Lachie Neale’s future has taken another dramatic twist after the Brisbane superstar was spotted touring Collingwood’s training facility, adding fresh fuel to speculation surrounding his next move.
The dual Brownlow medallist headlines another busy week of AFL trade news, while Gold Coast has made a significant positional call on Ben King and moved quickly to lock away young forward Jed Walter on a long-term deal.
Lachie Neale Tours Collingwood Headquarters
Neale’s visit to Collingwood’s AIA Centre has intensified expectations that the Magpies are firmly in the race for his signature.
The 33-year-old unrestricted free agent toured the club’s facilities while in Melbourne, with Collingwood understood to have tabled a lucrative three-year offer. St Kilda also remains interested, while clubs from Western Australia have previously been linked to the Lions midfielder.
The timing of the visit sparked debate across the AFL industry after it occurred just one day before Brisbane’s heavy loss to Carlton. Former Port Adelaide captain Kane Cornes questioned whether the tour was appropriate during the middle of the Lions’ season, while others argued unrestricted free agents are entitled to explore their options.
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Suns Shift Ben King Away From Full Forward
Gold Coast coach Steven King has confirmed restricted free agent Ben King will continue spending more time higher up the ground rather than playing exclusively as a deep full-forward.
The move is designed to make the key forward more difficult to defend while creating additional opportunities for the Suns’ developing tall forwards, including Jed Walter. Despite ongoing rival interest, Gold Coast remains confident it can retain King beyond this season.
Jed Walter Commits to the Suns
Gold Coast has received another major boost after exciting young key forward Jed Walter agreed to a three-year contract extension.
The former top draft pick has shown encouraging development throughout the 2026 season, and the new deal is another sign the Suns are determined to keep their emerging core together as they build towards sustained finals contention.
Walter’s extension also strengthens Gold Coast’s position as rival clubs continue monitoring several of the Suns’ talented young players.
Trade Period Set to Heat Up
With Neale’s future still undecided and clubs already making aggressive moves ahead of the exchange period, the AFL’s trade landscape continues to gather momentum.
Collingwood’s pursuit of an experienced midfield star, Gold Coast’s commitment to retaining its key forwards and the growing movement of free agents suggest the 2026 trade period could be one of the busiest in recent memory.
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