AFL Trade Period 2026: Comprehensive 18-club guide to moves, targets and free agency

The 2026 AFL trade period opens Monday, and the machinery is already grinding. Across eighteen clubs, the machinery is already grinding. Across eighteen clubs, list managers are working phones, draft pick valuations are shifting by the hour, and the shape of next season is being decided in conference rooms and over video calls. The marquee move is Ben King to Hawthorn—a seven-year deal worth more than nine million dollars—but even that headline transaction carries complications. Gold Coast wants more than the seventh overall pick they'd receive as Band 1 compensation, and they're prepared to match Hawthorn's offer sheet and force a trade to extract additional assets. The clock is ticking. Free agency closes Friday.

Lachie Neale's departure from Brisbane to Collingwood represents the kind of midfield upgrade that reshapes a team's engine room. The Lions, fresh off a premiership, are letting him walk and accepting an end-of-second-round pick in return, banking instead on 2025 draftee Dan Annable to step into the void. Collingwood gets a gun midfielder and is also acquiring Jesse Hogan from GWS—a Coleman medallist who addresses their need for seasoned key forward depth. The Pies are also in the mix for Jayden Short, the dual premiership Tiger who is exploring fresh starts elsewhere. Short is a classy distributor in the Dayne Zorko mould, and both Melbourne and Collingwood are circling.

Zak Butters to Western Bulldogs is another major piece, though the mechanics remain unsettled. Port Adelaide is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulldogs can make an offer and Port must decide whether to match or take the No. 5 compensation pick. Port's preference is to take that pick and do a separate side deal with the Dogs to bolster their draft hand for prospects like Dougie Cochrane, Louis Salopek, and Zemes Pilot. But the AFL rejected Port's initial plan to move Todd Marshall to the Bulldogs in exchange for two first-round picks, so the framework is still being negotiated. The clock is ticking on that one too.

Geelong has been aggressive. They've formalized Toby Greene's arrival from GWS and are now pursuing St Kilda ruck-forward Rowan Marshall and Essendon defender Jordan Ridley. Both negotiations could stretch into the week. Essendon has already declined Geelong's opening offer of a 2027 first-round pick for Ridley, signaling they want more. The Saints, meanwhile, have asked for players back in any Marshall deal—specifically Sam De Koning and Lawson Humphries—but Geelong has rejected those requests. Carlton is in the box seat to land Lachie Whitfield from GWS, a half-back flanker who adds dash and kicking precision to their half-back line, though it's expected to cost them a first-round pick.

Adelaide is in a bind. They've already lost depth key defender Jordon Butts to Western Bulldogs in free agency, and now Nick Murray wants out to North Melbourne—though Adelaide is reluctant to trade him mid-contract. Luke Pedlar is heading to Port Adelaide via trade. Coach Matthew Nicks faces pressure to make a marquee addition, but the obvious avenues are limited. The Crows might have to pin their hopes on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera next year, but can they afford to go into 2027 without a significant recruit? North Melbourne is desperate to upgrade in key defence and is pushing hard for Murray, but Adelaide's list manager Jarryd Roughead has signaled the club isn't planning to deal him.

Essendon has secured Jack Bowes' verbal commitment from Geelong and is negotiating the trade, though it shouldn't be expensive. They've also pursued Demons veteran Jack Viney, but he's weighing strong interest from West Coast and has toured the Eagles' facilities. Essendon has been aggressive with money, throwing big offers at Hawthorn's Noah Mraz and GWS' Jake Riccardi without success. On the outgoing side, Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley are being shopped, which should improve their draft standing. Melbourne missed out on Calsher Dear, who re-signed with Hawthorn for two years after the Demons pushed hard with a four-year deal for the 21-year-old. But the Demons should land Zane Duursma from North Melbourne, a utility who can play multiple positions and represents a low-cost, high-upside addition. They're also weighing a win-now move across half-back, with interest in both Whitfield and Short.

Hawthorn is navigating a complex week. They're trying to cement Ben King's arrival, pursue Zach Merrett from Essendon, and address Josh Goater's request to join from North Melbourne. But the Merrett pursuit is complicated by the King situation—if Gold Coast forces a trade rather than accepting compensation, it could consume resources and attention. Young key forward Aidan Schubert, who signed a two-year extension in June, is now contemplating his future after Gold Coast expressed keen interest. Hawthorn's opening offer for Merrett—Picks 15 and 25 plus a future second- or third-rounder—was rejected by Essendon. The Hawks will be relieved that Calsher Dear recommitted, turning down Melbourne's four-year offer.

The trade period will stretch through the week, with several negotiations expected to drag. Rowan Marshall, Jordan Ridley, and Jayden Short remain in play, with multiple clubs competing for the same targets. Port Adelaide's Zak Butters situation could shift depending on whether a side deal framework is finalized. Gold Coast's decision on Ben King—whether to accept compensation or force a trade—will ripple across Hawthorn's other pursuits. By Friday, when free agency closes, the landscape will have shifted significantly. The draft hand of every club will have been reshaped, and the competitive balance for 2027 will be clearer.