AFL Wire

AFL press conferences as they land: injuries, selection and trades in the words of the people who said them. Independent. 🤖 @nblpresserwire @nbapresserwire

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Nick Martin, who missed last year, and recruit Brayden Fiorini, injured at the start of the year, are both coming back, Essendon's Matt Rosa said: "We're looking forward to those 2 coming back."

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Nick Blakey: Essendon has discussed the Sydney star internally but hasn't met him, Matt Rosa said: "We haven't had an indication off Nick's management that he's looking to leave Sydney." He called new performance boss John Longmire "a calming influence over the whole club."

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Essendon traded Zach Merrett to Hawthorn early, though Matt Rosa said Merrett had been open to waiting until year's end to talk with the new coach. "I thought we were able to work through it in a really respectful way with Hawthorn, and hopefully it's a win-win for both clubs."

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Mason McGroder, a Sydney academy prospect who has represented Australia in long jump, "tested really well" at the National Combine, Chris Keane said, though his football can grow. Rivals will largely decide where Henry Meaney and Jake Medved sit in the draft, he said.

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Dane Rampe is away and yet to decide his future; Sydney's Chris Keane expects a call "over the next few weeks." Keane said the club's retention focus "hasn't changed, and won't change", and constant talks with the managers of Tom McCartin and Chad Warner, free agents next year.

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Harry Cunningham has a Sydney offer but "a little bit to work through," Chris Keane said, expecting more clarity in coming weeks. On Nick Blakey, contracted five more years: no trade pursued, a deal "significantly challenging", and staying in 2027 is the likeliest outcome.

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Sydney offered Joel Amartey five years, but he left for Carlton as a free agent. Chris Keane: "Given he has left, we are comfortable with what's there." He named Logan McDonald, Peter Ladhams and Liam Hetherton as key forwards, calling McDonald's finals "really encouraging."

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Dominic Bedendo is back on an AFL list, joining Fremantle as a free-agent wingman after two VFL seasons at Port Melbourne. After an injury-hit four years at the Western Bulldogs, he said two years of continuity has his body "feeling really good".

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Zane Duursma is still "pretty adamant" about leaving North Melbourne despite new coach Jaymie Graham trying to change his mind, Brady Rawlings said. He denied Melbourne had made three offers, just one chat North wouldn't entertain. Without a trade, North will try to re-sign him.

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"5 won't be it." North Melbourne's bid for Adelaide's Nick Murray has stalled, and Brady Rawlings won't split pick 5 to land him as it would cost a pick in the 20s too. North keep 5, with at least six names beyond the top two: "a pretty even group."

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Josh Goater has asked to go to Hawthorn, and North Melbourne are still waiting on the Hawks' offer. Brady Rawlings said North saw him in their best 23 next year: "we're actually losing players out of our defence rather than gaining them."

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Lincoln McCarthy is close to a 2027 deal with Brisbane. Dom Ambrogio said it took time as McCarthy had moved further from the club, so they worked through his pre-season and role. Keidean Coleman? "Contracted... not something we're looking to initiate," he said.

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Why Lachie Neale left for Collingwood, from Brisbane's Dom Ambrogio: "neither side saw the need to enter into a negotiation. It wasn't going to come to a meaningful conclusion." Will McLachlan, wanted by Melbourne and Essendon, is yet to decide; Ambrogio expects to hear soon.

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Sam Marshall has asked to be traded to St Kilda. Brisbane's Dom Ambrogio says the Lions tried to keep him and will facilitate the move, but want full value: "There's not many elite running 20-year-old premiership midfielders available in the draft."

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Murphy Reid and Isaiah Dudley are expected to play more AFL football after losing Sam Switkowski opened a spot in Fremantle's front half, Joe Brierty said. He wants the 14 listed players from Peel's state league flag to "put pressure on the guys getting selected".

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Geelong's Lawson Humphries sees himself at the Cats while contracted, Fremantle's Joe Brierty said, but "if Lawson's looking to come back to WA, I'm sure that we would entertain those discussions." He said Luke Jackson and Shai Bolton went "to another level" after coming home.

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Forwards coach Jamie Graham is off to North Melbourne, a move Fremantle's Joe Brierty called "so well deserved". Brierty said the draft comes first, with "our full suite of picks this year and the additional pick". On Sydney's Chad Warner: "we haven't had those discussions."

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Nathan O'Driscoll is leaving Fremantle for Richmond after spending time in and out of the side. Joe Brierty said the move is about regular senior football: "the opportunity at Richmond means that he feels like he can play consistent full footy."

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"Not going to be too many changes." Jaymie Graham expects North Melbourne's assistant coaches largely to stay, calling the club "well positioned with staff and coaches". Asked if he'd talk trade-requesting players into staying, he declined: "I've just walked in the door."

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Jamie Graham starts as North Melbourne coach immediately, joining the trade period before pre-season. The panel was "unanimous", Jen Watt said. Graham wants more defensive balance and turnovers nearer goal, and warned it could be clunky early: "like driving a manual car."