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Trade talk: Jenkins' top five trade names ahead of 2026
SEN ⢠ August 15th, 2025 7:30 pm
Josh Jenkins has listed his top five most compelling trade names approaching the off-season.
2025 has featured a range of potential trade conversations, with a number of star players rumoured to be changing colours ahead of 2026.
Following back-to-back trade periods with little action, Jenkins believes that this year will be rather intense in comparison.
âI honestly donât think this year will be a beat-up,â Jenkins told SENâs The Run Home.
âThe last two years have been flat, no doubt about it. I think Lachie Schultz might have been the biggest name two years ago. Dan Houston was probably the most talked about player last year.â
â(These are) the top five names this year â and I think itâll be a big off season, a big trade period.â
See JJâs list below:
5. Sam Flanders (Gold Coast)
âFifth most interesting for me.
âDamian Hardwick has already come out and said âno-sir, he will be staying with us.â
âBut he is a player who has had to play a different position this year. Heâs done it with a degree of difficulty. Heâs been able to play a bit more mid when theyâve had Touk Miller out of the team.
âHeâs under contract but if you come calling with genuine midfield minutes, the old âbig clubâ opportunity, then you might be able to convince him to tell them he wants out.
âSound decision maker, neat ball user, still got six to eight years of prime footy ahead of him.â
4. Zak Butters and Miles Bergman (Port Adelaide)
âBefore you say, âheâs just re-signed!â Thatâs fantastic. But in the Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera conversation, Miles Bergmanâs name might have to come back up.
âIf you want someone fantastic, youâve got to give up something decent going the other way. Bergmanâs name wouldnât surprise me if it comes back up as a way to get Nasiah across the line.
âZak Butters is different but interesting. It seems like he is willing and wanting to see out his contract, get to free agency and then make a big decision on his career.
âI think if youâre Port Adelaide, you might be looking at this and saying, âweâre going to fast-track this ourselves. Weâre going to say to you Zak, if you are all out, then you may as well be out now, so we get max dollar for you.â
âDonât be a weak club that says, âI want to go home for family reasons but by the way I only want to go to the Western Bulldogs.â Last time I checked, there are six or seven teams in the city of Melbourne, so youâll go to any which of those that can service us properly.â
3. Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
âWanted out last year, couldnât get out, contract being the primary reason which is a great conversation we can have about not capping long-term contracts, because it actually gives the clubs leverage that they donât often pull.
âBut Melbourne pulled it last year. Christian wanted to leave, they said youâve got a long-term contract, youâre coming back.
âHe will be interesting again. People have been hot on him⌠probably too hot on him. Some of it has probably been fair, some of it has probably been too harsh, but he is a watch.
âMelbourneâs saving grace might be the new coach. It changes the direction and the environment of the footy club. That may be the saving grace that allows him to buy back in again and want to go forward with the Dees.
âBut his name would just bubble away the whole (trade) period for mine.â
2. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St Kilda)
âIf the young man decides to move.
âNot the fact that, âdoes he or does he not want to leaveâ, but how on Godâs green do you facilitate such a move.
âFor a player that was worth maybe one first round pick at the start of the year, now heâs worth anything. He is honestly worth absolutely anything!
âSo, how do you get that deal done? Thatâs why Iâve got Butters and Bergman at number four.â
1. The Carlton four
âI donât think there should be a world where Carlton go into 2026 with (Harry) McKay, (Charlie) Curnow, (Patrick) Cripps and (Sam) Walsh on the list.
âI think one should be moved. (Cripps) is in the four. His name has been around the place.
âCripps, McKay, Curnow and Walsh. I think they should try and move one of those four. In order, I would go McKay (first), Walsh, Curnow, daylight and then Cripps.â
