‘Strange quirk’ may force Pendles trade; compo for Pies-bound star as Lions duo to depart — Whispers

Gold Coast could be forced to trade for Scott Pendlebury as part of a “strange quirk.”

Plus the Lions are expecting a compensation pick for Lachie Neale, while a young duo are set to depart the reigning back-to-back premiers.More in Trade Whispers.

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SUNS MIGHT NEED TO TRADE FOR PENDLES TO PROTECT KING COMPO

Gold Coast could be forced to trade a late pick for Scott Pendlebury to protect its top 10 free agency compensation pick for Ben King’s exit.

AFL Media’s Callum Twomey reports the Suns may need to broker a trade for Collingwood champion Pendlebury as part of a “strange quirk” with the league’s free agency system.

King is set to join Hawthorn as a free agent on a seven-year deal worth north of $9 million, which would net Gold Coast Pick 7 as band one free agency compensation.

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While the free agency model compensation is based on a net result of a club’s ins and outs, a high-end star’s move generally wouldn’t be diluted by the addition of an older unrestricted free agent, like Pendlebury, 39.

But the Suns might still be required to hand over a late pick for Pendlebury, who they’ve tabled a four-year deal to — two as a player worth around $600,000.

A similar situation happened when Brisbane traded Pick 75 to Hawthorn for Luke Hodge in 2017 to guard its free agency compensation for Tom Rockliff’s move to Port Adelaide.

Gold Coast currently only owns Pick 6 0in the 2026 draft.

LIONS LIKELY TO RECEIVE NEALE COMPO AS YOUNG DUO SET TO LEAVE

Brisbane is expecting to receive a compensation pick for Lachie Neale’s free agency departure to Collingwood, while Sam Marshall and Will McLachlan are also set to depart the reigning back-to-back premiers.

Neale, 33, is set to join the Magpies as a free agent on a three-year deal worth around $900,000 annually.

The secret AFL formula to determine compensation picks is based on the size and length of a free agent’s new contract and their age.

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“There’s a real chance the Lions could secure a compensation pick for Lachie Neale. The club thinks that’s more likely,” Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Of course, it would be a back-ender. He’s 33 but going to be paid so much, about $900,000 a year, even if it’s a third-rounder.”

Trades for young duo Marshall, who has interest from St Kilda, Melbourne and Essendon, and McLachlan also loom this off-season.

That would further boost Brisbane’s draft hand — currently with picks 16, 34 and 46 — and help the club land Academy prospect Caylen Murray.

“They’ll get later picks for Sam Marshall and Will McLachlan — two players who are not in their best 23 — and then they’ll have a reasonable draft hand,” Ralph continued.

“Lo and behold, they’ve got a young Academy kid, Caylen Murray, probably a top 20 pick.”