After 10 excruciating days, the AFL Trade Period has come to an end with Essendon captain Zach Merrett not getting his move to Hawthorn.
Which clubs did a great job during the player movement period?
And which flamed out or didn't have much impact?
The Sporting News rates the AFL Trade Period for all 18 clubs.
Note: All picks numbered at time of their trade
Adelaide trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Finnbar Maley (North Melbourne)
Players out: None
Picks in: 64
Picks out: 57, 2026 4th (Adelaide)
2025 Draft hand: 16, 48, 55, 64, 73, 75, 93, 111
Made a surprise addition in North Melbourne forward Finnbar Maley. However, not really in a position of need.
The Crows could have used a gun midfielder, such as Christian Petracca, but ultimately will attempt to promote from within with Sid Draper.
Callum Ah Chee did not get his request to join Adelaide but the club are adamant he will join via the pre-season draft.
Grade: C+
Brisbane Lions trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Sam Draper (Essendon - free agent), Oscar Allen (West Coast - free agent)
Players out: Brandon Starcevich (West Coast)
Picks in: 16, 22, 44, 50, 59, 2026 3rd (Melbourne)
Picks out: 19, 45, 46, 52, 56
2025 Draft hand: 17, 23, 44, 51, 59, 68, 79, 97, 115
Win a flag and add West Coast captain Oscar Allen, plus Essendon ruckman Sam Draper to your best 22 as free agents.
It's been an excellent player movement period for the Lions.
Did lose Brandon Starcevich to West Coast but the tough defender plays a position that is probably easiest to replace.
The Lions managed to not lose Callum Ah Chee, but will likely lose him through the pre-season draft for nothing.
This drops their grade from an 'A' to a 'B+'.
Grade: B+
Carlton trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Liam Reidy (Fremantle), Campbell Chesser (Carlton), Ben Ainsworth (Carlton), Oliver Florent (Sydney), Will Hayward (Sydney)
Players out: Jack Silvagni (St Kilda - free agent), Tom De Koning (St Kilda - free agent), Corey Durdin (Port Adelaide), Charlie Curnow (Sydney)
Picks in: 1st - 9 (TDK compo), 9, 11, End of 1st - 19 (Silvagni compo), 31, 42, 43, 53, 67, 71, 2026 1st (Sydney), 2027 1st (Sydney)
Picks out: 1st - 9 (TDK compo), 22, 41, 50, 68, 2026 2nd (Carlton), 2026 3rd (Carlton)
2025 Draft hand: 9, 11, 43, 54, 67, 72, 87, 105
It's impossible to give the Blues a great grade with the quality of player they have lost, but they did decently to get compensation for their losses.
Adding five first round picks to their arsenal from the Curnow, De Koning and Silvagni is a good start to begin rebuilding the list.
Five players have been brought in, with Ainsworth, Florent and Hayward likely to come straight into the 22.
Grade: B-
Collingwood trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Jack Buller (Sydney)
Players out: Brody Mihocek (Melbourne - free agent)
Picks in: 45, 56, 61, 2026 3rd, 2026 4th (Sydney)
Picks out: 2026 3rd (Collingwood), 71
2025 Draft hand: 39, 45, 56, 61, 77, 95, 113
Collingwood had limited capital to swing for any trades but did replace Brody Mihocek with Jack Buller, who showed a bit at the Swans.
Had a swing at North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin but didn't come anywhere near the asking price.
Grade: C+
Essendon trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Brayden Fiorini (Gold Coast)
Players out: Sam Draper (Brisbane - free agent)
Picks in: End of 1st - 20 (Draper compo)
Picks out: 2026 3rd (Essendon)
2025 Draft hand: 5, 6, 21, 27, 30, 83, 101
The Bombers didn't end up caving on a deal to trade Zach Merrett and it remains to be seen how that works out going forwards.
All in all, it wasn't an eventful period for Essendon in terms of actual done deals and the club will have 5 and 6 in the upcoming draft.
