The 14 players who will define this year’s AFL trade and free agency period

2 hours ago 1

There has arguably never been this many big-name stars up for grabs.

From Charlie Curnow to Zach Merrett, and St Kilda’s aggressive wheeling and dealing, next month’s free agency and trade period promises to be an unprecedented bonanza of player movement.

Charlie Curnow, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Steven May and Zach Merrett are among the big names under the spotlight this trade period.

One player who won’t be switching clubs is Essendon defender Jordan Ridley, who reaffirmed his commitment to the Bombers after meeting with Brisbane Lions. But plenty of others will be, and we have assessed the key names to follow.

Charlie Curnow (Carlton): The dual Coleman medallist wants out of the Blues, with Geelong, Sydney and Gold Coast his preferred landing points. Collingwood also inquired about Curnow, but that was a throw at the stumps from the Magpies. The Cats are his first choice, but finding human and draft capital to satisfy Carlton is difficult, as it is for the Suns, who won’t (and can’t) move on players such as Jed Walters to get the Blues’ star. Sydney are best placed to find a player who might be willing to join Carlton, but unless it is one of their top four players, they will do well to convince the Blues to make the trade. Carlton remain adamant they are unwilling to trade the 28-year-old, given he is contracted until 2029.

Jamie Elliott (Collingwood): Elliott has a two-year offer from the Magpies, but Gold Coast would love to lure him to Queensland, where he has family. He flirted with joining Brisbane in 2019 – when he was caught touring the Lions’ facilities – and the Suns hope to do what the Lions could not. Collingwood were uncertain about his intentions at the weekend, but were more optimistic by Tuesday that their 60-goal forward would stay in black and white in 2026 and beyond.

Sam Flanders (Gold Coast): Flanders, who is contracted for two more seasons, requested a trade in his exit meeting last week. He is meeting Carlton, Essendon, Melbourne and St Kilda this week as they pursue his signature, and they will be able to offer him more midfield time than he has received at the Suns. Coach Damien Hardwick’s public stance is that Flanders is a required player who played through injury in the back half of the season. He is an outstanding player, but expect him to be moving back to Victoria in this trade period.

Bobby Hill (Collingwood): His wellbeing is the club’s priority after a tumultuous back half of the season that followed the decision in April to extend him until the end of 2030. Hill would have trade value if he decided to move back to Western Australia, or anywhere for that matter, but there is reason to tread carefully.

Rowan Marshall (St Kilda): Geelong’s long-held interest in Marshall went into overdrive when coach Chris Scott met the contracted Saints ruckman during the finals. Tom De Koning’s arrival at Moorabbin changes things for the soon-to-be-30-year-old, who has a clearer path to No.1 ruck duties at the Cattery. The prospect of a trade is complicated by the fact Marshall is contracted for two more seasons and St Kilda want to pair him with De Koning in 2026. Marshall will need to push for a trade for a move to have any chance of happening.

Steven May (Melbourne): This one developed significantly in the past week, with the Demons encouraging the 2021 premiership defender to explore his trade options despite having a year to run on his deal. Melbourne are keen to play younger options in the key defensive posts. At age 33, May is no longer his dual All-Australian self, and has had some off-field issues, but a club with key defensive needs, such as Collingwood or Western Bulldogs, may see short-term value in him.

Zach Merrett (Essendon): Essendon have a new president, Andrew Welsh, who remains adamant that Merrett will be a Bomber in 2026. However, that remains an open question as Hawthorn try to land the midfielder, who found being pushed out to a half-back flank late in the season mystifying. Finding a package to satisfy Essendon will be challenging for Hawthorn as their talent wants to stay.

Brody Mihocek (Collingwood): Melbourne presented Mihocek with a three-year contract, hoping the length – one season longer than the Pies’ revised offer – would help convince the 32-year-old to request a trade. Collingwood have an ageing list, are trading in Sydney’s Jack Buller, and have Charlie West developing internally, so it is highly unlikely they will match the Demons’ deal.

