AFL Trade Whispers: โHamlingโค Eyes Fifth Club, Bombers Face List Decisions
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Melbourne, Australia – August 20, 2025 – The Australian football League โ(AFL) is bracing for a dynamic off-season as player movement speculation intensifies.A premiership player is possibly on the move to โa fifth AFL club, while several Essendon playersโ face an uncertain future with contract negotiations stalled.
Sydney Defender Considering GWS Move
Sydney Swans depth defender Joel Hamling is attracting interest from the Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giantsโ ahead of the upcoming trade period.Accordingโ to AFL โคmedia’s Josh Gabelich , the Giants are evaluating Hamling, 32, as a potential reinforcement for their defensive line following the expected departure of intercept defender Leek Aleer inโ october. โ
Hamling, an unrestrictedโค free agent, has featured โคin 14 seniorโฃ matches this season, marking his highest game tally since playing โฃ22 games forโ the Fremantle Dockers inโฃ 2019. despite his increased playing time, โคhe โขremains behind established key โdefenders Dane rampe, โTom McCartin, and Lewis Melican inโ the Swans’ pecking order, โคwith Nick Blakey also providing โversatility in the backline.
The Giants’โค interest stems from injuries sustained by key defenders Samโฃ Taylor and Jack Buckley earlier in โขthe season, โขhighlighting a need for defensive depth. Hamling’s extensive experience-having been drafted by Geelong in 2011, winning a premiership with the Western โBulldogs in 2016, โspending sixโฃ seasons withโ Fremantle, and joining the Swans โขin 2024-makes him an attractive option.
Did You โKnow? Joel Hamling would become only the fourthโ player in AFL historyโ to represent five diffrentโ clubs if he joins the Giants.
Gabelich also reported thatโฃ Essendon’s Jaydenโข Laverde, Hawthorn’s Sam Frost, and Richmond’s Jacob Koschitzke are also on the Giants’ radar as they assess potential additions to their list.
Bombers’โ Contract Conundrums
Three young Essendon players-defenderโข jaxon Prior and forwards Ben โHobbs and Luamon โLual-are currentlyโฃ without contract offers for the 2026 season, creating uncertainty around their futures at the club.
Hobbs, 21, โa โfirst-round draft โคpick โขin 2021, has played 18 senior games this โฃyear and a total of 65 games across four seasons with the Bombers. As a โฃnon-free agent, any potential move would require a trade or selection in โฃthe national draft. Journalist Callum Twomey noted, “Clubsโ are aware (Hobbs) hasn’t received an offer and is definitely gettable.”
“I’m not sure if he gets โa new deal at the Bombersโค – I think that’s still to be worked out in coming weeks,” โฃtwomey added. “Like a couple of midfielders there, it’s very uncertain onโฃ what the future holds for these guys. It’s โnot a good timeโฃ to be out of contract at the โคBombers, as there are so โmany list changes thatโค have to happen.”
Prior, in his debutโค season withโฃ Essendon after being โsigned as a delisted freeโฃ agent from Brisbane, has impressively played โฃevery โฃgame (21) this year,โ fulfilling a crucial mid-sized stopper role under coach Brad Scott.Co-host Rileyโข Beveridge highlighted โขthat Luamon Lualโค has alsoโ yet to receive a contract extension.
Lual, 20, has quickly become โa valuable asset for the Bombers, playing every game since his debut in round 13. Given hisโข promising performances, itโ would be surprising โif the club did not offer him a โnewโ deal.
Pro Tip: AFL clubs often delay contract offers to assessโค playerโ performance and available salary cap space closer โขtoโฃ the trade โperiod.
What impact will these potential player movements have on team dynamics next season? And how โฃwill Essendon โคnavigate its list management challenges?
| Player | Age | Current Club | Contract Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Hamling | 32 | sydney Swans | Unrestricted Free Agent |
| Jaxon Prior | N/A | Essendon | Unsigned for 2026 |
| Ben Hobbs | 21 | Essendon | Unsigned for 2026 |
| Luamon โLual | 20 | Essendon | Unsigned forโ 2026 |
Theโ AFL trade period, typically held in October, is a crucial time for clubs to reshape their lists and address key areas of need. Strategicโ list managementโ is paramount for sustained โขsuccess in the highly competitive AFL landscape. โข Theโ increasing โฃprevalence of โคfree agency โฃand โtheโฃ draft โsystem haveโ created a complex player movement ecosystem, โrequiring clubs to beโค proactive and adaptable. The impact โof injuries and the emergence of young โขtalent also playโฃ a significant role in shaping trade strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions about AFL Trades
- What is a delisted free agent? A player who is not offered a contract by their currentโฃ club โand is then free to โjoin another club without going โthrough the draft.
- Whatโ isโ the AFL trade period? A designated period where clubs canโค trade players with each other.
- What is a โขnon-free โagent? โฃ A โplayer who is not eligible for free agency and requires a trade or draft selection to move clubs.
- How does the AFL draft work? โ Clubs selectโ players โคfromโ a pool of eligible players based on a predeterminedโข order.
- What is the salary cap in the AFL? A limit onโ the total amount of money โa clubโ can spend on player salaries.
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