The trade period always offers plenty of hope to fans.
It also gives clubs a chance to have a look at some specific areas of need and marry that up with which players may be available.
We have taken a look at each of the 18 AFL clubs and the types of players they might be after this off-season.
See our thoughts below:
The Crows have a fairly young list so adding some established quality is important.
He may have only been doing it for the last three seasons, but Jordan Dawson has come on in leaps and bounds in that time.
Dawson wants to leave the Swans to return home to South Australia which suggests the Crows are in with a very good chance of landing him.
With 64 games under his belt and five years of experience to his name, Dawson would be the ideal player to slot in on a half-back flank and provide the Crows with much needed assuredness coming out of defence.
After losing Jake Kelly and allowing Daniel Talia to leave, Adelaide could also do with an experienced defender given the inexperience of Jordon Butts, Nick Murray and Fischer McAsey.
Andrew Slevison
As one of the AFL’s contending sides, Brisbane likely won’t have much room to make a splash this off-season.
Due to this, they’ll hope to plug smaller holes in their list, and one of those is another solid ruck option.
Currently, Oscar McInerney is the club’s primary ruckman, and while he’s certainly up to the task, any injury to him would spell big trouble.
Archie Smith holds that mantle at the present, but with him expressing an desire to explore other options, a move for Collingwood back-up Max Lynch would make a lot of sense.
Not only would Lynch provide injury depth but he could also free McInerney up to play forward more often if Chris Fagan opted for a two-ruck combination.
A player like Lynch wouldn’t cost much salary or trade wise, and would be a thoughtful choice.
Lachlan Geleit
Carlton has multiple clear positions of need they must address in the trade and draft period.
A lockdown defender would be handy given smaller forwards with pace and lead-up marking skills tend to roast the Blues and they will likely look to push Liam Stocker and Brodie Kemp further up the ground in coming years.
Midfield depth and genuine wingmen are also of need, particularly defensively minded types.
They have been strongly linked with Sydney free agent George Hewett who would help in that regard.
The Blues are also now very young at the small forward position with Eddie Betts retiring and could use some depth there.
Nic Negrepontis
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After last year’s horror off-season, Collingwood will be hoping to make some steady and savvy moves this time around.
With the club in a rebuilding phase and with apparent salary cap issues still remaining, the Magpies will need to play this one safe.
They’ll be hoping to keep as many picks as possible to have enough points for Nick Daicos and potentially academy prospect Youseph Dib, and will look to bring in players that compliment their age profile and are looking for opportunity.
Pat Lipinski and Sam Weideman fit that mould, but crucially they’ll need these players to commit to the club so they aren’t forced into a bidding war to pay overs both salary wise and trade wise.
Talent through the midfield and up forward are the most obvious holes, so Lipinski, and potentially Weideman or Geelong’s Nathan Kreuger would make it an off-season well done.
Lachlan Geleit
The old adage that your flaws are shown up in finals rung true for the Bombers, with their makeshift forward line failing to fire in the wet against Western Bulldogs in the Elimination Final.
Ben Rutten’s side on paper looks well stocked, but they remain in need of another key forward option to partner Harry Jones.
Richmond’s Mabior Chol is also some small chance of landing at Tullamarine as an unrestricted free agent - there’s a spot for him to develop if he’s good enough.
Departing Crow Jake Kelly will add more depth to the side’s defensive stocks, while Essendon could also do with more midfield depth, although that’s likely to come with their first pick in this year’s National Draft.
Laurence Rosen
If everyone is healthy, Fremantle is well stocked across the ground.
They have viable key forwards, midfield depth and a strong backline. Losing Adam Cerra is frustrating, but they will likely now take two top 10 picks to the draft and should restock with the two best midfielders available, particularly given the respective ages of David Mundy and Nathan Fyfe.
A ready-made key forward would be nice in the trade period given Matt Taberner and Rory Lobb’s injury history. A cheaper option like Mason Cox or Jake Riccardi could provide some depth. They could also grab Levi Casboult off the scrap heap if they felt that way inclined.
