SATURDAY UPDATE

AFL club Essendon has recruited discarded St Kilda defender James Gwilt.

The Bombers confirmed on Saturday they would sign Gwilt, who played 126 games with the Saints including the two grand finals in 2010, as a delisted free agent.

The 28-year-old, who was drafted in 2004, was told by St Kilda coach Alan Richardson at the end of the season that he wouldn’t be offered a new contract.

Gwilt was linked to Melbourne, but it was Essendon coach James Hird who threw him an AFL lifeline.

“We have put an offer to James which he has accepted and we will now formally lodge the paperwork with the AFL,” Essendon recruiting manager Adrian Dodoro said on the Dons’ website.

“James has great flexibility, having showcased his ability to play on both small and tall forwards during his time at St Kilda.”

FRIDAY UPDATE

Dual Brisbane Lions best and fairest winner Joel Patfull will play for the GSW Giants for the next two years after completing a trade on Friday.

Patfull, 29, was traded to the Giants in exchange for the western Sydney club’s second round draft pick, number 21 pick overall.

• Why the trade period is tearing at footy’s fabric

The defender played 182 games for Brisbane after making his debut in 2006.

He was named the Lions’ best and fairest in 2012 and 2013.

The Lions now hold three selections inside the first two rounds of the 2014 national draft, being picks five, 21 and 28.

The Giants draft selections are headed by picks 4, 19, and 24 (committed to Jack Steele).

THURSDAY UPDATE

Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen has delivered a hammer blow to the club, requesting a trade to the GWS Giants.

Griffen was appointed captain of the Bulldogs last season, leading them to seven wins and a 14th place finish.

In a statement from his management Elite Sports Properties, Griffen says he is seeking a fresh start outside Melbourne.

He says the decision “has not come lightly and has been extremely difficult for all involved.”

“(The decision has been made) with the intent that the Western Bulldogs are duly

compensated for granting Ryan a release from the final year of his contract,” the statement reads.

The 28-year-old is widely considered the Bulldogs’ best player, with the news likely to shock the struggling AFL club.

Hawthorn has secured the services of talented youngster Jono O’Rourke from the GWS Giants.

The Hawks announced they’d tied up O’Rourke and pick No.43 from the Giants in exchange for their own first-round No.19 selection as well as pick No.40.

O’Rourke played eight top-grade games for the Giants this season but was keen to return home to Victoria.

The 20-year-old has had his fair share of injury problems but is regarded as a natural speedster.

Melbourne officially picked up Jeff Garlett from Carlton, giving up picks 61 and 79 to the Blues and getting back pick 83.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE

Geelong could lose two small forwards, with Travis Varcoe in line to be traded and Allen Christensen possibly on the move to Queensland.

And the AFL is reporting that the Western Bulldogs have spoken to Geelong defender Tom Lonergan is a bit to lure the 30-year-old Cat from Kardinia Park on a longer contract.

Geelong confirmed Christensen’s desired to leave, issuing the following statement: “Allen Christensen has expressed a desire to continue his career elsewhere due to non-football reasons. The club is considering its position in relation to Allen’s request.”

News Ltd reported that Christensen wanted to be traded to one of the Queensland clubs.

The Cats have also been in discussions with several clubs about Varcoe, with Fairfax reporting that he could end up at Collingwood in a three-way deal involving Heritier Lumumba (Collingwood to Melbourne) and Mitch Clark (Melbourne to Geelong).

Varcoe has also been linked to North Melbourne and West Coast.

While Geelong has been prepared to lose Varcoe, whose form has been patchy in recent seasons, it would be reluctant to part with Christensen, who at 23 is considered on of the most promising running/small forwards in the game.

Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs star Adam Cooney could play at Carlton next season Carlton after it was revealed that the clubs were in negotiations.

Fairfax reported that Cooney, 29, and disgruntled Bulldogs forward Liam Jones could head to Carlton in exchange for the Blues’ pick 28. It said Cooney was prepared to leave the club, at which he won a Brownlow Medal in 2008.

TUESDAY UPDATE

The runner-up in North Melbourne’s 2014 best and fairest award, Levi Greenwood, has asked to be traded to Collingwood.

Greenwood, 25, is reported to have been offered $400,000 a year on a four-year contract with the Magpies.

• Time’s up Bombers: it’s all-in or all-out now
• James Hird stays in top job – for now

SEN reported that North tried to match the offer at the last minute, but that Greenwood had already decided to make the switch. It said he would have stayed at North if the offer had been made during the season.

His manager, Liam Pickering, told AFL Trade Radio he had tried to get a deal done with North all year.

