{"id":928701,"date":"2026-10-15T05:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T05:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/928701\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T05:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T05:44:13","slug":"afl-trades-2026-trade-period-winners-and-losers-analysis-best-and-worst-deals-zak-butters-nick-blakey-nick-murray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/928701\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL trades 2026: Trade period winners and losers, analysis, best and worst deals, Zak Butters, Nick Blakey, Nick Murray"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2026 trade period is done, with clubs now turning their attention to next month\u2019s national draft. <\/p>\n

But before then, we need to unpack the key moves that transpired over the past fortnight. <\/p>\n

Watch every match of AFLW LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Foxfooty.com.au reviews the immediate winners and losers from this year\u2019s trade and free agency period. <\/p>\n

WINNERS<\/p>\n

Western Bulldogs<\/p>\n

Landed the best player of the exchange window with superstar free agency signing Zak Butters. And the five-club mega trade, which was essentially a Butters side deal, meant the Dogs only had to give up two first-round picks for the Port jet and brought in Finn Maginness and Hudson O\u2019Keeffe. The Dogs also addressed their key defensive void with fellow free agency addition Jordon Butts to help plug a hole they\u2019ve long needed to. Along with the return of Sam Darcy from an ACL injury, it has the club well placed to be a genuine flag contender in a crunch 2027 for Luke Beveridge, who\u2019s due to come out of contract. It could well be the best list the Dogs have had during Beveridge\u2019s time at the helm.<\/p>\n

Hawthorn<\/p>\n

Feels like this mob is included in this category most years. It\u2019s been another busy off-season at Hawthorn, securing Zach Merrett, Ben King and Josh Goater to beef up Sam Mitchell\u2019s side for 2027. They got Merrett relatively cheap: Pick 15, 25 and a future second-rounder, while King technically arrived for nothing as a free agent. The Hawks did give up Aidan Schubert as part of another backroom deal to help Gold Coast replenish its key forward stocks. But to give up nothing more for King is a big win, whereas had Gold Coast finished higher up the ladder and not taken the compensation pick, the star forward would\u2019ve commanded at least two first-round picks. Coming off consecutive preliminary finals, it puts Hawthorn in its strongest ever position for a flag tilt under Sam Mitchell as arguably the premiership favourite. <\/p>\n

Stringer to be next year’s big bargain? | 01:31<\/p>\n

Collingwood<\/p>\n

The Pies have had their cake and eaten it too. The additions of Lachie Neale and Jesse Hogan not only address two clear needs in the midfield and up forward to make Craig McRae\u2019s side better next year and keep the club in contention, but the free agents also come at zero cost from a trade perspective. They couldn\u2019t get a Jayden Short over the line, but it means Collingwood also takes its picks to the draft and brings in young talent the club needs to replenish an ageing list. Neale, specifically, will give the Collingwood midfield the star clearance winner it desperately needs and helps offset the loss of over 800 games of experience with Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom\u2019s departures. <\/p>\n

Geelong\/Rowan Marshall<\/p>\n

Another perennial trade period winner. The Cats were again aggressive wheeling and dealing, bringing in Toby Greene, Jordan Ridley and Rowan Marshall. Marshall, who turns 31 next month, gets his trade wish 12 months after a deal went through and he played second fiddle to Tom De Koning, with the veteran now set to lead Geelong\u2019s ruck division and contend for flags to finish his career. Greene came for nothing as a free agent, while Marshall and Ridley cost Geelong first-round picks to show how much Chris Scott\u2019s side is in it for the now … just like every other year. <\/p>\n

Rowan Marshall is all smiles after his Geelong move was cemented. (Photo by James Wiltshire\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

North Melbourne<\/p>\n

A Blakey back at Arden Street! Nick Blakey is arguably North Melbourne\u2019s greatest ever trade recruit in a massive coup for the club as it begins a new era under Jaymie Graham. While Blakey came at a high price for North\u2019s Pick 6 and a future first-rounder, and he comes with some baggage in the fallout from the Pullman Hotel scandal, he\u2019s arguably the best halfback in the game and a player who can transform Graham\u2019s side and add serious punch. Not to mention how it makes the Kangaroos a more appealing destination moving forward as the club looks to play in its first finals campaign since 2016. <\/p>\n

