Trade Rumours
Who is linked where this off-season, how firm the talk is, and who is saying it. Every entry cites its sources, from a throwaway line on a podcast to a formal trade request, and stays on the page until the move is done or denied. The free agents expected to move are here too, each with the compensation pick his club would get and where it would land. A rumour here also counts as an expected move on the Best 23 Movement page.
Essendon
Geelong- AFL Media, Zero Hanger18 Sept 2026Rival contender emerges for Essendon best-and-fairest winner: AFL trade news
Geelong has emerged as a new contender for Essendon key defender Jordan Ridley's services for 2027 and beyond. After missing out on prime trade target Zak Butters, the Cats have turned their attention to Ridley as the 27-year-old seeks a fresh start after struggling with consistent injury problems over the past few seasons. AFL Media is reporting that Geelong has entered the race for Ridley's signature along with North Melbourne.
Adelaide
North Melbourne- Zero Hanger18 Sept 2026Rival contender emerges for Essendon best-and-fairest winner: AFL trade news
North Melbourne is also hunting Adelaide's Nick Murray to partner mobile key defender Charlie Comben in defence.
St KildaGeelong- Zero Hanger18 Sept 2026Rival contender emerges for Essendon best-and-fairest winner: AFL trade news
List manager Andrew Mackie has also got his cat eyes set on St Kilda ruck Rowan Marshall. The 30-year-old Saint tried to get to the Cats last off-season, but his bid failed. It is expected Marshall will get his wish this time around and sign at Geelong.
- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026How will Geelong’s forward line look Round 1, 2027?
trade targets such as St Kilda's Rowan Marshall and GWS' Toby Greene adding to a talent-laden, but ageing forward line.
GWSGeelongClaim #31 from Zero Hanger (confidence 95)
No compensation pick expected for GWS.
Essendon
Hawthorn- Jon Pierik, The Age18 Sept 2026‘Not the right time’: Why former Essendon caretaker coach will depart the club
They hold the No.1 draft pick, while former skipper Zach Merrett is expected to join Hawthorn.
- Fox Sports18 Sept 2026AFL Daily: Hawks coach responds to trade rumour; new name on Bombers coach wishlist
More broadly, Mitchell was also probed for his thoughts on Essendon trying to pry Hawks out of Dingley as the clubs prepare to negotiate Merrett’s Hawthorn move in October.
- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026“They call him moneybuns”: Hawthorn coach responds to rival’s monster offer to young Hawk
Mitchell and his list management team are working on bringing Bomber Zach Merrett across for the second year in a row
- Fox Footy from Fox Sports, Fox Sports17 Sept 2026Trade idea nixed in Butters roadblock; Bombers’ shock $3.5m play for Hawk — Whispers
Meanwhile, Essendon has made a play for an emerging Hawk as part of the clubs’ Zach Merrett talks.
- SMH17 Sept 2026It’s not easy losing Greene: Skipper isn’t the only Giant heading for the exit at GWS
Zach Merrett aiming to become a Hawk.
HawthornEssendon- Cal Twomey, Fox Sports18 Sept 2026AFL Daily: Hawks coach responds to trade rumour; new name on Bombers coach wishlist
It comes after AFL Media’s Cal Twomey reported Essendon is willing to pay the 20-year-old $3.5 million over four years, in a move that would theoretically be part of the Zach Merrett trade. ... “But he’s going to be a very good player for us for a long time.”
- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026“They call him moneybuns”: Hawthorn coach responds to rival’s monster offer to young Hawk
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell is understanding of the AFL trade landscape as he responds to reports of Essendon's monster offer to Noah Mraz.
- Fox Footy from Fox Sports, Fox Sports17 Sept 2026Trade idea nixed in Butters roadblock; Bombers’ shock $3.5m play for Hawk — Whispers
Meanwhile, Essendon has made a play for an emerging Hawk as part of the clubs’ Zach Merrett talks.
HawthornGeelongalso linked: MEL- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026links him to Melbourne“They call him moneybuns”: Hawthorn coach responds to rival’s monster offer to young Hawk
Young key forward Calsher Dear is weighing up his future at Hawthorn, with Melbourne, Geelong and Collingwood all registering interest.
- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026How will Geelong’s forward line look Round 1, 2027?