He said he felt for North supporters “but that’s the business we’re in now”.

Meanwhile, out-of-favour Carlton small forward Jeff Garlett looks destined to play with Melbourne in 2015.

Carlton has been looking to trade Garlett, who has expressed a desire to join the Demons.

Pickering, who also manages Garlett, said a deal would be done with Melbourne. Essendon had also been interested.

MONDAY NIGHT UPDATE

Essendon veteran Jason Winderlich has delivered the beleaguered Bombers another blow by seeking to play on with Richmond next season, it has been reported.

And late Monday the Gold Coast Suns announced that they had signed Sydney premiership defender Nick Malceski as an unrestricted free agent.

Fairfax reported that Winderlich, 29, who announced his retirement during the 2014 season but finished the year in excellent form, now wanted to continue, but in “a less uncertain environment”.

His desire to switch to Punt Road follows Paddy Ryder’s decision to walk out of Essendon and seek a trade with Port Adelaide.

Winderlich is a life member at Essendon and is extremely popular with supporters. Fairfax reported that he did not participate in the controversial supplements program and did not receive a show cause notice.

Essendon is a club divided as a result of the supplements saga. On Monday it announced that embattled coach James Hird, who last week was told not to attend the club’s best and fairest award, would remain in the post in the “immediate term”.

The Winderlich move was the most surprising on the opening day of the AFL trade period, in which the father-son and academy picks were nominated.

MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE

This is the latest trade news, club by club:

ADELAIDE

Insists Patrick Dangerfield is “not on the table” and that he could stay beyond 2015.

Shown interest in Brisbane’s Daniel Merrett and Carlton’s Jeff Garlett.

Fielded some interest in Jarryd Lyons.

BRISBANE

Traded dual best and fairest winner Joel Patfull to GWS for that club’s second round draft pick, number 21 pick overall.

Still in deadlock with Collingwood over Dayne Beams. Wants to give up picks, not players. Rejected any notion it will part with players such as Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley, James Aish or Dayne Zorko.

Fielded interest in Daniel Merrett.

Picked up Lions Academy players Harris Andrews, Liam Dawson and Josh Clayton with picks 41, 60 and 114.

Picked up Clayton, son of Scott, as a father-son with its last pick because no one else bid for him.

And here they are! How good do they look in Lions colours? @josh_clayton12 @HarrisAndrews41 @ldaws6 pic.twitter.com/hW218ZY8WP

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) October 5, 2014

CARLTON

Interested in tall GWS forward Kristian Jaksch. Football manager Andrew McKay: “We think he’s a very good player, but don’t want to give up too much for him.” Interested in Bulldogs Liam Jones and Jason Tutt. Interested in Essendon’s Ben Howlett. Could trade out Kane Lucas. Given up on Swans midfielder Tom Mitchell. Have received interest in Mitch Robinson and Jeff Garlett, who are both likely to be traded.    

COLLINGWOOD

Still in deadlock with Brisbane over Dayne Beams. Lions want to give up picks, not players. Interested in North Melbourne’s Levi Greenwood, but no progress made.    

“We’ve put an offer to Levi Greenwood. As of 3.15pm I don’t think he’s made a decision,” – @derekhine #gopies pic.twitter.com/AiOZUxqknK — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 6, 2014

Negotiating with Melbourne over Heritier Lumumba.

Secured Darcy Moore under father-son rule.

VIDEO: “Hi Dad, did you hear?” http://t.co/Jhd2sEky6h Watch Darcy Moore give his famous father, Peter, his good news pic.twitter.com/fLiGfxopS9

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 6, 2014

ESSENDON

Appears to have made progress in attempts to keep Jason Winderlich, while Ben Howlett re-signed despite speculation he would leave. Picked up St Kilda discard James Gwilt.

Secured Irishman Conor McKenna.    

Welcome to the club Conor! #DonTheSash pic.twitter.com/2PN6wXNM8j — Essendon FC (@EssendonFC) October 3, 2014

Announcement of future of Dustin Fletcher soon.

Discussions not exactly progressing well with Port Adelaide on Paddy Ryder. Reported to be after Port midfielder Hamish Hartlett.

“We want apples for apples, not apples for a bag of peanuts” – Adrian Dodoro on Ryder’s trade talks http://t.co/4xRgv5jIc0 #TradePeriod — AFL (@AFL) October 6, 2014

FREMANTLE

Interested in Essendon’s Ben Howlett.

Said Luke McPharlin would sign a contract extension for 2015 this week.

GEELONG

Talking with Melbourne about a deal for Mitch Clark. “Melbourne have been pretty reasonable,” football manager Neil Balme was reported as saying.

