AFL trade period 2025 LIVE updates: Cats still want Curnow, Marshall despite rejections; Port call Butters rumours ‘unhealthy’

Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps has called repeated stories about Zak Butters’ future “unhealthy”, and again repeated that his club will do everything possible to get their star midfielder to stay long term.

Cripps argued there is no push from Butters or the club for any move to happen, and that they want to sign him to a long-term deal.

Multiple Victorian clubs are tracking Butters’ availability, and he played golf with some Essendon players and their manager on Thursday, adding to that conjecture.

But Cripps said there would be no trade for Butters this year or beyond.

“No, not at all. I spoke about this last week, [and] Zak has spoken about it,” Cripps told Trade Radio.

“The fascination with Zak is unhealthy because there is no story – the people who know him well know he is a loyal person.

“There is no story, and it seems some are trying to force one.

“There has been no discussion on Zak wanting to leave… we will be doing everything in our power to keep him beyond that.

“There is no story. I’m hoping it ends after this one today.”

The Blues have posted these pictures of former West Coast midfielder Campbell Chesser in his new colours.

Chesser told AFL Trade Radio that he reported to Ikon Park as soon as his agent called to say the deal was agreed.

Blues head of list management Nick Austin praised Chesser’s talents.

“We are so pleased to have attracted Campbell to Ikon Park,” Austin said.

“The club is very optimistic about the future of Campbell at Carlton. Overcoming an ankle injury late in the year, the form he displayed at the end of the season showed us he has the quality and class to perform at the elite level.

“With explosive speed and endurance, his outside run is a clear standout in his game, with the ability to quickly transition to both ends of the ground – all traits that will perfectly complement our side.

“We think he will have a lot to learn from our established midfield group, led by our leaders Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, and we look forward to seeing them take Campbell under their wing, and he gets to work from day one of pre-season.”

Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie knows his club has had offers for Charlie Curnow and Rowan Marshall knocked back, but they’re still keen to bring both to the club.

Mackie confirmed the Blues had knocked back the Cats’ offer of three first-round picks for Curnow this morning, while earlier in the week the Saints rejected an offer of a first-round pick for Marshall.

Both players have multi-year deals with their present clubs.

“[There’s] not much is happening today to be honest,” Mackie told AFL Trade Radio.

He said the Cats were still pursuing trades for both players despite using pick 19 in both rejected offers.

“We’ve never been out of the pursuit, it is just about what a deal would look like. We want to bring Rowan in,” Mackie said.

“We are not sure what a deal looks like to St Kilda, but we want to be in the conversation.

“We are going to have a crack to bring both of them in. We went to the Saints first out of respect for Rowan wanting to come here.

“[If those deals don’t happen] we have always been lovers of the draft, so if we have to go to the draft with those picks we will.”

Mackie said he still wasn’t certain what the Saints wanted in exchange for Marshall, but said talks would continue.

Mackie said he didn’t want to include any current players, despite conjecture Gryan Miers could be included in a deal for Curnow.

But he didn’t completely dismiss the prospect of including a player in a late offer.

“We love the players we have,” Mackie said.

“We have a cohesive, united group who want to go one better than they did this year. All signs are really positive, post the grand final. We couldn’t ask for a better group to got to work every day and get better.”

New Blues midfielder Campbell Chesser got the call and reported immediately to Ikon Park this afternoon as his trade to Carlton became official.

The Blues and Eagles finalised a trade this afternoon with pick No.41 going to the Eagles in return for the former first-round pick.

An excited Chesser said he almost immediately reported to Blues HQ when told the deal was done.

“About two hours ago I got a call from my agent and went into the club and did some media stuff,” Chesser told AFL trade radio.

“It’s a two-year deal. It gives me a good opportunity to move back to Melbourne and get settled, so I’m grateful for that.”

Chesser said he hoped to bring some more run and carry to the Blues as a wingman.

New Melbourne Brody Mihocek says he wouldn’t wish the uncertainty of the player movement period on anyone after finalising his move to the Demons.

Mihocek was a mature-age recruit who joined Collingwood and turned into one of their most consistent forwards, playing in their 2023 premiership win.

“It’s definitely weird,” Mihocek told AFL Trade Radio.

“Thinking about my whole footy journey, it hasn’t been an easy road and I would have never thought that at 32 I would get an opportunity to explore new things.

“I know it is the right move for me. I’ve had people reach out from the Dees, they’ve made me feel welcome already.

“The back third of the year, it definitely plays with your head, and you don’t wish anyone to go through it. I just tried to keep doing my best for the Magpies.

“Melbourne got in contact early and put out the offer. Even after exit meetings, it wasn’t set in stone but I had to make the right call.”

Mihocek said he was still to have a proper break after the preliminary final, and he was still recovering from a dislocated middle toe and damaging some ligaments in the same injury.

“It’s not an injury people see a lot,” he joked.

He’s wearing a moon boot after sustaining the injury in the first half of the qualifying-final win over Adelaide, before playing through the preliminary final.

“I want to get on top with the problems with my body, and day one of pre-season I will be ready to go,” Mihocek said.

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