Christian Petracca (Melbourne): Petracca’s situation contrasts to a year ago, when there was a lot of noise about him wanting out. The relevant parties would prefer any developments for the Norm Smith medallist, who is contracted until 2029, to stay under the radar this time. Adelaide are one interested suitor after missing out on a big-money bid for Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, while Hawthorn were in the picture until Merrett became a live possibility. Other clubs say that landing Petracca would be easier for Hawthorn than Merrett, but that is yet to be tested. Melbourne’s private stance is unknown, although new coach Steven King said he wanted to keep Petracca and Clayton Oliver. The industry view is they will consider trading him if the offer is good enough.

Kangaroos skipper Jy Simpkin wants to spend more time in the midfield.

Liam Ryan (West Coast): The 2020 All-Australian forward is contracted for 2026, but requested a trade from the Eagles at his exit meeting before nominating St Kilda as his club of choice. The Saints are offering Ryan a three-year deal, with a trigger for a fourth, as they continue to spend big to aggressively add to their list.

Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne): There has been no trade request from the Kangaroos’ skipper despite acknowledgment he expressed disappointment he had been pushed out of the midfield to play on a wing. Clubs know he is open to a possible move, but there has been little action on that front.

Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane Lions): The star defender and restricted free agent, who has expressed interest in playing through the midfield, is weighing up strong interest from West Coast. The Eagles lost Oscar Allen to the Lions in free agency, and hope, even if Starcevich comes in, that they can retain the compensation for Allen, which is not expected to happen.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs): The 2020 No.1 pick has almost certainly played his last game with the Bulldogs, but no rival club is prepared to put their hand up to take a punt on him yet despite his obvious talent. He remains contracted for next season.

James Worpel (Hawthorn): Worpel, who has slipped down the midfield pecking order at the Hawks, is expected to exercise his restricted free agency rights to cross to the Cats after being drafted out of Geelong Falcons. Geelong rebuilt their on-ball rotation across the past few years, and Worpel is poised to bolster it further.

Second-tier deals

Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane Lions): Ah Chee is all-but certain to be at Adelaide next season, on up to a four-year deal, but he has a second premiership to win with Brisbane first.

Leek Aleer (GWS): The intercept defender has requested a trade to St Kilda on a four-year deal worth north of $700,000 annually as he seeks greater senior opportunities.

Will Brodie (Fremantle): Brodie will rejoin new Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr at Alberton, after the ex-Sun enjoyed the best season of his career at the Dockers in 2022 while Carr was their midfield coach.

Jack Buller (Sydney): The 10-game key forward out of the mid-season draft caught Collingwood’s eye with an impressive second half of the season, and is set to be a Magpie from 2026.

Campbell Chesser (West Coast): Chesser is Carlton-bound after choosing the Blues over the Bombers. The 2021 first-round pick had ankle surgery at the start of the year, but played career-best football in the final month.

Wade Derksen (GWS Giants): The key-position swingman has not been able to break through for an AFL game in three-and-a-half seasons at the Giants, but has interest in Victoria and Western Australia. Melbourne tried to trade for him last year.

Max Heath (St Kilda): The ruck-forward has not requested a trade, but wants to get to Melbourne, who are willing to give him a three-year deal in the hope he eventually replaces Max Gawn.

Buku Khamis (Western Bulldogs): Khamis has looked elsewhere before, but this time requested a trade to Carlton, where he will have a chance to replace Jack Silvagni in defence. He can also go forward if required.

Judd McVee (Melbourne): The Dees want to retain McVee, but the West Australian intends to speak to new coach Steven King about his role before deciding on his future.

Liam Reidy (Fremantle): Reidy was stuck behind Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy at the Dockers, so has requested a trade to Carlton to seek more opportunity in a ruck brigade no longer featuring Tom De Koning.

Deven Robertson (Brisbane Lions): The inside midfielder has played only six games across the past two seasons, so a fresh start back in Perth at West Coast – who have long been keen on him – seems likely.

Malcolm Rosas (Gold Coast): It is a race in three between Richmond, Sydney and Melbourne for the Suns small forward, who has already told the club he plans to move elsewhere.

Jai Serong (Hawthorn): The consensus view is that the out-of-contract tall defender is good enough to play at AFL level, but his opportunities have been limited. Could join his brother Caleb at Fremantle.

Tylar Young (Richmond): North Melbourne, West Coast and Western Bulldogs have all been linked to the versatile Tigers defender, who finished the season strongly after not playing until round 18.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.