Follow club-by-club guide to player movements and draft picks

Collingwood

Draft picks: 34, 52, 64, 70
Key players: Brody Mihocek, Mason Cox, Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill

Coach Craig McRae said he wanted a balance between securing established talent, while also having a good draft hand. Swans key forward Jack Buller is Magpies-bound on a two-year deal, and that should not be too complicated a trade, but they are not likely to pursue Demons defender Steven May. Jamie Elliott will stay, rejecting a three-year offer from the Suns to re-sign for two seasons, but Brody Mihocek is headed to Melbourne. Bobby Hill only recently signed a contract extension, but rival clubs have asked about him, after personal issues impacted the end of his season. Collingwood encouraged Mason Cox and Tom Mitchell to explore their options elsewhere. – Jon Pierik

Essendon

Draft picks: 4, 5, 22, 25
Key players: Sam Draper, Zach Merrett

Hawthorn wait with bated breath to see if the Bombers will trade captain Zach Merrett after his shock meeting with Hawks coach Sam Mitchell. The six-time club champion wants to play finals football and contend for flags, both of which have proven elusive at Essendon. Sam Draper has already announced he is leaving in free agency for Brisbane. The Bombers are aggressively pursuing in-demand Sun Sam Flanders, and battling Port Adelaide for Gold Coast’s free agent winger Brayden Fiorini. Hawks key defender Jai Serong is also a player of interest, while they could make a play for young Roo Zane Duursma, brother of Xavier. Delisted defender Jayden Laverde will sign with GWS post-draft. – Marc McGowan

Fremantle

Draft picks: 11, 29, 38, 47, 65
Key players: Will Brodie, Liam Reidy

After being starved of opportunities, Will Brodie and Liam Reidy will head to Port Adelaide and Carlton, respectively, while speculation about Sean Darcy’s future happens every year – and every season he stays. Fremantle have convinced mobile Melbourne defender Judd McVee to play alongside Jordan Clark, but will need to broker a trade with the Demons, who were disappointed to lose him. They are also open to trading their first pick in this year’s heavily compromised draft, which will be pushed back by academy and father-son selections. – Peter Ryan

Geelong

Draft picks: 17, 35, 53, 71
Key players: Rhys Stanley

The Cats are bringing in ex-Hawk and local lad James Worpel on a four-year deal to add to their midfield depth. While Worpel is not an A-grader, Geelong’s lack of midfield depth was obvious in the grand final. They are in the hunt for Charlie Curnow, the Blues forward keen for a fresh start, although a trade will be extremely complicated. St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall has requested a trade to the Cats, although the Saints have previously said they won’t budge. It shapes as a fascinating trade period for Geelong, who want to remain in the premiership hunt. – Jon Pierik

Gold Coast

Draft picks: 6, 13, 16, 31, 56, 67
Key players: Connor Budarick, Sam Flanders, Bailey Humphrey, Malcolm Rosas jnr

Champion Demon Christian Petracca has requested a trade to the Suns, and looms as the club’s biggest recruit since Gary Ablett jnr. Now they need to appease Melbourne in a deal, and this is their priority over any potential Charlie Curnow pursuit. Gold Coast are so far resisting making Bailey Humphrey available, but the forward-midfielder has interest from three clubs, including the Dees, who are also in a four-way race for Sam Flanders. Connor Budarick and Malcolm Rosas jnr requested trades to Western Bulldogs and Sydney, respectively, while Port Adelaide and Essendon are keen on free agent winger Brayden Fiorini. The Suns missed out on Jamie Elliott in free agency, but have met with troubled Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and registered interest in contracted Swan James Rowbottom. – Marc McGowan

GWS

Draft picks: 12, 30, 32
Key players: Jacob Wehr, Leek Aleer, Wade Derksen

The Giants will ask for a first-round selection for Leek Aleer, but the Saints won’t be handing one over easily despite the lucrative contract on offer, and the fact he played the final 13 matches in defence. Wade Derksen is in limbo; the Demons lost interest after trying to land him last season as he seeks more AFL opportunities, while Jacob Wehr is off to Port Adelaide as a free agent. Essendon’s Jayden Laverde has joined the Giants, and they are interested in Demon Clayton Oliver, who has fallen out of favour. – Peter Ryan

Hawthorn

Draft picks: 8, 26, 55, 69
Key players: James Worpel, Jai Serong, Henry Hustwaite, Cam Mackenzie

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Restricted free agent midfielder James Worpel has left for Geelong on a four-year deal, but Sam Butler resisted West Coast’s strong interest to ink a new two-year deal. He will now hope for more midfield time. Jai Serong, who was hindered by the additions of Josh Battle and Tom Barrass this year, has been linked to North Melbourne, Essendon and Sydney. Cam Mackenzie played 12 games this year, and has interest from the Saints, while midfielder Henry Hustwaite had little opportunity this year, with Richmond among his suitors. – Jon Pierik

Melbourne

Draft picks: 23, 53, 59
Key players: Steven May, Judd McVee, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Charlie Spargo

