Trade wrap: The 14 free agents left in limbo after close of window

The 2025 AFL trade period is here and there is plenty to talk about.

AFL Trade Radio is up and running and hitting the airwaves every day.

Follow us live throughout the trade period and we will bring you all the breaking news.

6:15pm - The free agents still available after window closes

The free agency window officially closed at 5pm (AEDT).

Several players found new homes during that period, while some are still in limbo.

While a raft of other free agents retired or were delisted, there's still some free agents who are in limbo.

These free agents will hope to pick up a contract at their current club in the coming weeks or find a new home as a delisted free agent beyond that post the trade period.

Available free agents.

Chris Burgess (Adelaide), Darragh Joyce (Brisbane), Mason Cox (Collingwood), Will Setterfield (Essendon), Jed Bews (Geelong), Cameron Guthrie (Geelong), Brayden Fiorini (Gold Coast - will get a trade to Essendon), Nick Holman (Gold Coast), Seamus Mitchell (Hawthorn), Jack Carroll (St Kilda), Jake Lloyd (Sydney), Oskar Baker (Western Bulldogs), Jason Johannisen (Western Bulldogs) and Caleb Poulter (Western Bulldogs).

Delisted free agents can still be traded this trade period or signed by rivals once the trade period closes on October 15.

5:17pm - Lion set to be delisted ahead of Eagles move

Trade Radio's Cal Twomey has reported that Brisbane's Deven Robertson is set to be delisted by the reigning premiers.

The West Australian has struggled to break into the side since 2023 having only played six games.

According to Twomey, it opens the door for him to join West Coast as a delisted free agent or rookie.

3:37pm - Swan's link to Curnow trade not being pushed by player

James Rowbottom isn't pushing for a move away from Sydney after his name was discussed in Charlie Curnow trade talks, reports SEN's Tom Morris.

Sam Edmund reported earlier today that Rowbottom, Pick 11 and a future pick have been thrown in the mix as the Swans look to secure a deal for the two-time Coleman winner.

Despite that, Rowbottom's manager Matt Bain says his client is happy at Sydney and wants to remain in the red and white in 2026.

1:50pm - Carlton trade for former first-round pick

Carlton's getting busy.

The Blues have acquired West Coast's Campbell Chesser for pick 41, reports Trade Radio's Cal Twomey.

Chesser was originally drafted by the Eagles at pick 14 in 2021 but played only 36 games in blue and gold across four seasons as he dealt with injury issues.

He'll now head home to Melbourne where he'll become a Navy Blue.

1:34pm - Three-way trade involving Suns, Blues and Port

Mitch Cleary is reporting the three-way trade between Gold Coast, Carlton and Port Adelaide is being lodged.

Port get: Corey Durdin, future second rounder (via Carlton)
Gold Coast get: Pick 29 (via Port)
Carlton get: Ben Ainsworth, pick 67 (via Port)

1:00pm - Suns forward set for Carlton, Blues forward to join Port

Ben Ainsworth is set to land at Carlton via trade, reports Trade Radio's Cal Twomey.

The 27-year-old was given the opportunity the assess his trade options by Gold Coast, and Twomey now expects him to move to Ikon Park despite having three years left on his contract.

Ainsworth was drafted out of the Gippsland Power at pick No. 4 in the 2016 Draft. He's played 158 games for Gold Coast across nine seasons.

Additionally, Channel 7's Mitch Cleary is reporting that with Ainsworth possibly joining the Blues, small forward Corey Durdin could leave for Port Adelaide.

It will likely be a three-way trade with something going to Gold Coast.

12:15 – Pies have preliminary interest in Roos skipper

Collingwood have an element of interest in trading for North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin, Trade Radio’s Josh Gabelich has confirmed.

As confirmed by Harry Sheezel originally on SEN, Simpkin is frustrated with his role at North Melbourne and wants to play inside midfield in 2026.

With Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch also telling Trade Radio that on-ball is the club’s number one area of concern, a move for the 27-year-old could make sense.

