'He'll be at a new club': Cal's huge update on EIGHT of the biggest trade stories - Footy Classified

Kel's Carousel, have a look at this.

Yeah, we're getting into it.

Yeah.

A new suitor has emerged for Zach Butters.Richmond is the new club that we can talk about tonight because the Tigers are cashed up.They're understood to be willing to put forward an offer that would be the biggest in footy history and lure him to their football club.As I say, they've got money and they've managed to manage their cap really well over the past couple of years.They are able to be able to front end a potential deal for him.

He was writing for AFL .com five minutes ago.Still there, Ed.Still the home of footy.I know, mate.Well, it is, yes.

Pravda.Hey, come on now.Soviet Russia.But anyway.Come on now.Kal, the blueprint.

What you just said there about Butters.Stands up.all this time later.

Yeah, he got back to South Australia finally last week that he's going to get a big offer from the Tigers.We'll get to Zac Butters in a second.We want to go through eight of the biggest contract discussions as they stand.Let's start with Lachie Neal.He's number one on the carousel today.He's very much looking at leaving Brisbane.

So an unrestricted free agent, he can go anywhere without a trade.Collingwood is very keen.They had their list boss Justin Lepich watch him at the weekend.at the game, at the Q Clash, would have seen him dominate again there.

He's a bit young though, isn't he?

He's 34.Yeah, about that.That'll be perfect age demographic for the Pies.WA Clubs and Adelaide still interested as well in Lachie, but I think he'll be at a new club next year.Let's go to his teammate as well, Zach Bailey.He's another one I think is on the way out at this point.

Nothing moving here, no movement expected guys in the short term.So the buy for Brisbane that's coming up was seen as a bit of a chance to stop and pause and think.I think this is going to stretch out further into the season.The gap at the moment, Herty, the Adelaide offer is seven years at about $10 million.The Brisbane offer is six years at about $6 .5 million.So you can see why he's weighing this up.

And he's non -committal at the moment at the Brisbane Lions.It must be frustrating for Lions that they just can't get a decision out of him either way.make that decision.

But they've also said this is their best offer and they're not budging on that.So I think if they actually come to the party and said here's an extra year and another million and a bit that would close the gap and make him think.At this point they haven't done that.Zach Merritt is the next one we want to get to because his eyes are firmly set on Hawthorne.Still wants to get to Hawthorne.That is his number one priority.

Doesn't matter who's coaching there next year.That doesn't change his view about moving to the Hawks.There's other options out there that are interested.I think Gold Coast has a level of interest in him as well.But the Hawks have kept up contact throughout this year.I think that's where he wants to be.

And Kel, what would Hawthorne be prepared to offer this time, after last time the debacle sort of went on between both clubs?

They'll say less, but I also think that this far out, given everyone knows the stance and the way it's going to play out, that they'll maybe look at things a little bit differently.A first round pick and maybe one of their second round picks to get things started.And is he only thinking Hawthorne?At this point he is, yep.And how old is he now?He turned 30 last year so he'll be 31 at the end of this season, 32, 31 heading into next year.

Yeah, you'd think that value would drop off a bit hurty for last year.

Is he what Hawthorne, I mean ex -Hawthorne player, is he what Hawthorne needs?

I'm not sure, they would know better than me.I'd be looking at a Zach Bailey or a Bailey Humphrey type if I was Hawthorne.

They're all over Bailey Humphrey.

Yeah.So that'd be the one I'd be throwing everything in.

Let's get into Bailey Humphrey.And by the way, he's keen to go to Hawthorne whether it's this year or next year when his contract finishes.

I'm not sure he's definitely keen on Hawthorne, Ed.I think there's a few clubs that he's looking at.Melbourne is one of them that he's looking at as well.He did the lap of the tan at the moment last off -season with Stephen King.So there's a lot of interest in Bailey Humphrey.You're shaking your head.

