AFL trades live: Essendon dig their heels in with Zach Merrett update

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.”

Adelaide currently hold picks No.15, No.46, No.53, No.55, No.71 and No.73.

They’ve declared No.15 is off the table for Brisbane’s out-of-contract star Callum Ah Chee.

But it could be going elsewhere.

“We’re open-minded with all our picks,” list boss Justin Reid said.

Pies list boss Justin Leppitsch has confirmed Oliver’s management reached out to the club.

“We’re just going through our due diligence. We thought we’d definitely do the work,” he said.

“It’s a position of need for us so on face value it’s a good thing to look into but we’ll probably know in the next couple of days if we’re going to progress with that.”

Collingwood are yet to speak directly with Oliver.

“We just need to get through the first part and if we want to have a meeting I might have to get on a plane,” Leppitsch said, with Oliver in Sydney after meeting with GWS.

“We had a brief chat with Melbourne on what a deal could look like ... we just want to get through the first part, is he good for Collingwood and vice versa?”

Leppitsch also said the Pies have not met with Gold Coast’s Bailey Humphrey this year.

“We obviously met with him last year,” he added.

“Look, he’s a Gold Coast player and they’re adamant they’re not going to trade him. That’s all we can do, respect the wishes of the club. If that changes, then well great. But it is what it is at the moment.”

It has emerged that Hawthorn have met with Humphrey, after his Melbourne catch-up last week.

Leppitsch also confirmed they won’t make a play for Steven May.

Gold Coast’s Malcolm Rosas Jr is set to get to the Swans today.

Suns forward Ben Ainsworth, meanwhile, has drawn interest from Carlton.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is hoping to resume his AFL career at the Gold Coast Suns after never getting on the field for the Bulldogs this year amid personal battles.

Collingwood have emerged as contender for the Melbourne midfielder, reports Cal Twomey.

Oliver — as noted above — has already met with the GWS Giants.

7NEWS Adelaide’s Josh Money reported the Crows will “do their due diligence” on Oliver but “a major play is unlikely”.

Money also said the Crows are not expecting to pursue Jack Steele “however, there is an internal admission they’re probably an A-grade midfielder short”.

Adelaide previously entertained a Christian Petracca trade before he nominated Gold Coast his preferred destination.

Meanwhile, Twomey on Sunday reported Essendon could come into calculations for Steele.

Fresh off their Sam Draper signing, reigning premiers Brisbane announced Oscar McInerney had called time on his career.

The 31-year-old ruckman, who battled injuries throughout the 2025 season, has hung up his boots after 185 games over nine seasons.

McInerney famously missed the Lions’ 2024 flag after injuring his shoulder in the preliminary final, having played every previous game that season.

But he was rewarded this year when he was called into the team for a semi-final and held his spot for the rest of the campaign, ending in the grand final thumping of Geelong.

“While we are sad to see Oscar retire, we could not be happier to see him do so as a premiership player because it’s what he thoroughly deserves,” Brisbane football manager Danny Daly said.

“Despite missing out on playing in last year’s premiership due to injury, he still gave 100 per cent to the team off the field and was the happiest person to see his teammates win.

“Big O is one of the most loved and respected people and players to have played for the Brisbane Lions and our football club is a better place for having had him part of it.”

McInerney joins Callum Ah Chee (Adelaide) and Brandon Starcevich (West Coast) as Lions premiership players who won’t be at the club next season.

No AFL/VFL premiership team has ever played together again in its entirety after claiming a flag.

While the trade period only begins today, free agents were able to begin moving clubs last week.

Jack Silvagni signed with St Kilda and Carlton received an end-of-first-round draft pick (No.19) in compensation from the AFL.

Tom De Koning made the same move and the Blues picked up a first-round selection — currently No.9 — as compo.

James Worpel swapped Hawthorn for Geelong, and the Hawks as things stand have received pick No.39 in return.

Sam Draper moved from Essendon to Brisbane, with the Bombers gaining pick No.20 from the league.