This year’s AFL trade period did not have as many blockbuster moves or as many cliffhanger deals to complete in the final, but there was still plenty enough to maintain our interest.
asserted
period → have → interest
Among the players to switch teams were the league’s games record-holder, a dual Brownlow medallist, a seven-time club champion, one of the competition’s best on-ballers, an All-Australian defender, a No.1 draft pick, and a Coleman medallist.
asserted
holder → switch → ballers
We graded every club’s performance through the free agency and trade period to find the best- and worst-performed in this year’s player movement window.
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We → grade → window
Adding King and Merrett to a team already overflowing with talent was a home run for the brown and gold, and Goater was worth the punt in a cheap-as-chips trade.
asserted
Goater → add → trade
Hawthorn rated Schubert highly, but he was a mile down the key forward pecking order, while Butler and Maginness were also surplus to demands and Ryan had been delisted.
asserted
Ryan → rat → demands
Bringing in readymade talent is worth far more than picks to the Hawks, given where they are – and even then, they didn’t give much up – so this was a ragingly successful fortnight.
Western Bulldogs
In: Jordon Butts (Ade/free agency), Zak Butters (PA/free agency), Finn Maginness (Haw/trade), Hudson O’Keeffe (Carl/trade), picks 42, 53, 83, 89, R2 2027 (PA), R3 2027 (Mel), R4 2027 (PA), R2 2028 (PA), R3 2028 (PA), R3 2028 (GC), R4 2028 (Melb)
Out: Picks 14 and 33, R3 2027 (GC), R1 2028 (WB)
Draft picks: 42, 53, 55, 83, 89, 91, 109
Trade rating: 9.5/10
The Bulldogs could hardly be happier.
uncertain
Bulldogs → bring → Butts
They beat Geelong and others to secure Butters’ prized signature in a major coup, as well as adding fellow free agent Butts to shore up their defence and added O’Keeffe for ruck depth.
asserted
They → beat → depth
They played ball in a five-club mega deal that was largely designed to appease Port Adelaide for losing Butters and avoid them matching their restricted free agency offer.
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them → play → offer
Butters and Marcus Bontempelli instantly become arguably the best duo in the AFL, and they will spearhead the Dogs’ premiership assault.
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they → become → assault
They also took a cheap flyer on ex-Hawk Maginness.
asserted
They → take → Maginness
Geelong
In: Toby Greene (GWS/free agency), Jordan Ridley (Ess/trade), Rowan Marshall (StK/trade), Pick 62, R3 2028 (StK), R4 2028 (Ess)
Out: Jack Bowes (Ess/trade), Pick 16, R1 2027, R2 2028
Draft picks: 36, 57, 62, 75, 93, 111
Trade grade: 8.5/10
The Cats have gone all-in to win a flag while they can still get decent footy from Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron.
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they → go → Dangerfield
They have strengthened every third of the field.
asserted
They → strengthen → field
Veteran match-winner Greene, who came for nothing, provides a star-studded forward line with even more firepower and can also add to their secondary midfield rotations.
asserted
who → come → rotations
If they can get the best out of the injury-plagued Ridley, who turns 28 next week, they have a topline defender to bolster their intercept game.
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they → get → game
In Marshall, the Cats land a ruckman who can match the best rucks around the ground.
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who → land → ground
The latter pair, though, have come at the cost of two firsts and a second, leaving the Cats without a pick until 36 in this year’s draft.
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pair → come → draft
They also ran out of picks to seriously get into the race for Nick Blakey – but with three high-class players to come into their best 23, the Cats should start next season one of the flag favourites.
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Cats → run → favourites
Trade rating: 8.5/10
No club is better at accumulating draft picks and rising in the order than the Demons.
asserted
club → accumulate → Demons
Duursma was a bust at North Melbourne as the No.4 selection three years ago, but Melbourne present him with a second chance without the same risk (effectively pick 33).
asserted
Melbourne → present → risk
They also brought in Lions forward Will McLachlan for pick 45, which came in the deal that sent Viney and Rivers to West Coast.
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that → bring → Coast
Melbourne encouraged ex-skipper Viney to explore his options after he fell behind younger midfield options.
asserted
he → encourage → options
The Demons pulled another surprise when they traded pick 107 for delisted Hawks defender Ryan.
Richmond
In: Kieren Briggs (GWS/free agency), Nathan O’Driscoll (Frem/trade), pick 5
Out: Pick 63, R1 2027 (Rich), R2 2027 (Rich), R4 2027 (Rich)
Draft picks: 2, 5, 44, 99
Trade rating: 8.5/10
Take a bow, Blair Hartley.
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they → pull → bow
The Tigers’ shrewd list boss enjoyed an outstanding free agency and trade period.
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boss → enjoy → period
Ruckman Briggs filled a position of need and arrived for free, while wingman O’Driscoll cost them only pick 63.
asserted
O’Driscoll → fill → pick
But they saved their best work for last in being the successful applicant for Port Adelaide’s No.5 pick, giving them two top-five choices.
asserted
they → save → choices
Richmond secured that coveted selection for a second-rounder this year, as well as first-, second- and fourth-round picks in the Tasmania-compromised 2027 draft.
asserted
Richmond → secure → draft
Factor in that Tassie have already pre-listed seven of the best players from that draft class, and this is terrific business from the Tigers.
asserted
this → factor → Tigers
Draft picks: 33, 49, 66, 74, 84, 102
Trade rating: 8/10
The Kangaroos intended for contracted Crows key defender Nick Murray to be their No.1 target until Blakey suddenly became available.
asserted
Blakey → intend → ?
The ex-Swan delivered the type of recruiting coup that has eluded them for decades, but they certainly paid for it.
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they → deliver → it
Blakey joins on an eight-year deal worth up to $12 million, and will be expected to perform an integral role in North climbing the ladder.
asserted
North → join → ladder
However, the failure to secure Murray from Adelaide is an obvious disappointment because the Roos still lack a reliable lockdown option for rival tall forwards.
asserted
Roos → secure → forwards
It was not for a lack of trying, but they ran out of assets and could not secure the top-20 pick the Crows demanded.
uncertain
Crows → try → pick
Duursma and Goater left for worse returns than they were drafted.
asserted
they → leave → returns
They filled two of their three main list needs, landing key forward Amartey from Sydney to provide support for Harry McKay and bringing in veteran Whitfield from the Giants to add to their speed and ball use off half-back.
asserted
They → fill → back
Equally important, they achieved their gains with minimal loss of draft capital.
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they → achieve → capital
Amartey came as a free agent, while Whitfield cost pick 25 and minor pick slides in the draft.
asserted
Whitfield → come → draft
Their ruck stocks need replenishing after the exits of O’Keeffe and Riley, though neither was in their best 30.
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neither → need → 30
The big question now surrounds how the Blues will acquire son of a gun Cody Walker, who would fulfil the third list aim of future-proofing their midfield.
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who → surround → midfield
Their current picks of 13 and 18 can match a bid no earlier than three.
asserted
picks → match → three
Amartey, Whitfield and Walker will be strong additions to a team that bowed out in the elimination final.
asserted
that → bow → final
…and 57 more, not listed.
The Aporia
