The trade period can so often be such a massive build-up for such little return, but that couldn’t be further from the case this year. From top-flight superstars and club captains changing sides, to other skippers unsuccessfully trying to force their way out, 2025 had it all.

We have graded every club’s performance – and ranked them from one to 18 – through the free agency and trade period to find the best- and worst-performed sides in this year’s player movement window...

1. Gold Coast

In: Christian Petracca (Melbourne/trade); Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs/trade); Picks 24, 28, 29, 52; 2026 second-round pick (Melbourne); 2026 third-round pick (Essendon)

Out: Ben Ainsworth (Carlton/trade); Connor Budarick (Western Bulldogs/trade); Brayden Fiorini (Essendon/trade); Sam Flanders

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