We have graded every club’s performance – and ranked them from one to 18 – through the free agency and trade period to find the real winners and losers.

That process is hardly straightforward, given the different spots the sides occupy in the premiership race and just how much things can change once next season starts. Here are our best- and worst-performed teams in this year’s player movement window ...

In: Nick Haynes (GWS/free agency), picks 3, 38, 63 and 68 and a future second-rounder (tied to Brisbane)
Out: Picks 12, 34, 66, Matt Kennedy (Western Bulldogs/trade), Matt Owies (West Coast/trade) and future first- and second-rounders
Draft picks: 3, 38, 63, 68, 69, 72
Trade grade: A

This was an aggressive trade period from the Blues, who reshaped their list to make it more dynamic, freed up some salary cap space and gathered draft points to match bids on father-son twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale. They shocked the football world by convincing Hawthorn to part with pick 14 for future first- and second-rounder, which gave Carlton picks 12 and 14. They then packaged those with out-of-contract forward Owies and nabbed the Eagles’ prized pick three, putting them squarely in the frame for highly rated midfielder Finn O’Sullivan. The Blues met with Dan Houston but always felt Collingwood were in a stronger position in that race. They also offloaded contracted midfielder Kennedy for pick 38, while retaining swingman Brodie Kemp after the Saints showed interest.

In: Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs/trade) and pick 45
Out: Picks 17 and 38
Draft picks: 45, 57, 75, 93
Trade grade: A

After hosting disgruntled Demon Clayton Oliver at Rhys Stanley’s farm just outside Geelong, the Cats made it clear they were prepared to nab Oliver only on their terms before Melbourne shut them down. They stuck firm with their offer of pick 17 for out-of-contract Bulldog Bailey Smith, while eventually adding 38 to sweeten the deal – but also nabbed 45 – amid their willingness to walk him to the national draft. That said, list boss Andrew Mackie denied ever threatening counterpart Sam Power that he would do that. This was another great fortnight for Geelong, who just keep finding ways to regenerate on the run. The Cats will also land Jack Martin as a delisted free agent to wrap up a tidy trade period.

Marlion Pickett, Shai Bolton, and Daniel Rioli have all left Richmond since the end of the 2024 season.Credit: Getty Images

In: Elliott Himmelberg (Adelaide/free agency), Daniel Rioli (Richmond/trade), John Noble (Collingwood/trade), picks 39, 51, 61, 70, 76 and future first-rounders (tied to Collingwood and Port Adelaide)
Out: Jack Lukosius (Port Adelaide/trade), Rory Atkins (Port Adelaide/trade), picks 13, 29 and 50
Draft picks: 39, 41, 51, 61, 70, 76, 78
Trade grade: A

It always helps when you start with a solid hand, but they did great business bringing in the three players they targeted, while accumulating enough points to match an expected bid on academy graduate Leo Lombard. Adding two future first-rounders was sneaky good, too. Trading out Rory Atkins and Jack Lukosius in the three-club deal with Collingwood and Gold Coast also freed up significant salary cap space. They kept the crowd entertained, with their determination to trade pick 13 attracting more offers than a deceased estate’s townhouse. Surely, they have the list now to make finals, although list boss Craig Cameron was unwilling to say that out loud.

In: Josh Battle (St Kilda/free agency), Tom Barrass (West Coast/trade), future first- and second-rounders (both tied to Carlton) and a fourth-rounder (tied to West Coast)
Out: Pick 14 and future first-, second- and third-rounders
Draft picks: 33, 71, 77
Trade grade: B

The Hawks had an early win when Battle accepted their offer to join them as an unrestricted free agent, then they caused all sorts of drama by trading pick 14 to Carlton for future first- and second-round picks last Friday. That move surprised the Eagles, who had that pick earmarked to on-trade for Richmond’s Liam Baker, and left them in no mood to compromise on Barrass. Hawthorn had to hand over future first, second and third picks to get Barrass and a future fourth-round selection in return. The Hawks’ draft picks for next season will be tied to the Blues’ finishing position, and they will back themselves in to perform strongly.

In: Shai Bolton (Richmond/trade), 14 and a future third-rounder (tied to Richmond)
Out: Picks 10, 11,........

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