No, no, I'm just saying that's alright.That's a very game person to disagree with Ed McGuire on this show.

I haven't seen that in a long time.

You're the expert on this stuff.He's got a lot of clubs that are interested in him.I just know that he wants to go to Hawthorn, that's all.

His mind's changed a lot over the last couple of years as well.Carlton offered him a five year deal at more than a million dollars last year.but the Hawks want him and Merritt as well.I don't think they can get all these things done though.They've only got a certain amount of picks, they don't want to lose any if they're untouchable.

OK, if you had Bailey Humphrey and you could get him and Merritt, which one?

I'd be going Bailey Humphrey.He's younger, he's the match winner and I think he's got 10 plus years to be a star, so I'd be going Bailey Humphrey.But he's going to cost at least two first round picks.Melbourne has them.Melbourne's willing to put them on the table for him.Been chasing him for years.

Let's go to his teammate, Ben King, because he was all set to sign.Two years at the Suns.Become a bit wobbly though, Herty.

What's changed?

Well, I think his partner has interest in coming back to Melbourne, and he's been weighing this up throughout his whole career at different points.So, does he do the extra two years to get to unrestricted free agency, or does he come back now, where Hawthorne is keen on him as well?Hawthorne!The interesting part here, guys...Anyone left?Well, the interesting part is that a month ago when he was going to stay, Hawthorne then said, offer Mitch Lewis a four year deal.

And the last couple of weeks has been, oh, there might be a little bit more interest now.So there is a real ripple effect, Isaac.

So what are you paying though?Not picks wise, what are you going to pay him a year?

He's costing $1 .4 million, probably wherever he is next year.

Hawthorne must be using the 1980s.Salary kept ahead.

Well, it's more about the picks than the cap space for them and how they actually get these things done.Now move on to another key forward, Jed Walton.This is where things get tricky for the Suns because they want to keep all their key forwards.

Hawthorne.

Well, they're interested.They're interested in everybody, the Hawks.They're active.But he met with the Bombers only hours after Brad Scott was sacked as the coach a couple of weeks ago.So Essendon are one of the clubs interested in him.Andrew Welsh, Tim Roberts, Matt Rosen met with him after sacking the coach and sold the dream.

So an interesting quirk there.Collingwood and Geelong also among the Victorian clubs interested in him.But the Suns have upped their offer to five years at close to a million dollars and they want to keep him.A local product, of course.He's weighing things up.It's a pretty good offer from The Sun, so I still think that's a chance.

Can they keep both of them?They can keep both of them.Will they?He's ridden shotgun on Ben King for the whole year.He's managed to just wait it out.I still think it's a chance both of them stay though.

So he's an academy player from Queensland, isn't he?He is, yep.So I thought the reason why we have the academies is so they could all stay in Queensland.

Well that's the aim.But if you're not playing as much footy, he wants to play senior footy.

He's played a lot of footy this year.I'm being facetious.

I know, I know.Zach Butters, now as we got to him before, Richmond has been interested in him for a long time.We put that on the radar and gather round.He's the biggest domino off the lot.Been clear to everybody that he would be on his way home to Victoria for the end of this season.I still have the Western Bulldogs in seat 1A.

I have had that the whole way through this year.Geelong is interested.Collingwood, Richmond, they're the three others.But I think he's got the biggest deal on the table from Richmond.But I think the Bulldogs is where the links have been for the longest and the strongest.So there's that one.

And Darcy Wilson.He's out of contract.He might be the most wanted man in footy in some ways because nearly every club has expressed interest in Darcey Wilson.A lot of Victorian clubs are chasing him with a lot of money on the table.North Melbourne being one of them.Geelong being another.

St Kilda has good money on the table for him as well.So he's keeping his cards very close to his chest.The Saints have been here before, Heardy, signing a young player.They wanted to do it last year with the Zayiwangan and Millerer.The stakes have raised again with Darcey Wilson's contract call.