The Demons’ flag-winning era is officially over, with coach Simon Goodwin sacked, Christian Petracca requesting a trade to Gold Coast, and both Steven May and Clayton Oliver encouraged to explore opportunities elsewhere. Charlie Spargo, who also played in the 2021 premiership, inked a free agency deal with North Melbourne, while wanted defender Judd McVee requested a trade home to Fremantle. Melbourne have lured Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek on a three-year free agency deal, while they hope to trade for St Kilda ruckman Max Heath. Beyond them, new coach Steven King has met with contracted Suns Bailey Humphrey and Sam Flanders. Flanders already requested a trade, but has not nominated a club. They are no longer interested in untried Giant Wade Derksen. – Marc McGowan

North Melbourne

Draft picks: 20, 21, 39, 57
Key players: Jy Simpkin

Contracted skipper Jy Simpkin wants more midfield time, but is yet to put in a trade request. If he did, the Kangaroos would drive a hard bargain for any suitors. Melbourne premiership forward Charlie Spargo joins as a free agent after an injury-riddled two seasons. An elite kick inside 50, Spargo is a handy, cheap addition if he can get on the park regularly. They are in the market for Hawks key defender Jai Serong after missing out on St Kilda’s Marcus Windhager, who re-signed, and Gold Coast’s Connor Budarick, who nominated the Western Bulldogs instead. – Peter Ryan

Port Adelaide

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Draft picks: 24, 42, 60
Key players: Zak Butters

It will be interesting to see how the Power position themselves heading into Josh Carr’s maiden season in charge. Fremantle midfielder Will Brodie, contracted until the end of 2027, has requested a trade to Alberton, seeking greater opportunity. Giant Jacob Wehr, a running defender and wingman, has signed with the Power as an unrestricted free agent, while they are trying to convince Gold Coast’s Brayden Fiorini to join them as a free agent. Silky midfielder Zak Butters will be a restricted free agent next year, but could be lured home to Victoria despite the Power and his manager insisting he will remain. He has been offered a two-year extension, plus a player option to extend it by a further six years, but he is yet to sign. – Jon Pierik

Richmond

Draft picks: 2, 3
Key players: Tylar Young

Much-improved defender Tylar Young requested a trade to West Coast after a strong second half of the season, in a blow to the Tigers, who remain in rebuilding mode and are unlikely to be overly active in the trade period. They missed out on Gold Coast goalsneak Malcolm Rosas jnr, who picked the Swans over them, but those are the cheap types they are most likely to target. Richmond are willing to trade their No.3 pick, which they acquired from North Melbourne, for the right deal after selecting seven players in the top 30 last year. – Marc McGowan

St Kilda

Draft picks: 7, 43, 58
Key players: Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele, Callum Wilkie

All-Australian defender Callum Wilkie entertained a serious offer from the Bulldogs before deciding not to push for a trade with two years remaining on his contract. Rowan Marshall might reach Geelong, but there is plenty of water to go under the bridge, while skipper Jack Steele is set to stay, too, despite the Saints encouraging him to look around. St Kilda have landed free agents Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni, and have the Giants’ Leek Aleer and West Coast’s Liam Ryan wanting to join them. They are also in the market for the Suns’ Sam Flanders, and are confident in landing him. It’s an unprecedented opening of the piggy bank as they attempt to return to premiership contention. It may lose them Marshall. – Peter Ryan

Sydney

Draft picks: 9, 27, 45, 63
Key players: James Rowbottom

Gold Coast forward Malcolm Rosas jnr has chosen Sydney as his preferred new home, but it’s Charlie Curnow whom the Swans dearly want. The star Blue has three clubs he is keen to get to – Gold Coast, Geelong or Sydney. However, as the Cats said, it’s going to take something special to get a deal done for a man who is contracted to Carlton until the end of 2029. The Swans delisted Aaron Francis and Robbie Fox, who are now on the Giants’ radar. James Rowbottom is contracted for three more seasons, but the Suns are interested in the tough midfielder. – Jon Pierik

West Coast

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Draft picks: 1, 15, 19, 33, 51
Key players: Oscar Allen, Tyler Brockman, Campbell Chesser, Liam Ryan

It has already been an eventful off-season for the wooden-spooners, with Richmond defender Tylar Young requesting a trade west and dual premiership-winning Lions defender Brandon Starcevich agreeing to join them as well. The Eagles plan to trade for Starcevich instead of signing him in free agency, to avoid diluting their compensation for Allen leaving for Brisbane. The AFL awarded West Coast an end-of-first-round selection as part of an assistance package, which could be the key piece in trading for Starcevich. Campbell Chesser and All-Australian forward Liam Ryan requested trades to Carlton and St Kilda, respectively. Close friend Ryan’s impending exit could lead to Tyler Brockman exploring his options as well. – Marc McGowan

Western Bulldogs

Draft picks: 10, 28
Key players: Buku Khamis, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan

The Bulldogs made a big offer to St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie in a long-shot attempt to prise him out of the Saints as they seek to bolster their defence, but he is set to stay after a pay rise. Buku Khamis wants a trade to the Blues, while Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has almost certainly played his last match for the club. He will either be traded to the Suns on a new contract or take a long road back to the AFL. The Dogs also landed the big body they were after, with the Suns’ Connor Budarick asking to be traded to the Kennel. But they missed out on Deven Robertson, who chose West Coast instead as his preferred new home. – Peter Ryan