This year’s trade period is in the books and while the deadline itself may have fizzled out without much fanfare, seismic moves were made across the fortnight that will certainly affect the 2027 premiership race.
Some of the game’s biggest stars changed clubs, with Hawthorn and Geelong loading up, while others like Fremantle, Sydney and Adelaide failed to accomplish much of anything.
Zach Merrett in Hawthorn colours. Hawthorn
Let’s go through the winners and losers from this year’s trade period.
Winner: Hawthorn
When you manage to land a seven-time best and fairest winner and a Coleman Medal contender in the same trade period, and for a total cost of just one first round pick, you leave the trade period relatively happy.
Hawthorn bringing Zach Merrett and Ben King into a team that was seconds away from a grand final is a terrifying thought for many teams around the competition. They needed a star midfielder and Merrett might be a difference maker for them.
They lose Aidan Schubert and Sam Butler to Gold Coast which sees some depth depart, but they would be over the moon with their additions.
Loser: Adelaide
Adelaide clearly had all of their eggs in the Zac Bailey basket because once he re-signed at Brisbane, the Crows vanished from the trade scene.
They brought no players in and didn’t even appear in the mix for any of the top names, despite entering 2027 desperate to contend.
When Geelong missed out on Butters, they quickly pivoted and still landed three team-shifting players. Adelaide was unable to do the same.
They lost Jordon Butts as a free agent, and they played beyond ridiculous hard ball on Nick Murray at the deadline.
Ultimately enter 2027, at this stage, without much to be excited about.
Winner: Geelong
Hawthorn and Geelong once again in an arm’s race to add the most firepower possible as both hope to dominate 2027. It’s the early 2010s all over again.
The Cats landed Toby Greene as a free agent, who will give them another dynamic option inside 50, as well as Jordan Ridley and Rowan Marshall.
They paid top dollar for both, but when you’re right in the premiership window and have a track record of nailing draft picks down the order, you can do what you want.
The Cats added the star ruckman they’ve been desperate for, Ridley has huge upside if they can keep him healthy and Greene could be the difference inside 50 in a big final. Ticks across the board.
Rowan Marshall all smiles at Geelong. Geelong
Loser: GWS
The Giants are a trade loser in the sense they have entered a clear period of rebuilding their best 23, and it might see them languish in the bottom four for a few seasons.
Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Jake Stringer, Lachie Whitfield and Kieren Briggs are gone, and they didn’t bring a player in to replace them, nor a pick inside the top 20.
GWS will look quite different next season, especially inside 50, where they lost a ton of experience. They’re internally bullish they have young talent ready to keep them competitive, but the quality of players heading out the door go without saying.
Winner: Western Bulldogs
The Bulldogs landed the biggest name in free agency’s short history, bringing Zak Butters through the door at a huge cost.
They spent $18m and multiple first round picks to land Butters, but if it takes them into the top four and gives them the best starting midfield in the competition, it will be worth it.
Signing Jordon Butts as a free agent also bolsters a backline that desperately needed some size.
There’s no more excuses for Luke Beveridge now. Time to contend.
Look away, Port fans: Zak Butters in Western Bulldogs colours. Getty Images
Losers: Brisbane and Fremantle
They may have played off in the most epic grand final we’ve seen in recent years, but neither did much of anything in this trade period.
Both likely feel pretty comfortable with where their lists are at.
The Lions lost some depth with Will McLachlan, Keidean Coleman and Sam Marshall departing, while former captain Lachie Neale also found a new home.
Brisbane likely saw the trio as a key part of their future, but in the short term they will certainly manage just fine.
Fremantle, meanwhile, did absolutely nothing.
They traded Nathan O’Driscoll for a future fourth round pick and brought no players in.
Dead quiet for the Dockers.
Nick and John Blakey at North Melbourne. North Melbourne
Winner: North Melbourne
We’re labelling the Roos a winner for a pair of very different reasons.
Obviously, they landed one of the best players of the whole trade period in Nick Blakey, and arguably the biggest trade acquisition in the club’s history.
He immediately becomes one of their top players and a key piece in their attempt to play finals for the first time in a decade.
They’re also a winner because Adelaide, somehow, did not accept 2027 first and third round picks plus 33 and 49 for borderline-SANFL defender Nick Murray at the deadline.
The Crows turning their nose up to keep the contracted defender saved the Roos from giving up a haul for a middling player. Big win for them.
Now, put those picks to good use.
Honourable mentions
Port Adelaide (loaded with draft picks) and Carlton (added two handy players for not much).
Dis-honourable mentions
St Kilda (Didn’t really improve their list) and Sydney (did literally nothing).