The GWS Giants continue to have their hands full with players looking for greater opportunity elsewhere, as two hotly contested players from their best 22 look increasingly likely to depart.
Plus one of the AFL’s biggest names has been raised in trade talks again.
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RIVALS READY RAIDS FOR OLIVER… AGAIN
For the second straight year, Clayton Oliver is viewed as gettable heading into the AFL trade period, with rivals considering official approaches for the Melbourne midfielder.
AFL Media reports the four-time best and fairest winner, who is signed until the end of 2030, is being eyed by rival clubs.
And The Age reports Geelong is a contender to add the premiership player if the Demons are willing to consider a deal.
Oliver battled through a difficult 2024 in all areas, with a limited pre-season after battling off-field concerns leading to an up-and-down on-field campaign, where he showed flashes of his best but also battled knee and rib injuries.
Last year at the peak of the drama around Oliver, teams including Adelaide, Geelong and St Kilda considered a move for the 27-year-old with the Demons briefly considering trading him before holding firm.
There were also reports of tension this past July, reporter Sam McClure claiming Oliver was “clearly up for grabs” with the Crows the leading contender.
McClure reported on Monday Oliver “has increasingly felt unwanted at the Demons this year” and that the Cats had real interest, though they have already committed their first-round pick to a trade for Bailey Smith.
The Demons already had to deal with a disgruntled Christian Petracca over the last couple of months. He has re-committed to the club but it was apparent Petracca would have requested a trade if there was a realistic destination – but due to his trade value and contract, there wasn’t.
Melbourne midfield coach Andrew McQualter was announced as West Coast’s new senior coach on Monday.
GWS REVEAL INTEREST IN INDECISIVE STRINGER
Adam Kingsley’s side have emerged from the shadows as a potential suitor for Essendon livewire Jake Stringer, after the likes of Collingwood ruled themselves out of the race for the 30-year-old.
Still contracted at Essendon until the end of 2025 after activating a clause for a one-year extension, Stringer’s well-documented want for greater security long-term has led to him exploring external interest.
And now somewhat surprisingly, GWS have flagged a form of interest in the 2016 premiership Bulldog, reports AFL Media’s Callum Twomey.
“The Giants are exploring interest in Jake Stringer,” Twomey revealed on AFL Trade Radio on Monday afternoon.
“Stringer has told plenty of people he’s played his last game for Essendon – in saying that, he did train at the footy club a week or two ago alongside Zach Merrett and a couple other teammates.
“In terms of the Giants interest, it could also depend on who they do lose and how many list spots they have and how available and ready they are to take some experience to replace some of those players we think are on the way out.
However, Stringer has played all 12 of his AFL seasons in Victoria – which if he was to move to western Sydney, would obviously require a notable shift in the lifestyle he and his family have become so accustomed to.
“Do they have the list spots and financial needs to present something to Stringer that could entice him to move states?” Twomey questioned.
“I don’t think in an ideal world Stringer would be moving out of Victoria, but at the moment there (aren’t) a lot of clubs banging down the door.”
“Something could happen late with Jake – I don’t think that he’ll be a priority one or two for a few clubs who are considering him … it’s pretty clear that’s he’s on the table, (and) it’s pretty clear that he’d be open to a move as well for a longer-term deal.
Stringer played 89 games across five seasons at the Western Bulldogs, before moving to Essendon at the end of 2017 – a club who he has since played 123 games for.
VICTORIAN POWERHOUSE PRIMED FOR PERRYMAN
Despite a monster deal on the table from Port Adelaide this off-season, the out-of-contract Harry Perryman is “all but certain” to join Collingwood in the coming weeks, according to SEN’s Sam Edmund on AFL Trade Radio.
After eight seasons and 129 games at GWS, the 25-year-old has been weighing up offers from rival clubs for some time now as he seeks more time as an inside midfielder.
Speaking on Monday morning, Edmund and Kane Cornes provided a notable update on his future.
“He is all but certain (to go to) Collingwood – and that’s been the word for some time,” Edmund revealed.
“I hear Perryman on grand final weekend that he was telling people around him that he’s going to Collingwood.” Cornes added.
AFL Media’s Callum Twomey went further into the reports early on Monday afternoon also on AFL Trade Radio.
“When all the mail is saying Collingwood (and) all the other (rival) clubs are saying Collingwood, you start to think there’s a fair bit to it.” Twomey said.
“When you look at the Perryman call – unlike Isaac Cumming if he was definitely leaving, he could’ve gone like Cumming and said; ‘I’m leaving, I’m going to work out where.’”.
“I still think he’s more likely to go… we expect that deal to be even more significant than Port Adelaide’s, so he can’t lose.”
SEVENTH CLUB ENTERS RACE FOR PEATLING
Adelaide have reportedly joined the race for James Peatling’s services in 2025 and beyond, becoming the seventh club to have their interest in the midfielder made public.
According to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey, the Crows join all of Melbourne, the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, St Kilda and West Coast – as well as current club GWS – in the mix for Peatling, who’s rival interest has skyrocketed during the second half of this season.
Peatling – like teammate Harry Perryman – has been starved of midfield opportunity since being picked up in the 2021 mid-season draft, as well as consistent game time before his boom in form at the back end of 2024.
The 24-year-old played a career-high 19 games this year under coach Adam Kingsley; three less games than he had registered across the 2022 and 2023 seasons combined.
Speaking to AFL Trade Radio on Monday afternoon, Twomey said the interest from Adelaide “is real” – and that the decision of teammate Isaac Cumming to nominate .
“Adelaide’s interest to this point had not been known; they’ve been a mystery floating club in the chase for James Peatling.” Twomey begun by saying.
“There is a link there clearly; they’re pretty tight with each other (Peatling and Isaac Cumming) – they’re both (GWS) Academy boys.”
Cumming recently requested a trade to Adelaide after similarly struggling to find consistent game time at his club of four seasons.
“Looking at it from the outside in, West Coast is considered unlikely now in the chase for Peatling … I don’t have them in the race anymore,” Twomey added.
“I think Adelaide is certainly in that race though, as are a couple of clubs particularly in Victoria.”
The Giants currently have a three-year deal on the table for the Academy product, but speculation has come about that the Crows be offering for – or even five – years for Peatling.
“He’s more popular than Pesto the penguin is James Peatling,” Riley Beveridge jokingly added in reference to the Melbourne Zoo phenomenon.
“I like the fit… I see why the appeal is strong,” Twomey finished by noting.
Source Agencies
