Juggernaut ‘near-certain’ to pull off double coup; Blues star’s switch to spark angry ‘backlash’ — Trade Whispers

An AFL juggernaut is a “near-certainty” to land not one, but two out-of-contract stars this off-season, as one of their own continues to weigh up his future.

At Ikon Park, the significance of one gun’s potential departure threatens to impact Carlton both and and off the field.

And elsewhere, a club with “preliminary interest” in a premiership Demon has been revealed, as several others sit in the shadows waiting to pounce.

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REIGNING PREMIERS’ ‘NEAR-CERTAIN’ TRADE ACQUISITION... AND POTENTIAL SOUR BLOW

A pair of out-of-contract free agents are reportedly a “near-certainty” to join reigning premiers Brisbane in the upcoming trade period.

Caroline Wilson revealed on-air on Tuesday night that both West Coast’s Oscar Allen and Essendon’s Sam Draper are set to strengthen an already red-hot Lions list that also boasts strong rights to a top Academy pick this year’s upcoming national draft.

“Oscar Allen, who is a near-certainty now to sign with Brisbane, is going to be joined by Sam Draper,” Wilson told Seven.

Draper, who was previously also weighing up an offer from Adelaide, will no longer consider the Crows after their first ruck Reilly O’Brien penned a new three-year deal to see him extend at West Lakes until the end of 2028.

The potential exit of restricted free agent and premiership hero Brandon Starcevich out of Springfield would hurt the Lions amid the pair of acquisitions, reported Jon Ralph on Midweek Tackle.

“If he (Starcevich) leaves the Lions, they’ve got two free agents coming in: Almost certainly Oscar Allen and almost certainly now Sam Draper. So under the net rules, they’d lose him (Starcevich) for nothing, which would be a huge blow,” Ralph told Fox Footy on Tuesday night.

“West Coast would love him, but they’re about to lose Oscar Allen and get Pick 2 overall as free agency compensation. So if they got him in, all of a sudden that (Pick 2) dribbles back to Pick 20.

“I think the very likely outcome still is that he’s got a two-year deal on the table at Brisbane, if he wants that to be a long-termer, his manager would get that done.

“He’s got interest in Melbourne, he’s got interest out west. But not many leave the Brisbane Lions when they’re in such a great premiership window.”

Both Allen and Draper have been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season with Achilles injuries.

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SUDDEN SILVAGNI STAND OFF LIKENED TO DAICOS DEPARTURE AS OFF-FIELD ‘BACKLASH’ LOOMS

The future of Jack Silvagni leaving Carlton at season’s end had hit home hard at Ikon Park, with incoming CEO Graham Wright reportedly speaking to with the out-of-contract star in a bid to keep him put.

With Collingwood’s interest in the 27-year-old well-documented in recent weeks, Seven’s Caroline Wilson has spoken to the gravity of a potential move for Silvagni — as well as the repercussions that extend beyond the Blues’ on-field loss.

“It would be as galling for Carlton people I think as if a Daicos went to Carlton. My understanding is this has become a top-order priority for the Carlton Football Club now to keep Jack Silvagni,” Wilson said on Tuesday evening.

“The incoming CEO Graham Wright has got involved ... he’s spoken with Jack in recent days.

“The board have now asked questions about this, and of course, there’s going to be a membership backlash if Jack Silvagni leaves. If Jack has any doubts about where he stood in Carlton’s pecking order, I think Graham Wright has really worked to rectify that in the last 24 hours.”

Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph reported last week that the Magpies’ four-year offer in front of Silvagni, which matches that of Carlton, is slightly more “financially lucrative”.

Silvagni is currently sidelined with groin soreness, in a niggle that could well prematurely end his 2025 season — and by extension, mean there is a world where he has played his last game at Carlton.

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‘EVERYONE INTERESTED’: FIRST CLUB IN RACE FOR PREMIERSHIP DEE REVEALED

Despite being contracted at Melbourne until the end of 2028, premiership defender Jake Lever has well and truly caught the attention of rival clubs ahead of this year’s trade period.

Nine Chief Football Reporter Tom Morris revealed on Tuesday night that interest has emerged from Arden Street in the 29-year-old.

“North Melbourne has preliminary interest in contracted Melbourne veteran Jake Lever,” Morris said.

“They have discussed him, and are weighing up a possible move for him in the trade period.”

Lever, whose market value was analysed earlier this month by Midweek Tackle, has attracted the attention of several clubs beyond than just the Kangaroos, reports Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph.

“Everyone’s interested in Jake, he’s certainly had no contact with any other club,” Ralph said on Midweek Tackle on Tuesday night.

“He’s invested. It may well be he’s the next captain of this football club if Max Gawn decides ‘I just can’t do it anymore’.

“Big decision for Melbourne to make on Jake. Right now they’re saying ‘nothing doing’, but there a lot of clubs out there sniffing around him.”

Lever played 56 games for Adelaide in his first three seasons in the AFL, before departing West Lakes at the end of 2017 to join the Demons, where he has since played a further 130 games at the top level.

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