With the 2023 AFL season complete, clubs, players, and fans can turn their attention to the trade and free agency periods, with player movement the big focus ahead of the offseason.
Key Dates
Friday, Oct. 6: Free agency period begins (9am)
Monday, Oct. 9: Trade period begins (9am)
Friday, Oct. 13: Free agency period closes (5pm)
Monday, Oct. 16: Restricted free agency matching offer three-day period ends (5pm)
Wednesday, Oct. 18: Trade period closes (7.30pm)
Monday, Oct. 23: Selections only trade period begins (9am)
Wednesday, Nov. 1: Delisted free agency begins (9am) ?
Friday, Nov. 10: Delisted free agency closes (5pm)
Monday, Nov. 20: National Draft - Round 1 (time and venue TBA)
Tuesday, Nov. 21: National Draft - Round 2 until completion (7pm)
Player movement tracker - every completed deal
Duursma becomes a Don, Zerk-Thatcher to Port
Xavier Duursma will wear red and black in 2024 after the Bombers and Port Adelaide agreed to a trade for the midfielder. The 23-year-old arrives at the NEC Hangar in exchange for defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher selection 73 and two future fourth round selections.
Chol joins the Hawks in final minutes
Mabior Chol and a 2023 third-round draft selection have been shipped to Hawthorn by Gold Coast, in exchange for a future second-round draft selection (received today from Brisbane).
Having kicked a team-high 44 goals in his first season at the Suns in 2022, the 26-year-old key forward/ruckman will look to build upon his 61-game career at the Hawks.
Billings crosses from Saints to Dees
Jack Billings has joined the Demons, with St Kilda finalising a trade for the 28-year-old in the final hour of the 2023 trade period.
In exchange for Billings, the Saints received a future third round pick from Melbourne.
"Jack has been an influential and much respected member of our playing list for many years, playing more than 150 games for the club," List Manager Stephen Silvagni said. "However, through recent discussions with Jack and his management, we believe this trade will be the best move not only for our list but for Jack's future too."
Gunston return to Hawks, Ryan to the Lions
Jack Gunston will return to Hawthorn after the club completed a deal with Brisbane late in the trade period.
The trade sees the Lions receive Brandon Ryan, along with picks 39 and 54 in the 2023 NAB AFL Draft, as well as Hawthorn's future fourth round pick. In exchange Hawthorn receive Gunston and picks 47 and 61 along with Brisbane's future second round pick.
Busy Power land Ratugolea, Soldo
Port Adelaide have landed Esava Ratugolea at their second attempt, a year after failing to seal a trade for the Geelong defender.
The Power were among the busiest operators on trade deadline day, also snaring ruck targets Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet,
Geelong had indicated they would drive a hard bargain for Ratugolea, 25, wanting more than Port Adelaide's second-round draft pick. But the Power ultimately only coughed up that selection (currently pick No.25), along with a fourth-round pick (currently No.76) and fifth-rounder (currently No.94).
Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie conceded the Cats were "disappointed" to lose Ratugolea, whose trade request last year when he was under contract, was knocked back.
-AAP
Premiership Magpie Ginnivan gets to Hawks
Hawthorn has swooped on Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan just weeks after he was a part of the Magpies' premiership win over the Lions.
The deal sees Collingwood receive pick 33 in the upcoming AFL draft, and a future second and third selection, while the Hawks, in addition to landing the 20-year-old, receive pick 39 in this year's draft, and a future second and future fourth round selection.
Ginnivan has kicked 58 goals from 42 games since debuting for the Pies in 2021.
"We couldn't be happier that Jack wanted to come to Hawthorn - a club he's loved since he was a kid," Hawthorn list and recruiting manager Mark McKenzie said.
"We love the way he goes about his footy, he's a clever forward that hits the scoreboard and generates a lot of energy on the field.
"Having just won a premiership at 20 years of age, we believe he's only scratched the surface of his potential, and we can't wait to see just how high he can elevate his game at Hawthorn in the years to come."
Ginnivan moves to Hawthorn despite having one year left to run on his Collingwood contract.
The switch comes after the Magpies beefed up their small forward stocks with the acquisition of Lachie Schultz from Fremantle earlier in the week.
-AAP
Dow, Coffield, Soldo find new AFL homes
Former top-10 draft picks Paddy Dow and Nick Coffield also found new clubs on deadline day as part of a four-way transaction.
