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Adelaide is considering how to strengthen its list as Geelong and Hawthorn move, with questions over whether the Crows can afford to wait until next year for a marquee recruit. Brisbane is expected to largely sit out free agency before targeting academy prospect Caylen Murray in November. Carlton plans to add speed and kicking precision to its defence, while Collingwood has secured a second-round pick to help facilitate a bid for Murray.
Foxfooty.com.au explores what your club is expected to try and get done over the coming days. WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit.
For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. The Crows are one of the more intriguing clubs this period. Staying stagnant will do nothing to appease the masses, who are sick of losing out on rival stars, ahead of a telling year for coach Matthew Nicks. It comes as rival contenders like Geelong and Hawthorn make moves to improve their lists.
But there aren’t too many obvious avenues for Jarryd Roughead and his list management crew to pursue. They might instead put their eggs in thebasket next year, but can Nicks and company afford to go into next season without a marquee recruit?
Meanwhile, Adelaide lost depth key defenderdesires a move to North Melbourne — though the Crows are reluctant to let him walk mid-contract. They will also likely lose fringe forwardAfter a busy free agency period last year that saw them secure Sam Draper and Oscar Allen to fuel this year’s premiership triumph, the Lions will likely sit back this October and let other teams do the buying.
One of their biggest priorities is actually in November, as they position themselves to match a contending bid on Academy star Caylen Murray on draft night. That bid could come in the top 10.
Meanwhile,officially left for Collingwood as a free agent on Friday, netting an end-of-second-round pick to help with the Murray situation, and leaving highly-touted 2025 draftee Dan Annable room to ascend in the engine room next year.on the opening day of free agency. Adding more dash and kicking precision across the half-backline is a plus-move for the Blues, but it’s expected to cost them a first-round pick.
It comes as Carlton also positions itself to match an early bid for father-son jet Cody Walker in November’s draft. But, meaning the Blues might not be as up against it from a points-matching perspective as initially thought, and could also afford to offload a first-rounder for Whitfield. Tall pairis set to join for a late pick in a trade with GWS that shouldn’t take long.
The pair will address two big needs for Craig McRae’s side; a gun midfielder and more seasoned key forward. The Pies are also in the mix for, having met with the dual premiership Tiger as he weighs up interest elsewhere in pursuit of a fresh start.
Meanwhile, Carlton ruckman and mid-season drafteehas requested a trade to the Pies. Collingwood is keen to take its first-round pick to the draft and could yet look to further bolster its draft hand, withtwo that are believed to be gettable if rivals came with an offer. They still need to work through a trade that sendsto Gold Coast for a late pick, so the Suns’ free agency compensation for Ben King isn’t diluted.
It recently emerged that former first-round pick’ verbal commitment. The club will now go about getting a trade deal done, though it shouldn’t cost a pretty penny. They’ve also sought contracted Dees veteran, but he’s also weighing up strong interest from West Coast and has toured the Eagles’ facilities. Essendon hasn’t been shy about bandying its money around, throwing big offers at the likes of Hawthorn’sin recent unsuccessful pursuits.
On the other side of things, Matt Rosa and the Bombers will continue to negotiate trade deals for outgoing pair, which should improve their overall draft standing. Essendon is said to have turned down the Cats’ opening offer of a 2027 first-round pick for Ridley. Delisted Dockerlooms as a player who could be picked up after the trade period as a delisted free agent, given the club’s two extra list spots granted by the AFL.
The Dockers’ list is in sterling shape, but to get back to the last day of the season for another crack at silverware, a defensive addition appears necessary. Ground-level help in the form ofNathan Broad reportedly considers playing on, with the Dockers a good hypothetical fit as a medium defender who can play tall and small with aplomb.
On the other side of things, after initially looking set to re-sign,is surely of interest to ruck-needy clubs, but the Dockers’ stance has been that he’s not for sale, with his contract running through 2030.. But both negotiations could drag into the week, with the Saints and Bombers each looking to maximise respective trade returns for impactful contracted players.
