While Brisbane remains hopeful it can retain Lachie Neale, the club could be handed a “unique compensation pick” if the dual Brownlow Medallist opted to leave, reports AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.
Twomey on Tuesday night reported Neale was “very much looking at leaving Brisbane” and predicted he’d be at a new club next year.
“Collingwood is very keen. They had their list boss Justin Leppitsch watching him at the weekend,” Twomey told Footy Classified.
“WA clubs and Adelaide are still interested as well.”
Twomey then reported on AFL Media on Wednesday there was industry belief the Magpies “could be prepared to get their offer to three years” to secure Neale.
Crucially, should the two-time flag winner choose, it won’t cost the Pies any draft capital given his status as an unrestricted free agent.
But considering a prospective three-year Collingwood deal would see Neale contracted until the age of 36, the Lions would face the prospect, according to Twomey, of a “unique compensation pick”, as a player’s age plays a significant role in the AFL’s secret compo formula.
While a first-round pick would be unlikely due to Neale’s age, a medium-term deal like three seasons, coupled with his excellent 2026 form, would test the free agency compensation formula.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae on Monday night told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 he was “impatient” for success and “impatient to get the right people in our environment and also try to get our list to a state where we can compete”.
“That’s exactly what our intentions are, and we’ll work to whatever that looks like.”
When quizzed specifically on whether Neale was a Magpies trade target this year, McRae said: “You’d like to think anyone who’s a free agent that hasn’t signed, we’ve got some sights on.”
“Some you feel like a little bit more deeper in the market than others and there’s a lot outside your control. But, days like today and Anzac Day — if you’re watching at home, I’m sure there’s an attraction to that.”
LATEST SHREWD TRADE GIVES DEES ‘GOOD SCOPE’ FOR SECOND SUNS PLAY
Melbourne’s shrewd history of future pick trading – including last year’s Christian Petracca deal – would have it well placed to have a second go at poaching contracted Sun Bailey Humphrey, according to 7News Melbourne reporter Mitch Cleary.
Humphrey is contracted at the Suns through the 2028 season, but is again being eyed off by Victorian-based clubs after exploring a move in last year’s trade period. That included meeting with Demons coach Steven King, despite Gold Coast’s steadfast stance it wouldn’t entertain a Humphrey trade.
While Hawthorn is reportedly viewed as the favourite to land Humphrey should the top-10 pick request a trade at season’s end, Cleary said the Demons shouldn’t be ruled out.
Speaking on The Agenda Setters on Wednesday night, Cleary pointed out the Demons’ successful hit rate when trading future first-round picks since 2017. Not only has it led to them picking Jake Lever (via trade) and Kysaiah Pickett (via draft), the future first-rounders they’ve received from rival clubs have ultimately, more often than not, landed earlier in the draft than their own natural first-round picks.
Essentially, the Demons have traded their future first picks with confidence their selection will ultimately be worth less because of Melbourne ladder improvement. Conversely, they’ve traded in early rival club picks believing they’ll end up being more valuable because the opposition team will drop down the ladder.
There’s a case being played out in real time following the Melbourne-Gold Coast deal that saw Petracca land at the Suns. As well as parting with Picks 7, 8 and 37, the Suns gave Melbourne their 2026 first-rounder and 2027 third-rounder. In exchange, the Demons gave up Petracca, Picks 24 and 28, as well as their 2026 second-round pick.
And after Round 13, the seventh-placed Suns sit lower on the ladder than the fifth-placed Demons, meaning Melbourne holds Picks 12 (tied to Gold Coast) and 14 as it stands.
Cleary said that Suns-tied first-round pick now “gives Melbourne good scope” to make another play for Humphrey.
“Petracca moves to the Gold Coast Suns. That bumps out Bailey Humphrey from the midfield,” Cleary told Channel 7.
“Yes the Suns are saying right now – it might be posturing – that they’re not trading him … (but) could that pick Melbourne have as part of the Petracca deal – that’s worth more now – help them get Humphrey out of the Gold Coast?”
‘Sh******! Stay here Jed!’ | 00:47
Humphrey is one of several key list calls the Suns could face at season’s end.
Free agent Ben King remains unsigned beyond this year, while rival clubs are circling off-contract forward Jed Walter and contracted defender Joel Jeffrey. Academy graduate Jake Rogers is also unsigned and recruit Jamarra Ugle-Hagan remains is reportedly up against it to reach a trigger that’d automatically extend his contract.
“Gold Coast, I think they’re facing their biggest retention fight since the dark days of the 2010s,” SEN reporter Sam Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.