Add to the mix that Geelong is considering a trade for young Hawthorn key forward Calsher Dear (21)
Gold CoastHawthornClaim #25 from Zero Hanger (confidence 95)
Compensation for Gold Coast: band 2guessed, end of the first round: pick 20 before the draft, 19 on the nightThe band is a guess: rated 67, plus 6 for being 26, plus 6 as a key forward.
GWS
Collingwood- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026GWS concedes “reset”, not “rebuild” amid Giant exodus
The departures of Greene, Briggs, Stringer and Hogan have turned the club from the fifth-most experienced side in 2026 to the 10th.
GWSdestination unknown- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026GWS concedes “reset”, not “rebuild” amid Giant exodus
The departures of Greene, Briggs, Stringer and Hogan have turned the club from the fifth-most experienced side in 2026 to the 10th.
GWSSt Kilda- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026GWS concedes “reset”, not “rebuild” amid Giant exodus
And that doesn't factor in Whitfield's potential exit, with St Kilda and Carlton indicating early interest.
- SMH17 Sept 2026It’s not easy losing Greene: Skipper isn’t the only Giant heading for the exit at GWS
Whitfield (linked to St Kilda) and Himmelberg are on the trading block.
GWS
RichmondClaim #18 from Zero Hanger (confidence 90)
Compensation for GWS: band 2guessed, end of the first round: pick 21 before the draft, 20 on the nightThe band is a guess: rated 69, plus 6 for being 26, plus 6 as a ruck.
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs- Fox Footy from Fox Sports, Fox Sports17 Sept 2026Trade idea nixed in Butters roadblock; Bombers’ shock $3.5m play for Hawk — Whispers
Earlier this week, Port’s Todd Marshall had been floated as a conduit to the clubs getting a deal done for Butters.
- Tom Morris, 7NEWS17 Sept 2026Zak Butters trade twist as AFL blocks ‘pick purchasing’ side deal involving Todd Marshall to Bulldogs
7NEWS reporter Tom Morris revealed there were preliminary discussions on a separate deal that would involve Marshall going to the Western Bulldogs in exchange for picks No.12 and a future first-rounder.
Port AdelaideWestern BulldogsClaim #11 from Fox Sports (confidence 90)
Compensation for Port Adelaide: band 1guessed, straight after the club's first-round pick: pick 5 as the order standsThe band is a guess: rated 89, plus 6 for being 26.
RichmondCollingwood- Damian Barrett, AFL.com.au17 Sept 2026IF all year Port was adamant it would match any offer for Zak Butters ... THEN
IF ... the Pies are interested in Tiger Jayden Short ... THEN ... he'd be a great acquisition.
CollingwoodGold Coast- Damian Barrett, AFL.com.au17 Sept 2026IF all year Port was adamant it would match any offer for Zak Butters ... THEN
some weeks ago I asked for the Suns to reveal the true breakdown of their offer to free agent Pendles
GWSdestination unknown- SMH17 Sept 2026It’s not easy losing Greene: Skipper isn’t the only Giant heading for the exit at GWS
Whitfield (linked to St Kilda) and Himmelberg are on the trading block.
BrisbaneCollingwoodClaim #5 from SMH (confidence 85)
No compensation pick expected for Brisbane.
AdelaidePort Adelaidealso linked: ESS- Zero Hanger17 Sept 2026links him to EssendonAdelaide announces delistings, former Pick 9 Crow cut
Butts (Western Bulldogs) and Pedlar (Essendon or Port Adelaide) are expected to seek trades this off-season.
AdelaideWestern BulldogsClaim #1 from Zero Hanger (confidence 80)
Compensation for Adelaide: band 3guessed, straight after the club's second-round pick: pick 35 before the draft, 37 on the nightThe band is a guess: rated 64, plus 6 for being 26, plus 6 as a key defender.
- CollingwoodGold Coast
No compensation pick expected for Collingwood.
Linked means the media has him going somewhere; a trade request is the player saying so; a deal agreed is the clubs saying so, before the paperwork; a nomination is a free agent lodging his choice. A rumour is settled by the trade or signing itself, which then shows here as the outcome, and dropped when the player or his club rules it out. A free agent's compensation band is the one recorded, or a guess from his rating, age and role until the AFL says; the pick number is where it falls in the coming draft as the order stands, the same placing the Trade Table uses. Ratings are Footyinfo player ratings as they stand today.