The AFL trade and free agency period for 2023 has finally concluded with a swag of deals getting done on deadline day.
Hawthorn made an incredible six deals in a big surprise, while Port Adelaide got their much-mooted trades finalised.
How did your club fare during the player movement period?
The Sporting News gives out their ratings.
AFL trade club by club deals and rating
Adelaide - B
Received: Chris Burgess, pick 14, end of first-round (for Tom Doedee), future second (tied to Melbourne)
Gave: Shane McAdam, Pick 23, Pick 26
The Crows lost Shane McAdam to Melbourne, but the medium forward was surplus to requirements with Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele forming a partnership, while Luke Pedlar played plenty of football also.
Chris Burgess provides depth for key position, while the draft picks coming in and out provide basically a net draw.
Brisbane - B+
Received: Tom Doedee, Brandon Ryan, Pick 39, Pick 54, future fourth (tied to Hawthorn)
Gave: Tom Fullarton, Jack Gunston, future second (tied to Brisbane), Pick 61
Brisbane's defence is definitely improved by a fit Tom Doedee, once he recovers from an ACL injury, while Brandon Ryan is a free swing at key forward depth.
Both Tom Fullarton and Jack Gunston were likely not a part of the Lions best 22.
Carlton - B
Received: Elijah Hollands, Pick 21, future fourth (tied to St Kilda), future fourth (tied to Bulldogs)
Gave: Zac Fisher, Paddy Dow, Pick 17, future third (tied to Carlton), future fourth (tied to Carlton)
Effectively turned Zac Fisher and Paddy Dow into Elijah Hollands, with a slight upgrade in picks.
The jury is out on Hollands, while Fisher and Dow played some decent football in 2023.
Collingwood - B+
Received: Lachie Schultz, Pick 33, future second, future third (both tied to Hawthorn)
Gave: Jack Ginnivan, Taylor Adams, future first (tied to Collingwood), Pick 39, future second, future fourth (both tied to Collingwood)
Pulled off the surprise trade of the period with snaring Lachie Schultz, who is an upgrade on the 2023 version of Jack Ginnivan, who departs for Hawthorn.
Taylor Adams had already been phased out of the Magpies midfield.
Essendon - A
Received: Ben McKay, Todd Goldstein, Jade Gresham, Xavier Duursma, Pick 35
Gave: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Pick 52, future third (tied to Essendon), future fourth (tied to Essendon), Pick 73
In terms of capital given up, the Bombers have brought in some experienced players for not much loss.
Whether those players can get Essendon to the promised land is the big question.
It's going to rely on plenty of their young talent standing up.
Fremantle - C+
Received: Future first (tied to Port Adelaide), future first (tied to Collingwood), future second, future fourth (both tied to St Kilda)
Gave: Lachie Schultz, Liam Henry, Pick 23, future second (tied to Fremantle), future fourth (tied to Fremantle)
The Dockers acquired two extra first-round picks for 2024 but has an issue with player retention, with two talents leaving.
If Fremantle snare Logan McDonald next trade period, then maybe the player losses will have been worth it.
Geelong - D
Received: Pick 25, Pick 76, Pick 94
Gave: Esava Ratugolea
A pretty uneventful period for the Cats, who lose Esava Ratugolea and get a second round pick back with steak knives.
Geelong are no longer topping up. Is that the signal of a rebuild?
Gold Coast Suns - A
Received: Future first (tied to Bulldogs), future end of first (NM special assistance), Pick 23, Pick 26, Pick 28, Pick 35, future second (tied to Brisbane), future third (tied to Essendon)
Gave: Mabior Chol, Elijah Hollands, Chris Burgess, Pick 4, Pick 46, Pick 51, future fourth (tied to Gold Coast)
The Suns banked all the points for the four academy talents they need to bid on and chopped the dead wood.
Props to Gold Coast for getting their business done early as well.
GWS - C+
Received: End of second round (for Matt Flynn)
Gave:
A great result with the compensation pick for Matt Flynn but a quiet period otherwise.
Chased Adelaide's Elliott Himmelberg but ultimately missed out.