Nic Negrepontis
Geelong’s list profile is causing plenty of debate at the moment, so how do they solve their issues?
The futures of Quinton Narkle, Jordan Clark and Charlie Constable will inevitably come under the microscope after missing out on consistent game time this year and their biggest need this off-season may be keeping the trio amid rival interest.
The Cats could also do with another key defender, considering just how exposed they were after Tom Stewart’s injury. Daniel Talia could be a short-term solution.
Their ageing midfield is also in need of reinforcements, but it remains to be seen just how aggressive Stephen Wells and his team will be in the coming weeks.
Laurence Rosen
Gold Coast’s list is still young, and Stuart Dew will hope he has all his bases covered when the talent at the Suns flourishes into established AFL players in the coming years.
However, they can’t accept a repeat of the 2021 season, and the best way to avoid that is to secure a ruckman who can rest forward.
The Suns’ most important player is co-captain Jarrod Witts and when the big man went down with an ACL injury in round three it terribly exposed the developing midfield.
Dew didn’t have a reliable backup ruckman ready to go and heading into 2022 he’d love a player who can provide support for Witts and chop out for Ben King in the forward line.
A player like Mabior Chol is perfect, and is reportedly interested in joining the club. The out-of-contract 24-year-old has spent time in the ruck and proved a valuable goal kicking asset at the Tigers, which is something the Suns could do with.
Seb Mottram
The Giants recruited Jesse Hogan last trade period to help fill the void left by Jeremy Cameron. While Hogan was solid in his nine games, his body did let him down as he was sidelined for weeks at a time with soft tissue injuries.
With Jeremy Finlayson seemingly out of favour and Jake Riccardi also on the outer and yet to re-sign, the Giants could do with a new forward.
Sam Weideman could be out the door at Melbourne and would be a very nice fit for GWS. He is only 24, has plenty of footy in front of him and could form a dangerous duo with Hogan.
The Giants look fairly well stocked in defence and have a super midfielder so should prioritise a forward to ease the scoring burden on Toby Greene.
Andrew Slevison
The Hawks are unlikely to revert to their ‘big game hunting’ days that marked the Alastair Clarkson era. If anything, they’ll front load a few contracts now, so that they have some salary cap room to make a splash in a couple of years when they’re closer to flag contention.
But they have some gaps on their list and need another big man, with Keegan Brooksby retired and Ned Reeves their only remaining ruckman on the right side of 30.
They also need outside run and some height through the midfield. West Coast’s Jarrod Brander might be a chance, as he is well known to new coach Sam Mitchell and his recently-signed offsider Adrian Hickmott.
Ash Browne
Melbourne’s rapid rise has been largely on the back of smart trading and shrewd recruitment, so don’t expect Simon Goodwin’s side to be resting on their laurels despite their Grand Final appearance.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where they need to strengthen so perhaps more midfield depth through the draft is where they’ll look to bolster their stocks. They have also been linked with Fremantle’s Adam Cerra.
Sam Weideman is widely tipped to depart, so the Dees could have some additional draft capital. They currently do not have a first-round pick, which will make it harder for them to get deals done in the trade period.
Laurence Rosen
North Melbourne is at the point of their rebuild where they simply need to stockpile young talent.
They have been strongly linked to Callum Coleman-Jones from Richmond, which makes sense given Todd Goldstein is in the twilight of his career and they don’t have a current proven successor on their list.
The Roos are well stocked in defence with Ben McKay and Aidan Corr, though they could potentially use a younger rebound defender.
Expect the Kangaroos to hit the draft hard again and target midfielders and potentially use their cap space to lure players out of cash strapped clubs.
Nic Negrepontis
One area Port Adelaide should look to bolster is the midfield. Another on-baller is required to support star veteran Travis Boak and Brownlow Medal fancy Ollie Wines.
The Power were linked with Zach Merrett before he re-signed with Essendon and expressed interest in Jack Billlings, who recommitted to St Kilda on Tuesday.
