Alright, gather ’round, footy tragics—trade season’s already cooking and we haven’t even hit spring. There’s a premiership Eagle eyeing Moorabbin, Carlton’s sweating bullets over Curnow, and some 20-year-old kid from up north could flip the whole script. Wild times.
Liam Ryan Wants Out: Saints or Bust
So, here’s the tea: Liam Ryan, the bloke who soared over everyone in 2018, has apparently told West Coast, “Yeah, nah, I’m off to St Kilda.” Word is, he dropped the bomb in exit meetings last month. The Saints? They’re dangling a three-year deal, maybe four if he behaves. Not bad for a guy who can take hangers like he’s on a trampoline.
But—surprise—West Coast ain’t handing him over on a silver platter. He’s signed until 2026, and the Eagles’ list boss Matt Clarke pretty much said, “Mate, you’re not going anywhere.” Paraphrasing, but you get the drift.
Meanwhile, St Kilda’s already been busy, pinching Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni. If Ryan lands, their forward line goes from Max King and a prayer to actual, reliable firepower. Saints fans, you might want to start dreaming a little.
Curnow Rumours: Enter Jed Walter, Trade Season’s Unicorn
But hey, forget Ryan for a sec—the real circus is swirling around Charlie Curnow. Apparently, he’s been sending up smoke signals about wanting out of Carlton. “Lifestyle reasons,” they’re saying. (Sure, Charlie, we’ve all used that one.)
He even had a sneaky meeting with Swans coach Dean Cox before jetting off overseas. Only problem? He’s locked in at Carlton till 2029. That’s a lot of blue, mate.
Now, here’s where it gets spicy: Jay Clark from the Herald Sun reckons the only bloke who could tempt Carlton to even listen is Gold Coast’s Jed Walter. This kid’s 20, already a freak, and—get this—plays a lot like Curnow. Big, athletic, marks everything in sight. If the Suns put him on the table, suddenly Carlton’s thinking twice.
Michael Voss, of course, is acting like it’s all a giant joke. Telling other clubs to “don’t bother, move along, nothing to see here.” But you know what they say, where there’s smoke…
So, What Happens Next?
Look, footy’s not just about September. Behind the scenes, every list manager in the country is sweating over whiteboards and WhatsApp messages. West Coast and St Kilda might wind up in a Mexican standoff over Ryan, and the Curnow thing? Could be the biggest trade bomb since Buddy.
Bottom line: this year’s trade drama isn’t just about plugging holes. It could totally mess with the flag race for years. Especially if that Walter kid ends up in navy blue or Curnow’s wearing red and white before Christmas.
Buckle up, folks. Trade season’s about to get ridiculous.
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