Demon asks for trade as free agency calls loom

Melbourne defender Judd McVee has asked to be traded home to Western Australia, where he wants to play for Fremantle from 2026.

In a move that has been on the cards all season, the Dockers have convinced the 22-year-old out-of-contract Demon to request a trade, competition sources confirmed on Sunday.

Melbourne, who are poised to be one of the most active clubs in free agency and the trade period, had hoped to retain McVee, but the Dockers are willing to unleash him in a more attacking role, which won him over.

The AFL off-season has arrived now that the Brisbane Lions are back-to-back premiers, meaning player movement will dominate the headlines more than it already does.

Unrestricted and restricted free agency officially begins this Friday, October 3 and stays open until the following Friday, October 10, while the trade period runs between Monday, October 6 and Wednesday, October 15.

Six players already have confirmed their intention to sign with a new club in free agency: West Coast’s Oscar Allen and Essendon’s Sam Draper (Brisbane Lions), Carlton’s Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni (St Kilda), Melbourne’s Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne), and Giant Jacob Wehr (Port Adelaide).

That still leaves plenty of free agency intrigue, in particular with Hawk James Worpel, Lion Brandon Starcevich, Collingwood forwards Jamie Elliott and Brody Mihocek, and Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini.

Hawthorn midfielder and Geelong Falcons product Worpel, who hails from Bannockburn, is tipped to ink a four-year deal with the Cats, but there is no movement yet, while dual Brisbane premiership defender Starcevich is also weighing up a move back to his home state with West Coast.

The Eagles are willing to hand Starcevich a deal lasting up to six seasons, with in-built triggers, if he opts to leave, but he may not end up moving as a restricted free agent.

West Coast initially made a bold request to the AFL for them to retain pick two as compensation for losing Allen, even if Starcevich agreed to join them, but that will not occur as part of their assistance package. Free agency compensation is based on the sum of a club’s ins and outs at the end of the period.

That means there is a possibility that if Starcevich, who played for East Perth before being drafted, indicates he wants to play for the Eagles that they may try to broker a trade with Brisbane.

Starcevich’s grand final concussion – the latest of several for the star backman, who shut down Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield before exiting Saturday’s game – is not expected to complicate matters.

Like Starcevich, De Koning, Worpel and Allen are also restricted free agents, so their current clubs have the right to match any offer, but GWS are the only club to ever do that when Jeremy Cameron left for Geelong in 2020.

The Cats instead traded three first-round selections and a fourth-rounder to the Giants for Cameron and two future second-round selections.

Melbourne hope a three-year contract will be enough to lure Collingwood’s veteran forward Brody Mihocek.

The Pies have upped their offer to two seasons for Mihocek, who turns 33 in February.

The Demons have already asked contracted defender Steven May to explore his options and are set to land St Kilda ruckman Max Heath on a three-year deal.

Melbourne’s champion midfielder-forward Christian Petracca could emerge as a trade period storyline for a second straight year, too.

But one of the most fascinating situations involves another Magpie, Elliott, who kicked a career-most 60 goals this year. The 33-year-old has still not accepted Collingwood’s two-year offer, more than a week since his season ended.

Gold Coast would happily add Elliott – who has family in Queensland, and previously flirted with joining Brisbane six years ago – into their forward mix, and would likely trump the Pies’ terms.

Fiorini has often been the odd man out at the Suns, but he averaged 21 disposals as a winger this past season and is on Port Adelaide’s and Essendon’s radar. He has a two-year offer from Gold Coast, but has toured the Power’s facilities as they prepare to also welcome Wehr and trade for Will Brodie as the Josh Carr era starts.

There is also interest in what happens with unsigned veterans and in the delisted player market.

It is still unclear if ex-Adelaide captain Taylor Walker will be playing in 2026, while ruckmen Mason Cox and Todd Goldstein and fellow veterans Liam Jones and Kamdyn McIntosh could all be at different clubs or facing retirement.

Cox played for Collingwood in this year’s finals, but Darcy Cameron is their undisputed No.1 big man, plus they have 200-centimetre-plus developing duo Oscar Steene and Iliro Smit on their list.

Geelong midfielder Cam Guthrie’s future is also unclear after an injury-marred few years. His brother, fellow Cat Zach, told this masthead that his sibling was keen to keep playing.

The Giants are scouring the defensive scrapheap after Leek Aleer’s trade request to St Kilda, with delisted quartet Robbie Fox, Jayden Laverde, Aaron Francis and Sam Frost among those they are considering.

Delisted West Coast speedster Jack Petruccelle has been linked to Carlton and has interest from several clubs, but is unlikely to play for the Blues next season.

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