Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
The Believe-O-Meter: Can you trust list managers' trade statements?
SEN • October 7th, 2025 12:04 pm
How much faith can be placed in the words of list managers?
With the official 2025 Trade Period opening on Monday, list management and recruiting teams for all 18 sides arrived at Marvel Stadium, with plans set out to maximise their returns over the course of the next 10 days.
Each club put forward a representative to speak with AFL Trade Radio’s Cal Twomey, faced with a range of questions surrounding potential wantaway stars, expected deals and what the fans can expect in the coming weeks.
And while the list managers answered a majority of the questions, it’s safe to say that poker faces and media trained answers were in full effect.
So, how much weight can be placed on the answers given on day one?
Trade Radio’s Kane Cornes put forward a range of debatable answers provided by list managers of several AFL clubs, questioning The Early Trade co-host Sam Edmund as to how trustworthy the answers may be.
Melbourne on Clayton Oliver
Cornes: “Tim Lamb (Melbourne list manager) – do you believe him when he says that (Clayton) Oliver would 100 per cent be welcome to return back to the Dees?”
Edmund: “No, I do not believe that.
“There is no way we can believe that when he has been called into a meeting in the middle of his break and told by his coach, his list manager and his football manager to explore his options if you’re not happy with playing VFL.
“We know they’re going to contribute 50 per cent of his wage, or up to, so no I do not believe that.”
Cornes: “Do you believe Tim Lamb when he says the meeting with Clayton Oliver didn’t broach behavioural issues?”
Edmund: “Yes.”
Collingwood on Bobby Hill
Cornes: “Do you believe Justin Leppitsch when he says that Collingwood love Bobby Hill, and under no circumstances will look at trading Bobby?”
Edmund: “Now, yes. Earlier, hmm.
“I reckon that love would have been severely tested, and as we have reported, clubs were informed – whether officially, or through back channels or however you want to describe it, that Bobby Hill might have been gettable for a period of time during this trade period.
“That would appear to have since been shut down, so yes, now I believe him.”
St Kilda on trade plans
Cornes: “Do you believe that Graeme Allan (St Kilda) has plenty of cash?”
Edmund: “I’d love to say yes, and I love the theatre, but surely not.”
Cornes: “Do you believe that he’s got another surprise up his sleeve?”
Edmund: “Surely not. Again, I’d love to be able to say yes, wouldn’t we all?
“If he just turned around and said we’re going after player A. But I don’t think so.”
Cornes: “Do you believe the Saints when they say they haven’t spoken to anyone, and no one has spoken to them about Jack Steele?”
Edmund: “Yes. I believe that.”
Port Adelaide on Zak Butters
Cornes: “Do you believe Jason Cripps at Port Adelaide that they have a hope that Zak Butters will commit to them long-term?”
Edmund: “Yes, I think I have to take him on face value. Are they foolishly optimistic? Maybe, but you have to back yourself in.
“I like that, so I believe that they believe, yes.”
Gold Coast on Bailey Humphrey
Cornes: “Do you believe that Bailey Humphrey can meet with as many teams as he wants, but he cannot be traded?”
Edmund: “Yes, I believe that. I believe Craig Cameron, I believe Gold Coast and I believe Damien Hardwick, who loves this guy.
“I reckon this was one of the first guys he mentioned when he walked through the door! I can’t see a world where he is allowed to leave.”
Charlie Curnow
Cornes: “Do you believe Sydney will put forward a fair offer for Charlie Curnow?
Edmund: “No, no I don’t. Nor should they.
“This is a negotiation, and Geelong will be the same. The first couple of offers for Charlie will be ridiculous in the eyes of the Blues, for sure.
“They will say no, and this will go the distance, and maybe beyond the distance and he stays.”
Cornes: “Geelong said that Carlton say that Curnow is a required player. Do you believe Carlton through Geelong, when they say that Curnow is a required player?”
Edmund: “He is required, but Carlton will entertain the deal for Charlie Curnow, absolutely.
“We’ve said as much, because in that infamous exit meeting they made it known that if the deal was good enough, then they would sanction the trade. Charlie, for his part we’ve said many many times, is really keen to exit.”
Essendon on Zach Merrett
Cornes: “Do you believe that Essendon will NOT entertain offers for Zach Merrett?”
Edmund: “No, I don’t believe that. I think they will entertain them, but they’re going to have to be good.
“The only reason I say that, is because this is another year, another dance… it’s got to be fatiguing at Essendon, even if there has been turnover.
“For player, for club, and maybe at his age, there’s just a percentage of their minds that says, ‘maybe we’re better off just cutting the cord here and getting the best deal we possibly can’.”
North Melbourne on Jy Simpkin
Cornes: “Do you believe North Melbourne when they said, ‘I can’t see why Jy Simpkin won’t be at the club next year’?”
Edmund: “I can see why he won’t be there – because he doesn’t want to be there! I don’t believe that.
“I think when the player says, ‘I’m pretty keen on having a look around’, that’s a pretty good reason as to why he won’t be there.”
Fremantle on ruck partnership
Cornes: “Do you believe Fremantle when they said there has absolutely been no discussions about Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy?”
Edmund: “It’s a hard one. Is there a statute of time on this? Are we talking about the last couple of weeks, or are we talking the year?
“If we’re talking about the season, there would have been pause for thought, particularly on Sean Darcy.
“But credit to them, they have made it work, and all that chatter has gone away.”
Hawthorn on Cam Mackenzie
Cornes: “Do you believe the Hawks when they say that they love Cam Mackenzie, and under no circumstances will he be traded?”
Edmund: “Yeah, I believe them.
“I think if this trade is going to happen, it will be the player knocking on Sam Mitchell’s door, saying I’d love to go for some opportunities.
“I believe Hawthorn in that regard.”