Grade: C+
Fremantle trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Judd McVee (Melbourne)
Players out: Liam Reidy (Carlton)
Picks in: 19, 23, 46
Picks out: 12, 23, 33, 44, 50, 53, 71
2025 Draft hand: 20, 47, 69, 90, 103, 108
The Dockers got their man Judd McVee from Melbourne with minimum fuss and retained a late first round pick.
Grade: B
Geelong trades, free agents and grade
Players in: James Worpel (Hawthorn - free agent)
Players out: Patrick Retschko (Richmond)
Picks in: 99
Picks out:
2025 Draft hand: 19, 40, 60, 78, 96, 99, 114
James Worpel is a solid addition to the Cats midfield but they missed out on Charlie Curnow and Rowan Marshall.
It will be interesting to see how they plan their ruck division, with that line being their worst in the grand final.
Grade: C
Gold Coast Suns trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs), Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Players out: Malcolm Rosas Jnr (Sydney), Sam Flanders (St Kilda), Ben Ainsworth (Carlton), Brayden Fiorini (Essendon), Connor Budarick (Western Bulldogs)
Picks in: 7, 24, 28, 29, 37, 51, 69, 2026 2nd (Melbourne), 2026 3rd (Essendon)
Picks out: 7, 8, 37, 62, 74, 2026 1st (Gold Coast), 2027 3rd (Gold Coast)
2025 Draft hand: 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52, 92, 110
Five players left the Suns but Sam Flanders is the only one who could be considered elite and he is being ably replaced by Christian Petracca.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will also be an interesting watch for the Suns next season, traded in for next to nothing.
Gold Coast managed to accumulate enough points to satisfy the demands for their academy picks, led by Zeke Uwland.
Grade: A
GWS Giants trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Players out: Jacob Wehr (Port Adelaide)
Picks in: 12
Picks out: 14, 37, 2026 3rd (GWS)
2025 Draft hand: 12, 35, 91, 109
The Giants being in Clayton Oliver to their midfield, who will be important with Josh Kelly out for the season.
Grade: B+
Hawthorn trades, free agents and grade
Players in: None
Players out: James Worpel (Hawthorn - free agent), Jai Serong (Sydney), Changkouth Jiath (Melbourne)
Picks in: 10, 22, 42, End of 2nd - 39 (Worpel compo), 2026 3rd (Sydney), 2026 4th (Melbourne)
Picks out: 9, 31, 42, 43, 2026 4th (Hawthorn)
2025 Draft hand: 10, 22, 62, 76, 94, 112
The Hawks ended up missing Merrett and appear to have weakened their depth with the departures of James Worpel, Changkouth Jiath and Jai Serong.
Not a great trade period. The club will be hoping Will Day is fit next season and Cam McKenzie comes on significantly.
Grade: D+
Melbourne trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Max Heath (St Kilda), Brody Mihocek (Melbourne), Changkuoth Jiath (Hawthorn), Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Players out: Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne - free agent), Judd McVee (Melbourne), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Christian Petracca (Gold Coast)
Picks in: 7, 8, 23, 37, End of 2nd - 41 (Spargo compo), 71, 2026 1st (Gold Coast), 2026 3rd (GWS), 2027 3rd (Gold Coast), 2027 4th (St Kilda)
Picks out: 24, 28, 42, 61, 2026 2nd (Melbourne), 2026 3rd (Melbourne), 2026 4th (Melbourne), 2027 3rd (Melbourne)
2025 Draft hand: 7, 8, 37, 66, 71, 84, 102
Hard to assess Melbourne's trade period with huge outs, but some decent draft capital coming back in.
The Demons will have two top 10 picks added to their arsenal for the upcoming draft and a future first for next year - out of the Petracca deal.
Jack Steele will help offset the loss of Petracca and Clayton Oliver, but losing quality players - also Judd McVee - leaves them short of a top grade.
