All the ins and outs, and how each AFL club plans to top up its playing list for 2026

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AFL clubs are firmly in draft mode after informing the remaining uncontracted players of their fate for next year, including some who will try to reclaim a spot in the off-season.

Club list bosses and recruiters remain indifferent about this month’s draft, which could see the fewest players selected ever. Projected number of picks range from the low 40s to mid-50s.
This is where your club sits after the first list lodgement.

Adelaide

In: Finnbar Maley (North Melbourne/trade)
Out: Chris Burgess (delisted), Matt Crouch (retired), Karl Gallagher (delisted), Lachlan Murphy (delisted), Harry Schoenberg (delisted), Brodie Smith (retired), Kieran Strachan (delisted), Tyler Welsh (delisted)*
Contracted: 37 (excludes Welsh)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 16, 48, 55, 64

The Crows will make the minimum three national draft picks, then select dual premiership-winning Lion Callum Ah Chee in the pre-season draft, before redrafting contracted forward Welsh as a rookie. They will also add basketball convert Indy Cotton as a category B rookie after delisting Irishman Gallagher.

Brisbane Lions

In: Oscar Allen (West Coast/free agency), Sam Draper (Essendon/free agency)
Out: Darcy Craven (delisted), Sam Day (retired), Linc McCarthy (delisted)*, Oscar McInerney (retired), Deven Robertson (delisted), Brandon Ryan (delisted), Brandon Starcevich (West Coast/trade)
Contracted: 38 (one category B rookie)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 17, 23, 44, 51, 59

The Lions will use up to four national draft picks, with several academy kids on the radar, headlined by ball magnet Daniel Annable. Midfielder Tyan Prindable and ruckman Isaac Waller also scored national draft combine invitations. Brisbane also plan to redraft McCarthy as a rookie. They will lose Callum Ah Chee to Adelaide in the pre-season draft.

Carlton

In: Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast/trade), Campbell Chesser (West Coast/trade), Ollie Florent (Sydney/trade), Will Hayward (Sydney/trade), Liam Reidy (Fremantle/trade)
Out: Jaxon Binns (delisted), Alex Cincotta (delisted), Charlie Curnow (Sydney/trade), Tom De Koning (St Kilda/free agency), Sam Docherty (retired), Corey Durdin (Port Adelaide/trade), Orazio Fantasia (delisted), Elijah Hollands (delisted), Harry Lemmey (delisted), Jack Silvagni (St Kilda/free agency), Will White (delisted)
Contracted: 40 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 4
Draft picks: 9, 11, 43, 54

The Blues are preparing for life without Charlie Curnow, who looks happy in Swans colours.

The new-look Blues axed contracted pair Hollands and Binns, and left the door ajar for only the former to return. White could also be back at Ikon Park in 2026. That indicates they may leave a spot open for after the draft, where they will match an early bid on father-son defender Harry Dean. Carlton could also match a bid on another first-round contender, next-generation academy graduate Jack Ison.

Collingwood

High-flyer Mason Cox has been delisted by the Magpies. Could he find a new home in the off-season?

In: Jack Buller (Sydney/trade)
Out: Mason Cox (delisted), Charlie Dean (delisted), Will Hoskin-Elliott (retired), Ash Johnson (delisted), Fin Macrae (delisted), Oleg Markov (delisted), Brody Mihocek (Melbourne/trade), Tom Mitchell (delisted)
Contracted: 38 (one category B rookie)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 39, 45, 56, 61

The Magpies could take as many as four players in the national draft, although one would likely be a rookie upgrade, plus another in the rookie draft. However, they may leave a spot open to trial someone over summer as a potential signing in the pre-season supplemental selection period.

Essendon

In: Brayden Fiorini (Gold Coast/trade)
Out: Alwyn Davey jnr (delisted), Sam Draper (Brisbane Lions/free agency), Todd Goldstein (delisted), Ben Hobbs (delisted), Jayden Laverde (delisted), Luamon Lual (delisted), Jye Menzie (delisted), Will Setterfield (delisted), Dylan Shiel (delisted), Oskar Smartt (delisted)
Contracted: 38 (one category B rookie)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 5, 6, 21, 27, 30

The Bombers have five picks in the top 30 (before academy and father-son bids), and are promoting Vigo Visentini and Jaxon Prior to their primary list. They will have six category A rookies, plus Jayden Nguyen as a category B rookie. They are open to bringing Setterfield back after delisting him – and that would depend on selecting only four players in the national draft – but there is interest in him elsewhere.

