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  • Sun. Oct 19th, 2025

AFL clubs’ loyalty myth destroyed during brutal trade period

ByRomeo Minalane

Oct 19, 2025

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AFL clubs demand it. They want it from their fans, they want it from their players, and their faceless unsung heroes from behind-the-scenes who have been with them for years.

But — as this year’s trade period has just told us with a rather large and nasty exclamation mark — AFL loyalty can become a flimsy, disposable word very quickly in the world of the league’s clubs.

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Loyalty is the pitch to get the fans to sign memberships year after year after year …

“Do it for the jumper” is the pitch for the players to be proud of their clubs and what they stand for ahead of the big game.

And players are also fed the line that there is something “special” about being a one-club player … a club great, a “loyal” servant.

Former Carlton stars Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni are now happy Saints. Credit: @saints.com.au Of course, loyalty implies so much more, too. Loyal people have solid values, good character, they are dependable, honest.

And with loyalty comes love and yes, you, the fan, love your club so much.

After all, the clubs tell us we are part of the family, and we embrace the history, the future, the heroes, the legends.

But what it is really all about? Does loyalty actually have any real relevance in this cut-throat environment?

This year we had three club captains Zach Merrett, Oscar Allen, Jy Simpkin saying enough with the loyalty BS …. ‘I want out’.

Meanwhile, another captain Jack Steele — who actually confessed his love to the club — was asked to leave against his will.

Steele played through the tough times at the Saints. Watched as coaches came and went. And now, like a loyal servant, wanted to play his role … and just maybe enjoy the good times.

But no … after nine loyal years, Steele was suddenly asked to go away as the club brought in new stars on big money.

So what are fans meant to think when skippers don’t want to be loyal to their clubs?

Or indeed, when clubs don’t want to be loyal to their skippers?

And if captains wanting to walk away from their beloved (or not so beloved) clubs doesn’t expose the loyalty myth, what about club royalty?

Jack Silvagni’s history with Carlton goes back generations.

Jack’s grandfather, Sergio, is a former Carlton captain and dual premiership player. And his father, Stephen, is also a club legend, the club’s greatest full-back of all time, a five-time All-Australian and a dual premiership hero for the Blues.

But, even with all that connection and all that history, navy blue blood coursing through his veins, Jack walked out on the Blues and will wear St Kilda colours next year.

The Silvagni family loyalty to Carlton, that goes way to the 1960s, is now completely severed … the cord brutally cut.

As for Melbourne, the holy trinity behind that drought-breaking premiership just a handful of years ago was Max Gawn, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.

And didn’t Melbourne love them …

In 2021 Petracca signed a huge seven-year contract extension, the same year he became Melbourne’s first Norm Smith medallist.

“Trac to stay a Demon for life,” was Melbourne’s headline when announcing that news with eternal love, loads of cash and loyalty everywhere.

And in 2022 (a year after the flag) Oliver, a four-time best-and-fairest winner, a three-time All-Australian, also signed a massive seven-year contract extension, again sealed with a kiss.

The family would be united, loyal, for a long, long time.

But then Oliver suddenly had some behavioural issues, some ugly headlines followed, and love and loyalty changed.

Despite that contract, he was asked to look elsewhere this year. Oliver was now a big-money problem for them … the love was gone.

As for Petracca his loyalty and love ran out when the club mishandled his horrible injuries in the King’s Birthday clash last year.

Or what about Sydney’s Will Hayward?

He was a free agent last year but pledged his loyalty to the Swans and signed a five-year contract, all in good faith.

But just 12 months later, the club taps him on the shoulder and says, Mate, we’d really like it if you could go away … we’ve found someone else.

The reality is, rightly or wrongly, ‘loyalty’ is just a term used when it’s convenient.

In fact, Oliver summed it up perfectly when he was stopped by Channel 7 cameras while taking a tour of the Giants’ facilities.

Asked if he was frustrated about being asked to leave Melbourne, Oliver found the perfect word for it all …. and it wasn’t loyalty.

“Frustrating? Nah, it’s business, mate, isn’t it?” he said.

Well done, Clayton, nailed it.

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