THE NAB AFL Trade Period took a jaw-dropping twist on Thursday when the Hawks declared it was offically a player in the race for wantaway Bomber Jake Carlisle's signature.
It was remarkable twist in what has already been a fascinating week, kick-started when three players – Patrick Dangerfield, Dean Gore and Jack Redden – changed clubs on day one.
Other players to move clubs include Matt Suckling, Scott Selwood, Lewis Jetta, Callum Sinclair, Jake Melksham,Harley Bennell and Matthew Leuenberger, and there's plenty more set for a jumper change.
AFL.com.au's Trade Winds will provide a round-up of the latest movement every morning until the end of the Trade Period on Thursday October 22.
Carlisle stalemate
In a sense, nothing changed on Thursday when it comes to the playing future of wantaway Essendon swingman Jake Carlisle.
He still wants to play for the Saints in 2016 and beyond. But as was widely reported on Thursday, St Kilda's inability to date to come to an arrangement that satisfies the Bombers, has opened the door for other clubs and in particular the stealthily-moving Hawthorn, which has brokered a deal that would send Jed Anderson to North Melbourne, picks 15 and 18 to Essendon and pick 41 to the Kangaroos.
And until St Kilda furnishes something concrete, the Bombers are, according to list manager Adrian Dodoro, only dealing with the Hawks "at this stage".
Carlisle wants to do the right thing by the Bombers, so he will accept the Hawthorn deal rather than head to the Saints in the pre-season draft which would leave his former club empty-handed.
The race for Howe
Melbourne springheel Jeremy Howe has chosen Collingwood as his next destination despite the strong preference of the Demons that he move to Gold Coast.
Howe was sold on the short move of a few hundred metres from one side of the Olympic Park precinct to the other, presumably after a quiet Bintang or two with Pies coach Nathan Buckley while both were holidaying in Bali.
Smart man is Buckley. Take the family to Bali for a holiday and return not just with a suntan, but also with a new recruit for the footy club. And not just any player, but one who according to the Herald Sun, can become a hybrid of Hawk premiership stars Isaac Smith and Jack Gunston.
The Pies want to convert Howe into a hard-running wingman who can run the lines like Smith, but also play as a third forward in the mould of Gunston. Howe has the tools, but does he have the smarts?
Lions at the airport
Brisbane Lions officials won't just be waving players goodbye at the departure lounge at Brisbane Airport. According to the Courier-Mail, they'll have reason to loiter at the arrivals gate as well.
Geelong forward Josh Walker is all but confirmed to join the Lions, pending a meeting with club officials and a medical on Friday. It comes 24 hours after they reluctantly chose not to match Essendon's offer for ruckman Matthew Leuenberger.
It will be a busy day for the Lions on Friday, with several outlets reporting that Richmond defender David Astbury and North Melbourne midfielder Rytan Bastinac set to visit the club.
Let's hope the burst storm water pump that caused a flood in the club gymnasium on Thursday has been suitably repaired.
Crows need for speed
The Adelaide Advertiser says that new coach Don Pyke's "total football" vision for the Crows is built on speed and run.
So it is hailing the likely arrival of Paul Seedsman from Collingwood as a huge boost in that area.
According to the paper, Seedsman will slot in perfectly across half-back and finally enable Brodie Smith to play in the midfield, a move prevented over the last two seasons by injuries to Nathan van Berlo, Ricky Henderson and Matthew Jaensch.
Pyke has promised better ball movement by the Crows and the Advertiser said on Friday, "that ball movement will now be quick - and supplemented by damaging run."