Dow has moved from Carlton to St Kilda, while Coffield has left the Saints for the Western Bulldogs.
Essendon were also involved in the deal, with a swap of draft picks paving the way for it to get done.
The Bombers improved this year's draft hand as a result, receiving pick 35 and a future fourth-round selection.
They gave up pick 52 and a future third-round pick.
Port Adelaide also landed a trade target, with ruckman Ivan Soldo crossing from Richmond.
The Power gave up picks 41 and 49, as well as a future second-round pick tied to Fremantle and future fourth-round pick, in exchange for Soldo and pick 50.
-AAP
Crows forward Shane McAdam traded to Demons
Melbourne have secured Adelaide forward Shane McAdam without having to give up valuable swingman Harrison Petty.
McAdam became a Demons player on Tuesday after Melbourne traded on a future second-round draft pick to the Crows.
The 28-year-old kicked 72 goals in 50 games for Adelaide after debuting in 2020, but was restricted to just seven appearances this year.
-AAP
Freo winger signs with Saints
Liam Henry -- a top-10 draft selection in 2019 -- has joined St Kilda on a four-year contract.
The Saints gave Fremantle a future second-round draft pick to secure the 22-year-old wingman, while the two clubs also swapped future fourth-round draft picks.
"Liam is an exciting young player with plenty of upside to excite Saints fans," St Kilda list boss Stephen Silvagni said.
"His ability to find space is complemented by his elite skills and composure with ball in hand."
-AAP
Lachie Schultz joins the Pies
Lachie Schultz has returned to Victoria and joined Collingwood after five years with Fremantle. In exchange, the Dockers receive pick 34 and a future first-round selection.
Schultz spent five seasons with the Dockers and enjoyed a career-best campaign in 2023, kicking 33 goals from 23 games. The 25-year-old stunned Fremantle with a trade request last week, citing family reasons for his desire to move to Victoria.
"I'd like to thank Fremantle for my time at the club and for coming to an arrangement with Collingwood," Schultz said in a statement. "The Dockers gave me my first football opportunity and I will be forever grateful for my time there.
"I would not be the player I am today without the support of the football staff and players. Family is important to me and is one of the reasons I have decided to make the move back to Victoria."
-AAP
Bigoa Nyuon swaps Punt Rd for Arden St
North Melbourne have secured Richmond's Bigoa Nyuon, giving up pick 65 for the versatile tall.
Nyuon played one game for the Tigers during his four seasons at Punt Rd.
-AAP
Brockman returns home to WA
Small forward Tyler Brockman, originally from Western Australia, has been traded to the West Coast Eagles in exchange for picks 44 and 63 in this year's draft.
The 20-year-old booted 23 goals in three seasons with the Hawks.
Fullarton makes the move to Melbourne
Brisbane ruck Tom Fullarton has been traded to Melbourne in exchange for pick 47 in this year's draft.
Fullarton, a former member of the Brisbane Lions Academy, originally signed as a Category B Rookie from the Brisbane Bullets in a move from basketball to football midway through the 2018 season.
Jade Gresham becomes a Bomber
Jade Gresham has become the third free agent this season to land at Essendon, joining former Roos duo Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein.
The 26-year-old has signed with the Bombers on a three-year deal.
"I believe we can do something special and I'm happy to be a part of the journey ahead," Gresham said.
The No. 18 pick from the 2015 national draft played 136 games for the Saints across eight seasons, including 23 this year.
As compensation for losing Gresham, the Saints will receive a pick at the end of the first round (currently pick No.21)
It means they now hold picks 13, 21, 34 and 55 at the draft.
Taylor Adams joins Swans on three-year deal
Midfielder Taylor Adams has left Collingwood in a trade to Sydney, with the Swans securing Adams for a second-round pick (33). Adams heartbreakingly missed Collingwood's Grand Final triumph through injury.
Silky Blue to move down the road to Roos
Carlton livewire Zac Fisher has secured a trade to North Melbourne, with the 25-year-old joining the Roos along with Carlton's pick 17 for North's picks 21 and 25.
Swans secure ruckman Brodie Grundy from Dees
After just one year at Melbourne, Brodie Grundy is on his way to a third team after the Swans and Demons struck a deal for the out-of-favour big man.
