Tigers boost draft hand as AFL trade deadline looms

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Richmond will take two top-five picks into this year's AFL draft after a deadline-day trade with Port Adelaide.

The Power parted with pick No. 5 -- the compensation gleaned from letting Zak Butters walk to the Western Bulldogs -- on Wednesday, ahead of the trade period closing at 7.30pm (AEDT).

In return, the Tigers gave up pick No. 22, along with their first-, second- and fourth-round picks in 2027.

The swap gives Port more points to cover expected early bids in next year's draft for 2027 prospects Zemes Pilot and Louis Salopek.

Richmond get a shot at another high pick in the last draft before Tasmania join the competition in 2028.

The deal comes as North Melbourne beef up their offer to Adelaide for young defender Nick Murray.

The Kangaroos have tabled their 2027 first-round pick, on top of picks No. 33 and No. 49, for the 25-year-old.

North have already bolstered their defence, landing disgruntled Sydney star Nick Blakey in the club's biggest trade coup of this century.

Blakey, one of five Sydney players embroiled in the Pullman Hotel scandal, joined the Kangaroos in return for a swag of draft picks, including No.6 in this year's edition.

North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings said the 26-year-old star's acquisition was huge, as the Kangaroos push to end their 10-year finals drought under new coach Jaymie Graham.

"It's been well documented for many years we've probably struggled to get a player of this sort of calibre through," Rawlings told reporters.

"Hopefully it opens the door for many more signings in future years."

In another high-profile movie, Lachie Whitfield, 32, has also headed south to Carlton, with GWS trading the two-time All-Australian defender for draft capital.

Blakey and Whitfield joined Butters, Toby Greene (GWS to Geelong), Lachie Neale (Brisbane to Collingwood), Zach Merrett (Essendon to Hawthorn), Ben King (Gold Coast to Hawthorn) and Rowan Marshall (St Kilda to Geelong) as this year's biggest free-agency and trade moves.

Clubs appear to have taken heed from last year's frantic deadline-day scenes, when Merrett and Marshall were left high and dry following unsuccessful trade tilts.

Plenty of lesser-known players will be hoping they don't fall into that camp in 2026.

Essendon are pursuing Brisbane's Keidean Coleman after the injury-prone Lion requested a trade to the Bombers.

Coleman has managed just 15 senior games in the past three seasons after starring in Brisbane's narrow 2023 grand final loss to Collingwood.

The Bombers -- who on Wednesday appointed former CEO Craig Vozzo as football operations boss -- have baulked at giving up either pick No. 17 or No. 21 for the 26-year-old after offering pick No. 27.

West Coast still have eyes on Melbourne's former captain Jack Viney and defender Trent Rivers, a Perth native.

Collingwood have publicly conceded a deal for Richmond premiership player Jayden Short is "unlikely", and talked down the prospect of trading away defender Dan Houston or midfield-forward Jordan De Goey.

Brisbane's Will McLachlan wants to get to Melbourne, Luke Pedlar is seeking a rare trade from Adelaide to Port Adelaide, and North's Josh Goater is pushing for a move to Hawthorn.