The 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period and Free Agency windows are set to open soon, offering a critical opportunity for clubs to refine their rosters ahead of the upcoming season. This year, several rule changes and strategic implications are expected to shape the player movement landscape. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Trade Period and Free Agency.
Key Dates and Structure of the Trade Period
The AFL Trade Period is a 10-day window occurring after the Grand Final and before the Telstra AFL Draft. This period allows all 18 clubs to exchange players and draft picks in a formal setting, aiming to enhance their playing lists or selections at the Draft.
This year’s Free Agency period opens on Friday, October 3, at 9 am AEST and closes on Friday, October 10, at 5 pm AEDT. The Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period will commence on Monday, October 6, at 9 am AEDT and close on Wednesday, October 15, at 7:30 pm AEDT. During this time, Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio will be broadcasting daily from 7 am to 6 pm AEDT, providing the latest updates on player movements.
What Can Be Traded?
During the Trade Period, clubs can trade players and draft picks, or a combination of both. This year introduces a significant rule change, allowing clubs to trade picks two years in advance. Consequently, clubs can now trade picks for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 drafts. While most trades involve two clubs, exchanges involving three or more are also permitted.
Draft selections are typically allocated in reverse order of the finishing ladder from the previous season. For instance, Richmond, having finished 18th in 2025, will receive the first draft pick. This process repeats a minimum of three times, but can extend further depending on each club’s list needs.
Draft Value Index and Its 2025 Changes
The Draft Value Index (DVI) is an AFL-devised system that assigns a points total to each draft pick. This system ensures clubs pay ‘fair value’ for father-son selections or Academy players. For example, pick No.1 is valued at 3000 points, while pick No.2 is worth 2481 points. The DVI also helps clubs and the AFL assess the fairness of pick swaps.
In 2025, the DVI system has been revamped to attribute fewer points to draft picks further down the order, compelling clubs to pay a fair price for players. This adjustment is expected to influence trading strategies significantly.
Understanding Free Agency
Free Agency provides players with another avenue to change clubs, classified into two types: restricted and unrestricted. Unrestricted free agents, having served eight years or more at one club and being out of contract, can move freely to a club of their choice. This category includes delisted free agents, who can join any club without a trade.
Restricted free agents, typically among the top 25 percent of wage earners at their club, can receive offers from other clubs. If their current club matches the offer, a trade must be negotiated if the player wishes to move.
Free Agency Compensation
The AFL allocates draft picks to clubs experiencing a net loss of free agents over a Trade Period, using a formula based on the free agent’s new contract and age. These compensatory picks can be allocated in various rounds, affecting clubs’ draft strategies.
Additional Trade Period Insights
While clubs can trade players who are out of contract, they require the player’s consent if they have existing contract years remaining. Players can veto any proposed trade they disagree with.
A practice known as a ‘salary dump’ may occur when clubs close to the salary cap trade expensive players along with draft picks to incentivize other clubs to absorb their contracts.
Even after the Trade Period closes, clubs can sign delisted free agents and exclusively trade draft picks until and during the Telstra AFL Draft, scheduled for November 19-20.
The 2025 AFL Trade Period and Free Agency windows are poised to bring significant changes to club rosters, influenced by new rules and strategic opportunities. As clubs navigate these complexities, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how these developments shape the future of the AFL.
