These players to sign on the dotted line,and while that remains the case,they’ll be at the centre of trade talk in 2025.
At 24,Zak Butters is coming into the prime of his career. Hawthorn,Richmond,Essendon and Collingwood are among the clubs keen to lure him back home to Victoria.
More concerns are emerging about the planned AFL stadium in Hobart. Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell is heading to the tribunal,and pressure continues to mount on Carlton.
He was the son of Jim and nephew of Phil Krakouer,who paved a path for Indigenous players and starred for North Melbourne in the VFL in the 1980s.
The list of the league’s most marketable players is changing rapidly,and their capacity to cash in with multimillion-dollar off-field deals has been revolutionised in the past five years.
Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell was offered a three-game ban by the match review officer;the Blues remain unsure if gun forward Harry McKay will be available to take on the Pies;concerns allayed on Melbourne youngster’s knee.
What value do you place on the intangible impact of a player who’s beloved by teammates,and whose absence would be keenly felt in the locker room? Brayden Maynard is no Glenn Archer,but he’s that type of player.
AFL footballers are under more scrutiny and pressure than ever before. It’s impossible to ignore it all,no matter how hard you try. But you have to put it into perspective.
Hawthorn and Collingwood are among the suitors. It is a safe bet that Melbourne will be too,and Essendon would be foolish not to entertain this co-captain given their scarcity of leadership and a mature key forward to support Nate Caddy.
Collingwood spoiled the Bulldogs’ 100th anniversary celebrations with a single goal,but all anyone wanted to talk about post-match was Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy.