The AFL trade period is a time of great anticipation and speculation, with clubs circling stars and veterans weighing up their futures. As we approach the halfway mark of the 2026 season, the trade machine is already humming, and the market is set to explode in a $20m race. Every AFL club is on the lookout for their biggest targets, and the competition is fierce.
Personally, I think the Adelaide Crows will be the club to watch, with their active pursuit of rival superstars. They have already made their interest in Zac Bailey known, and with Bailey being one of very few restricted free agents on the market, the Crows are considered the early frontrunners for his services. However, the Crows will have to pay a hefty price, and any acquisition will cost them a fortune.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the Crows' history of acquiring rival superstars, such as their pursuit of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Christian Petracca last season. While they ultimately weren't successful in acquiring either of them, their active pursuit sets them up as a club to watch in the trade period.
In my opinion, the Crows will turn their attention to Bailey, but if not, keep an eye on Saints young gun Darcy Wilson. The Crows are set to throw their hat in the ring for Wilson, who is out of contract at St Kilda, and with the club's interest in him, expect Matthew Nicks' club to give it their best shot when selling him the dream.
The Brisbane Lions, on the other hand, are a club with a lot of talent, but they may struggle to match the reported figures being thrown Bailey's way. Similarly, two-time Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale may also depart the club at season's end, with his future still uncertain.
One thing that immediately stands out is the Lions' interest in Essendon Jordan Ridley, who has been a standout player for the Bombers. The Lions are also keeping an eye on defensive stalwarts Ryan Lester and Darragh Joyce, who have given no reason why they shouldn't continue their string of one-year contracts.
From my perspective, the Carlton Blues have a keen eye on Sydney free agent Joel Amartey, as he weighs up contract offers from his current club Sydney. The Blues have a monster number of players out of contract, and with the exception of their new recruits, no name seems to be off the table in the eyes of some media figures and pundits.
What many people don't realize is the Blues' key pillars are locked away long-term, but ironically, they are the ones who have been flagged in the media as potential trade options. With the exception of their new recruits, Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith, no name seems to be off the table.
If you take a step back and think about it, the Blues have a lot of players out of contract, and with the exception of their new recruits, no name seems to be off the table. The future of George Hewett is also uncertain, and it will be fascinating to see whether things change for him in the last 15 rounds of this season.
This raises a deeper question: where next for a number of role-players at the Blues? If a call on their futures had to be made tomorrow, you would re-sign Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern, Nic Newman, Francis Evans, and Nick Haynes. However, the industry is not that simple, and the latter quartet may be forced to wait far longer before getting any confirmation on their short-term future.
A detail that I find especially interesting is the Blues' interest in Sydney free agent Joel Amartey, as he weighs up contract offers from his current club Sydney. The Blues have a monster number of players out of contract, and with the exception of their new recruits, no name seems to be off the table.
What this really suggests is the Blues' eagerness to rebuild and improve their list, and with the exception of their new recruits, no name seems to be off the table. The future of George Hewett is also uncertain, and it will be fascinating to see whether things change for him in the last 15 rounds of this season.
In conclusion, the AFL trade period is a time of great anticipation and speculation, with clubs circling stars and veterans weighing up their futures. The Adelaide Crows, Brisbane Lions, Carlton Blues, and other clubs are all in the mix, and with the market set to explode in a $20m race, the competition is fierce. It will be fascinating to see who emerges as the biggest winners and losers in the trade period.
