Trade talk, rumours & innuendo 2025

[one-eyed]

10 AFL players on the fringes at their clubs… and why rivals could soon circle

Foxsports
3 April 2025

ALEX DAVIES (Gold Coast Suns)
Age: 23
Drafted: Pre-listed rookie, 2020
AFL games: 32
Contract status: Signed until 2026

NED MOYLE (Gold Coast Suns)
Age: 23
Drafted: Pick 5, 2021 mid-season draft
AFL games: 10
Contract status: Signed until 2028

JAKE RICCARDI (GWS GIANTS)
Age: 25
Drafted: Pick 51, 2019
AFL games: 69
Contract status: Signed until 2026

LEEK ALEER (GWS GIANTS)
Age: 23
Drafted: Pick 15, 2021
AFL games: 12
Contract status: Signed until 2025

LEWIS HAYES (Essendon)
Age: 20
Drafted: Pick 25, 2022
AFL games: 0
Contract status: Signed until 2026

HENRY HUSTWAITE (Hawthorn)
Age: 20
Drafted: Pick 37, 2022
AFL games: 6
Contract status: Signed until 2026

Jon Ralph says: “He’s a fascinating one. He’s in an interesting position there – 38 possessions (in the VFL against North Melbourne) and as we saw in the summer documentary: ‘Do you think I can play half-back, coach? Where can I play?’ The issue is not that he won’t get a chance at some stage, but James Worpel is out of the side and he’s still not in at the moment. It’s just that he’s probably that player who’s a bit slower – an inside mid who’s not a great spreader – and they’ve already got James Worpel, Cam Mackenzie is not an identical player but reasonably similar, Conor Nash is a bid-bodied inside mid, we know about Jai Newcombe. I think if he forecasts his next five years, I’m sure he’s thinking to himself: ‘I’m not sure I have that role in that team.’ And I don’t think he can play half-back. He’s contracted until next year, I’m sure he’d love to stay at that club, but I’m sure he’d have his head turned by some big offers with three and four-year deals at clubs who desperately need young inside midfielders of his potential.”

JEDD BUSSLINGER (Western Bulldogs)
Age: 21
Drafted: Pick 13, 2022.
AFL games: 0
Contract status: Signed until 2026

DEVON ROBERTSON (Brisbane Lions)
Age: 23
Drafted: Pick 22, 2019
AFL games: 43
Contract status: Signed until 2025

ED ALLAN (Collingwood)
Age: 20
Drafted: Pick 19, 2022
AFL games: 3
Contract status: Signed until 2026

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/department-of-trade/afl-trade-news-rumours-whispers-2025-midweek-tackle-nominated-10-fringe-players-possibly-up-for-grabs/news-story/b8ec2c063f49372ecddc3f1a20e395e9

[Andyy]

I'd take Riccardi while the boys develop

[Diocletian]

I'd take Riccardi while the boys develop

Pass. It'd be Aaron Edwards & Brad Miller all over again. 

[wayne]

We need midfield depth while the young guns get to 50 games.

Sam Berry is one who seems out of favour.