2026 AFL Trade News, Latest Signings, Speculation and Reports

2026 AFL Trade News

AFL Free Agency: TBC

AFL Trade Period: TBC

AFL Draft November: TBC

2025 AFL Trade News

2025 Retirements and Delistings 

2025 Completed Trades

2025 List Changes

Bookmark this page: All the trade news and speculation will be covered by AFLRATINGS throughout 2026.


Friday March 27, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Ryley Sanders has signed a two-year contract extension at the Western Bulldogs.


Thursday March 26, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Jagga Smith has signed a three-year contract extension at Carlton


Wednesday March 25, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Riley Beveridge reports talks have commenced with West Coast on a new contract for Reuben Ginbey (via Gettable).  


Wednesday March 25, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports the Western Bulldogs are closing in on a new contract with Ryley Sanders, likely a two-year deal (via Gettable).  


Tuesday March 24, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Jagga Smith is set to sign a three-year contract extension at Carlton


Monday March 23, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Xander McGuire reports Shaun Mannagh has signed a three-year contract extension at Geelong, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Friday March 20, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Xander McGuire reports Jackson Archer has signed a two-year contract extension at Nth Melbourne, he is now contracted until the end of 2028.


Wednesday March 18, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Ryley Sanders and the Bulldogs are discussing a multi-year contract extension.


Wednesday March 18, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Aliir Aliir has signed a one-year contract extension at Port Adelaide, he is now contracted until the end of 2027.


Wednesday March 18, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Nth Melbourne has told agents they have cash to spend this year and will use it (via Gettable).


Wednesday March 18, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Adelaide is the front runner pursuing Zac Bailey if he decides to leave Brisbane (via Gettable).


Tuesday March 17, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Essendon has tabled a multi-year contract offer to Zach Merrett, the offer includes a contract uplift for the 2027 season. 


Tuesday March 17, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Richmond confirm Josh Gibcus has signed a three-year contract extension, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Wednesday March 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Josh Gibcus has signed a three-year contract extension at Richmond, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Wednesday March 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Zac Bailey has been offered up to a 7-year contract totalling near $10 million from Adelaide (via Gettable). 


Wednesday March 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Hawthorn has an interest in Ben King (via Gettable). 


Wednesday March 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Ben Long has signed a three-year contract extension at Gold Coast, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Wednesday March 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Sam Clohesy has signed a two-year contract extension at Gold Coast, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Wednesday March 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Max Knobel has signed a one-year contract extension at Gold Coast, he is now contracted until the end of 2027.


Tuesday March 10, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Collingwood have cleared salary cap space for this year by completing Brodie Grundy‘s payments a year early. 


Monday March 9, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cooper Lord has signed a three-year contract extension at Carlton, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Monday March 9, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Mitch Cleary reports Cooper Lord is expected to sign a multi-year contract extension at Carlton. 


Monday March 9, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Harvey Thomas has signed a two-year contract extension at GWS, he is now contracted until the end of 2028. 


Saturday March 8, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Mitch Cleary says he would have the Bulldogs currently in front in the chase for Zak Butters


Saturday March 7, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Jay Clark reports the Giants and Jesse Hogan are currently in negotiations on a new deal. 


Friday March 6, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Gold Coast GM of Football Craig Cameron says they’re confident but also giving Ben King space to make a decision on his future. 

King is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season. 


Friday March 6, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Rory Laird has signed a one-year contract extension at Adelaide, he is now contracted until the end of 2027. 


Thursday March 5, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Lachie Blakiston is expected to sign a contract extension at Essendon


Thursday March 5, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Lachie Blakiston has signed a two-year contract extension at Essendon, he is now contracted until the end of 2028.


Thursday March 5, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Darcy Gardiner has signed a one-year contract extension at Brisbane, he is now contracted until the end of 2027.


Tuesday March 3, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Harvey Langford has signed a two-year contract extension at Melbourne, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Monday March 2, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Thomas Burton has joined Richmond via the SSP.


Monday March 2, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Flynn Perez has joined Hawthorn via the SSP.


Monday March 2, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Will Lewis has joined the Western Bulldogs via the SSP.


Monday March 2, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Paddy Cross has joined Melbourne via the SSP.


Sunday March 1, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Steven May has announced his retirement effective immediately. 


Friday February 27, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Milan Murdock has joined West Coast via the SSP.


Wednesday February 25, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Xander McGuire reports Tom Blamires has joined Nth Melbourne via the SSP.


Wednesday February 25, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Xander McGuire reports North Melbourne and Jackson Archer are working on a 2-year contract extension.


Tuesday February 24, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Sam Walsh has signed an 8-year contract extension at Carlton.


Tuesday February 24, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Sam Edmund says there are mostly likely two options at this stage for Zak Butters, Western Bulldogs and Geelong. 


