We're now just days away from the free agency window, while the trade period will be open next week as clubs continue to assess their plans for the off-season.
Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Gold Coast have been among the busiest clubs of the past week, with the quartet set to be major players in the 2022 trade landscape.
Dog Josh Dunkley and Lion Daniel McStay have both requested moves away from their respective clubs, with the total number of confirmed departures now surpassing a dozen names.
Here's all the latest trade news and rumours in the AFL from the past week...
Dunkley decision confirmed as Lions win three-club race
Western Bulldogsย midfielderย Josh Dunkleyย has informed the club of his intentions to joinย Brisbaneย on a rumoured six-year deal.
Dunkley has been weighing up his future in 2022 after hitting pause on contract talks at Whitten Oval, with the Lions andย Portย Adelaideย in the race for the gun onballer.
โJosh has indicated to the club he is seeking to continue his career inย Brisbane,โ Bulldogs list boss Sam Power said in a club statement.
โJosh has been weighing up this decision for some time and this news is obviously disappointing for the club.
Dunkley holds the power to find a second club, while the Lions and Bulldogs will still need to broker a trade to see the midfielder head north.
The six-year-long deal is priced between $700,000-$750,000, according toย News Corp,ย a sum the Bulldogs may have found hard to match.
FULL STORY: Gun Dog set for move northย
McStay confirms Lions departure, Pies move awaits
Brisbaneย has confirmed forward Dan McStay will exercise his rights as a free agent in 2022, with the Lions tall anticipated to secure a move toย Collingwood.
McStay has been closely linked with a switch to the Magpies this season, putting contract talks on hold throughout the year.
A rumoured five-year, $3 million has been flagged for the Victorian spearhead, who now looks certain to return to his home state.
While the Lions did not state McStay has chosen a new club, the club confirmed on Friday afternoon that his tenure in Queensland will come to an end.
READ MORE: Brisbane free agent set to exercise free agency rightย
Clubs circle wantaway Sun as pick-player package offer emerges
A quartet ofย AFLย clubs are believed to be interested in wantaway Suns defenderย Jack Bowes, withย Gold Coastย reportedly open to parting with Pick 7 to help broker a deal and aid their salary cap situation.
It has emerged that Bowes is open to opportunities elsewhere despite being signed to the Queensland club until the end of the 2024 season.
In a revelation that is sure only further satisfy interested clubs, the Suns are willing to package Bowes and their 2022 first-round selection of Pick 7 in a trade, according toย AFL.com.au'sย Cal Twomey.
The move is to see Bowes' heavily back-ended contract be scrapped from the Suns' books, hoping the "sweetener" of Pick 7 would see rival clubs tempted to take on the 24-year-old's hefty financial fee.
According to Twomey,ย Essendon,ย Geelong,ย St Kildaย andย Hawthornย are all in the mix.
READ MORE: Bowes, Pick 7 on offer to interested suitors
Tomlinson undergoes Kennel medicalย
Contractedย Melbourneย defenderย Adam Tomlinsonย has reportedly undergone a medical at Whitten Oval, with theย Western Bulldogsย potentially looking to bolster their key-position stocks for next season.
The 29-year-old managed just the eight appearances in 2022, which add to a tally of 15 games across the past two seasons after Tomlinson's season-ending knee injury in the opening half of last year.
Aย report earlier this week suggested Tomlinson was likely to find a new clubย despite being contracted for a further two seasons with the Demons. Now, according toย RSN'sย Mark Stevens, Tomlinson has been rumoured to have partaken in a medical with the Bulldogs.
"Adam Tomlinson is an interesting one at Melbourne," Stevens toldย Breakfast Clubย on Friday.
"He's had obviously a few injuries, has been squeezed out, Melbourne's key back stocks are pretty good.
"Now my little spies told me that he was out at the Kennel having a medical."
FULL STORY: Demons defender reportedly meets with Bulldogs
Tiger seen as "gettable", clubs begin to circleย
Both South Australian clubs have been named as interested suitors in "gettable"ย Richmondย midfielderย Jack Graham, but it has been reported that a "really strong offer" is needed to pry Graham out of Punt Road.
Graham has emerged as a name that could find a new home this off-season despite his contract status with the Tigers for 2023.
Richmondย are expected to land a double coup ofย GWSย star duoย Tim Tarantoย andย Jacob Hopperย to bolster their midfield for the next seven years, forcingย rival clubs to ask the question of Graham's future.
