The AFL trade period opened not with a handshake but with a conspicuous absence — Rowan Marshall's empty chair at St Kilda's best and fairest a quiet but unmistakable declaration that a player's loyalty has already departed before his body has. Across town, Hawthorn and Essendon moved with rare swiftness to settle Zach Merrett's future in a single day, a reminder that when both parties are ready, the machinery of professional sport can be surprisingly efficient. These early movements — one a slow-burning standoff, the other a clean resolution — set the tone for a trade period that will test ho
Marshall skips awards as trade drama unfolds; Merrett seals Hawks move
An absence that signals both discomfort and determination
Mark
Why does Marshall skipping the best and fairest matter so much? It's just one event.
Mimi
It's a signal. These ceremonies are about belonging, about being part of the club's story. By not showing up, he's saying publicly that he's already mentally left. It puts pressure on both St Kilda and Geelong to move faster.
Luke
But we don't actually know his reasoning. The reporting says he "didn't feel comfortable," but that could mean anything. Was it his choice to make a statement, or was he genuinely uncomfortable? Those are different things.
Mark
Fair point. So what does it actually change in the negotiations?
Mimi
It signals desperation or resolve—depending on how you read it. St Kilda might see it as disrespect and dig in harder. Or they might see it as a sign he's serious and move to settle the deal faster.
Luke
And we don't know which one is happening. The reporting says the clubs are "some distance apart," but it doesn't say how far apart or what the actual sticking points are.
Mark
What about the Merrett deal? That seemed to move incredibly fast.
Mimi
It did. Both clubs clearly wanted it done. Essendon gets picks and can move on to other targets. Hawthorn gets their midfielder. No more uncertainty hanging over either club.
Luke
But we should note that this was a deal both sides wanted. Marshall's situation is different—St Kilda may not want to let him go at any price Geelong is willing to pay.
Mark
So the half-back carousel—is that actually happening, or is it speculation?
Mimi
At least two of them definitely want to leave. Collingwood is interested in both. But whether all three moves happen, or just one or two, depends on what each club is willing to pay and what each player is willing to accept.
Luke
And the reporting is pretty clear that this is still fluid. The piece even says "things can change quickly." So we're really just watching the opening moves.
Il Polso
- Rowan Marshall's deliberate no-show at his own club's celebration has turned a private desire to leave into a very public ultimatum, shifting the power dynamics between St Kilda and Geelong.
- The Saints and Geelong remain meaningfully apart on Marshall's price, and his absence has done nothing to soften that gap — if anything, it has made the negotiation more charged.
- Hawthorn cut through the noise by locking in Zach Merrett on day one, trading picks 15, 25, and a 2028 second-rounder to Essendon in a deal that had been months in the making.
- With Merrett settled, both Hawthorn and Essendon are now free to chase their remaining targets without the distraction of his unresolved future hanging over every conversation.
- A potential carousel of half-back departures — Jayden Short, Keidean Coleman, and possibly Houston — is gathering momentum, with Collingwood emerging as a destination that could reshape the competition's defensive landscape.
The AFL trade period opened not with a handshake but with a conspicuous absence — Rowan Marshall's empty chair at St Kilda's best and fairest a quiet but unmistakable declaration that a player's loyalty has already departed before his body has. Across town, Hawthorn and Essendon moved with rare swiftness to settle Zach Merrett's future in a single day, a reminder that when both parties are ready, the machinery of professional sport can be surprisingly efficient. These early movements — one a slow-burning standoff, the other a clean resolution — set the tone for a trade period that will test how clubs value loyalty, patience, and the courage to act.
The AFL trade period announced itself not with noise but with a pointed silence. Rowan Marshall, St Kilda's ruck, chose not to attend his club's best and fairest night — the evening Callum Wilkie claimed his second consecutive award. The absence was deliberate, a calculated signal that Marshall has emotionally and professionally checked out of the Saints and is pushing hard for a move to Geelong. He finished tenth in the voting, a detail that barely registered against the louder story his empty seat was telling.
Negotiations between St Kilda and Geelong remain unresolved, the two clubs still some distance apart on what Marshall is worth. But a player who refuses to show up to his own club's celebration has a way of concentrating minds. Whether the move was born of genuine discomfort or strategic pressure, the effect is the same — the Saints now know, publicly, that Marshall is done.
