Hawk talks begin after rival’s $10m offer for star; Danger tips early rule change ‘frustration’ — AFL Latest

Hawthorn has reportedly opened contract talks with a star, while the Lions have a warning for the competition amid rival interest in Zac Bailey.

Plus Patrick Dangerfield predicts early “frustration” with AFL rule changes.

All your footy news and updates in AFL Latest!

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HAWKS TALKS BEGIN WITH EXCITING STAR

Hawthorn is hopeful it can lock away in-demand star Josh Weddle before the start of the 2026 AFL season, with contract talks between the two parties open, per AFL Media.

Weddle late last year was reportedly offered a lucrative seven-year deal by Essendon, with the rival club contract worth around $10 million.

But AFL Media on Thursday reported “talks are underway” on a potential new Hawthorn deal for Weddle, whose contracted to the club until the end of this year.

The versatile 191cm Hawk and has given no indication yet he would want a fresh start at a second AFL club.

Weddle missed a crucial chunk of football with a back injury during the back end of the Hawks’ home-and-away season this year, but returned to have notable impact in their two finals victories.

The exciting utility has been a revelation in Hawthorn’s defence across the first few years of his AFL career, but is set to spend more time on the ball in 2026.

‘BETTER SPECTACLE’: WHY DANGER BACKS CHANGES

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield is calling for patience around the AFL’s rule changes despite expecting there to be “plenty of frustration early”.

The AFL has brought in a raft of rule adjustments but most notably a stricter adjudication of the stand rule.

Dangerfield is in favour of the tweaks but says players need more consistent games to adjust properly.

“I think there will be plenty of frustration early, there always is when there’s a rule change or a rule adjustment and how it’s interpreted,” he said.

“There will be 50s, people will get frustrated, but I actually think it will be a better spectacle, it’ll open the game up more, there will be less congestion on those short, 15-20m kicks.

“Hopefully, as a forward, it’ll mean teams will have less time to flood back. I think we just need to give it time. Don’t judge it in the first couple of weeks because teams will still be adjusting.

“We’ve had a couple of months to work through it in the pre-season, but really you need the games to truly pick up on it as a player.”

— NCA NewsWire

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‘DANGER TO THE GAME’: FAGAN’S WARNING AFTER SAINTS DEALS

As Chris Fagan declared his confidence star free agent Zac Bailey would remain at Brisbane, the Lions coach flagged St Kilda’s aggressive list management approach in 2025 could be “a danger to the game”.

Anticipating huge rival offers, Brisbane has tabled an offer to Bailey — reportedly a mega six-year deal — but is aware he might take his time weighing up his contract call amid the Lions’ desperation to lock him away.

Fagan said he was confident the Lions would retain dual premiership player Bailey, but added the recent increase in large contract offers could make things difficult.

The dual premiership coach pointed to two mega Saints contract offers from last year, which saw St Kilda retain Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and lure free agent Tom De Koning away from Carlton.

“I think he will stay. I suppose everyone’s got a moving price, haven’t they?” Fagan told AFL Media.

“I’m hoping those numbers we saw last year, via St Kilda, don’t become a reality. I saw that as a bit of a danger for the game.

“I think the best players in the competition deserve to be paid the most money and that’s not the case at the moment.

“That’s not an insult to Nasiah. I think he’s going to be a really good player and how far he goes I don’t know.

“And ‘TDK’ has shown a lot of promise for a long time but hasn’t probably played up to expectations, and they’re getting paid extremely well.

“I’d rather see the better players get all the big money.”

‘HUGE ROLE’: LION BACKS ANDREWS AMID NEALE DRAMA

Brisbane Lions star Charlie Cameron has backed Harris Andrews to fill the void of outgoing co-captain Lachie Neale, who stood down amid the sensational fallout of his marriage breakdown.

The Lions, defending back-to-back premierships, are yet to announce their leadership group for 2026.

But Andrews is the favourite to steer the side, with potential assistance from Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage.

Cameron is backing Andrews to be the sole captain, saying the superstar defender lives the Lions’ “trademark”.

“Obviously, Lachie has stepped down, it’s a huge role there to fill with the captaincy,” he said.

Cameron, in Melbourne for an AFL announcement on Thursday, said the team would be led well whatever the outcome.

“We’ll find out next few weeks about our captaincy, (we’re) going through the process of that now,” he said.

“I think Harris is an unbelievable captain and I think he’d be fine doing it by himself. He’s a very good role model for our younger players and lives our trademark.

“If Harris is by himself, I’ll be pretty happy with that, but Josh and Hughy have been unbelievable vice-captains.

“I think they might put their hand up, who knows, I guess we’ll find out in the next few weeks.”

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