The verdict on 12 AFL stars ahead of trade season... and where they could go

Will they stay, or will they leave?

As we move into the business end of the season, several stars are still weighing up their future and a potential move to a rival club.

Foxfooty.com.au has run through the biggest names still unsigned beyond 2025, with a verdict on whether they’ll stay their current team or leave.

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BRANDON STARCEVICH (Brisbane Lions – Restricted Free Agent)

After missing a key chunk of the season due to a tough run of concussions, what colours Starveich will be wearing in 2026 is suddenly a question mark as rival clubs circle the premiership defender. Clubs from his home state Western Australia, Essendon and North Melbourne have all been linked to the 25-year old, while there’s talk he could be lured by more midfield time elsewhere. That would appear to be an opportunity he wouldn’t necessarily get in the Lions’ stacked engine room. You also have to wonder if his ongoing run of concussions could also be affecting contract talks. Hard to see him leaving the reigning premiers, but it’s curious he hasn’t signed yet.

Verdict: Staying.

TOM DE KONING (Carlton – Restricted Free Agent)

At this point it’d be a surprise if De Koning stayed at Carlton. St Kilda has given the ruckman $1.7 millions reason to leave in a monster contract offer that’d likely make him the highest paid player in the game. There was a period where De Koning at least had the pull at staying at a club primed to contend for premierships — and while the Blues could yet turn things around — he’d be suddenly questioning where his future is best served from a pure football perspective. In that regard, you’d still give Carlton the edge and the appeal of playing at a big club in front of huge crowds, but it’s believed he’d be leaving around $5 million the table in total to stay at the Blues. That feels like too much money to turn down.

Verdict: Leaving. Given the sheer amount of money he would be turning down every year to stay at Carlton, I don’t think many, if any, can blame him for departing Ikon Park.

'Save $1m, take the draft pick' | 02:17

JACK SILVAGNI (Carlton — Unrestricted Free Agent)

Grown into a key member of the Blues’ back six this year in a new role after Silvagni’s 2024 was wiped by an ACL injury. And so he probably has more bargaining power than ever following career-best form earlier this season prior to a groin setback. All signs point to the 27-year old son of a gun staying at the Blues following reports the club is keen to lock him down on a new multi-year deal. Silvagni told foxfooty.com.au he wants to “take the club forward to success” after some gloomy times across the last decade. As he’s an unrestricted free agent, Silvagni has the ability to walk to any club without Carlton being able to match an offer, while his famous father, Stephen, is St Kilda’s list manager.

Verdict: Staying.

JAMIE ELLIOTT (Collingwood — Unrestricted Free Agent)

It’d be a shock to see Elliott depart Collingwood amid a career-best campaign, which has the 32-year old on track to be the first Magpie to kick 50-plus goals in a season since Travis Cloke in 2013. Elliott has looked around before but recommitted to the Pies each time, and now that he’s gotten his body right, the small forward is flourishing greater than ever before for the ladder leaders. But could another club pounce with a mega offer to turn his head? One of several Collingwood veterans whose contract talks have dragged this late into the season along with the likes of Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe, Brody Mihocek and Tom Mitchell.

Verdict: Staying, and could secure a neat two-year extension.

Suns captain ices the game in style! | 00:38

SAM DRAPER (Essendon — Unrestricted Free Agent)

An ACL injury to the Bombers ruckman has thrown something of a a spanner in the works as Draper weighs up his future amid interest from Adelaide and Brisbane. The dynamic at Essendon has changed significantly since Draper was last playing as Brad Scott’s side battles one of the heaviest injury tolls in recent memory. As first revealed by foxfooty.com.au, an informal offer from the Lions initially trumped all parties, before the Crows and eventually Essendon’s have joined the same ballpark. You sense he’s leaning towards leaving, but if he were to leave, it’s not clear where just yet.

Verdict: Leaving, but it’s far from a done deal. Brisbane look to be the better placed of the three suitors right now.

LEEK ALEER (GWS Giants — Non-Free Agent)

Described as a loyal character and finally getting consistent games in the Giants’ stacked back six, you get the feeling that Aleer would deep down want to stay at Western Sydney. But a big-money offer from St Kilda that could be worth as much as $900,000 per season, greater security and a more opportunity paints a picture that all signs are pointing to Aleer pursuing a move at season’s end. The Giants want to keep the 23-year old, who they invested a top 15 pick in, but hard to guarantee Aleer would be in their best 23 when they have everyone on the park. As he doesn’t qualify for free agency, Aleer would need to be traded to move clubs.

