Nick Blakey has officially joined North Melbourne, marking a high-profile recruitment for the club, while Carlton has bolstered its backline by acquiring veteran Lachie Whitfield from the Giants. Both deals were confirmed on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, as the AFL trade period continues to reshape list compositions across the league.
Nick Blakey Seals Move to Arden Street
North Melbourne has secured a significant acquisition, finalizing a trade for Nick Blakey from the Sydney Swans. The move, confirmed at AFL House on Tuesday, sees the Kangaroos offload two first-round picks and a second-round pick as the core elements of the trade. The acquisition comes after Blakey verbally committed to the Roos, a development that surprised many observers.
All roads lead home. pic.twitter.com/tsfwc2LZJI
Kangaroos great and two-time premiership player David King noted, It’s been a long time since we landed a player of Nick Blakey’s calibre.
Former Kangaroos star and St Kilda great Nick Dal Santo described the move as an “endorsement” for North Melbourne and the progress the club is making.
The move carries historical weight for the club. Jon Ralph of Code Sports noted on Fox Footy’s Trading Day that Blakey’s father, John Blakey, joined North Melbourne from Fitzroy at 26 years of age, helping trigger a period that saw the club reach seven preliminary finals and win two premierships from 1994 onwards. Observers have compared the magnitude of Blakey’s recruitment to that of Leigh Colbert in 1999.
Blakey, who has apologized for his involvement in the Pullman Hotel scandal, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. Now I have the opportunity to move forward and I want to thank North Melbourne for helping me find a fresh start,
he said. North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings confirmed the club’s board is very supportive
of the addition, which the team views as a crucial piece of the puzzle for their next contending side.
Carlton Adds Lachie Whitfield in Trade with GWS
In a separate move, Carlton has bolstered its defensive unit by acquiring two-time All-Australian Lachie Whitfield from the Greater Western Sydney Giants. Whitfield, a former No. 1 pick and two-time best and fairest winner, has reportedly signed a three-year deal with the Blues.
Lachie is one of the premier ball users in the competition, and to add such a quality player to the side is a significant boost for our football club,
Davies said. He added that the club values the player’s durability and consistency. To be able to see him do that in front of a packed Carlton home crowd will be exciting. We know how valued he was at the Giants, and we can’t wait to see the influence he’ll have in the Navy Blue.
Carlton Trades Flynn Riley to Collingwood
The trade period has remained active, with several other clubs making moves. Carlton also sent ruckman Flynn Riley to Collingwood in exchange for a future third-round pick.
Rawlings on Blakey's frustration with his former club: It's not for me to share. His reasons have been alluded to in the media.He clearly loved his time there and loves his teammates. This is a fresh opportunity for him.
| Acquisition | Club | Key Assets Out |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Blakey | North Melbourne | Two first-round picks, one second-round pick |
| Lachie Whitfield | Carlton | Picks 25, 26, 2028 3rd-rounder |
| Flynn Riley | Collingwood | Future 3rd-round pick |