AFL trades wrap: Essendon dig their heels in with Zach Merrett as Brayden Fiorini chooses Bombers

See you tomorrow for all the latest on Day 2 of the trade period.

Josh Jenkins thinks St Kilda coach Ross Lyon has a solution to his midfield woes under his own eyes.

Youngster Max Hall was injected into the midfield late in the season and showed he was more than up to the task.

“He was electric when he got released up around the ball this year,” Jenkins said on Trade Radio.

“You need a point of difference around the footy. He might not be a centre-bounce guy yet, but you always need a fifth body to roll through there.”

St Kilda is the preferred destination of wantaway Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders, who could join Saints superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in the centre square at Moorabbin next year.

Gold Coast midfielder Brayden Fiorini will join Essendon during the trade period, turning down interest from Port Adelaide and the Suns.

The 28-year-old’s manager Liam Pickering told Trade Radio that the Melbourne-born winger will sign with the Bombers on a four-year deal.

“He’s going to play for the Bombers,” Pickering told Trade Radio.

“He’s going to play for Essendon if they can get a trade done, which I hope they’re going to be able to do.

“Essendon is a good fit. He’s a northern suburbs boy, he gets back to Melbourne, it’s a specific role for him to play on the wing.”

Fiorini is an unrestricted free agent, but Pickering said the two clubs will still try to facilitate a trade, which allows Essendon to retain their compensation for losing Sam Draper.

The classy winger played 123 games in 10 years for the Suns after being drafted with pick No.20 in 2015.

- Shayne Hope, AAP

Gold Coast will put the onus squarely on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to grasp the opportunity if they give the troubled star an AFL second chance.

The Suns have tabled their interest in the 2020 No.1 draft pick, but would have to do a deal with the Western Bulldogs during the trade period, which started on Monday.

It comes as Gold Coast aim to satisfy Melbourne’s asking price for contracted star Christian Petracca, and with Suns midfielder Sam Flanders likely on his way to St Kilda.

But Gold Coast are adamant contracted midfielder Bailey Humphrey isn’t going anywhere.

Ugle-Hagan did not play at all this year, spending time away from the Bulldogs as he dealt with a range of personal issues.

The 23-year-old has been under the AFL mental health plan since he took leave earlier this year, and his return to football must be given a green light by the league.

“There’s still a few things to tick off,” Gold Coast talent manager Craig Cameron said on Monday.

“He’s someone we want to explore, but there’s some things we need to still work through.

“If we go down that path with Jamarra, he will be getting a second chance. The onus will be on him to make a commitment to football.

“It’s not for me to decide what he thinks. He’s actually got to make the commitment.”

Ugle-Hagan kicked a career-best 43 goals in 2024, taking his tally to 103 from 67 games.

The Suns believe he could play a role in their front half alongside fellow tall forwards Ben King, Ethan Read and Jed Walter.

“We think he’s an extraordinary talent,” Cameron said.

“We’ve got eyes wide open that he’s got to get through a lot of stuff to get back to that level.

“But we think he’d be better playing football, better for him, and we think he can contribute to our football club.

“We think we can play him with other key forwards. He can play a role other than a key.”

Cameron said Ugle-Hagan has not yet done a medical with Gold Coast, while Bulldogs men’s football boss Sam Power said his club has the player’s best interests at heart and would welcome him back if a fair trade can’t be agreed.

St Kilda have already been the most active and aggressive player in this trade and free agency period, but they’ve still got more to come.

The Saints have already aquired former Carlton pair Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni through free agency, and have their sights set on Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders, West Coast small forward Liam Ryan, and GWS defender Leek Aleer.

They are the ones we know about, at least.

It’s hard enough as it is to work out how they’re fitting all these players into the salary cap, but Saints head of talent Graeme Allen told Trade Radio that they still have a couple of surprises up their sleeve.

“We might have a couple left, yeah,” he said.

At an all-in press conference minutes later, Allen doubled down.

“We’re still going,” he said of their trade plans.

“We’ve got plenty of money to splash.

“We can go fishing. We can still go fishing.”

The veteran footy operator wouldn’t be drawn on what those surprises were, but made no mistake of teasing their intention to keep searching for more talent.

Allen said it was the right time for the club to chase experienced players from other clubs.

“We’ve been to the draft the last four years, and we’ve been bringing in a lot of good young kids, and now I think it’s time we can fill up all the holes we’ve got,” he told Trade Radio.

“And we wouldn’t have done it without Nas (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera) signing.

“With Nas signing, it gave us the opportunity to go fishing and have a look what’s out there, and hopefully now we’ll have a balanced list.”

Charlie Spargo has joined North Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent after eight years with the Demons.

“I feel very lucky to have been drafted by such a great club like Melbourne, filled with so many special people and such a passionate fan base,” Spargo said in a Melbourne statement.

“The support from the players, staff, coaches and fans over the last eight years has been immense and unwavering, and for that I’m very grateful.

“What I will cherish the most is the special bond created with my teammates. The friendships I’ve formed along the way and the memories made together have been amazing, culminating in the 2021 premiership.

“I’m very proud knowing I’ve given my all for the club and although I’m embarking on a new chapter in my football, the Melbourne Football Club will always have a special place in my heart.”

The 25-year-old will follow in the footsteps of dad Paul, who played 81 games for the Kangaroos before he was born.

“Charlie’s got a great blend of experience and a strong work ethic, and we’re rapt with what he brings to our list,” Roos list boss Brady Rawlings said.

“He’s a proven performer, particularly with his ability to set up teammates going inside 50. He’s got great footy smarts and is creative in the forward half.

“He’s a high-quality young man who will be a great cultural fit and an excellent support for our developing small forwards. We’re excited for him to get started with the group.”

Unrestricted free agent Jacob Wehr has swapped GWS for Port Adelaide.

There’s no compensation for the Giants.

The Saints are on the brink of another signing.

Sam Flanders looks set to secure his move from the Suns in the next 48 hours.

Zach Merrett still has not officially requested a trade.

And Bombers list boss Matt Rosa still says the skipper is a required player.

“It’s been an interesting period,” he said.

“He’s stated some frustrations but we’ve been really clear that we’re keen to work through that.

“We’ve been really clear on our position that we won’t be entertaining moving Zach.”