Verdict: Leaving, reluctantly. Is extremely loyal to his club of four years, but better career opportunities and money lie elsewhere right now.

GWS take us BTS in comeback win | 02:46

JAMES WORPEL (Hawthorn – Restricted Free Agent)

A tough one to read. Several clubs including Melbourne, St Kilda and Geelong have been linked to Worpel, while there was talk at one stage the Hawks weren’t desperate to keep him. Hawthorn is also eyeing a big fish, with the club set to target the likes of Harley Reid, Zak Butters and Sam Walsh over the next 12 months. Worpel would surely be questioning where that’d leave him long-term, particularly with the likes of Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie coming through the Hawks’ midfield ranks. Still, it’d be hard to leave a club in as good a position as Sam Mitchell’s rising Hawks. The contract Hawthorn is offering the 26-year old might be telling with regards to how much the club values him. He sure feels gettable, especially as clubs in the market for the likes of Matt Rowell and Miles Bergman turn their attention elsewhere.

Verdict: Leaving, but how well Hawthorn fare at the back end of this season could have a prominent say.

LLOYD MEEK (Hawthorn — Non-Free Agent)

The Hawks were preparing on beginning contract talks late last year with their prized big man, but it’s hit a point eight months later where it’s peculiar that Lloyd Meek still hasn’t signed on. Nine’s Tom Morris reported several months ago that a four-year deal was in the works for the big man. It feels, similarly to Marcus Bontempelli, that this is a mere formality and that at time of writing there’s no concerns over a shock departure out of Hawthorn. Not much else to this one!

Verdict: Staying.

Hawks left Serong "off the hook" | 01:58

NASIAH WANGANEERN-MILERA (St Kilda — Non-Free Agent)

Arguably the hardest — and most publicised — contract call across the entire season. The 22-year-old Saints superstar has taken his game to yet another level in his fourth AFL season, with his monetary value skyrocketing even further. There are three parties, and three parties only in the running right now for Nas’ signature — St Kilda, Adelaide and Port Adelaide. Wanganeen-Milera has several close friends of his playing at the latter, namely Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne. The argument for Adelaide? They’ve had a very large figure on the table for the dashing defender for a long time now, and jumped the gun on St Kilda with a ultra-lucrative offer. It is now at the point where every day he remains unsigned, it looks better and better for the South Australian clubs in the race for him. At time of writing, this is still a very tough one to get a read on, but it’s beginning to point back towards him leaving.

Verdict: Leaving. St Kilda’s confidence will be diminishing by the day, while Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s rises. Should he leave the Power would be the likeliest landing spot.

TOM LYNCH (Richmond — Unrestricted Free Agent)

Before his gruesome five-week ban for a strike on Adelaide defender Jordan Butts, there were preliminary reports of Richmond and Lynch working on a short-term extension to stay at Punt Road. It would be fair to say now that a hint of doubt has since emerged since his hit, but having averaged just under 1.5 goals a game this season, the 32-year-old is still an asset up forward for Adem Yze. Right now, it looks like a one-year deal is the most likely extension to be tabled, but it wouldn’t be totally shocking if Yze wants him around for another two. There is no expectation that Lynch would move to another rival club, even if Richmond don’t offer him another deal.

Verdict: Staying, likely on a one-year deal.

Should Yze have taken Lynch off earlier? | 01:56

MARCUS BONTEMPELLI (Western Bulldogs – Unrestricted Free Agent)

As reported by foxfooty.com.au earlier this month, the reasons behind the Western Bulldogs skipper remaining unsigned revolve around his interrupted start to 2025, alongside his desire to prioritise the café he owns in Kew. There’s no doubt that him still remaining unsigned going into Round 19 is peculiar given his superstar profile, but there’s also no doubt right now that he’’ suddenly depart the Kennel at Whitten Oval. When pens gets put to paper has become anyone’s guess, but it would be oh so fitting for it to come amid a finals charge where the Bulldogs’ ceiling is sky-high.

Verdict: Staying.

OSCAR ALLEN (West Coast Eagles – Restricted Free Agent)

An unfortunate season-ending Achilles injury in Round 14 has naturally taken contract speculation around West Coast’s co-captain out of the mainstream spotlight, but the interest from Brisbane hasn’t wavered one bit; Hawthorn are also said to be in the race or 26-year-old key forward, however looks to have cooled from what was reported earlier in the season. Given where the Eagles are at, you can understand a world where each party thanks each other for their loyalty and moves on. Allen would start fresh at a new club and re-enter the premiership window much sooner, while West Coast would receive top-end compensation for his departure.

Verdict: Leaving, with Brisbane the firm favourites for his services.

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