Grade: B+
North Melbourne trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Charlie Spargo (Melbourne - free agent)
Players out: Finnbar Maley (Adelaide)
Picks in: 57, 2026 4th (Adelaide)
Picks out: 64
2025 Draft hand: 25, 26, 46, 57, 82, 100
Not as huge amount of movement for North Melbourne, who appear to be backing their organic improvement in their list.
However, their ins and outs don't move the needle and their draft hand isn't great.
Grade: D
Port Adelaide trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Jacob Wehr (GWS), Corey Durdin (Carlton), Will Brodie (Fremantle)
Players out:
Picks in: 2026 2nd (Carlton)
Picks out: 29, 67, 103
2025 Draft hand: 49, 85
Interesting times at Port Adelaide, with three depth players brought in and a horrible draft hand.
Could be a big fall for new coach Josh Carr.
Grade: D
Richmond trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Patrick Retschko (Geelong)
Players out: Tylar Young (West Coast)
Picks in: 38
Picks out: 99
2025 Draft hand: 3, 4, 38, 81, 99
Not much movement from the Tigers, who will take picks 3 and 4 to the draft.
Tylar Young's departure means the team will lose some defensive depth.
Patrick Retschko is an unknown quantity after being effectively delisted from Geelong.
Grade: C
St Kilda trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Jack Silvagni (Carlton - free agent), Tom De Koning (Carlton - free agent), Sam Flanders (Gold Coast), Liam Ryan (West Coast)
Players out: Max Heath (Melbourne), Jack Steele (Melbourne)
Picks in: 2027 3rd (West Coast), 2027 3rd (Melbourne), 2027 4th (Melbourne)
Picks out: 7, 2026 2nd (St Kilda)
2025 Draft hand: 50, 65, 86, 104
One of the biggest movers in the trade period, the Saints efficiently executed their moves, but then strangely pulled out of the Leek Aleer deal.
Jack Steele did leave on the final day in a surprise, but keeping Rowan Marshall means they will have arguably the league's best ruck division.
Grade: A
Sydney trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Malcolm Rosas Jnr (Gold Coast), Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Players out: Oliver Florent (Carlton), Jack Buller (Collingwood), Will Hayward (Carlton)
Picks in: 31, 42, 62, 2026 3rd (Carlton), 2026 3rd (Collingwood), 2027 2nd (Carlton)
Picks out: 11, 51, 69, 2026 1st (Sydney), 2026 4th (Sydney), 2027 1st (Sydney)
2025 Draft hand: 31, 32, 42, 63, 88, 106
It was a steep price to pay for Sydney, but they got their man in Charlie Curnow.
The Swans will be without their first round picks for the next three years and lose a gun small forward in Will Hayward.
It's only the price paid that means Sydney fall short of the best grade.
Grade: A
West Coast trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane), Tylar Young (Richmond)
Players out: Oscar Allen (West Coast), Liam Ryan (St Kilda), Campbell Chesser (Carlton)
Picks in: 1st - 2 (Allen compo), 12, 33, 41, 52, 2026 2nd (St Kilda)
Picks out: 16, 22, 23, 38, 2027 3rd (West Coast)
2025 Draft hand: 1, 2, 13, 34, 41, 53, 58, 80, 98
Three first-round picks, including the top two, is a pretty good platform to draft talent in.
Brandon Starcevich and Tylar Young should plug straight into the defence.
Losing captain Oscar Allen and Liam Ryan isn't great but the club picked up some decent compensation.
Grade: B
Western Bulldogs trades, free agents and grade
Players in: Connor Budarick (Gold Coast)
Players out: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Gold Coast)
Picks in: 14, 37, 70, 74
Picks out: 12, 37
2025 Draft hand: 14, 33, 70, 74, 89, 107
Losing Ugle-Hagan - a no.1 pick - for almost nothing isn't a great result - regardless of how it played out.
The Bulldogs were super keen on a key defender and missed out after heavily courting St Kilda's Cal Wilkie.
They did acquire Gold Coast utility Connor Budarick for essentially a small pick downgrade.
Grade: D