Collingwood development coach Nathan Murphy joins the Suns

The AFL has warned clubs it will not approve lopsided player trades and will be especially alert to sweetheart deals designed to encourage clubs to accept free agency compensation for losing a player.

With Port Adelaide free agent Zak Butters declaring on Saturday that he wants to move to the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast’s Ben King announcing he wants to return to Victoria, without yet nominating a destination club, the AFL has warned clubs they will police the value of side deals.

To encourage clubs to let a restricted free agent leave, and not match the contract terms, which would force the two clubs into a trade for the player, the club receiving the free agent has often in the past sought to negotiate separate deals on generous terms for the club losing the free agent.

AFL executive general manager football performance Greg Swann said the league was keenly aware of the concern among clubs about lopsided side deals, which have the effect of manipulating the draft and free agency.

“We contacted all clubs a couple of weeks ago, and we will contact them again ahead of the free agency and trade period to reinforce that separate deals have to stand up on merit,” Swann said.

“You can’t be trading a player who hasn’t played a game all year or for two years for multiple first round picks or something.

“There is still a balance, we have to be mindful of the fact some of the time you think a deal looks a bit off at the time, and it turns out to be a decent trade a year or so later.

“Clubs know that and we are onto it. We will be in contact with them and they know deals have to stand up on merit or they won’t be approved.”

As it stands, Port Adelaide would receive pick five as compensation for losing Butters if they don’t match the contract offered by the Bulldogs. The Suns’ compensation pick for losing King, who is expected to accept a contract offer from Hawthorn, would currently be at seven.

If Port and the Suns matched the terms offered by the Bulldogs and Hawthorn, respectively, the Dogs and Hawks would have to negotiate a trade for the restricted free agents.

The difficulty, especially for Port, is the knowledge that Butters is worth far more than pick four in any trade. In an open market, they would get multiple first round draft picks in return for him.

But with Next Generation Academy player Dougie Cochrane to attract a bid at pick one or two, Power know they desperately need early draft picks to cover that bid. That will make it tempting to accept pick four.

The most obviously lopsided deal on paper in recent times was in 2022when the Suns gave up Jack Bowes and pick seven to Geelong in exchange for just a future third round pick.

That one-sided deal was accepted by the AFL because they recognised it was a salary dump – pick seven was thrown in by the Suns to encourage a club to take Bowes, who was under contract for two more years on significant money. At the time, money off the books and balancing their salary cap was worth more to the Suns than pick seven.

Hawthorn star Jai Newcombe has praised Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson for calling out social media trolls, saying the abuse was “the tip of the iceberg” of what AFL players experience.

On Sunday, Dawson took to social media, calling out a direct message sent to his Instagram account that had made a self-harm reference towards him following the Crows’ loss to the Brisbane Lions in a semi-final at the Gabba on Saturday night.

“There is absolutely no place for this in the world, be better,” Dawson wrote.

The Crows reported the “disgusting” message to South Australian police and the AFL integrity unit.

The skipper recently won the AFLPA’s Most Courageous Player Award after playing out the season following the tragic death of his eldest brother Jaryd in April. Police said at the time that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the 35-year-old’s death.

On Monday afternoon, Newcombe said social media could be “pretty toxic and ugly”, noting a lot of the abuse flies under the radar.

“There’s a lot out there that doesn’t get shown,” Newcombe said during Monday’s press conference at the Hawks training centre in Dingley.

“I think it’s important what Jordan’s done. We had similar [experience] with Mabior [Chol] earlier in the year, and actually calling that stuff out. It’s pretty ugly. It’s disrespectful.

“It’s so many things we shouldn’t have to deal with in a way but I would say that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Newcombe said.

“There’s a hell of a lot that goes on pretty frequently that players have to deal with and talk to the people they need to, but there’s too much of it I’d say.”

Earlier in the year Hawthorn Football Club in condemned the “vile and appalling” online racial abuse of forward Mabior Chol following the Hawks’ loss to the Western Bulldogs. Bulldog turned Gold Coast player Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has also been open about the racist abuse he often receives after games.

The abuse isn’t limited to just AFL players. Former AFLW player turned commentator Kate McCarthy has also called out the derogatory and misogynistic messages she often receives.

“I have the right to have an opinion and present it in a fair and balanced way. And you’re all entitled to have your own take too. There are respectful ways to commute this,” she posted on Instagram in July.

“But to constantly be abused and diminished because of my gender is completely f---ed. Social media isn’t a licence to abuse people and hide behind a keyboard.”

Newcombe said he’s good at skimming through some of his direct messages and hidden requests, admitting he “tries not to read them too often”.

The midfielder said, while he wasn’t sure how the league could mandate online behaviour, he’d like to see greater action taken to protect players

“There’s so many more [abusive posts] we don’t see. It’s a tricky one, but acting on it when players are comfortable enough to put themselves on the line to show what’s being said, making sure they’re comfortable enough and know they’ve done the right thing is pretty important.”

If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Collingwood development coach Nathan Murphy will join his premiership teammate Scott Pendlebury at the Gold Coast Suns in 2027.

The 27-year-old has accepted a development/assistant coaching role with the Suns after two years on the Magpies coaching panel.

Murphy was medically retired early in the 2024 season due to concussion. He was subbed out of the 2023 grand final at quarter time after copping a head injury in the first quarter. It proved to be his final match for the club.

He has worked in the club’s development program since and was the VFL team’s backline coach as well as a development coach in 2026.

Football manager Charlie Gardiner praised Murphy for his contribution to the club.

“Nathan is an outstanding person and has played a valuable role within our coaching team in recent times, working closely with our young players to support their growth and development,” Gardiner said.

The Suns also landed Pendlebury on a four-year deal with the veteran hoping to play for two more seasons before transitioning into a coaching role.

Pendlebury will be a conduit between the coaching panel led by Damien Hardwick and the players who will benefit from his leadership and experience. Pendlebury has already met with Christian Petracca, whose form at the Suns dropped off after he made an electrifying start to the season.

The Magpies have had some turnover in their development area in recent seasons with Josh Fraser joining Carlton and Scott Selwood taking a break from football at the end of last year.

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