A Melbourne premiership player has reportedly requested a trade.
Elsewhere, a likely-outgoing Western Bulldogs midfielder “wants to play at a Melbourne club” next season.
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MELBOURNE MIDFIELDER REQUESTS TRADE
Demons utility Alex Neal-Bullen has reportedly requested a trade out of Melbourne, according to The Age journalist Marc McGowan on Tuesday night.
The 28-year-old — contracted until the end of 2026 — is thought to desire a return to his home state of South Australia, with his decision said to be unrelated to any concerns about the club’s trajectory and instead for family reasons.
Neal-Bullen, a much-valued member of the Demons’ brigade, signed a three-year deal early last year and has seen his forward-midfield role increase in Christian Petracca’s absence.
McGowan reported that the Crows were aware of Neal-Bullen’s intention to move home but would let discussions take place at Melbourne, while Port Adelaide was more concerned with keeping draft capital in tow.
With Melbourne thought to be interested in bringing Power flanker Dan Houston home, could a player swap — including complementary draft picks — be on the cards?
The news comes after Nine’s Tom Morris reported Petracca was ‘disillusioned’ with the Demons’ direction.
MORE TRADE NEWS: Rivals making moves for fringe Magpies pair; $1m Giant ‘will land at Carlton’
OUT-OF-FAVOUR DOG WANTS A MELBOURNE HOME
If out-of-favour Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae departs the Kennel this year, he is almost a certainty to stay in Melbourne.
While it is not yet a guarantee that the 30-year-old will call it quits at the Dogs, he has played just 16 senior games this season — currently the lowest tally since his rookie campaign.
“Macrae’s going to have a really frank discussion with Luke Beveridge and the Dogs officials at season’s end,” began Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night.
“This is going to be the question: ‘do you see me in your senior plans for next year?’ And if it’s a bit of a ‘not sure’, well then, he’s going to assess his options elsewhere.
“The issue is, with his family set-up at the moment, he’s not particularly interested in leaving Melbourne. He’s 30 years old, he’s got a contract to 2027, and if he’s going to play in new colours next year, he wants to play at a Melbourne club.
“You think of Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda, Hawthorn, Richmond, North Melbourne, Melbourne — it doesn’t feel like there’s a natural fit.”
Clark floated the idea of moving to Geelong — possibly with current Bulldogs teammate Bailey Smith — but he was still uncertain that such a move might be in Macrae’s plans this year.
“This could be the curly one — I’m not sure how keen Jack Macrae is for the hour-commute down the highway,” Clark said.
“Could he partner up with Bailey Smith to go down to the Cattery? I’m not sure that is in his plans, I really think it is a Melbourne club that Jack Macrae wants to play at next year. It’s going to be interesting.”
Macrae is set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2027.
Source Agencies