Fremantle

In: Judd McVee (Melbourne/trade)
Out: James Aish (retired), Will Brodie (Port Adelaide/trade), Jack Delean (delisted), Nat Fyfe (retired), Odin Jones (delisted), Quinton Narkle (retired), Liam Reidy (Carlton/trade), Michael Walters (retired)
Contracted: 37
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 20, 47, 69, 90

The Dockers are likely to make two selections at the national draft, and will elevate Jeremy Sharp and category B rookie Josh Draper onto the primary list for next season. They can make three rookie draft selections, or leave a spot open to trial potential recruits in the off-season.

Geelong

In: James Worpel (Hawthorn/free agency)
Out: Ted Clohesy (delisted), Mitch Duncan (retired), Cam Guthrie (delisted), Xavier Ivisic (delisted), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (delisted)*, Patrick Retschko (Richmond/trade), George Stevens (delisted)*
Contracted: 38 (one category B rookie)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 19, 40, 60

The Cats can add up to three more players on their primary list, but that is set to be two live selections and a rookie upgrade. The plan is to fill their two rookie-list vacancies with delisted pair Matofai-Forbes (who has a contract for 2026) and Stevens.

Gold Coast

In: Christian Petracca (Melbourne/trade), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs/trade)
Out: Ben Ainsworth (Carlton/trade), Tom Berry (delisted), Connor Budarick (Western Bulldogs/trade), Brayden Fiorini (Essendon/trade), Sam Flanders (St Kilda/trade), Ben Jepson (delisted)*, Lloyd Johnston (delisted), Sean Lemmens (retired), Malcolm Rosas jnr (Sydney Swans/trade), Alex Sexton (delisted), David Swallow (retired)
Contracted: 38 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 6
Draft picks: 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36

The Suns plan to make five selections in the national draft – headlined by academy prospects Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson – and will upgrade Sam Clohesy to their primary list. Fellow academy products Beau Addinsall, Jai Murray and Koby Coulson are also in the mix to be drafted. Gold Coast are committed to redrafting Jepson as a rookie to round out their list.

GWS

In: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne/trade)
Out: Wade Derksen (delisted), Josh Fahey (delisted), Lachie Keeffe (retired), Conor Stone (delisted)*, Jake Stringer (delisted)*, Callan Ward (retired), Jacob Wehr (Port Adelaide/free agency)
Contracted: 38 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 4
Draft picks: 12, 35, 91

St Kilda’s backflip on recruiting Giants defender Leek Aleer meant GWS had to be creative to keep him and bring in ex-Demon Oliver. They are committed to recruiting Essendon discard Jayden Laverde, and will redraft contracted pair Stone and Stringer, but will bring in another young gun with pick 12.

Luke Breust waves to the crowd after his last home game for the Hawks.

Hawthorn

In: None
Out: Luke Breust (retired), Sam Frost (delisted), Changkuoth Jiath (Melbourne/trade), Seamus Mitchell (delisted), Jasper Scaife (delisted), Jai Serong (Sydney Swans/traded), James Worpel (Geelong/free agency)
Contracted: 37 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 7
Draft picks: 10, 22, 62, 76, 94

The Hawks will make two or three selections in the national draft, on top of promoting James Blanck to the primary list. Max Ramsden is the only Hawthorn rookie left on the list, and has one more season of eligibility. There seems a decent chance they may leave a spot open post-draft.

Melbourne

In: Max Heath (St Kilda/trade), Changkuoth Jiath (Hawthorn/trade), Brody Mihocek (Collingwood/trade), Jack Steele (St Kilda/trade)
Out: Jack Billings (delisted), Kynan Brown (delisted), Tom Fullarton (delisted), Marty Hore (delisted), Judd McVee (Fremantle/trade), Clayton Oliver (GWS Giants/trade), Christian Petracca (Gold Coast/trade), Oliver Sestan (delisted), Charlie Spargo (North Melbourne/free agency), Will Verrall (delisted), Taj Woewodin (delisted)
Contracted: 38 (one category B rookie)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 7, 8, 37, 66, 71

Melbourne will continue their list regeneration with three or four selections at the national draft, while Andy Moniz-Wakefield needs to be upgraded from category B status. They will still have two category B rookies after committing to ex-basketballer Oscar Berry, whose brother Jordan was an NFL punter for eight years.

North Melbourne

In: Charlie Spargo (Melbourne/free agency)
Out: Miller Bergman (delisted), Kallan Dawson (delisted), Eddie Ford (delisted), Finnbar Maley (Adelaide/trade), Geordie Payne (delisted), Will Phillips (delisted), Brynn Teakle (delisted), Darcy Tucker (delisted)
Contracted: 39
List spots: 3
Draft picks: 25, 26, 46

The Kangaroos have three list vacancies, which could all be filled at the national draft. The other option is to use two selections at the national draft, upgrade one of their rookies to meet AFL rule requirements, then make one pick in the rookie draft or leave a spot open.

