North Melbourne has secured a high-profile acquisition in Nick Blakey, the former Sydney Swans defender, in a trade finalised on Tuesday ahead of the AFL trade deadline. The deal sent two first-round picks and several later selections to Sydney in exchange for Blakey, who has signed an eight-year contract reportedly worth around $12 million.
Blakey, 26, had five years remaining on his contract with Sydney but sought a fresh start following a controversial incident at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne this season. The incident, which involved five Sydney players and led to suspensions for breaching club standards, is also the subject of an ongoing police investigation. Blakey has publicly apologised for his role, stating he wishes to regain the trust of the football community and the wider public.
The trade represents a significant moment for North Melbourne, whose list manager Brady Rawlings described it as a major coup for the club. Rawlings emphasised the rarity of attracting an All-Australian calibre player in the prime of their career and indicated that the club’s board thoroughly vetted the circumstances before approving the deal. He declined to comment on details of his confidential discussions with Blakey regarding the off-field episode.
Blakey, a 173-game veteran and an academy product drafted No. 10 by Sydney in 2018, also qualifies as a father-son recruit for North Melbourne due to his father John Blakey’s 224-game career with the club, which included two premierships. Nick Blakey expressed gratitude for the opportunity to join North Melbourne, highlighting the club’s potential and his own motivation to contribute to its future success.
Meanwhile, Carlton has added experienced defender Lachie Whitfield from Greater Western Sydney on a three-year contract, acquiring the 32-year-old for a second-round draft pick. The move strengthens Carlton’s defensive options without hindering its pursuit of father-son prospect Cody Walker. Carlton football boss Chris Davies described Whitfield as a premier ball user who addresses the club’s identified need for playmakers and key forwards. Whitfield, a product of Mount Martha, becomes Carlton’s second established recruit of the off-season following Joel Amartey’s arrival.
North Melbourne has also traded forward Zane Duursma to Melbourne in a separate deal involving multiple draft picks. The Kangaroos now aim to conclude a trade for Adelaide defender Nick Murray, who has requested a move to Arden Street. Several other high-profile players, including Jayden Short, Keidean Coleman, Jack Viney, and Trent Rivers, remain involved in potential trade discussions as the deadline looms.
The AFL trade period closes Wednesday night, marking a critical window for clubs to finalise roster changes ahead of the 2027 season.