After a quiet 2021 off-season, we look set for perhaps the busiest trade period of all-time in 2022.
With a huge number of players set for switches, AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge has picked the five clubs he expects to be the most active in the coming weeks.
The free agency period begins on Friday, September 30 and ends on Friday, October 7, while the trade period commences on Monday, October 3 and finishes on Wednesday, October 12.
5 – Richmond
“At five I’ve got Richmond,” Beveridge said on AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.
“They’ve got Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper coming into the club, whether that makes Jack Graham and Ivan Soldo come out of it.
“They’re another club that if they nail this trade period could go straight back into premiership contention next year.
“They used five top-30 picks last year … they don’t necessarily need to go to the draft this year or next year.”
4 – Brisbane
“At number four I’ve got Brisbane.
“Josh Dunkley will come in, whether Jack Gunston comes in is another question or a key forward, they had a nibble at Lance Franklin.
“They’ll get (father-sons) Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher, so they’ll have to juggle points to some degree.
“Dan McStay we believe will go to Collingwood … Darcy Gardiner is one of only two restricted free agents still unsigned so what happens with his contract and his future is up in the air as well.
“They’re a club in a really interesting position.”
3 – Collingwood
“At number three I’ve got Collingwood.
“They did so many things so well this year to go from 17th to a Preliminary Final.
“They’ll bring in Dan McStay who is a key forward, they’ll bring in Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton, maybe Brayden Fiorini from Gold Coast.
“They’re likely to lose Brodie Grundy, I don’t think (they’ll get Tom Mitchell).
“I just wonder how it plays out, I think Dan McStay is a good purchase for them, Bobby Hill will add something, Billy Frampton had a good year in the SANFL but hasn’t proven it at AFL level.
“They’re going to change so much of what they’ve done right and bring in so many new players.
“They’ll have to figure out a way of how that works.”
2 – North Melbourne
“At number two I’ve got North Melbourne.
“Bottom of the ladder, arguably one the worst seasons in the club’s history (in 2022).
“They go out and they’re going to get Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker, we know that.
“They’ve got interest in Bradley Hill and Hunter Clark.
“They’ve got the AFL assistance package which is another factor we have to watch this year, that’s a future second and third-round draft pick and but they have to be traded for at least one player.
“They’ve got two additional list spots … and pick 1, will they trade it?
“If North Melbourne can get multiple top 10 picks through the door, because of how even it is after pick 1, you’d be willing to do it so long as you’re not moving too far back.
“I think this is the year to split the pick … that’ll be one to watch.”
1 – Fremantle
“Number one for me is Fremantle.
“They were so good this year, they made the Semi Final and for so long they were arguably one of the four best sides for most of the season until they dropped out of the top four.
“They had the mix of a premiership list I felt that was ready to take that next step, they’re still very young.
“Luke Jackson will become one of those players and he’s a young player that’ll lead their future.
“But are they losing too much? Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker will go to North Melbourne, Rory Lobb wants to get to the Western Bulldogs, Blake Acres wants to get to Carlton, and Lloyd Meek wants to get to Hawthorn.
“Are they losing too much of their best 22? David Mundy has retired so that’s another one.
“Are they losing too much depth beyond that? They’re fascinating to me.
“They’ve got pick 13 and a future first, how they get a deal done for Luke Jackson is really interesting.
“If they get better next year with those players developing and Luke Jackson on board then Melbourne will want more than a pick that can be between 15 and 18 next year.
“It’s going to be a fascinating trade period for the Dockers.”