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Mitch Cleary reports Wade Derksen has joined Carlton via the SSP.


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Xander McGuire reports Elijah Hollands has re-joined Carlton via the SSP.


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Josh Money reports Balyn O’Brien has joined Port Adelaide via the SSP.


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Josh Money reports Mitch Zadow has joined Port Adelaide via the SSP.


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Josh Money reports Max Michalanney has signed a long-term contract extension at Adelaide.


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Carlton CEO Graham Wright says Sam Walsh has made it clear he wants to stay at the club (via SEN) .


Monday February 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Carlton senior coach Michael Voss says Elijah Hollands is a strong chance to be added via the SSP (via SEN) .


Sunday February 22, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Sam Walsh contract talks are progressing well for a deal that could go through to 2033-34 at Carlton.


Friday February 20, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Josh Dunkley has signed a 2-year contract extension at Brisbane, he is now contracted until the end of 2030.


Friday February 20, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Sam Durham has signed a 4-year contract extension at Essendon, he is now contracted until the end of 2032.


Thursday February 19, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Chris Scerri has joined Fremantle via the SSP.


Wednesday February 18, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Justin McInerney has signed a 5-year contract extension at Sydney, he is now contracted until the end of 2031.


Wednesday February 18, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports the four-year contract extension for Josh Weddle is official at Hawthorn, he is now contracted until the end of 2031.


Tuesday February 17, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Justin McInerney is set to sign a 5-year contract extension at Sydney.


Monday February 16, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Josh Weddle is set to sign a four-year contract extension at Hawthorn.


Friday February 13, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Lachie Jacques has signed a 2-year contract extension at the Western Bulldogs, he is now contracted until the end of 2028.


Friday February 13, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Josh Gabelich reports Jordan Croft has signed a 3-year contract extension at the Western Bulldogs, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Thursday February 12, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Sam Walsh contract talks on a 7-year contract extension are being discussed with Carlton. hopeful on a deal prior to the start of the season.


Wednesday February 11, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Port Adelaide senior coach says he’s had open & honest conversations with Zak Butters with the hope that he signs a contract extension.


Tuesday February 10, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Caleb Serong has signed a 7-year contract extension at Fremantle, he is now contracted until the end of 2034.


Tuesday February 10, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Caleb Serong is set to sign a 7-year contract extension at Fremantle

Serong is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2027 season. 


Tuesday February 10, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports James Harmes has retired effective immediately at the Western Bulldogs


Monday February 9, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson says the upcoming contract outcome for Zak Butters is more than just a football decision (via SEN).

Butters is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season. 


AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Zach Merrett and Essendon have been discussing a contract extension since December (via SEN). 


Saturday February 7, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Isaac Kako has signed a two-year contract extension at Essendon, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Friday February 6, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Zach Merrett is open to contract talks on a contract extension at Essendon

Merrett is out of contract at the end of 2027.


Thursday February 5, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Hawthorn has started talks on a contract extension with Josh Weddle.


Wednesday February 4, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Ben Miller has signed a one-year contract extension at Richmond, he is now contracted until the end of 2027.


Wednesday February 4, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Jack Ross has signed a two-year contract extension at Richmond, he is now contracted until the end of 2028.


Wednesday February 4, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports clubs have been granted an extension on SSP signings, it now closes on Monday, March 2.


Thursday February 3, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Cal Twomey reports Brisbane has put a six-year contract offer on the table for Zac Bailey.

Bailey is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season. 


Friday January 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Joel Freijah has signed a three-year contract extension at the Western Bulldogs, he is now contracted until the end of 2029.


Friday January 23, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Tom Powell has signed a two-year contract extension at North Melbourne, he is now contracted until the end of 2028.


Thursday January 21, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Riley Beveridge reports Joel Freijah is closing in on a contract extension at the Western Bulldogs.


Wednesday January 22, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Rhylee West has signed a four-year contract extension at the Western Bulldogs, he is now contracted until the end of 2030.


Friday January 16, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Sam Edmund reports it is trending in the right direction for Sam Walsh to sign a contract extension at Carlton

Walsh is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season. 


Wednesday January 14, 2026 

AFLRATINGS: Sam McClure reports Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett has parted ways with his manager Tom Petroro.


Tuesday January 13, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Riley Bice has signed a two-year contract extension at Sydney, he is now contracted until the end of 2028.


Sunday January 11, 2026

AFLRATINGS: North Melbourne midfielder George Wardlaw says he’s focused on playing good football this season but would like to seek a long-term contract at the club (via Xander McGuire).

Wardlaw is currently out of contract at the end of the 2026 season. 


Thursday January 9, 2026

AFLRATINGS: Brisbane senior coach Chris Fagan says the club won’t stand in Lachie Neale‘s way if he chooses to return to Perth.

Neale is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season. 


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