FOOTBALL

AFL EXPORTS

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

THE Latrobe Valley trio at the Gold Coast Suns could potentially be no more.

As AFL Trade Period started on Monday, news had already leaked in its lead-up regarding the likely movements and contemplations of players ahead of next season.

While former Moe junior and Fish Creek’s Sam Flanders had been eyed by a number of Victorian clubs on big money, which had been rumoured since midseason, his teammate and fellow Moe export Bailey Humphrey stole the spotlight off him.

Despite being contracted for the next two seasons at Gold Coast, Humphrey has reportedly met with three Victorian clubs, according to Channel Nine’s Tom Morris.

After winning Gold Coast’s Emerging Player award last week and finishing fourth in the Suns best-and-fairest, as the trade market began to shake up and news began to circulate, Gold Coast got on the front foot and said that he’s not to be traded.

Humphrey’s management also declared he had not met with any rival clubs, however photos then emerged just hours later on Friday of him meeting with new Melbourne coach Steven King and assistant coach Nathan Jones.

What could make a deal easier to see the Moe export become a Demon is with Christian Petracca expressing his desire to join Gold Coast – a swap of the two players with a little extra either way could make sense.

Humphrey has also reportedly met with Collingwood and Hawthorn, while Carlton have also shown interest.

This has all unfolded in the days following Humphrey’s return home to the state, with him also spotted watching Moe’s CBL opener on Saturday night in Warragul.

Meanwhile, Flanders has requested a trade to St Kilda amid growing interest between the Saints, Essendon, and Melbourne.

SEN’s Sam Edmund reported that St Kilda’s five-year contract offer to Flanders is worth $900,000 per year.

To cap off everything, it was then reported that Morwell’s Ben Ainsworth was also weighing up his future with the Suns.

Despite etching a four-year contract extension last year, AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey said that Ainsworth is exploring interest from rival clubs, with Carlton an early contender per Edmund.