Lions defender keen to join Bombers, Suns snare duo

Justin Chadwick | October 12, 2026

Brisbane are set to ask for a top-20 pick from Essendon after injury-prone defender Keidean Coleman requested a trade from the premiers to the wooden spooners.

Coleman is due to become an unrestricted free agent when his contract at Brisbane expires at the end of next year, but he has told the Lions he wants to move to Essendon now.

The 26-year-old played in Brisbane’s losing grand final of 2023 before missing the Lions’ three-peat of flags due to injuries.

It’s believed Brisbane want a top-20 pick for the talented defender, and although Essendon’s No.1 draft pick is off the table, they hold picks 17, 21 and 27, giving them plenty of scope to get a deal done.

Essendon have also expressed interest in contracted Geelong forward Gryan Miers, but the 27-year-old is keen to stay at the Cats.

The Bombers are set to sign delisted Dockers utility Bailey Banfield, who notched 119 games for Fremantle but only one this year due to the club’s selection squeeze.

On a slow-moving trade day on Monday, Gold Coast snared Sam Butler and Aidan Schubert from Hawthorn.

Hawthorn gained Gold Coast’s first and second-round picks of 2028 as well as the Suns’ second-round choice of 2027 in exchange for Butler, Schubert, the Hawks’ 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 third-round selection.

That 2027 third-round selection originally belonged to the Suns, who offloaded it as part of the deal that brought Christian Petracca to the club last year.

Butler, pick No.23 in the 2021 national draft, played 33 games across five seasons at Hawthorn, but made only one appearance after round nine this year.

Key forward Schubert, the No.23 pick in the 2025 national draft, played only one senior game for Hawthorn in his debut season.

With the trade period ending on Wednesday, a flurry of deals are expected to go through over the next two days. 

The trade move on everyone’s lips is Sydney defender Nick Blakey’s desired wish to move to North Melbourne.

Blakey still has five more years to run on his Sydney deal, but wants out of the Swans after being part of the Pullman Five who were suspended for the tail-end of the 2026 season.

The 26-year-old’s father John Blakey notched 224 games across 10 seasons at North Melbourne and it remains to be seen whether the Kangaroos can put together a deal to satisfy Sydney, with North’s initial offer of pick No.6 and a swap of later picks rejected.

Carlton are keen to trade in GWS veteran Lachie Whitfield, with the Giants asking for a first-round pick in exchange for the 32-year-old.

West Coast are hopeful of convincing former Demons captain Jack Viney to make the move west after the veteran was told by Melbourne to explore his options.

The Eagles are also eager to lure Melbourne defender Trent Rivers, who doesn’t become a free agent until the end of 2027.

Melbourne are trying to lure former No.4 pick Zane Duursma from North Melbourne, while the Kangaroos are still in talks to snare Adelaide defender Nick Murray.

Luke Pedlar’s trade from Adelaide to arch rivals Port Adelaide is still in the works, while Collingwood appear to be the only suitor for two-time Richmond premiership defender Jayden Short.

Brisbane forward Will McLachlan is keen to land at Melbourne after notching just seven AFL games over the past two years.

The futures of Magpies duo Jordan De Goey and Dan Houston are also up in the air, with Collingwood expected to weigh up potential offers on the pair.