It’s been reported the Cats’ opening offer of a 2027 first-round pick for Ridley was swiftly declined by the Bombers, while the Saints have unsuccessfully tried to pry players out of Geelong’s grasp as part of a deal for Marshall. Meanwhile, outgoing is, who has requested a trade to Essendon. Enhanced opportunity and greater leadership responsibility await at Tullamarine, with Geelong likely to snag a modest pick in return for the soon-to-be 29-year-old.
’ management says he’s keen to stay at Geelong, but according to AFL Media, the dynamic half-forward underwent a physical with West Coast on Friday “in case things changed” in the trade period.. King is set to get to Hawthorn on a seven-year deal estimated to be worth in excess of $9 million, but whether he gets there in free agency or via trade is a different story.
Reports have suggested the Suns want more than the seventh overall draft pick they’d receive as Band 1 compensation, which could see a matched offer sheet to force a trade with the Hawks. But after Calsher Dear signed on at Hawthorn, AFL Media reported the Suns are “expected to push again” for contracted key forward Schubert in a deal separate to King’s move in free agency.
As for Pendlebury, the Suns are expected to trade a late pick to Collingwood for the games record-holder to keep that impending King compensation pick intact. ’s future has been speculated about this year, but he isn’t expected to seek an exit. Gold Coast has a negligible draft hand after a host of 2025 deals.to Carlton is a smooth process, with the club commanding a first-round pick in return.
Come November’s draft, the Giants should be in pristine condition to match a rival bid for Academy standout Ethan Matthews, but will be looking to swoop on multiple top-end talents if things fall their way. Otherwise, GWS, which is in something of a transitory period as it ushers out an old era, doesn’t shape as a buyer this period, particularly after retaining Jake Riccardi on an extension despite rival interest.
The Giants reportedly had some interest in Tim English and may still desire ruck reinforcement alongside Nick Madden afterhas also requested a move to play for Sam Mitchell. Hawthorn is hoping the Suns decide to settle for Pick 7 as compensation for King’s departure as a restricted free agent, but Gold Coast could make things difficult by matching the seven-year contract offer and forcing a trade, which would also complicate the Merrett pursuit.
Mixed up in all that is young key forward, who the Suns are said to be eyeing with keen interest. Schubert, last year’s Pick 23, signed a two-year Hawthorn extension in June but is now suddenly contemplating his future in brown and gold, with Gold Coast reportedly keen on flying him up north to tour its facilities. As for Merrett, the Bombers turned down the Hawks’ opening offer of Picks 15 and 25 and a future second- or third-rounder.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are keen on contracted fringe midfielder. Mark McKenzie and his crew have a fair bit to navigate, but they’ll be relieved that Calsher Dear turned down strong Demons interest to recommit for two more years. , who re-signed with Hawthorn for two years after Melbourne pushed hard with a four-year deal for the 21-year-old.
But the club should be able to landin the trade period, with the fledgling utility having requested a trade to the Demons after three seasons with North Melbourne. As someone who can play in multiple areas on the ground, Duursma shapes as a low-cost, high-upside shot that makes sense for this team, which is already teeming with talent but still building for the long term.
Meanwhile, Melbourne list manager Tim Lamb and company are weighing more of a win-now move across half-back, having shown interest in. Whitfield seems bound for Carlton, but the Dees could battle it out with the Pies for Richmond’s Short; a classy distributor who can kickstart offensive chains in the Dayne Zorko mould. At the other end of the spectrum,, with the club desperate to upgrade in key defence.
The out-of-favour Crow is contracted, though, with Adelaide list manager Jarryd Roughead declaring on Friday that his club wasn’t planning on dealing the 25-year-old. The Roos might really have to twist the Crows’ arm with a tasty offer. It comes as the Roos’ interest infell by the wayside, with the wantaway Bomber preferring a move down the highway to Geelong.
Elsewhere, the Kangaroos missed the boat for Geelong’sin a deal with the Western Bulldogs as Port looks to beef up its draft hand and help it secure highly-rated prospects Dougie Cochrane , Louis Salopek and Zemes Pilot . That’s priority one, two and three for the Power after their initial plans to do a pick-purchasing side deal with the Dogs, that would’ve centred aroundgetting moved to Whitten Oval in exchange for two first-round picks, was knocked back by the AFL.
