidy might be about to transfer his outstanding WAFL form with Peel Thunder into a Blues jumper.

If Reidy, who is contracted in 2026, decides to make the leap, he will follow a similar path to Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek, who has made every post a winner since joining the Hawks in the same trade period Jackson arrived at the Dockers from Melbourne.

Reidy has played three games with the Dockers since they plucked him from Frankston with pick No.13 in the 2022 rookie draft, but the 25-year-old’s form has been outstanding in the WAFL. He could be a canny pick-up by Carlton to support Marc Pittonet as the ruck merry-go-round begins to pick up pace.

Geelong met with St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall, but there is nothing locked in there yet with the Cats and player still dancing the dance, aware the Saints big man is contracted for another two seasons.

One of Marshall’s close associates told recruiters from a rival club at the weekend the star Saint planned to leave, but there remains plenty of water to go under the bridge before that would happen, with St Kilda still believing Tom De Koning and Marshall could play together in tandem.

Of course, the Saints will at some point need draft picks to make a trade for Leek Aleer, who is worth a first-round pick to the Giants, given he was pick 15 in the 2021 national draft and played senior football in the back half of the season. The Cats have pick 17 based on current ladder position, which would be a good starting point for a ruckman turning 30 in November if Marshall does decide to ask for a trade.

Callum Wilkie is the other contracted player being targeted by another club, with the Western Bulldogs very keen to prise the consistent intercept defender out of Moorabbin.

Geelong have also set their sights set on Hawthorn’s restricted free agent James Worpel so need to keep their options open as the Hawks have the option to match any offer made to the 26-year-old, who recaptured his form in the elimination final win over the Giants.

The Demons are chasing the Saints’ Max Heath, while St Kilda have delisted Harry Boyd, potentially thinning the ruck stocks before they contemplate Marshall departing. St Kilda also have their claws into Suns midfielder Sam Flanders, who was part of Gold Coast’s first finals win last Saturday night, as they continue their aggressive strategy to reshape their list.

Cult ruckman departs Dons as ruck rotation picks up pace

Essendon ruckman Sam Draper will play for a new team next year after telling the Bombers on Tuesday morning that he would exercise his unrestricted free agency rights to join another club.

Draper, who turns 27 this month, is choosing between the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide, both of whom are preparing to play semi-finals this week.

The Lions are considered the favourites to secure his signature, and are in great need for a ruck upgrade on Darcy Fort and an ailing Oscar McInerney, whereas the Crows re-signed Reilly O’Brien but wanted to pair him with Draper.

The first pick in the rookie draft of 2016, Draper played 78 games for Essendon and developed a cult following for his physical playing style and mullet hairstyle.

The Bombers played him alongside Nick Bryan and he demonstrated he could also have an impact as a forward before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

“I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been part of my journey at Essendon,” Draper said.

“Pulling on the red and black has been such a huge honour, and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to represent such a proud club … the last few years haven’t been easy with all the injuries I’ve sustained. This has taken a toll on me, both mentally and physically, and I’ve had to make a very hard decision for what’s best for me moving forward, and I feel it’s the right time for a fresh start.”

Who do the Dogs go for?

Tall midfielder Neil Erasmus’ decision to reject rival offers and re-sign at Fremantle on a three-year deal means Western Bulldogs could pivot elsewhere.

Erasmus, a top-10 pick in the 2021 draft, had struggled for senior opportunities until mid-year, but his increasingly impressive form cemented him in the Dockers’ on-ball rotation, including amassing 18 disposals, five clearances, six tackles and a goal in the one-point elimination final loss to Gold Coast.

The Bulldogs were confident at different stages this season that the 21-year-old was going to request a trade to the Kennel, and that played a role in them not pursuing Giant Xavier O’Halloran for the second straight year.

They are also yet to decide whether to offer midfielder Adam Treloar a contract for next year as they assess whether he can get on top of his physical issues.

Among the inside midfielders who may be on the Dogs’ radar are Hawk Henry Hustwaite – who, like, Erasmus is taller than 190 centimetres – Brisbane’s Deven Robertson, Bomber Ben Hobbs, North Melbourne’s Will Phillips and Magpie Finlay Macrae.

Another out-of-favour on-baller, Fremantle’s Will Brodie, is set to request a trade to Port Adelaide, with Giants free agent Jacob Wehr also joining the Power.

Optimism for premiership Cat

Geelong defender Zach Guthrie hopes his injury-plagued brother Cam will play on next year.

The younger Guthrie’s career has gone from strength to strength in recent seasons, including finishing runner-up to Max Holmes in last year’s club champion count.

By contrast, Cam Guthrie has played only 10 games – due to repeated injury setbacks – since playing alongside his sibling in the Cats’ 2022 grand final win and sharing the best-and-fairest award that year with Jeremy Cameron.

The 33-year-old Cam, whose four-year deal expires this season, missed most of the year with a foot issue that required surgery, while quad and Achilles injuries ruined his 2024 campaign.

Achilles surgery at the start of this year extended Cam’s horror run, before his comeback was cut short when he suffered a calf injury in the VFL mid-season. He returned in the second-tier competition about three weeks ago.

Zach told this masthead his brother had remained as upbeat as possible throughout his injury challenges.

“It’s been a bit tough throughout the year at times, but he’s really positive,” Zach said.

“He’s been huge for helping me with my footy in the last few years. I don’t think I’d be in this position if I didn’t have his support and help. I’m confident he’ll be doing all the right things to give himself a shot.

“He’s in a good spot. He’s moving around really well, so I’d love to keep playing with him.”

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