The 2025 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period and Free Agency windows are pivotal events in the Australian Football League calendar, offering clubs a strategic opportunity to enhance their rosters. As these periods approach, understanding the key dates, rule changes, and implications is crucial for clubs and fans alike.
Understanding the Trade Period
The Trade Period is a 10-day window that follows each year’s Grand Final but precedes the Telstra AFL Draft. During this time, all 18 AFL clubs can exchange players and draft picks in a formal setting. This period is crucial for clubs aiming to improve their playing lists or draft selections.
This year, the Trade Period commences on Monday, October 6 at 9am AEDT and concludes on Wednesday, October 15 at 7:30pm AEDT. Meanwhile, the Free Agency period opens a few days earlier, on Friday, October 3 at 9am AEST, and closes on Friday, October 10 at 5pm AEDT.
What Can Be Traded?
In the Trade Period, clubs can trade players, draft picks, or a combination of both. The AFL verifies these exchanges, although the participating clubs determine what constitutes a fair trade. Notably, a rule change this year allows clubs to trade picks two years in advance, meaning they can trade picks for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 drafts.
While most trades involve two clubs, multi-club exchanges are permitted, allowing for more complex deals.
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, having finished 18th in 2025, will receive the first draft pick. However, trades and other factors can alter this order.
The AFL employs a Draft Value Index (DVI) to assign a points value to each draft pick. This system ensures clubs pay fair value for father-son selections or Academy players. For example, pick No.1 is worth 3000 points, while pick No.2 is worth 2481 points.
In 2025, a revamped DVI system will debut, attributing fewer points to lower draft picks to ensure fair player pricing.
Free Agency: A Path to Club Changes
Free Agency provides another avenue for player movement. There are 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 also includes delisted free agents.
Restricted free agents, often star players, are in the top 25% of wage earners at their club. If another club makes an offer, the player’s current club can match it. If the player still wishes to leave, a trade must be arranged.
Free Agency Compensation and Trade Restrictions
The AFL allocates draft picks to clubs with a net loss of free agents using a points-based formula. This formula considers the free agent’s new contract and age, with compensation picks allocated in various draft rounds.
While clubs can trade out-of-contract players they intend to re-sign, a player’s consent is required if they have remaining contract years. Players can veto any proposed trade they disagree with.
Salary Dumps and Additional Considerations
Clubs nearing their salary cap may engage in ‘salary dumps,’ trading expensive players who are out of favor. To entice another club to take on the player’s contract, a draft pick may be included in the deal.
Even after the Trade Period closes, delisted free agents can still be signed. Additionally, clubs can exclusively trade draft picks up until and during the Telstra AFL Draft, scheduled for November 19-20.
As the AFL landscape continues to evolve, these periods remain critical for clubs aiming to build competitive teams. The strategic moves made during the Trade and Free Agency periods can significantly impact the league’s dynamics in the upcoming season.
