AFL Trade Update with Dylan Bolch - AFL.com.au Reporter (06.10.2026)

Mark Duffield (0:00)

Welcome back to the SCNWA studio out here at Optus Stadium. Already nearly 21 degrees outside. Sun is shining, 27 degrees later today. As Goss said earlier on Scotty Goss for breakfast, it is a good day to mow the lawn. It's a good day to be monitoring AFL trades as well. There's a bit going on. AFL.com.au's Dylan Bolch joins us to keep us up to date. First, Dylan, your thoughts on Jamie Graham's appointment as North Melbourne senior coach.

Dylan Bolch (0:29)

Yeah, g'day, Duff, thanks for having me on. And yeah, it feels like a great appointment for the Roos. Jamie's held in such high regard, especially out west where you guys are. But yeah, it feels like it was only a matter of time for him to get a senior job. He went close obviously at Carlton, was sort of in the mix there, and then at Essendon as well. And ultimately, I think Carlton had to go with Josh Fraser, given how he played, how the team played under him late in the year. And obviously, Essendon were leaning towards a former Essendon man in Mark McVay. So it felt like only a matter of time, and all the best.

Mark Duffield (1:02)

Now, the follow up from this is that Nathan Buckley, who was a late withdrawal from the process at North Melbourne, possibly when he realised the winds weren't blowing in his direction, but he remained a strong contender for the Brisbane job. Do you have any update on that?

Dylan Bolch (1:17)

Yeah, I was intrigued by that, actually. It kind of felt like the lines might look internally. Initially, when we heard the news about Fagin. So for me, that puts Danny Daley in the box seat, but also Cameron Bruce, who's been an assistant up there for several years as well. So I was a little bit intrigued by the backland news, but I guess a player who, or a coach who was so successful as a player, and who went pretty close to achieving the ultimate success with the Pies, you know, certainly worth a phone call. And where they land ultimately is still up in the air.

I would have Danny Daley probably the leading front runner there, but yeah, plenty to play out with the lines, and a pretty appealing job as well, given, you know, they've won three in a row, and certainly showing those lines is slowing down.

Mark Duffield (2:02)

It appears to point to the importance of staying relevant in the AFL system, doesn't it? Bucks went back in as an assistant coach to Chris Scott. He did so to stay in touch with the movement in the modern game. It feels like ones that have stepped out of the game, even for a year or two like Adam Simpson and like John Longmire, they're regarded as less relevant in modern coaching conversations.

Dylan Bolch (2:27)

Yeah, I think, as you said, that was the message to Buckley out of the processes that he went, the Melbourne one earlier, this time last year sort of thing as well. It feels like the game moves so quickly. So if you do step away from it, even if it is in a media capacity for a year or two, things do change a lot.

And maybe that's why we've seen the likes of Longmire and Simpson, albeit it feels like they've sort of ruled themselves out of a lot of jobs. But yeah, certainly, the change is pretty quick, which means if you do step away, you might have to step back in before you get a senior gig.

Mark Duffield (3:02)

Absolutely. Now let's talk trades.

Your guru at afl.com.au, Kel Toomey, saying, Nick Blakey has not yet given up on seeking a trade from Sydney this trade period. He's not made clear his intentions to the Swans, but clubs are doing their work in the background to assess their interests and all factors. He has held interest in Geelong. Do you expect Nick Blakey to still be at Sydney next year?

Dylan Bolch (3:27)

It's pretty tough to say at the moment, I suspect. It feels as though there's still so much water to go under the bridge with Blakey and even the other four guys that were stood down at the back end of the year.

The Swans yesterday, Chris Keane mentions, their list manager that they hadn't had any conversations with Nick about moving on, which makes you think that he probably will be at the club next year. I mean, he knows that it would be for Mr. Geelong in particular, who Cal has mentioned this morning, not to do the work on him, given how talented he is as a player on the field. But yeah, still a lot to play out there and something I suspect will drag out throughout the trade period and into the back end of the year.