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AFL trade period 2025 LIVE updates: Cats still want Curnow, Marshall despite rejections; Ugle-Hagan yet to request trade
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Cripps calls Butters rumours ‘unhealthy’
By Roy Ward
Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps has called repeated stories about Zak Butters’ future “unhealthy”, and again repeated that his club will do everything possible to get their star midfielder to stay long term.
Cripps argued there is no push from Butters or the club for any move to happen, and that they want to sign him to a long-term deal.
The Power won’t be trading star midfielder Zak Butters.Credit: Getty Images
Multiple Victorian clubs are tracking Butters’ availability, and he played golf with some Essendon players and their manager on Thursday, adding to that conjecture.
But Cripps said there would be no trade for Butters this year or beyond.
“No, not at all. I spoke about this last week, [and] Zak has spoken about it,” Cripps told Trade Radio.
“The fascination with Zak is unhealthy because there is no story – the people who know him well know he is a loyal person.
“There is no story, and it seems some are trying to force one.
“There has been no discussion on Zak wanting to leave… we will be doing everything in our power to keep him beyond that.
“There is no story. I’m hoping it ends after this one today.”
‘Perfectly complements our side’: First pics of Chesser in navy blue
The Blues have posted these pictures of former West Coast midfielder Campbell Chesser in his new colours.
Chesser told AFL Trade Radio that he reported to Ikon Park as soon as his agent called to say the deal was agreed.
Blues head of list management Nick Austin praised Chesser’s talents.
“We are so pleased to have attracted Campbell to Ikon Park,” Austin said.
“The club is very optimistic about the future of Campbell at Carlton. Overcoming an ankle injury late in the year, the form he displayed at the end of the season showed us he has the quality and class to perform at the elite level.
“With explosive speed and endurance, his outside run is a clear standout in his game, with the ability to quickly transition to both ends of the ground – all traits that will perfectly complement our side.
“We think he will have a lot to learn from our established midfield group, led by our leaders Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, and we look forward to seeing them take Campbell under their wing, and he gets to work from day one of pre-season.”
Cats still want to chase Curnow, Marshall despite rejections
By Roy Ward
Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie knows his club has had offers for Charlie Curnow and Rowan Marshall knocked back, but they’re still keen to bring both to the club.
Mackie confirmed the Blues had knocked back the Cats’ offer of three first-round picks for Curnow this morning, while earlier in the week the Saints rejected an offer of a first-round pick for Marshall.
Toby Nankervis of the Tigers and Rowan Marshall of the Saints contest the ruck in August.Credit: Getty Images
Both players have multi-year deals with their present clubs.
“[There’s] not much is happening today to be honest,” Mackie told AFL Trade Radio.
He said the Cats were still pursuing trades for both players despite using pick 19 in both rejected offers.
“We’ve never been out of the pursuit, it is just about what a deal would look like. We want to bring Rowan in,” Mackie said.
“We are not sure what a deal looks like to St Kilda, but we want to be in the conversation.
“We are going to have a crack to bring both of them in. We went to the Saints first out of respect for Rowan wanting to come here.
“[If those deals don’t happen] we have always been lovers of the draft, so if we have to go to the draft with those picks we will.”
Gryan Miers takes a mark in May.Credit: Getty Images
Mackie said he still wasn’t certain what the Saints wanted in exchange for Marshall, but said talks would continue.
Mackie said he didn’t want to include any current players, despite conjecture Gryan Miers could be included in a deal for Curnow.
But he didn’t completely dismiss the prospect of including a player in a late offer.
“We love the players we have,” Mackie said.
“We have a cohesive, united group who want to go one better than they did this year. All signs are really positive, post the grand final. We couldn’t ask for a better group to got to work every day and get better.”
New Blue Chesser immediately reports to Carlton
By Roy Ward
New Blues midfielder Campbell Chesser got the call and reported immediately to Ikon Park this afternoon as his trade to Carlton became official.
The Blues and Eagles finalised a trade this afternoon with pick No.41 going to the Eagles in return for the former first-round pick.
Campbell Chesser runs with the ball for the Eagles this past season.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
An excited Chesser said he almost immediately reported to Blues HQ when told the deal was done.
“About two hours ago I got a call from my agent and went into the club and did some media stuff,” Chesser told AFL trade radio.
“It’s a two-year deal. It gives me a good opportunity to move back to Melbourne and get settled, so I’m grateful for that.”
Chesser said he hoped to bring some more run and carry to the Blues as a wingman.