A product out of Tea Tree Gully in South Australia, Graham's services are understood to be in the sights of both the Crows and Power, withย 9 Newsย reporting that the 24-year-old is seen as attainable despite settling in Victoria.
"Nine News understands that it would take a really strong offer to lure him away from Richmond, especially given he still has a year to run on his deal.
READ MORE: Graham gaining interest from Crows, Port
Long-term deal tabled to De Goey
Since falling agonisingly short in their preliminary final against theย Swans,ย Collingwoodย has now turned their attention to securing talented midfielderย Jordan De Goeyย at the club.
Amid significant interest from Moorabbin, Collingwood is aiming to beat offย St Kildaย for the restricted free agent's services.
In pushing for his signature, the Magpies have offered De Goey a five-year deal to stick with the Magpies going forward, according toย The Age.
However, such a deal would be comprised of a number of behavioural clauses which the 26-year-old would have to adhere to.
Whilst these clauses remain a sticking point in contract discussions, a club source revealed that they are unlikely to be too strict, particularly since the AFLย has already implemented rules and regulations to prevent poor behaviour.
READ: Pies offer five-year deal to star free agentย
Crows eyeing out-of-favour Magpie
Theย Adelaideย Crows are understood to be "keen" onย Collingwoodย midfield-forwardย Caleb Poulterย in a move that could see the young Magpie return to his home state of South Australia.
Poulter is currently among seven Magpies still out of a contract beyond this season, with the teenager facing an uncertain future after notching up just the sole senior game this season.
His position underย Craig McRaeย has seemingly piqued interest from the Crows, withย 7 Newsย Adelaidereporting that the 19-year-old has been linked to a move to West Lakes.
"The Crows are keen to bring Collingwood youngsterย Caleb Poulterย back home," reporter Mark Soderstrom revealed on Thursday night.
"The 19-year-old impressed in his first season with the Pies last year, but managed only the one game in 2022.
"He's yet to be offered a new deal."
FULL STORY: Poulter linked to potential SA return
Hunt's future unclear, Eagles linked
Dashing Demons defenderย Jayden Huntย is understood to be facing an uncertain future atย Melbourne, withย West Coastย showing some level of interest in the free agent.
Hunt is among six players still unsigned for 2023 atย Melbourne, with the sextet headline by wantaway tallย Luke Jackson, who is seeking a move to Western Australia.
But Hunt could join Jackson in a move West, withย AFL.com.au'sย Cal Twomey revealing the 27-year-old is on the radar ofย West Coast.
Speaking onย SEN,ย Twomey revealed that Hunt faces an uncertain future with the Demons despite holding his place underย Simon Goodwinย for a majority of this season.
โHe played 20 games this year, including the finals series, but his future is uncertain,โ Twomey said onย SEN Breakfast.
โHe remains without a deal for next year. Heโs an unrestricted free agent so he could walk to wherever he got a contract offer.
READ MORE: Demons free agent left in limboย
Grundy dissatisfied with Magpies-Melbourne move
Brodie Grundyย is all but set to make a move toย Melbourneย this trade period, perย SEN's Sam Edmund, with something "extraordinary" seemingly the only thing standing in the way of a deal being done.
Grundy managed just six games for the Pies this season as he dealt with ongoing injuries, finding his spot in theย Collingwoodย side placed more precariously as time went on.
While a move across town to the Demons is looking likely for Grundy, Edmund reports that the move is not one that was planned by the 28-year-old.
โIfย Adam Treloarย was 10 out of 10 on the anger scale with his departure, this isnโt that far behind from my understanding,โ Edmund said.
โBrodie Grundyย has never been scared to speak his mind and I just wonder when itโs all said and done if heโll express dissatisfaction with how itโs all played out.
โAt the end of the day, he wanted to stay at Collingwood."
FULL STORY: Grundy not wanting Collingwood exitย
Bombers linked to Saints onballer
St Kildaย youngsterย Jack Bytelย has reportedly fielded interest fromย Essendonย after a difficult year at Moorabbin.
Bytel, who was touted as a potential top-10 pick before a serious back injuryย derailed his draft year,ย slid down the draft order and was eventually selected at pick 41 of the 2018ย AFLย draft by the Saints.
