The AFL trade period has entered its third day with momentum building around several high-profile player movements, headlined by the increasingly complex three-way negotiations involving St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall, his brother Sam Marshall, and Geelong small forward Gryan Miers — while a potential bombshell involving suspended Sydney star Nick Blakey continues to simmer in the background.
With the trade window scheduled to close on Wednesday, October 15, clubs are beginning to feel the pressure of a ticking clock. Only one trade was officially lodged on Tuesday, but behind the scenes the negotiations are growing in complexity and intensity.
The Marshall Standoff: Saints, Cats and a Complicated Three-Way Deal
The most intricate situation of this trade period so far centres on Rowan Marshall, with St Kilda and Geelong locked in talks that also draw in Sam Marshall and potentially Gryan Miers. The exact shape of those negotiations has not been fully confirmed, but it is understood that the deal involves multiple moving parts that are proving difficult to untangle.
The complexity of the discussions — involving two clubs, multiple players, and what appears to be linked negotiations — makes this one of the more challenging deals of the period to resolve. Whether all three player movements can be packaged together in a way that satisfies both clubs remains to be seen, with more detail expected to emerge as the week progresses.
Geelong Also Chasing Jordan Ridley from Essendon
The Cats' ambitions in this trade period extend beyond the Marshall situation. Geelong is also understood to be pursuing Essendon defender Jordan Ridley, with reports indicating the offer on the table from the Cats consists of a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and Jack Bowes.
Adding an unusual dimension to the potential deal, it is reported that the Bombers may continue paying a portion of Ridley's salary should he move, given the cap space Essendon currently holds. The arrangement, if confirmed, would represent a creative financial structure that could help smooth the path for Ridley's departure.
Hawthorn, Ben King and the Gold Coast Factor
Hawthorn's recruitment drive has been one of the talking points of the trade period so far. Having secured Zach Merrett on Monday, the Hawks are now pursuing Gold Coast forward Ben King through a free agency bid — and are waiting to see whether the Suns choose to match it.
Complicating matters is Gold Coast's own interest in young Hawks forward Aidan Schubert, with the Suns reported to have been actively targeting the player over recent days. Schubert is understood to have visited the Gold Coast club for a look around. It is suggested that if Hawthorn were to sanction a Schubert trade to the Suns, Gold Coast might be less inclined to play hardball over the Ben King bid — a dynamic that could ultimately influence how both deals unfold.
The double movement of Merrett and the potential addition of King has already sparked conversation about Hawthorn's premiership credentials, with the club appearing to be in aggressive list-building mode heading into next season.
Nick Blakey: The Wild Card That Could Define the Trade Period
Perhaps the most explosive storyline of the entire trade period is the reported interest from rival clubs in Nick Blakey, the suspended Sydney Swans star. Reports indicate Blakey has been taking meetings with rival clubs this week, with sources suggesting he is exploring his options before formally telling Sydney he wants to leave.
The situation is fraught with complications. Blakey still has five years remaining on his contract with the Swans and remains the subject of a police investigation connected to an incident at the Pullman Hotel. The Swans have been firm in their public position that none of their suspended players will be traded away during this period.
Despite that stance, reports suggest there is genuine movement in Blakey's situation, and the story is far from resolved. Whether he formally requests a trade — and whether Sydney would even entertain such a request given the circumstances — shapes up as potentially the defining saga of this trade window.
North Melbourne's New Era and What's Ahead
Away from the trade table, attention has also turned to North Melbourne, where Jaymie Graham has made his first public appearance as the club's senior coach. Graham's arrival marks a significant new chapter for the Kangaroos, and his early impressions are being closely watched by the football community.
With a full week still remaining in the trade period, the coming days are expected to bring increasing urgency to deals that have so far moved slowly. The Marshall negotiations, the Ridley pursuit, the Ben King–Aidan Schubert dynamic, and the Blakey situation all have the potential to break at any moment — making this a trade period worth watching very closely.
Coverage continues throughout the day as clubs work to finalise arrangements before the October 15 deadline.