The Swans gained Grundy in exchange for pick 44 in this year's draft, and a future second-rounder.
Suns get academy bounty by trading with Dees, Crows, North
In a big win for the Suns, Melbourne has traded up to get Gold Coast's pick 11, with the Suns sliding to pick 14 but also acquiring two second-round picks (No. 27 and 35) in a bid to help secure the bevy of academy talent on which they'll need to bid.
The Suns have also secured two further second-rounders from Adelaide (currently picks 23 and 26) in exchange for that pick 14 and key forward (and South Australian) Chris Burgess.
Finally, the Suns agreed to part ways with this year's pick 18 in exchange for North Melbourne's second of two future end-of-first-round assistant picks.
Dylan Stephens gets to North Melbourne
North Melbourne have acquired Sydney midfielder Dylan Stephens in a trade which includes one of North's future special assistance picks.
The Swans received the future pick (at the end-of-first-round) as well as pick 44 this year, while the Kangaroos netted Stephens and pick 25 in this year's draft.
North poised to chase No.1 pick with McKay compensation
North Melbourne are poised to launch a raid on West Coast's No. 1 draft pick after being offered selection No. 3 as compensation for departing free agent Ben McKay.
The Kangaroos are yet to officially confirm whether they will match Essendon's contract offer to McKay but are expected to jump at the compensation and let the key defendego.
North Melbourne had made it clear they would match Essendon's contract offer if they were only offered an end-of-first-round pick for McKay, who is determined to reunite with former Kangaroos coach Brad Scott at the Bombers.
But the top compensation gives North a current draft hand of picks No. 2, three, 15 and 21, plus two end-of-first-round selections in next year's draft as part of their assistance package from the AFL.
-AAP
Harmes completes move to Bulldogs
James Harmes is officially a Bulldog after completing a move from the Demons early into the AFL trade period.
The 28-year-old played 152 games for Melbourne and featured in the 2021 premiership team that beat the Bulldogs in Perth.
The acquisition cost the Western Bulldogs a future third-round selection in the 2024 national draft.
Power load up on picks, swap with Dockers
Port Adelaide have picked up a pair of second round picks from Fremantle; a second-round pick (currently No. 23) and a future second-round pick (tied to the Dockers' 2024 results). In exchange, Freo have Port's 2024 first-round selection.
Bombers secure veteran ruck Goldstein
Veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein has joined Essendon from North Melbourne on a one-year deal as an unrestricted free agent.
Goldstein's move to the Bombers was confirmed on Monday, with the veteran likely to be followed by North Melbourne teammate Ben McKay to Tullamarine.
-AAP
Gold Coast offload No. 4 draft pick for bevy
Gold Coast sealed a quick deal to offload the No. 4 draft pick to the Western Bulldogs to help secure a trio of talented academy players.
The Bulldogs traded their first two picks (currently No. 10 and No. 17) plus a future first-round pick for pick No. 4, the Suns' third-round picks (No. 46 and No. 51) and a future third-rounder.
-AAP
Brisbane bolster defence with Doedee heading north
Tom Doedee has made the move from the Adelaide Crows to the Brisbane Lions on Monday morning.
The Crows elected not to match the Lions' bid for the 26-year-old and will receive an end of round one compensation pick. The defender rejected advances from Collingwood to signs with the Lions.
He will miss the first half of the 2024 season after rupturing his ACL in June.
Eagles snag Giants' ruck as unrestricted free agent
Matt Flynn is making the move west after signing with the Eagles on Friday afternoon.
The ruckman joins West Coast as an unrestricted free agent after playing 33 games for the Giants after being taken at pick 41 in the 2015 draft.
Flynn was overlooked in the back half of the season, with the Giants selecting Kieren Briggs as their No. 1 ruck.
James Jordon joins Swans from Melbourne
Sydney have signed premiership-winning midfielder James Jordon from Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent.
The 22-year-old was first taken by the Demons at the 2018 draft with pick 33, and played 65 games in the red and blue, including the Dees' 2021 premiership triumph.
The move will lively trigger an end-of-round-two compensation pick - currently pick 39.
Hamling joins Swans as unrestricted free agent
Delisted Docker Joel Hamling will help bolster Sydney's key back stocks, joining the Swans as an unrestricted free agent after parting ways with Fremantle earlier this month.