The AFL season is in full swing, and with it, the drama and speculation surrounding trades and player movements. The Gold Coast Suns are facing a potential trade disaster as they struggle to retain their stars, while Port Adelaide is quietly having a perfect season, despite not being in the spotlight. Meanwhile, St Kilda's big spending on Matthew Phillipou is under scrutiny, and Geelong finds itself in an odd coaching scenario. These stories and more are explored in this edition of the AFL news and analysis.
The Suns' Trade Dilemma
The Gold Coast Suns are in a tough spot as they try to retain their key players. Ben King, Jed Walter, and Bailey Humphrey are all under contract, but their futures are uncertain. King and Walter are both out of contract as the season reaches its halfway point, while Humphrey, who sought a trade back to Victoria last off-season, is contracted until 2028. The Suns are fighting two battles: the current season and the retention of their stars.
The speculation around Humphrey's future has impacted his performance, and the Suns' message to him is to focus on football. The club's coach, Damien Hardwick, has been defiant in his support for Humphrey, stating that he will not be traded as long as he is the coach. However, the likes of Hawthorn and Melbourne continue to circle Humphrey, and his performance this year has been disappointing, ranking 49th at his position.
The Suns are also concerned about King's future, as he is looking to return to Victoria, with Hawthorn as a likely landing spot. The family pull to return to Victoria has clouded his decision, and the Suns are worried about losing both King and Walter, which could leave them with a surplus of key forwards.
Port Adelaide's Quiet Perfect Season
Port Adelaide is having a perfect season, despite not being in the spotlight. The Power have won four of their first 13 games, and their percentage is better than Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs. Their coach, Josh Carr, is looking like a worthy successor to Ken Hinkley, and the club has the required draft assets for highly-rated prospects.
The Power are tiptoeing on a thin line to achieve both goals: winning games and producing a proof of concept for Carr's system. They are showing all the signs of being a genuinely competitive team, with a ridiculous percentage of 101% despite sitting 15th on the ladder. If they don't fall off a cliff over their final 10 games, they will head into next season as clear candidates to bounce back.
St Kilda's Million-Dollar Mistake
St Kilda's big spending on Matthew Phillipou is under scrutiny. The former top-10 draft pick entered the competition with big wraps in 2022, but his 2025 campaign was bogged down by leg injuries. In 2024, he averaged 14.4 disposals and 0.6 goals per game, and this year, he's averaged 14.5 possessions and 0.7 majors. The club re-signed him on an improved money offer halfway through last season, but he has been dropped after totalling four possessions in almost 80% game-time in St Kilda's Round 13 loss to Sydney.
Geelong's Coaching Conundrum
Geelong faces an odd scenario with two of its assistant coaches in the frame to potentially earn senior coaching jobs elsewhere later this year. Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is considered one of the leading candidates for the vacant Tasmania Devils job, while strategist James Kelly is a possibility to land at one of Carlton or Essendon. The club is in a tough spot, as it may be left down on coaching personnel ahead of a finals series.
