With the final week of the home-and-away season done and dusted, clubs and players alike are already looking ahead to what their futures look like in 2025.
And as retirements, exit interviews and trade requests are conducted left, right and centre – many are looking to get as much of a head start as possible before the trade period begins on October 7.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s digital-only segment of Midweek Tackle, Herald Sun journalists Jay Clark, Glenn McFarlane and Jon Ralph conducted their own trade wrap, taking a deep dive into the future of six on-the-market players.
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Noble requests trade from Pies | 01:36
The panel discussed all of Jaidyn Stephenson, Jack Lukosius, Josh Schache, Jack Lukosius, Nathan Kreuger, and Ivan Soldo in the exclusive piece-to-camera, with a breakdown of each analysis below.
JAIDYN STEPHENSON
After beginning his career at Collingwood back in 2018, Jaidyn Stephenson’s journey has been a whirlwind one – and now sits on a five-year deal at North Melbourne running out at the end of next season.
Speculation circled earlier this week that Stephenson may have retired and stepped away from the game, however the Herald Sun’s Glenn McFarlane quashed such discussion.
“I can tell you he’s had his exit meeting with Alastair Clarkson… and it was interesting,” McFarlane said.
“He’s got a lot he’s got to work on; (some) improvements in terms of getting himself to the conditional level he needs to get.”
Stephenson has so far played 122 games across his seven seasons in the league, and was surprisingly thrust into a role across half back at times this year by Clarkson.
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JACK LUKOSIUS
After being given the blessing of Gold Coast to explore options outside of Cararra beyond 2024, the future of Jack Lukosius is as up in the air as it’s ever been.
The 24-year-old, who grew up in South Australia, has naturally been linked with Adelaide and Port Adelaide; with the former particularly keen on securing his services.
But is the chase for Lukosius winder than first thought?
“Richmond’s a no, I don’t think they believe he’s a robust enough footballer,” Jon Ralph begun by saying.
“Collingwood (have been mentioned); the best thing for Gold Coast is all of a sudden, there’s multiple clubs – Port Adelaide has met him, so have Adelaide.
“I think the feel out of Gold Coast is that Adelaide needs a win … they would say they want a first-rounder for Jack Lukosius.”
“That might help them to get Dan Rioli or John Noble.”
Noble has officially informed Collingwood of his desire to leave the club, while Richmond’s Rioli has all but confirmed with the club his want to move up to the Suns and play under former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.
Lukosius was dropped from the Suns’ senior side in Round 22, before returning in Round 24 in their win over Richmond at
the MCG.
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JOSH SCHACHE
Much like Phillips, Schache was taken high up in the AFL Draft – specifically Pick 2 back in 2015 AFL draft.
And having played at three different clubs since his drafting, it’s fair to say the 27-year-old has become a journeyman of the competition.
After stints at the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs, Schache played just one game this season and three the year before at Melbourne before his delisting on Tuesday.
“Schache wants to continue to play at the top level” Jon Ralph stated.
“It will be difficult for him; maybe he’s an excess piece sort of prospect – put up his hand up, and try to impress (other clubs) during season and over summer.”
IVAN SOLDO
The 2019 premiership Tiger’s future is once again up in the air after just one season at his new club Port Adelaide.
Having lost his spot in the starting 22 under Ken Hinkley and seemingly back to where he was 12 months ago at Punt Road, Jon Ralph admitted that the Tigers first and foremost got a good deal for his off-shoring.
“Richmond held really strong on him … they (got) pretty good picks for a player who’s not playing AFL footy,” Ralph told the Midweek Tackle panel.
“Jordan Sweet’s gone past him (in the pecking order), Dante Visentini looks okay … there’s interest there, ruckmen never go out of style – there are clubs who’d like a back-up ruckman.
“I think that they (Port Adelaide) would be entitled to hold firm.”
Soldo has so far played eight games this season for the Power, after his 57 matches for Richmond between 2017 and 2023.
First week of the finals shapes nicely | 02:30
NATHAN KREUGER
Like others discussed, Kreuger began his career elsewhere – at Geelong before being traded to Collingwood in the 2021 trade period.
Now 25 and out of contract, the tall’s future is again filled with uncertainty; despite productive cameos at the top level this season.
“He came in for a five-week patch and kicked multiple goals – and the best thing about him, is he is a forward-ruckman… he is actually that bloke who could give u a seven minute chop out somewhere else,” Jon Ralph justified.
“There’s a few clubs out there; whether it’s an Adelaide or Essendon (and) looking for the next Todd Goldstein.
Having played 15 games across his four seasons since his debut, you would think Collingwood give him at least a one-year deal as insurance given their lack of talls (and health) with key players in 2024.
WILL PHILLIPS
The 2020 Pick 3 in the AFL draft has been offered a one-year extension by North Melbourne, and given his “loyalty”, looks set to accept the proposition.
Phillips’ lack of game time at the top level has clearly been far from ideal for the highly-touted Roo, but the panel confirmed he looks likely to fight his way through the adversity at the club that first picked him.
“He is likely to accept that, he’s a pretty loyal guy,” McFarlane added.
Phillips has been successfully deployed as a tagger at various times throughout his 11 games in 2024, and is no doubt an asset worth keeping on at Arden Street.
Source Agencies
