Live: Blakey chase intensifies as blockbuster AFL trade looms

The prospect of a Nick Blakey trade suddenly looks very real, with clubs ready to pounce for the suspended Sydney star.Follow all the news and debate from the AFL trade period in our live blog.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 9:03amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 9:03amHow could the Suns get a Blakey deal done?What on earth could the suns offer for blakey, they've got no picks, in need of a KPF, lots of high paid players already, unless they're trying to offload someone like Mac Andrew- TimThey're about to get pick seven in Ben King compensation, but the word is they don't want to use that in a potential Blakey deal. Which makes no sense at all to me, as that would be literally all they had to offer.It's curious that Hardwick is coming up for this interview if the Gold Coast interest isn't all that strong. Perhaps that could change after said meeting.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:55amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:55amICYMI: Jordan Ridley is a Cat(Getty Images)The one trade which went through yesterday saw Geelong land Jordan Ridley from Essendon in a deal which saw Jack Bowes go the other way.Geelong received Ridley, pick 60 and a 2028 fourth-round pick while sending the Bombers Bowes, a 2027 first-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.Let's hope we have a few more confirmed deals to bring you today.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:47amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:47amSydney's Geelong stanceMorning Dean . Why would Sydney be so dead set against Blakey going to Geelong ?- PhillipThis is all according to Tom Morris anyway, but he says the Swans have reservations sending Blakey to the Cats because they are direct premiership rivals at the top of the ladder.Sounds like they might be more prepared to let him go if it doesn't strengthen a fellow challenger.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:36amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:36amGold Coast Suns to meet with Nick Blakey todayThe latest from AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey is the Suns will meet with Nick Blakey this morning as both parties investigate a potential trade.Twomey says Damien Hardwick flew into Melbourne last night for the face-to-face catch up.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:22amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:22amThe clubs chasing Nick BlakeyThe talk surrounding Nick Blakey is only getting louder, and Tom Morris on Channel Seven and Trade Radio has been providing the bulk of the updates over the last 12 hours.Morris has whittled down the list of suitors to five: Geelong, North Melbourne, Gold Coast, St Kilda and Essendon.By Morris's reckoning, Blakey wants Geelong but Sydney do not want to send him to Geelong. The Suns probably won't go for it, the Saints know they are a long shot, North hold some hope as a sentimental choice and the Bombers have connections and can easily satisfy the Swans in a trade.The upshot? It looks increasingly likely that Nick Blakey will be leaving Sydney in the next week. The only question is to where.Thu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:16amThu 8 Oct 2026 at 8:16amWelcome back to AFL trade periodGood morning, and welcome back to the 2026 AFL trade period. There is less than a week to go now before the window slams shut and there is plenty of work to do, plenty of twists to come and no doubt plenty of surprises ahead.I'm back in the blog seat this morning, Chris De Silva is not far away, and we've got a big day ahead of us. Settle in, hit up the comments and let's see what Thursday has in store for us.