‘Plays with your head’: Mihocek joins Dees, reveals extent of late-season injury
By Roy Ward
New Melbourne Brody Mihocek says he wouldn’t wish the uncertainty of the player movement period on anyone after finalising his move to the Demons.
Mihocek was a mature-age recruit who joined Collingwood and turned into one of their most consistent forwards, playing in their 2023 premiership win.
Brody Mihocek has now joined Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s definitely weird,” Mihocek told AFL Trade Radio.
“Thinking about my whole footy journey, it hasn’t been an easy road and I would have never thought that at 32 I would get an opportunity to explore new things.
“I know it is the right move for me. I’ve had people reach out from the Dees, they’ve made me feel welcome already.
“The back third of the year, it definitely plays with your head, and you don’t wish anyone to go through it. I just tried to keep doing my best for the Magpies.
“Melbourne got in contact early and put out the offer. Even after exit meetings, it wasn’t set in stone but I had to make the right call.”
Mihocek said he was still to have a proper break after the preliminary final, and he was still recovering from a dislocated middle toe and damaging some ligaments in the same injury.
“It’s not an injury people see a lot,” he joked.
He’s wearing a moon boot after sustaining the injury in the first half of the qualifying-final win over Adelaide, before playing through the preliminary final.
“I want to get on top with the problems with my body, and day one of pre-season I will be ready to go,” Mihocek said.
Blues snare Ainsworth, send Durdin to Power
By Marc McGowan
As Michael Gleeson reported earlier, Carlton small forward Corey Durdin is off to Port Adelaide in a three-club deal that sees Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth join the Blues.
Carlton received Ainsworth and pick 67; the Power acquired Durdin and the Blues’ 2026 second-round pick; and the Suns score the No.29 selection in this year’s draft.
Ainsworth’s departure clears some cash in Gold Coast’s salary cap as they continue negotiations with Melbourne for champion midfielder Christian Petracca.
North have discussed recruiting Aleer
North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings confirmed the Kangaroos have discussed Leek Aleer’s situation.
After finishing in the bottom three for a sixth-straight season, North are desperate to add key-position talent to a squad stacked with gun midfielders.
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“We have been in touch with Leek’s manager,” Rawlings told Trade Radio.
“He is pretty disappointed.
“We have discussed it as a club, [and] we are still doing the work on it.”
But Rawlings also said North would “back our guys in” when asked about filling defensive positions. A number of clubs, including reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions, have already ruled out making a play for Aleer.
St Kilda had offered the Giants’ athletic 24-year-old key defender a four-year deal worth north of $700,000 annually but pulled the pin on the move on Thursday.
Staff reporters with AAP
Lions, Crows still battling over Ah Chee deal
By Andrew Wu
Brisbane and Adelaide are at loggerheads over a deal that would send dual Lions premiership player Callum Ah Chee to the Crows.
The Lions want Adelaide’s pick 16 and are unlikely to accept Adelaide’s offer of a future second pick.
Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee makes a tackle on Oliver Dempsey in the grand final.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Minor premiers this year, the Crows would be expected to make the finals next season, which means their second-round selection in 2026 would not fall any earlier than the early 30s once father-son and academy picks are factored in.
Crows list boss Justin Reid said the club would not give up their first pick this year for Ah Chee.
“Pick 16 or [a] future first is not something that will be part of that discussion,” Reid told AFL Trade Radio.
“A future second has been on the table from the early days. That’s something that’s been sitting there.“
Ah Chee is very much a required player at Brisbane, where he played important roles in each of their past two grand final victories.
“We love him, we’d love to retain him, we think he plays a really important role,” Lions list manager Dom Ambrogio said.
“If it was our situation to dictate, he’d certainly stay at the Brisbane Lions.”
Blues swoop on former first round pick
By Marc McGowan
Campbell Chesser’s move to Carlton is official.
The Blues sent pick 41 to West Coast for the 22-year-old winger, who was the No.14 selection in the 2021 draft
Pick 41 was a potential option to help another Carlton target, Bulldog Buku Khamis, make his way to Ikon Park, but that will have to involve something else now.
The Eagles’ Campbell Chesser runs with the ball during the side’s 83-point loss to Melbourne in August.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Khamis fell out of favour late in the year, but is contracted for next season, and played 31 games across the past two years, so the Dogs are keen for a decent return.
Chesser had ankle surgery at the start of this year, but played career-best football in the final month, averaging 17 disposals in a strong finish.
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