Suns to land Hawks forward pair in wake of King deal as trade period reaches final stretch

Hawk forwards Aidan Schubert and Sam Butler will become Gold Coast players as early as Monday as the Suns bolster their forward line following the loss of Ben King to Hawthorn.

Schubert agreed to a five-year deal last week as the Suns brokered a deal which enabled them to accept compensation for the loss of King, while a Friday visit to the Gold Coast convinced Butler, whose brother Dan played in the 2017 flag at Richmond under Suns coach Damien Hardwick, to also make the move.

Butler is looking for more opportunities after being unable to cement a spot in the Hawks’ line-up during his six seasons at the club.

A shocking broken leg in 2024 hampered his progress as Nick Watson, Dylan Moore and Jack Ginnivan became Hawthorn’s dynamic trio of small forwards.

The Hawks will enter 2027 with Ben King, Jack Gunston, Mitchell Lewis, Mabior Chol and Calsher Dear as key forwards. Gunston and Chol will be entering the final year of their contracts.

They are likely to receive second-round draft picks in exchange for the young Hawk forwards.

Meanwhile, Richmond remains in the hunt to land Port Adelaide’s pick No.5, which is on the table as the Power determine what picks they need to land academy prospect Dougie Cochrane, who is expected to attract a bid with Essendon’s first pick.

The Tigers want to maximise their stock of young talent before Tasmania participates in the 2027 national draft.

Essendon eyes Miers

Essendon are considering making a bid for Geelong midfielder/forward Gryan Miers in the final days of the trade period.

Miers, who is in Europe, has two years remaining on his contract and is not looking to leave Geelong. However, he and the club are open to considering offers.

Miers, who played with a partial tear in his anterior-cruciate ligament in 2026, had a medical at West Coast before leaving overseas, but the Eagles decided against making an offer. Essendon is yet to approach the Cats to talk about a trade.

Vandermeer attracts interest

Essendon also have an interest in Western Bulldogs forward Laitham Vandermeer but are yet to discuss a potential trade with the club, who landed Zak Butters, Jordon Butts, Finn Maginness and Hudson O’Keeffe last week. Vandermeer could not break back into the team in 2026 after being a constant in the previous two seasons.

Viney move on cards

Melbourne premiership player Jack Viney is more likely than not to be traded to the Eagles this week, however details are yet to be signed off as West Coast finalises their offer to the Demons.

Viney, who has two years remaining on his contract, travelled to Perth after this year’s grand final to meet the club. He also had initial interest from Essendon, however the Bombers pulled out of the race last week.

Port ponders Pedlar

Adelaide midfielder/forward Luke Pedlar is seeking more opportunities at Port Adelaide after injuries and form restricted him to just 10 matches in 2026.

Port Adelaide had their hands full last week completing Zak Butters trade to the Western Bulldogs, but they will now turn their attention to securing Pedlar in a trade that is not expected to be too dramatic.

Blues make play for Whitfield

The Giants opened the door for Lachie Whitfield to return to Melbourne in his exit interview before he comes out of contract at the end of next season. However, they put a first round pick on his head.

Unfortunately for them, the club he wants to join – Carlton – are hamstrung with only two picks in the 20s available to trade as they hold on to their two first round picks to match a bid for father-son recruit Cody Walker.

Both clubs are likely to hold their position until Wednesday’s deadline draws nearer.

Pies play Short game

Collingwood is the only logical destination for Richmond premiership player and best-and-fairest winner Jayden Short.

The long-kicking half-back may have to wait to see whether the Tigers can attract Lions’ defender Keidean Coleman to soothe their loss.

The Pies are also restricted when it comes to list spots, with Jordan De Goey more likely to stay unless something changes late, while Collingwood has continually shut down any prospect of Dan Houston departing.

How Goater gets to Hawks

Port Adelaide’s or Gold Coast’s 2027 third-round pick could seal uncontracted North Melbourne defender Josh Goater’s passage to Hawthorn. The Hawks scored the Power’s future selection in Friday’s five-club mega deal that sent Finn Maginness to the Western Bulldogs, while a separate pick swap between Hawthorn and the Dogs saw the former claim the Suns’ selection. It may end up effectively a case of Maginness out, Goater in for the Hawks.

Great Sydney Blake-off

Nick Blakey is the biggest name left in the trade market. He will get to Arden Street, but Sydney are well within their rights to demand a high price for a player with five years left on his contract.

North Melbourne’s pick six will be the prized offering in any trade – and has already been presented to the Swans in a more expansive deal.

However, they will need to pay a high price to secure Blakey, whose relationship with his current club soured after the Pullman hotel scandal. The Roos are among the clubs interested in Port Adelaide’s pick five, a compensation pick the Power will secure for losing Zak Butters as a free agent.

Moving Murray

North Melbourne remain determined to find a way to bring contracted Adelaide key defender Nick Murray in, despite Blakey being their top priority.

Murray has two seasons to run on his Crows deal, but has a five-year offer from the Kangaroos.

North’s South Australian backman Blake Thredgold will not be part of any Murray trade. The Roos will gain more draft assets from trading Zane Duursma and Goater, but it remains to be seen whether either deal would produce a pick good enough to tempt Adelaide.

North Melbourne are involved in various pick-swap scenarios that could attract something to use for Murray.

Rivers winding west

West Coast ended their pursuit of Geelong’s Miers, but were already interested before that in West Australian Demon Trent Rivers, who will be a free agent next year.

Any potential Rivers trade may be tied in with Melbourne teammate Jack Viney, who is set to cross to the Eagles to end his career. West Coast’s pick 23 looms as the likely trade asset required to secure Rivers, but there may be more involved.

Demons covet Duursma, McLachlan

The Demons separately offered pick 47 (now 49) to both North Melbourne and Brisbane Lions for Duursma and McLachlan, respectively, without striking a deal.

However, their involvement in the Zak Butters mega deal may help land them at least one of their forward targets. Pick 31 (now 33) was part of Melbourne’s return and should form part of any Duursma deal.