Sydney’s play for Charlie Curnow has hit a snag on the final day of the AFL trade period, with Carlton officially rejecting the Swans’ first offer for their star forward.
Swans onballer Ollie Florent was part of the proposed deal, but he went to Carlton anyway in a separate trade.
Florent’s deal came early in what will be a frenzied few hours on Wednesday before the 7.30pm deadline.
The Swans’ Curnow chase and Hawthorn’s audacious attempt to snag Essendon captain Zach Merrett will go down to the wire in a blockbuster final day of AFL trades.
The pair headline a series of big names whose futures will be decided by the trade period deadline.
Christian Petracca (Gold Coast), Clayton Oliver (GWS), Rowan Marshall (Geelong), Callum Ah Chee (Adelaide) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Gold Coast) are all still awaiting moves to their clubs of choice.
Dual Coleman Medal winner Curnow wants to head to Geelong or Sydney, with a move north looking more likely after he toured the Swans’ facilities on Monday.
Carlton have indicated only a “godfather deal” would shift their position on Curnow, contracted until the end of 2029.
The Swans proposed sending draft pick No.11, a first-round selection next year, plus Florent and Will Hayward to Carlton for Curnow and pick No.22 – which was knocked back by the Blues on Wednesday morning.
Geelong’s offer last week of first-round selections in the next three drafts for Curnow was swiftly rejected.
On Tuesday night the Bombers knocked back Hawthorn’s first bid for Merrett, who blindsided his club a month ago when news broke he had met with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
Essendon have maintained they will not entertain a trade for Merrett, who is signed until the end of 2027 but is desperate to leave for Hawthorn as he chases team success.
“Zach really wants to be a Hawthorn footballer, he’s all in on this. It’s been a difficult five- or six-week period and his instruction to me is to try and get him to Hawthorn this afternoon,” Merrettt’s manager Tom Petroro told the AFL.
“He’s motivated to get to Hawthorn. He’s in a position where he feels like he’s given his all to the Essendon footy club over the last 12 years. He’s never wavered, he’s poured it all out, but he needs a fresh start and he wants to chase success at Hawthorn.”
after newsletter promotion
The Hawks made their first offer for Merrett on Tuesday, putting up their first-round draft pick this year (currently pick No 9), their first-round selection next year, plus a second-round pick this year or next.
Hawks youngster Henry Hustwaite, who played four senior games this season, was also part of the emailed proposal, in which Hawthorn gave Essendon a 7pm deadline.
“Our position has not changed,” an Essendon spokesperson said, before the Bombers formally knocked back the offer after the Hawks’ deadline had well and truly passed.
The Hawks could explore trade options for their top draft pick, while defender Changkuoth Jiath is set to join Melbourne.
Gold Coast’s deal for Petracca looks certain to hinge on the Suns’ picks No 7 and No 8, with the Demons star contracted until the end of 2029.
GWS want to send a third-round draft pick Melbourne’s way for Oliver, whose current deal runs until 2030, while the Demons are set to handle a large chunk of his bumper salary.
The Giants re-signed defender Leek Aleer on a two-year deal after St Kilda backflipped on their plans to trade for him.