While that standoff simmers, one of the period's most anticipated deals resolved itself with unexpected speed. Hawthorn and Essendon agreed on Zach Merrett within the first day of trading, with the Hawks sending picks 15 and 25 alongside a 2028 second-rounder to the Bombers. For Hawthorn, it is the arrival of a midfielder they have long coveted. For Essendon, it is clarity — Merrett's future no longer dominates every conversation, and both clubs can now pursue their remaining targets without distraction.
The swiftness of the deal was its own kind of statement. Trade periods are notorious for grinding on, but this one was settled before the dust had settled on day one, suggesting both clubs had done their preparation and were simply waiting for the gates to open.
Attention is now turning to a possible carousel of half-back movement. Jayden Short and Keidean Coleman have both signalled a desire to move on, with Collingwood emerging as a likely destination for at least one of them. The Magpies have already spoken with Short, and reports suggest Coleman has also drawn their interest. Whether Collingwood pursues both or is forced to choose remains to be seen. The most plausible current reading has Short heading to the Pies, Coleman either finding a new home or staying at Brisbane — where the Lions will not make it easy — and Houston remaining put. But as the Merrett deal proved, the trade period moves on its own schedule, and the assumptions of day one rarely survive contact with day three.
The AFL trade period opened with a flurry of movement, but the most telling moment came not on the negotiating table but in an empty chair. Rowan Marshall, St Kilda's ruck, did not attend his club's best and fairest celebration last night. The decision was deliberate. While the Saints gathered to honor Callum Wilkie's second consecutive award for best player, Marshall stayed away—a calculated absence that signals both his discomfort with the club and his determination to force a move to Geelong.
The ruck's absence reads as a statement. Marshall has made clear his desire to leave St Kilda, and by skipping the event, he has chosen not to participate in the rituals that bind a player to his club. Whether he felt genuinely uncomfortable being there or whether the move was designed to pressure the Saints into action remains open to interpretation, but the effect is the same: the negotiating position has shifted. St Kilda and Geelong remain some distance apart in their discussions over Marshall's price, but this kind of public signal—a player refusing to show up—has a way of concentrating minds. Marshall finished tenth in the best and fairest voting, a footnote to a night that was supposed to celebrate the club's year. Instead, it became a statement about what comes next.
Elsewhere, one of the trade period's most anticipated moves resolved itself with surprising speed. Hawthorn and Essendon reached agreement on Zach Merrett on the very first day of trading, moving quickly to finalize a deal that had hung over both clubs for months. The Hawks will send picks 15 and 25 to Essendon, along with a second-round selection in 2028. For Hawthorn, it represents the acquisition of a midfielder they have long pursued. For Essendon, it clears the air—Merrett's future no longer dominates the conversation, and both clubs can now turn their attention to the other targets they have lined up without the weight of his pending departure.
The speed of the Merrett deal is notable in itself. Trade periods can drag on for weeks, with players and clubs locked in extended negotiations. This one was settled in a day, suggesting both sides had done their homework and were ready to move. The result is that Hawthorn and Essendon are now free to pursue their other business without distraction, and the market can shift its focus to the remaining players in motion.
That focus is already turning to a potential carousel of half-back movements. At least two players—Jayden Short and Keidean Coleman—have expressed a desire to leave their current clubs, with quiet speculation surrounding a third, Houston. Collingwood has emerged as a potential destination for more than one of them. The Magpies have already held discussions with Short, and there are reports that Coleman has also attracted their interest. The question now is whether Collingwood will pursue both or be forced to choose. If the Pies do bring in one or two new half-backs, it could reshape the landscape for Houston and the clubs involved. The most likely scenario, based on current positioning, is that Short moves to Collingwood, Houston remains where he is, and Coleman either finds a home elsewhere or stays at Brisbane, where the Lions are likely to drive a hard bargain for his services. But as the Merrett deal demonstrated, the trade period can move fast, and assumptions made on day one may not hold by day three.
Citazioni salienti
Marshall made the decision not to attend the event as he continues to seek a trade to Geelong— reporting on Marshall's absence
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