Wantaway Swans defender Jordan Dawson is a chance to land at Alberton after requesting a trade back to SA, but the Crows are also likely to show interest.
Alex Zaia
The Tigers could do with an experienced key defender following David Astbury’s retirement. There is a perfect option who fits that bill in Daniel Talia.
The veteran is without a club after he was delisted by Adelaide and despite an injury-riddled 2021, is adamant he has multiple seasons left in his 29-year-old body.
Could he be used to hold down a defensive slot for a couple of years in order to allow Noah Balta to further develop? Richmond’s other option is one-game 22-year-old Ben Miller, so it depends which path they want to take.
Richmond could also use an established contested ball-winning midfielder with clearance attributes - easier said than done - and a lead-up half-forward with quality ball use in the Isaac Heeney mould. But those are very hard to find.
Andrew Slevison
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St Kilda could do with another quick, skilful midfielder to complement the likes of Jack Steele and Brad Crouch. Geelong speedster Quinton Narkle fits the bill.
The 23-year-old is coming out of contract at the Cats and has shown glimpses of his potential throughout his stop-start career.
Another key defender could be on St Kilda’s radar following the retirements of Jake Carlisle and James Frawley and the delisting of Oscar Clavarino. Ex-Crow Daniel Talia is available as a delisted free agent.
Expect the Saints to take their first-round pick – currently pick No.9 – to the draft. Could an attempted move for young Gold Coast star Ben King be on the cards next year?
Alex Zaia
Sydney are reportedly in a position where they’ll have to let a few players leave to ease pressure on their salary cap.
With Luke Parker re-signed, Jordan Dawson and George Hewett have all been linked with moves away from the Harbour City.
As their salary cap situation means they won’t look to bring in any big names, the Swans should look to increase their draft hand with the players headed to other clubs.
Although Hewett is a free agent, getting a first-round pick, second-round pick and potentially an add-on for Dawson would be good business.
With their departures, the Swans can ease pressure on their cap and gain another chance to add depth to their already elite young brigade.
They could easily head into the draft with four picks inside the top 30, which would be a big win for a club that’s supposedly in a financial hole.
Lachlan Geleit
In positions where retirements loom, such as premiership captain Shannon Hurn’s half-back flank and spearhead Josh Kennedy’s spot in attack, West Coast have players ready to step up.
Where they can improve is with a mature, mobile ruckman to help them maintain their midfield ascendancy when Nic Naitanui is off the ground, which is about 30-35 per cent of the time.
One option is 26-year-old Brisbane ruckman Archie Smith. He made a splash with 30 hit-outs and nine clearances in his first game five years ago, but with Oscar McInerney now preferred, wants a move from his hometown club.
Draftees Luke Edwards and Connor West impressed on the ball, but with Brayden Ainsworth and Xavier O’Neill not having progressed, Adam Simpson needs more players to both relieve and put pressure on his star midfielders.
West Coast could pitch a return home to out-of-favour Geelong midfielders Jordan Clark and Quinton Narkle. Either would add acceleration, and could help Simpson tweak his tactics to get the most from this generation.
Nathan John
Having recruited Brisbane veteran Stefan Martin last summer, the Dogs will once again be in the market for an experienced ruckman.
Martin, who played 57 games for Melbourne and 133 with the Lions, has made just eight appearances in red, white and blue, and will turn 35 in November.
It was evident from the first bounce of the Preliminary Final when Martin jumped into Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett that the Dogs are at their most competitive with a specialist.
Out-of-contract Greater Western Sydney ruckman Matthew Flynn should be in their sights, though the Giants will have every intention of holding onto the 24-year-old.
A partner for defensive linchpin Alex Keath will also be on the whiteboard, with Ryan Gardner, Zaine Cordy and Josh Schache all having rotated through the key defensive posts.
They may have to be proactive, as the Power were in pursuing ex-Swan Aliir Aliir. Luke Beveridge trusts Gardner, but if tempted to the market he will want a ball player, not a stopper.
Nathan John