Port getting the Pick 5 compensation for Butters and doing a side deal is still the most likely option, but the clock is ticking to ensure some sort of trade framework is in place, with free agency only running until Friday. There have been discussions with more clubs to make that side deal bigger — either still with Marshall or another Port player.
But Power list boss Jason Cripps said there haven’t been any talks for, who’s been murmured in trade circles 12 months out from his two-year deal expiring. Port has also been recently linked to Bulldoghas requested a move to Alberton, so there’s another deal to be made that shouldn’t be nearly as strenuous. ’ commitment on the first day of free agency.
But as far as additional pursuits go, there doesn’t look to be much in Richmond’s pipeline after late throws at the stumps for GWS’ Jake Riccardi and Hawthorn’s Bailey Macdonald missed the mark. From that, we can glean that the Tigers are on the lookout for forward-half key-position depth and experience, while the club could use some more quality across half-back — irrespective of’s potential departure.
Dual premiership winner Short has expressed an openness to exploring rival opportunities, with Collingwood and Melbourne looming as the likeliest destinations. A prospective second-round pick via trade would assist the Tigers in having one more big crack at the draft in November before Tasmania monopolises it next year, with the club set to gain a second-rounder on draft night when a rival bid on Dougie Cochrane will be matched by Port Adelaide in the top five.in what looms as a nice get for the Saints.
Now to make a trade with the Lions. It’s a tricky one after former first-round pick Marshall, 20, has shown so much promise and played in Brisbane’s premiership side last year, but fell out of favour in 2026. Speaking of negotiations, St Kilda has held talks with Geelong fora year after they couldn’t come to an agreement. It’s believed the Saints want players back in the trade, having asked for— though such requests have been rejected by the Cats.
It’s also believed St Kilda is looking to build out its halfback, including links toand links to Gold Coast in what’s turned into a bit of circus, though the former Pick 10 looks more likely to stay at Moorabbin.departure and speculation surrounding the ‘Pullman Five’, it’s been quiet on the Sydney front a year after it was one of the busiest clubs in the trade period. Of those Swans stars that were stood down,, Blakey is the one that’s been most linked to trade talk amid reports of friction between the halfback and Swans.
Clearly, it would be a risk for a rival to trade for any of those players, aside from Bice, who’s been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, while a police investigation into the serious matter plays out. With Amartey gone,likely stays in Sydney as he moves up the key forward pecking order after being touted as a trade target due to a lack of senior opportunities.
The Swans have a limited draft hand that would restrict them from doing anything major, unless Blakey, or another star, is put on the trade table. The club should be thinking about finding more defensive support, particularly with, who’s also weighing up interest from Essendon, having met with Eagles officials in Perth as the club looks to add some veteran leadership to its locker room.as two names to watch over the next fortnight, and Miers reportedly underwent a physical with the Eagles late on Friday.
You couldn’t completely rule out a play foreither in the fallout from the Pullman scandal, though the Swans star is considered more likely to stay at Sydney. The preference would be to take their No. 3 pick to the draft and further bolster the nucleus Andrew McQualter and co. are building.
Keep an eye on what happens with, who could come out of retirement to play for one of the Western Australian clubs, though the triple-premiership Tiger wouldn’t be acquired via trade.over the weekend. But landing Butters, despite being a restricted free agent, won’t be straightforward as Port weighs up not matching the Dogs’ offer and taking the No. 5 compensation pick.
That seems the likely outcome and the Dogs still give up draft assets in a separate deal with Port — and potentially more clubs — after a pick-purchasing trade forwas rejected by the AFL. That’s still the best outcome for the Dogs, as it would mean they’d need to give up less, with that compensation pick the centrepiece of the deal effectively. The Dogs could yet give up a player in a trade, too, withhaving emerged as a trade target.
The Butters situation could impact the club’s ability to land Next Generation Academy prospect Khaled El Souki. Elsewhere, Carlton ruckman
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