Emerging youngster Bailey Humphrey has been entrenched in trade rumours throughout the course of the 2025 trade period, but as deadline day arrives, it appears unlikely that the 21-year-old's desire to return to Victoria will be granted.
Gold Coast, who have been adamant that Humphrey would remain in red in 2026 since speculation about his future began, have seen their young barometer meet with several Victorian clubs despite being contracted through the 2028 season.
The third-year Sun flew into Melbourne ahead of the trade period before meeting with multiple clubs, one of which being the Demons, who are in conversations with Gold Coast over a deal that sees Christian Petracca head north.
According to Humphrey's manager, Michael Oakes, Humphrey "flagged the possibility" of returning to Victoria in a post-season meeting with the Suns and revealed that the club's willingness to trade other contracted players made the thought of staying "more difficult" for Humphrey.
Just this year alone, Gold Coast traded both Sam Flanders and Ben Ainsworth, who were contracted to Gold Coast until 2027 and 2029, respectively.
"Bailey's a contracted player," Oakes told AFL.com.au's Gettable.
"He's always known that, while contracted, it's in the club's digression as to whether they let a player move or not.
"Obviously, we flagged the possibility with the Suns post-season and we were told it wouldn't happen then. We've since seen other contracted players depart the Suns this trade period and that probably has made it a little more difficult in Bailey's eyes.
"I do understand that clubs come out with default comments at the beginning of the trade period on the availability of players who have requested or discussed trades. As we see, some subsequently do change their mind or change their stance in this period.
"We've seen this hasn't happened with Bailey's case at the moment. I'd say [he will stay at Gold Coast in 2026], yes."
Humphrey has quickly been realised as one of the up-coming stars of the competition, which may have played a factor in Gold Coast's firm stance on his playing whereabouts for next year. The 21-year-old claimed Gold Coast's best emerging player award this season, and finished fourth in the best and fairest count, narrowly behind Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller.
