AFL.com.au

WESTERN Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has drawn level with champion midfielder Scott West after winning an equal club-best seventh Charles Sutton Medal at Crown Palladium on Wednesday night. The 30-year-old, who collected an eighth All-Australian blazer last month, added another accolade to his glittering CV after finishing third in the Brownlow Medal behind Nick Daicos and Bailey Smith.

NORTH Melbourne's young star Harry Sheezel has joined an elite club, becoming one of only 10 players to claim a third Syd Barker Medal as the Kangas' best and fairest on Wednesday night. Another outstanding season saw Sheezel hold off Luke Davies-Uniacke to claim the honour by just two votes in a thrilling count, with former captain Jy Simpkin also on the podium after a strong campaign.

Get all the latest news in the trade, free agency and draft landscape in Inside Trading, AFL.com.au's dedicated column for player movement. Find out the latest on contracts, deals, trades, draftees, rules, agents and who is going where from the AFL.com.au team. PIES, GIANTS AGREE ON HOGAN DEAL COLLINGWOOD and Greater Western Sydney have come to an agreement on a fourth-round pick trade for Jesse Hogan.

A CHANCE to work under development guru Nigel Lappin was a key carrot for Tasmania's first crop of signings. The club on Tuesday night unveiled their inaugural eight recruits, seven of them 17-year-olds who would have been eligible for the draft in 2027. Top of the class was Western Australia's Axel Walsh, a forward ruck considered likely to be the No.1 pick at that draft.

SYDNEY star Tom Papley has undergone post-season knee surgery following a controversial moment in the preliminary final, while the Swans have extended two coaches amid interest from Essendon. Papley would have missed the Grand Final if the Swans progressed past Fremantle at the SCG on the penultimate weekend of the season.

FORMER Carlton coach Michael Voss has revealed he was initially adamant Charlie Curnow would not be leaving the Blues, admitting his first reaction when the star forward raised the prospect of a trade was to "say no the whole way". Speaking on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio, Voss detailed the shift in thinking that ultimately led Carlton to entertain offers for one of the game's premier forwards.

THE AFL is open to considering changes to its free agency model at the end of next season when the current collective bargaining agreement with the players expires. Star free agents Sam Draper and Oscar Allen left struggling clubs Essendon and West Coast, respectively, at the end of last year and both played key roles for Brisbane as the Lions claimed their third successive premiership in Saturday's Grand Final.

GREATER Western Sydney football manager Jason McCartney is confident the Giants can challenge for a premiership next season, despite losing several significant players and with more potentially to come. Former captain Toby Greene will move to Geelong on a three-year deal as a free agent ahead of 2027, while fellow forwards Jake Stringer and Jesse Hogan weren't offered new contracts. Hogan will be at Collingwood, while Stringer's AFL future is uncertain.

LACHIE Neale's long-expected departure from Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent has been confirmed. The two-time Brownlow medallist, three-time premiership player and former club captain is expected to join Collingwood. Neale played 186 games for the Lions after joining the club ahead of the 2019 season. "Lachie has been a great player for the Brisbane Lions, and we thank him for his incredible contribution over his eight seasons,” list manager Dom Ambrogio said.

LISTEN Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio from 7am-6pm AEST weekdays TRADE HUB All the latest player movement news INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER Your club's picks as they stand KEY DATES Start dates for Trade and Free Agency Welcome to our live coverage of the 2026 off-season, with the 2026 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period fast approaching.