The sturdy inside midfielder endured a difficult 2022 season and failed to play a senior game as he was overtaken by a strong cohort of first-yearย St Kildaย players that includesย Mitchito Owens,ย Nasiah Wanganeen-Mileraย andย Marcus Windhager.
Windhager, in particular, plays a similar midfield role to Bytel and has shown no trace of the back injury that, ironically, caused him to fall down the pecking order in his draft year.
However, whilst a St Kilda contract may not be forthcoming,ย Essendon is interested in acquiring the 22-year-old to bolster their list, according to Sam Edmund.
FULL STORY: Bytel on Bombers' radarย
Suns forward gaining rival interestย
Fringeย Gold Coastย forwardย Chris Burgessย is the latest Suns player linked to the exit in what is shaping to be a significant off-season for the Carrara club.
The Suns are believed to be looking to amend their salary cap situation for the future, with the off-season of 2022 likely to see a wave of names depart the club.
According to AFL.com.au,ย Corbett is the latest name to join the list of Suns players gaining external interest, with rivals circling the out-of-contract key forward.
The combination of Burgess and Corbett was a lethal pairing for the Suns, but despite their best form couldn't break intoย Stuart Dew's side often enough this season.
FULL STORY: Burgess latest Sun linked to exit
Goodwin perplexed by Kozzie rumours
Melbourneย Coachย Simon Goodwinย is positive livewire smallย Kysaiah Pickettย will remain at the club despite his name being linked with a shift away from the club.
The former 12th pick in the 2019 draft remains contracted for next year, however,ย Port Adelaide is hunting hard for the 21-year-old.
The Power are in search of a small forward to fill the void created by the retirement of club championย Robbie Gray, althoughย West Coastย Eagleย Junior Rioliย has confirmed his desire to join the teal, black and white.
Speaking onย RSN on Wednesday morning, Goodwin stated he is mystified about where the rumours of Pickett's potential departure first began.
"We can't understand where this story has come from," Goodwin began.
"'Kozzie' left his exit interview a few days ago and he can't speak more highly enough ofย Melbourne,ย his love of the footy club, his love for his teammates, and his joy to be in our program. I'm not sure where these rumours have started from, but he's going to be aย Melbourneย player for a long time."
READ MORE: Demons bemused amid ongoing speculation around gun forward
Lion looped into Dunkley trade talkย
A steep asking price for midfielderย Josh Dunkleyย could see theย Brisbaneย Lions offloading young talentย Deven Robertsonย toย West Coastย for a stronger draft hand, reports theย Herald Sun'sย Jon Ralph.
"The Dogs will ask for two first-rounders because they think (Dunkley) actually improved as a player recently," Ralph toldย Fox Footyโs On the Couch.
"Imagine bringing in Gunston, Dunkley, theย Nick Daicosย equivalent inย Will Ashcroft, so they use up all their picks on their two father-sons.
"They'll have to get inventive then, so I think theyโre gonna have to consider the likes ofย Deven Robertsonย -ย West Coastย very keen.
"They'll get this deal done but it's going to take every pick this year and next, that might be OK."
READ: Robertson could find new home as Lions assess Dunkley dealย
How Lions can solve sizeable Dunkley and draft duo dilemma
Things are suddenly looking brighter in Springfield just days afterย Brisbane's 71-point preliminary final thrashing at the hands ofย Geelong, with an off-season of brimming optimism officially underway.
Falling one win short of a grand final berth,ย Chris Faganย will be buoyed by his side's September showing after entering the post-season unfavoured to step pastย Richmondย in the opening week.
It sees the Lions' list well-placed for the years to come, hoping to add to four successive top third finishes and soon claw themselves back to the summit of the competition.
the Lions will be looking at how they can take the next step, or two, for next season. And it seems as though the ink in some ticked boxes is already dry.
Father-son prodigy and worthy Pick 1 prospectย Will Ashcroftย has already pledged his allegiance to the Lions, while fellow father-son draft hopefulย Jaspa Fletcherย is also in line to joinย Brisbaneย as a top 25 selection at this year's National Draft.
Add in wantaway Bulldogย Josh Dunkley's request to join the Den on a long-term deal, and suddenly the lights are shining brighter in the Sunshine State.
But while the trio of seemingly imminent arrivals combine to formulate a mouth-watering list of additions toย Brisbane's already talent-rich list, the avenue to land Dunkley, Ashcroft and Fletcher isn't an easy one.
HOW IT GETS DONE: Dunkley, draft duo to land with Lions