Port Adelaide

In: Will Brodie (Fremantle/trade), Corey Durdin (Carlton/trade), Jacob Wehr (GWS/free agency)
Out: Rory Atkins (retired), Travis Boak (retired), Ryan Burton (delisted), Lachie Charleson (delisted), Jeremy Finlayson (delisted), Hugh Jackson (delisted), Jed McEntee (delisted), Willie Rioli jnr (retired), Dylan Williams (delisted)
Contracted: 41 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 3
Draft picks: 49, 85

The Power are upgrading Tom Cochrane, Harrison Ramm and Josh Lai, so do not have to make any picks at the national draft because they will satisfy AFL rules with those promotions. They can make up to three selections across the national and rookie drafts.

Richmond

In: Patrick Retschko (Geelong/trade)
Out: Jacob Bauer (delisted), Jacob Blight (delisted), Mate Colina (delisted), Thomson Dow (delisted), Jacob Koschitzke (delisted), Kamdyn McIntosh (delisted), Tylar Young (West Coast/trade)
Contracted: 38 (one category B rookie)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 3, 4, 38

The Tigers’ list reincarnation will continue with three selections in the draft – including picks three and four – while Seth Campbell’s breakout 28-goal season earned him an upgrade to the primary list. That leaves five category A rookie slots, two of which will be filled by fresh faces. Mykelti Lefau, Campbell Gray and James Trezise are Richmond’s other category A rookies.

St Kilda

In: Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni (Carlton/free agency), Sam Flanders (Gold Coast/trade), Liam Ryan (West Coast/trade)
Out: Harry Boyd (delisted), Ryan Byrnes (delisted), Zaine Cordy (delisted), Max Heath (Melbourne/trade), Zak Jones (delisted), Angus McLennan (delisted), Arie Schoenmaker (delisted), Jack Steele (Melbourne/trade), Jimmy Webster (retired)
Contracted: 39 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 50, 65, 86, 104

The retooled Saints will make up to two selections at the national draft, with one or two rookie upgrades to satisfy league requirements. Byrnes will have the chance to train with the club in the pre-season in a bid to potentially return via the pre-season supplemental selection period.

Sydney

In: Charlie Curnow (Carlton/trade), Malcolm Rosas jnr (Gold Coast/trade), Jai Serong (Hawthorn/trade)
Out: Jack Buller (Collingwood/trade), Robbie Fox (delisted), Ollie Florent (Carlton/trade), Aaron Francis (delisted), Will Hayward (Carlton/trade), Indhi Kirk (delisted), Blake Leidler (delisted), Jake Lloyd (delisted)*, Caleb Mitchell (delisted), Ben Paton (delisted), Dane Rampe (delisted)*
Contracted: 36
List spots: 6
Draft picks: 31, 32, 42, 63, 88

Sydney are likely to use the minimum three selections at the national draft to take their primary list to 36 players, but could make a fourth. Four of their academy prospects – Max King, Harry Kyle, Lachy Carmichael and Noah Chamberlain – attended the draft combine. The Swans are committed to redrafting veterans Lloyd and Rampe as rookies, and will upgrade rookie Will Edwards from category B rookie status to A.

West Coast

In: Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane Lions/trade), Tylar Young (Richmond/trade)
Out: Oscar Allen (Brisbane Lions/free agency), Campbell Chesser (Carlton/trade), Jayden Hunt (retired), Callum Jamieson (delisted), Coen Livingstone (delisted), Jeremy McGovern (retired), Jack Petruccelle (delisted), Loch Rawlinson (delisted), Liam Ryan (St Kilda/trade), Dom Sheed (retired)
Contracted: 39 (two category B rookies)
List spots: 5
Draft picks: 1, 2, 13, 34, 41

The Eagles picked up two players in the trade period who will slot straight into their best 23 – Starcevich and Young – and are set to add at least four players in the national draft, including the first two picks. They remain in a significant rebuild.

Western Bulldogs

In: Connor Budarick (Gold Coast/trade)
Out: Taylor Duryea (retired), Jason Johannisen (delisted), Liam Jones (retired), Caleb Poulter (delisted), Anthony Scott (delisted), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Gold Coast/trade)
Contracted: 39
List spots: 3
Draft picks: 14, 33, 70

The Bulldogs need to upgrade rookies James O’Donnell (category B) and Oskar Baker (category A), and have three list vacancies to fill across the national and rookie drafts. At least two of those are likely to be in the main draft.