The Age’s Marc McGowan was the first to report Collingwood’s interest, and Gabelich added that no offer has been made yet.

“People have been asking for some information on Collingwood and Jy Simpkin,” Gabelich told Trade Radio.

“This was a report originally from Marc McGowan in The Age last night.

“Collingwood’s registered some preliminary interest in the North Melbourne skipper.

“There’s no offer just yet and a lot to work through, but there is an element of interest I believe now from Collingwood.

“That’s certainly one to watch.”

Simpkin is contracted until the end of the 2029 season on what many believe is a big money deal.

10:40am - Swan's name raised in Curnow talks

The name of Sydney's James Rowbottom has been raised in talks with Carlton regarding Charlie Curnow.

Sam Edmund is reporting that Rowbottom, Pick 11 and a future pick have been thrown in the mix.

10:30am - Mihocek becomes a Demon

Brody Mihocek has joined Melbourne from Collingwood.

The forward and Pick 71 head to the Demons, while the Magpies receive Pick 61 and a third-round pick in the 2026 draft.

9:30am - Giants address Aleer situation

GWS’ GM of footy, Jason McCartney, has addressed the Leek Aleer situation after the defender’s proposed move to St Kilda was abandoned by the Saints.

McCartney insists that Aleer, 24, is shattered by the decision of the Saints to backflip on what many thought was basically a done deal.

The Giants’ footy boss made it clear that the trade itself was not complicated as he stopped short of stating why exactly the Saints pulled out.

“I’d like to get it on the record that this wasn’t a difficult trade negotiation,” McCartney said on AFL Trade Radio. “That’s absolutely fact.

“The other thing though is we’re not privy to other clubs’ strategies and how they’re going to operate through this period. I’m loathe to make comment on what other clubs are doing.

“But what I will say is Leek is shattered. He’s incredibly disappointed. Both Adam Kingsley and myself spoke with him yesterday afternoon. He’s in Barcelona.

“He loves our footy club. He was in tears at his exit interview. The reason for leaving was great opportunity to play regular football and it was obviously a good offer.

“As hard as it was he made the decision to leave and it had been something that we’d factored in from a long way out.

“A second-round (pick) was part of it. You can trade two years into the future too now, there’s plenty of mechanisms. I’ll leave it at that.”

The Giants have re-contracted 16 players since it became apparent to them earlier in the year that Aleer would be leaving.

Despite that fact, they have made room in their salary cap for Aleer to play on with them if he wises.

“There’s a contract there with us. Leek is more than welcome to be playing at the Giants next year,” McCartney added.

“There is something there, but he’s in shock at the moment. Our thoughts are more with him.

“What happened yesterday, we don’t know exactly what’s gone down, but it doesn’t impact us. It’s not like we had that pick lined top for anything else. Our concern and care is with the individual.”

7:30am - Marshall won’t be leaving St Kilda

St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall will not be leaving the club this trade period.

The 29-year-old had requested a trade to Geelong, but according to Sam Edmund, talks between the two clubs have broken down.

As a result, Marshall will remain at Moorabbin where he is contracted until the end of 2027.

“I wonder if this is insofar as affecting their decision to walk away from (Leek) Aleer because they will not be trading Rowan Marshall anymore,” Edmund said on AFL Trade Radio.

“We know that talks with Geelong have broken down. Whether Geelong walked away, as has been suggested elsewhere, or St Kilda shut it down - I don’t know exactly.

“But I can tell you that Rowan Marshall will remain at St Kilda. There is no world where he is going to be traded.

“This has gone from Ross Lyon saying contracted players like Marshall won’t be going anywhere to Gubby Allan on Monday leaving the door ajar by saying, ‘Oh, we’ll just see what happens’.

“This isn’t landing anywhere, at least not anymore. Marshall formally requested a trade to Geelong but it will not be happening.

“The Saints say he’ll sit down with Ross Lyon, everything will be smoothed over, Rowan will be fine, he’s contracted for two more years.

“That (trade) has completely and utterly broken down and now the Saints are rock solid on him staying there for the duration of his contract.”