Key meetings that helped Port secure Bergman; rival interest in premiership high flyer — In and Under

Contract calls: Who stays and who goes? | 05:55

Port Adelaide held key meetings with a star to help secure his signature. Plus a premiership high flyer on Essendon’s radar, and the club rivals are watching.

In and Under delves into footy’s hottest topics, with insights from behind the scenes.

FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

MEETINGS THAT HELPED PORT SECURE BERGMAN

Port Adelaide ramped up its bid to retain Miles Bergman in the lead into the breakout star’s decision to reject interest from Victorian clubs to re-sign at Alberton.

It included Bergman having dinner with Power greats and fellow Victorians Travis Boak and Robbie Gray to discuss their experiences as one-club players during the week of Port’s Round 16 win over Carlton on Thursday night.

Both Boak and Gray, who still works at Port in its list management and recruiting team, remained loyal to the Power throughout their careers despite the lure of returning to Victoria and strong interest from teams in their home state.

Boak in 2012 sensationally met with several key Geelong officials including coach Chris Scott in Adelaide while the Cats were trying to poach the star midfielder.

“You’ve seen in the past, so many Victorians that have decided to stay. It shows how strong our club is, with ‘Boaky’, Robbie (Gray), Ollie (Wines), all those boys (being one-club players),” Bergman said after re-signing.

“It shows how strong we are and how good we are at keeping interstate boys, and hopefully me signing on shows dedication and can do the same for other boys.”

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Miles Bergman signed a two-year extension with Port Adelaide. Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Bergman, his fiance Meecah and his manager John Meesen met with incoming Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr, football boss Chris Davies and list manager Jason Cripps on the Friday morning after the win over Carlton.

The meeting has been described as something of a “free agency pitch” as Bergman was sold the vision of the future of the club including discussions around footy and non-footy related topics.

He re-signed with the club the following week on a two-year extension to take him through to free agency in 2027.

Clubs including family in such pitches is a growing trend in the AFL, with Melbourne putting an emphasis on it during talks with Kysaiah Pickett while he was weighing up a move back to Western Australian for family reasons.

Bergman’s extension came in the midst of a career-best stretch after flourishing with more midfield time including gathering 25 disposals and kicking two goals against the Blues in Round 16.

Hinkley refuses to wave white flag | 02:45

The 23-year old didn’t meet with any other teams, but it’s understood he would’ve left money on the table to leave Port Adelaide.

Several Victorian clubs including St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Essendon and Carlton had interest in luring Bergman, while Sydney was another club that asked the question earlier this year.

With Bergman’s signature secured and Jase Burgoyne this week penning a four-year extension, Port will turn its attention to acquiring out-of-contract Saints star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

Wanganeen-Milera, who’s believed to be close to Saints coach Ross Lyon, is weighing up his options and interest from the Power and Crows.

EAGLES HIGH FLYER ON BOMBERS’ RADAR

Essendon is expected to have interest in luring West Coast high flyer Liam Ryan at season’s end.

While Ryan is contracted at the Eagles until the end of 2026 and believed to be settled in his home state, he’s seen as a player who could be open to a move while the club undergoes its rebuild under Andrew McQualter.

After two injury impacted seasons, Ryan has booted 19 goals from 14 of a possible 16 games for the 18th-placed Eagles in 2025.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Liam Ryan of the Eagles celebrates kicking a goal during the round two AFL match between Brisbane Lions and West Coast Eagles at The Gabba, on March 23, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Bombers list boss Matt Rosa has connections to Western Australia, having played and coached at West Coast as well as serving as Peel Thunder’s general manager of football operations.

Essendon could use more firepower in attack. The club is ranked third-last in points for — over 150 points less than the 15th-placed Roos — despite along with Gold Coast having played one less game than the rest of the competition.

The Bombers have two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the 2025 draft, while Sam Draper’s potential free agency departure could net Essendon another first rounder.

Dons deny training pitch an injury cause | 04:04

RIVALS WATCHING DEES

Clubs are watching Melbourne and what potential moves it could make this off-season.

It comes 12 months on from Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver being linked to trades, while Bayley Fritsch’s name has also been the subject of trade talk.

And this week Jake Lever’s name emerged as a potential target for rival clubs if the 5-11 Demons opt to shake up their list.

Melbourne doesn’t have its first-round pick this year after trading it to Essendon. It gave the Demons two first rounders in the 2024 draft — Harvey Langford (Pick 6) and Xavier Lindsay (Pick 11).

McFarlane: McKay is definitely staying! | 00:57

The Demons have historically been busy with pick swaps. In 2020 and 2021 the club also traded out its future first-round picks to bolster their hands in those drafts.

Meanwhile in 2023, Melbourne moved up the draft board by trading picks 14, 27 and 35 to Gold Coast for Pick 11.

In 2022, the Dees dealt selections 33, 43 and 54 for Port Adelaide’s Pick 27, which Melbourne used to land Brodie Grundy from Collingwood.

Click here to read article