Roos win the race for Nick Blakey | 02:15<\/p>\n

Richmond<\/p>\n

The Tigers didn\u2019t get Zak Butters, despite their documented efforts, but they never really seemed like they were in the race. The moves they did make, though, not only can\u2019t be faulted but should be praised. Richmond attacked the mature-age demographic and targeted areas of need, with wingman Nathan O\u2019Driscoll, 24, and ruckman Kieren Briggs, 27, walking in the door as not only positional upgrades, but figures to help guide the club\u2019s swathe of youth. Blair Hartley and company nabbed O\u2019Driscoll for chips, while Briggs signed a free agency deal that netted the Giants just Band Five compensation. The club also held Jayden Short to his contract, refusing to succumb to the Magpies for less than it believed he was worth. But the most consequential move the Tigers made was trading for Port Adelaide\u2019s Pick 5. They paid a hefty but completely justifiable price to ensure they\u2019ll add two highly-touted talents next month to round out the club\u2019s three years of top-end drafting \u2014 likely 13 total top-35 picks across that span. Arki Butler and Harry Van Hattum? There are plenty of ways they can go on night one of the draft, with an array of attractive options available to them. But once that\u2019s decided, the core of Richmond\u2019s list build will effectively be complete. Trading out of next year\u2019s draft \u2014 dealing their first, second and fourth-round 2027 picks \u2014 makes all the sense in the world, as next year\u2019s intake is heavily compromised by Tasmania and other club ties to significantly reduce the level of talent available in the open pool. But they\u2019ll also still get compensated for likely losing Rhyan Mansell to Tasmania, and another bottom-five finish in \u201827 will yield another second-round compensation pick. <\/p>\n

Winners and losers of trade period | 09:16<\/p>\n

Port Adelaide<\/p>\n

With Zak Butters a certainty to leave the club all year long, the Power\u2019s most important task was to maximise their return to help set up their rebuild. And they absolutely did that. There\u2019ll continue to be discourse over whether the AFL should have ticked off the mega deal involving the Bulldogs \u2014 with Port bringing in far more draft capital than they lost \u2014 but the Power tiptoed the rules expertly to net the draft picks they desired. And those picks, as well as the haul they got from Richmond for Pick 5, will almost certainly ensure they\u2019re able to match 2027 draft bids for Zemes Pilot and Louis Salopek. It\u2019s currently four top-25 picks this year, and three first-rounders in 2027. It\u2019s been shrewd dealing, led by list boss Jason Cripps, to solidify the club\u2019s rebuild ahead of Tasmania\u2019s inception. Port also added to its forward half with the trade addition of Luke Pedlar. <\/p>\n

There were plenty of winners and losers of this trade and free agency period.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/p>\n

TRADE REPORT CARD: Coach in \u2018tenuous position\u2019; two perfect grades as clear flag favourite emerges<\/a><\/p>\n

DEADLINE DAY: SIX deals done in 18 minutes, late Hawks shock… but big man move falls over<\/a><\/p>\n

MEGAWRAP: What all 18 clubs did this AFL trade period… and how draft hands look<\/a><\/p>\n

LOSERS<\/p>\n

Adelaide<\/p>\n

In reality, the Crows lost this trade period before it even began. Their pursuit of Brisbane superstar Zac Bailey, which spanned the best part of 12 months, ironically fell short on the week of their semi-final against the Lions. Last year, it was Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Christian Petracca who the club missed out on, which initially built the pressure on them to land Bailey this year. It wasn\u2019t to be, and now, they simply must land Wanganeen-Milera next off-season to avoid their pursuit of no one this time around. You can appreciate their trepidation at throwing the kitchen sink at Jordan De Goey if it means they can go even harder at a star midfielder next year, but it\u2019s a very dangerous game the Crows are somewhat forced to play. Elsewhere, perhaps a harder crack at Keidean Coleman or Lachie Whitfield could have moved the needle a little more in their favour for 2027, but no doubt that extra midfielder is where their biggest void lies. Otherwise, the Crows also made the bemusing call to refuse North Melbourne\u2019s final offer of Picks 33 and 49, its 2027 first-round pick and its 2027 third-round pick. Prospectively losing Murray in addition to Jordon Butts had the potential to be problematic next year, but it\u2019s a massive package to turn down for a guy who played a lot of SANFL footy this year. \u201cI\u2019m surprised Adelaide didn\u2019t do this deal … I know you need backup, but I think for a future first and a pick inside 35 this year … interesting that they held their nerve,\u201d dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy in reaction. <\/p>\n

Nick Murray didn\u2019t get his North Melbourne trade wish. (Photo by Mark Brake\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Nick Murray<\/p>\n

