The 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period and Free Agency windows are set to open soon, offering a critical opportunity for clubs to reshape their rosters. This period allows for the exchange of players and draft picks, with significant rule changes and strategic implications for all 18 clubs. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what you need to know.
The Trade Period: A Time for Strategic Moves
The AFL Trade Period is a pivotal 10-day window that occurs annually after the Grand Final but before the Telstra AFL Draft. This year, it will commence on Monday, October 6, at 9 am AEDT and close on Wednesday, October 15, at 7:30 pm AEDT. During this time, clubs can exchange players and draft picks, providing a formal setting to enhance their playing lists or draft selections.
Players and draft picks, or a combination thereof, can be traded. While most trades involve two clubs, multi-club exchanges are permitted. A notable rule change this year allows clubs to trade picks up to two years in advance, meaning picks for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 drafts can be included in deals.
Key Dates and Rule Changes
The Free Agency period will open on Friday, October 3, at 9 am AEST and close on Friday, October 10, at 5 pm AEDT. This period is crucial for clubs looking to acquire talent without the need for trades.
One of the significant changes this year involves the ability to trade draft picks two years in advance. This adjustment provides clubs with greater flexibility and strategic options, allowing them to plan for the future while addressing immediate needs.
Draft Selections and the Draft Value Index
Draft selections are typically allocated in reverse order of the finishing ladder from the previous season. For instance, Richmond, finishing 18th in 2025, will receive the first draft pick. However, with the ability to trade picks in advance, the order can vary significantly.
The Draft Value Index (DVI), a system devised by the AFL, assigns a points total to each draft pick to ensure fair value in trades. In 2025, the DVI has been revamped to attribute fewer points to lower-order picks, pushing clubs to pay a ‘fair’ price for players.
Pick No.1 is worth 3000 points, while pick No.54 is worth 14 points. Picks from 55 onwards are valued at zero.
This system helps clubs manage their draft strategies, particularly when matching bids for father-son and Academy players. The DVI also assists in evaluating the fairness of pick swaps, although it’s not a perfect science.
Free Agency: Opportunities and Challenges
Free Agency offers players an alternative route to change clubs, categorized into restricted and unrestricted free agents. Unrestricted free agents, having served eight years or more at one club and being out of contract, can move freely to a new club. This category also includes delisted players, who can join any club without a trade.
Restricted free agents, however, face a more complex process. These players, often among the top earners at their club, can receive offers from rival clubs. If their current club matches the offer, a trade must be negotiated if the player still wishes to leave.
Compensation and Player Movement
The AFL allocates draft picks to clubs with a net loss of free agents, using a formula that considers the player’s new contract and age. Compensation picks can be awarded in various rounds, influencing club strategies during the Trade Period.
Clubs can trade players out of contract or those they intend to re-sign if no suitable trade partner is found. However, players with existing contracts must consent to any trade, retaining the power to veto unwanted moves.
Strategic Considerations and Future Implications
The 2025 AFL Trade Period and Free Agency windows present clubs with both opportunities and challenges. The ability to trade picks two years in advance allows for long-term planning, while the revamped DVI ensures fairer player valuations.
As clubs navigate these changes, strategic decisions made during this period could significantly impact their future success. With the AFL Draft scheduled for November 19-20, teams will continue to refine their rosters, seeking the perfect balance between immediate needs and future potential.
In conclusion, the 2025 AFL Trade Period and Free Agency windows are more than just a time for player movement; they are a strategic battleground where clubs can shape their destinies. As the landscape evolves, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how these changes play out on the field.
