Collingwood’s GM of football Graham Wright has provided the latest on a number of players being linked with trades.
The Magpies are set for a busy trade period with a trio of players - Bobby Hill, Dan McStay and Billy Frampton - likely to come in and at least one big name expected to go out.
That name is two-time All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy who is expected to join Melbourne this trade period now it is officially open.
“We’ve had good conversations with Brodie and his management for a long period of time,” Wright said on AFL Trade Radio.
“We suspect that he’s probably going to Melbourne. We’ve had good dialogue with them and we feel that’s where that’ll head.”
It has been reported that Collingwood will pay around $300,000 of the lucrative $7 million, seven-year deal Grundy signed in 2020.
Talented Magpies forward Ollie Henry is open to a trade to Geelong but the Pies insist they would like to re-sign him.
“Ollie is out of contract and is a Geelong boy. He came out of Geelong and his brother plays for Geelong,” Wright added.
“We understand there is a pull down the highway but we’d really like to retain him. That’s where we sit at the moment.”
GWS small forward Bobby Hill and Brisbane key forward Dan McStay have both been heavily linked with the Pies in recent weeks and Wright expects both of those deals to be secured on Monday.
“Yes, I would have thought so, this afternoon,” he said of those two players.
“We’re waiting on a manager to fly in and a few things need to be signed but we would have thought that would happen.
“We needed key position help, that was the reason to go after Dan. He’s able to play as a key forward but he can also go back and pitch in in the ruck. That was the reason, that he can play multiple positions and is a free agent so from that perspective it was attractive and we’re pleased that Dan has made the decision to come across.”
Hawthorn Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell is another name being mentioned in Collingwood circles but there is still plenty of water to go under the bridge before that possible deal becomes a reality.
“I think it’s a chance but it’s probably unlikely,” said Wright of the Hawks on-baller.
“He’s a Hawthorn player and contracted at Hawthorn. Listening to their comments around him, it’s probably unlikely.
“We’ve got some interest but it would be less of a priority than other things we’ve got going.”
Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini is also on Collingwood’s radar with Wright confirming he is a player of interest but acknowledging he is not a high priority at this stage.
“He is (a player of interest),” he said of the Sun.
“But same again, he’s a contracted player and we have other priorities.
“We’re really keen to lock away what we wanted to in this trade period and we feel like we’re heading towards that with the three players (Hill, McStay and Frampton) that have initially been linked to us.
“We’ll get through those and see if there’s anything else out there for us.”