It leads into the Murray discussion, with the out-of-favour 25-year-old bitterly held to his contract and denied his desired North Melbourne move. He\u2019s got two more years left on his Adelaide deal, but doesn\u2019t figure to have plenty of senior opportunities sitting behind several backmen in the Crows\u2019 pecking order. He would likely have played an integral role in Jaymie Graham\u2019s Roos defence alongside marquee trade recruit Nick Blakey. Instead, he remains a key-defence depth piece at West Lakes after Jordon Butts left for the Bulldogs as a free agent. Murray played nine SANFL games in 2026 for averages of 17.9 disposals and 6.7 marks, and 11 AFL games. The 2023 season was the last time he played more than 12 senior games under Matthew Nicks. <\/p>\n

‘One of the best defenders in the comp!’ | 04:46<\/p>\n

St Kilda<\/p>\n

The repercussions of your St Kilda\u2019s 2027 are arguably bigger than any club in the league. We\u2019ll start with the positives: Rowan Marshall for essentially pick No.14 was absolutely a win, and the acquisition of Sam Marshall from Brisbane adds to their midfield depth. That said, the trading of a future first-round pick probably feels a bit overs in the end \u2014 but how he goes at Moorabbin can obviously dictate the eventual verdict. The negatives? With Ross Lyon and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera out of contract, the lack of attempt to lure in A-grade talent (while holding picks No.10 and 16) leaves a lot of responsibility on their current list to make it to September. A lot of people would argue they don\u2019t have the cattle to make it deep into finals, so where was a throw at the stumps for Dan Houston or Jordan De Goey?<\/p>\n

GWS<\/p>\n

The Giants executed the list transition they were looking to; start moving past some of the elder statesmen with the club no longer in the flag window. Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer have departed, while Lachie Whitfield left via trade and Toby Greene joined Geelong as a free agent. You could make the argument that of those four, GWS only really \u2018lost\u2019 Greene, but the club has still cut very deep, and its winning chances look set to suffer next year. They also might\u2019ve wanted something earlier than Picks 25 and 26 in the Whitfield trade. They retained Jake Riccardi to partner with young forwards Aaron Cadman and Max Gruzewski, but they also didn\u2019t bring anyone in to bolster the list. <\/p>\n

AFL draft whispers unpacked | 02:51<\/p>\n

Jayden Short and Craig McRae<\/p>\n

For all the talk about McRae and Short\u2019s chatting over a prospective move, a marriage didn\u2019t eventuate after Richmond and Collingwood reportedly met on Wednesday and the possibility of doing a deal was ruled out. It was said that the Tigers weren\u2019t all that happy with McRae personally sounding Short out throughout the year, but they also didn\u2019t bite on the Pies\u2019 less-than-desired offer. Richmond was looking at Collingwood\u2019s Pick 30, but evidently couldn\u2019t get access to the return it wanted for the contracted soon-to-be 31-year-old. It\u2019s particularly disappointing for Short, who pushed for the move as he eyed a third premiership and potentially a role tweak at the Pies under McRae, who was at Tigerland during Richmond\u2019s premiership years. But the latter also isn\u2019t getting his upgrade across the half-backline, with Short\u2019s dash and creativity with the footy especially attractive to the Pies, who vastly improved their decision-making. <\/p>\n

Swans set to bounce after ‘reset? | 01:07<\/p>\n

Dean Cox<\/p>\n

Looking through a purely footy lens, Cox loses his prized Nick Blakey magnet. Some who are Swans-inclined might argue Sydney won\u2019t commit as many turnovers now that Blakey is gone, but it\u2019s undeniable that the Swans have lost a dynamic, creative and dashing counterattacker, and that their overall counterpunch game is weakened coming out of this trade period. He\u2019s going to be a very hard player to replace as far as impact goes, and that\u2019s going to be a headache for Cox next season. His club got a top pick in return, but that likely won\u2019t help the coach of a flag-contending team in the short term. There were many left thinking \u2018what if\u2019 with regard to the Pullman scandal, but few more so than Cox, who\u2019ll be wondering how things would be looking right now had those that night in August not happened. The Swans also lost depth pieces in Joel Amartey (Carlton) and Harry Cunningham (Adelaide), but he won\u2019t lose as much sleep over not having those two. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2026 trade period is done, with clubs now turning their attention to next month\u2019s national draft. But…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":928702,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,85,41,39,42,40],"class_list":["post-928701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-sports","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=928701"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/928701\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/928702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=928701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=928701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=928701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}