Petracca picks new home, Dees set for busy trade period

Shayne Hope and Anna Harrington | October 3, 2025

Melbourne star Christian Petracca wants to join Gold Coast in the AFL trade period.

The Suns will need to give the Demons a deal juicy enough to encourage them to release Petracca, who has four years left on his current contract.

Gold Coast appeared the only team in the running when Adelaide reportedly withdrew from the race, having met with Petracca last week.

Petracca agitated to leave Melbourne last year but ultimately didn’t request a trade.

Gold Coast clearly have the draft capital to interest the Demons, with picks No.6, No.13 and No.16 in their current haul, while Melbourne are also among the clubs keen on Sam Flanders.

Petracca, the Norm Smith medallist in Melbourne’s breakthrough 2021 flag, would add a dynamic element to a Suns midfield led by Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, while he can also push forward.

It signals an era of change for the Demons, who have told midfielder Clayton Oliver and defender Steven May to look for another club.

Elsewhere, St Kilda’s off-season recruiting drive is set to move up a gear with the signing of Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni from Carlton when the AFL free agency period opens.

Clubs can sign free agents from Friday morning, with the Saints lodging forms for their two key targets with the league.

Silvagni declared his intention to join the Ross Lyon-coached side last month and will complete a straightforward move as an unrestricted free agent.

The Blues are not expected to exercise their right to match St Kilda’s monster eight-year contract offer to restricted free agent De Koning.

In other free agency moves, Hawthorn will have three days to assess and decide whether to match Geelong’s four-year offer to star midfielder James Worpel, who is a restricted free agent.

Melbourne premiership player Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne) and GWS defender Jacob Wehr (Port Adelaide) have officially found new clubs as unrestricted free agents.

Back-to-back premiers Brisbane are set to strengthen their list with the addition of Essendon ruckman Sam Draper and West Coast forward Oscar Allen.

Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek is weighing interest from Melbourne, while Gold Coast midfielder Brayden Fiorini has a choice between Essendon, Port Adelaide and the Suns.

The free agency period runs until October 10. The trade period overlaps, running from October 6-15.