Hawthorn - A
Received: Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston, Jack Ginnivan, Massimo D'Ambrosio, Pick 47, Pick 49, future second, Pick 44, Pick 62, Pick 63
Gave: Jacob Koschitzke, Tyler Brockman, Brandon Ryan, Pick 33, pick 54, future second future third, future fourth (all tied to Hawthorn)
Six deals for Hawthorn on deadline day as they become the big mover and shaker.
Plenty of support added in the forward line for Mitch Lewis and Luke Breust with Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston and Jack Ginnivan, while they also snare Massimo D'Ambrosio.
The Hawks are backing their kids with only only one pick (no.4) in the top 43.
Melbourne - B
Received: Jack Billings, Shane McAdam, Tom Fullarton, Pick 11, end of second (for James Jordon), future third (tied to Bulldogs)
Gave: James Harmes, Pick 14, Pick 27, future second (tied to Melbourne) Pick 35, Pick 47, future third (tied to Melbourne)
A strange period for the Demons, who bring in three senior players who didn't play much football in 2023.
McAdam should be a dangerous addition to the Melbourne forward line, while Billings and Fullarton look like free swings.
North Melbourne - A+
Received: Zac Fisher, Dylan Stephens, Bigoa Nyuon, Toby Pink, first round (for Ben McKay), Pick 17, Pick 18
Gave: Two future end of first, Pick 21, Pick 65
Although helped by the AFL assistance picks and generous free agency compensation for Ben McKay, you can't argue with how the Kangaroos have played their hand.
All players brought in have varied ceilings and a swag of talented draftees are on their way in also, with pick two and three in North's hand.
Port Adelaide - C+
Received: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, Jordan Sweet, Pick 73, two future fourths (tied to Essendon and Carlton)
Gave: Xavier Duursma, Future first (tied to Port Adelaide), Pick 41, Pick 49, future fourth (tied to Port Adelaide), Pick 76, Pick 94
All or nothing for Port Adelaide, who only have pick 73 in the national draft, but bring in four key position players.
The question is whether any of those players can step up to an elite level and get the Power to the promised land.
Richmond - C+
Received: Jacob Koschitzke, Pick 41, future second (tied to Fremantle), future fourth (tied to Port Adelaide)
Gave: Ivan Soldo, Bigoa Nyuon, Pick 50
Losing Ivan Soldo was not what Richmond wanted but they at least secured support for Tom Lynch in Hawks forward Jacob Koschitzke.
Looks like the Tigers are going to the draft with at least a mini-rebuild on their hands.
St Kilda - B+
Received: Liam Henry, Paddy Dow, end of first (for Jade Gresham), future third (tied to Carlton), Pick 40, future third (tied to Melbourne)
Gave: Jack Billings, Nick Coffield, Future second, future fourth (both tied to St Kilda), Pick 35, Pick 56
Liam Henry and Paddy Dow could be good acquisitions but the Saints will be disappointed to lose Nick Coffield, who finished fifth in their best and fairest in 2020.
The Saints were also lucky to get great free agency compensation for losing Jade Gresham to Essendon.
Sydney - A
Received: Taylor Adams, Brodie Grundy, James Jordon, Joel Hamling, end of first (NM special assistance)
Gave: Pick 25, Pick 33, future second (tied to Sydney), pick 46
The Swans have topped up with four players they believe will play in their best 22.
Needs such as a ruck and midfield depth have been attended to in Adams, Jordon and Grundy.
Hamling will be a solid defensive option.
West Coast - B
Received: Matt Flynn, Tyler Brockman
Gave: Pick 44, Pick 63
It's pretty clear the Eagles are focused on going to the draft but they bring in two best 22 players for low capital.
Flynn should be number one ruck while Brockman has untapped potential.
Western Bulldogs - A
Received: James Harmes, Nick Coffield, Pick 5, Pick 46, Pick 50, Pick 51, Pick 52, Pick 56
Gave: Jordon Sweet, Pick 10, Pick 17, future first (tied to Bulldogs), Pick 40, future third, future fourth (both tied to Bulldogs)
The Bulldogs get the required points to deal with any bids on Jordan Croft, while also bringing in mature talent like Harmes and Coffield.
Pick five will also mean the club can get one potential star in the draft.
