Sydney Football Club is open to trading contracted All Australian defender Nick Blakey as discussions with a number of clubs intensify ahead of next week’s trade period. Blakey, one of the league’s premier general defenders last season, has begun meetings with Victorian clubs as well as Gold Coast, with a potential move appearing increasingly likely.
Blakey’s preference remains Geelong, but the Cats face challenges in assembling a suitable trade package given they have recently parted with key draft assets including their future first-round pick and pick 14 this year. Like other teams negotiating for Blakey, Geelong must also consider board approval, particularly amid the ongoing legal uncertainty surrounding Blakey. He is currently under investigation related to a police inquiry following the “Pullman Five” incident, although those close to him are confident he will face no further AFL sanctions.
Several clubs, including Geelong, Essendon, North Melbourne, St Kilda, and Gold Coast, are scheduled to meet with Blakey over the coming days. While Blakey has expressed a preference, the final destination may ultimately hinge on which club can finalise an acceptable trade deal with Sydney. Blakey’s manager Robbie D’Orazio recently brokered the trade of Charlie Curnow to Sydney after Curnow abandoned a pursuit of Geelong due to their limited trade currency.
Blakey’s relationship with the Swans has reportedly been strained following the Pullman Hotel incident. Unlike his four teammates who were suspended for the remainder of the season, Blakey has remained under investigation and disputes aspects of the allegations. He maintains he had limited involvement on the night in question and believes his treatment in the situation has been unfair. Sydney, while uncomfortable with the controversy, did not suspend players based on the incident at the hotel but rather for the decisions leading up to it. The club is prepared to move forward by facilitating a trade if a suitable offer emerges, despite the defensive void Blakey’s departure would create.
Gold Coast, despite initially hesitant to part with their forthcoming No. 7 compensation pick for Ben King, has kept a strong interest in Blakey. Suns coach Damien Hardwick traveled to Victoria to engage directly in talks, underscoring their intent to remain competitive in negotiations. Gold Coast previously executed a significant trade involving multiple picks and player Rowan Marshall, signaling their willingness to invest in talent.
Blakey’s AFL journey began in Sydney, where he entered through the Swans academy, though he was eligible under father-son rules for North Melbourne and Brisbane. His father, John Blakey, a two-time premiership player with North Melbourne and a longtime assistant coach at Sydney, has maintained close ties to his son’s career and the football community.
Essendon’s renewed interest in Blakey may be influenced by the club’s new head of football performance, John Longmire, Sydney’s former coach and a lifelong associate of the Blakey family. This connection could play a role in ongoing discussions.
As Blakey considers his options amidst lingering legal questions and the evolving trade landscape, Sydney’s openness to deals sets the stage for a potentially high-profile move during the forthcoming trade period.