Fielded interest in Travis Varcoe, who seems likely to be on the move.

Could trade out Taylor Hunt.

Keep a hold of the news and whispers from this year’s trade – http://t.co/SPPaLSJB3K Mitch Clark’s approaching. pic.twitter.com/ivoYnymLWK

— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) October 6, 2014

GOLD COAST

Signed Swans defender Nick Malceski.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

Gave up draft pick 21 for Brisbane’s Joel Patfull.

Has been in negotiations to trade out Kristian Jaksch. Picked up academy midfielder Jack Steele for pick 23 and academy player Jeremy Finlayson with their last pick.

Let go Jono O’Rourke and pick No.43 to Hawthorn in exchange for the Hawks’ No.19 selection as well as pick No.40.

HAWTHORN

Welcomed James Frawley, who said he wanted to do a Brian Lake and play in a premiership with the Hawks. He has a four-year deal and is being groomed as a backman. “He plays his best footy as a defender,” said list manager Graham Wright. Said Frawley’s arrival would not persuade Ryan Schoenmakers to leave the club.

Welcome to @HawthornFC @jamesfrawley8! Our impressive back line just got more impressive. — All For One Podcast (@All4OnePodcast) October 5, 2014

No offers yet for fringe ruckman Luke Lowden.

Secured Jono O’Rourke from the GWS Giants. Received pick No.43 and O’Rourke from the Giants in exchange for their own first-round No.19 selection as well as pick No.40.

MELBOURNE

Received pick No. 3 in the national draft as compensation for free agent James Frawley.

Negotiating with Collingwood over Heritier Lumumba and Geelong over Mitch Clark.

Interested in Brisbane’s Daniel Merrett and GWS’ Sam Frost.

Picked up Billy Stretch, son for former best-and-fairest Steven, as a father-son with pick 39.

Full story: @billyjstretch is officially a Demon after today’s father-son bidding: http://t.co/GE6mMSC1sa pic.twitter.com/StzmJP8NTv

— Melbourne FC (@melbournefc) October 5, 2014

Absolutely stoked to officially be a demon! Thanks to everyone for the help and support. Can’t wait to get into it! #myheartbeatstrue — Billy Stretch (@billyjstretch) October 6, 2014

NORTH MELBOURNE

Could lose uncontracted Levi Greenwood.

Said to be interested in GWS midfielder Jono O’Rourke.

Gained Carlton temperamental Carlton forward Jarrad Waite as a free agent on a two-year deal.

Veteran defender Michael Firrito signed on for another year.

Welcomed former Bulldog Shaun Higgins on free agency.

The first look at Shaun Higgins in the #NMFC colours! pic.twitter.com/dPrLLyj63I — NMFC (@NorthKangaroos) October 6, 2014

PORT ADELAIDE

Struggling to strike a deal with Essendon for Paddy Ryder. Suns player Daniel Gorringe has nominated the Power as his preferred club.

RICHMOND

Could gain Jason Winderlich from Essendon. Interested in uncontracted Kangaroo Levi Greenwood.

ST KILDA

Negotiating with Sydney for a deal on Swans forward Tim Membrey. Said to be interested in GWS midfielder Jono O’Rourke.

SYDNEY

Have lost premiership defender Nick Malceski to Gold Coast Suns. Negotiating to trade forward Tim Membrey to St Kilda. Expected to keep Tom Mitchell. Could gain Brisbane defender Joel Patfull. Had to part with pick 17 for academy player Isaac Heeney because Melbourne bid the second pick in the draft on him, the highest ever bid for a father-son or academy player. Picked up academy player Jack Hiscox with pick 36 and Abaina Davis with pick 73.

Amazing feeling to know that the academy has produced some talent! Bring on the season with @JackHiscox @abaynaTI pic.twitter.com/bxe6Yu1uUj — Isaac Heeney (@IHeeney) October 6, 2014

WEST COAST

Interested in Geelong’s Travis Varcoe. Picked up Alec Waterman, son of Chris, as a father-son with its last pick because no one else bid for him.

Introducing… Alec the Eagle! Get to know our latest father-son recruit: http://t.co/DrIu9XdDTT pic.twitter.com/FsfqgAk2w7

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) October 6, 2014

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Rocked by the news skipper Ryan Griffen wants to be traded to the GWS Giants.

Interested in North Melbourne’s Levi Greenwood.

Interested in Brisbane’s Daniel Merrett.

Picked up Zaine Cordy, son of Brian, as a father-son with pick 61.

Negotiating with Carlton over Liam Jones, but “we’re a fair way apart … key forwards don’t grow on trees”.