Deal Maker by Peter Ryan

Scott Clayton has been in the AFL industry for 40 years and has been a recruiting manager for over 30 years. Deal Makertakes us behind the scenes to look at some of the AFL’s biggest trades and what it takes to find the right players. The trade period and draft are the biggest recruitment events on the calendar for AFL clubs to refresh and invigorate their lists with hot players from other clubs and young emerging stars. Scott has been in charge of setting up the Gold Coast Suns and was the person who recruited Gary Ablett from Geelong to the Suns in a major coup. Journalist, Peter Ryan, brings to life the behind-the-scenes machinations that affect every club.

Deal Maker takes the reader behind-the-scenes to discover how recruiters get the best deals for their clubs.

About the Author:

Peter Ryan is a well known sports journalist who writes for Australian newspapers, such as The Age. He is widely recognised for his reportage on AFL football.

Scott Clayton has been involved in the coaching and selection of AFL players for more than 20 years. He has worked with numerous clubs and has been instrumental in the recruitment of some of the leagues most outstanding players.

28 Jul 2026
 

Deal Maker: The Secret World of AFL Recruiting and Trading by Peter Ryan ISBN 9781761452246