The free agency window is officially open for season 2026, and the trade period is merely hours from opening, too.
The news cycle went into overdrive this week, with a stream of mooted moves, completed defections, compensation picks, and posturing from players and clubs alike seemingly never running dry.
Feeling out of the loop? You've come to the right place.
Here's everything you may have missed!
Enigmatic Cat, beloved Demon undergo medicals with rival clubs
Cat Gryan Miers, before jetting off abroad for his end-of-season trip, underwent a precautionary medical with the West Coast Eagles.
Miers - who played much of the year on a partially torn ACL - has maintained his desire to stay in Geelong's hoops, but underwent the assessment in case plans change while he is on holidays.
Miers is one of many proverbial pies the Eagles have their talons in; the club hosted wantaway Demon Jack Viney during the week, in the hopes of luring the hard-nosed midfielder and the leadership the club is in such dire need of, to their rebuilding environment.
The Eagles are also understood to be keen on Viney's teammate, Trent Rivers.
Viney also underwent a medical at the Hangar this weekend, with Essendon interested in him for the same reasons the Eagles are. The premiership-winning former skipper must weigh up what is best for his football and his family after being told youth will be the priority at the club of his drafting.
Modern marvel joins third club
As was forecast, Brisbane Lion Lachie Neale joined Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent, on a three-year deal.
The dual Brownlow Medallist leaves a glittering legacy in the River City - a place where he collected Charlie twice, an All-Australian blazer four times, a Leigh Matthews Trophy once, and the premiership cup, thrice.
More than that, though, he helped rehabilitate the game in its northern frontier.
Now, a new challenge awaits the proud competitor. He joins a midfield already populated by Nick Daicos and Jordan de Goey, and will play a pivotal role in the development of players like Ed Allan and Sam Swadling, as the Pies, and the rest of the competition, look to bridge the gap to Neale's former club.
The Lions received Pick 39 as compensation for his defection.
Key position players head for greener pastures
Ruckman Kieren Briggs has joined the Richmond Tigers as the club prepares for life after Toby Nankervis, with his former club, the Giants, receiving Pick 46 as compensation.
Briggs is not the only member of the rucking fraternity with an eye on the exit, with St Kilda's Rowan Marshall posturing for a move to Geelong.
Everyone looks better in yellow and black 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/qsSAPpgQ25
— Richmond FC 🐯 (@Richmond_FC) October 2, 2026
In two other moves mooted from a long way out, Swans forward Joel Amartey exercised his free agency rights and joined Carlton, and defender Jordon Butts followed suit, trading Adelaide Crows colours for those of the Western Bulldogs.
The Swans and Crows receive compensation Picks 36 and 33, respectively.
Welcome to the red, white and blue, Jordon!! ❤️🤍💙 pic.twitter.com/LiPOqsKpeF
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) October 4, 2026
Delisted Docker courted by Dons
In a brutal reminder of the business of football, beloved Docker Bailey Banfield was delisted by Fremantle a week removed from the utility taking receipt of the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
Essendon, however, are primed to swoop on the Claremont product as a delisted free agent, with his age, experience in a high-performing environment and leadership on and off the field, appealing to the rebuilding powerhouse.
The 28-year-old would be a low-risk acquisition for Mark McVeigh and co, if he can be convinced to trade Western Australia's sunny expanses for the Melbourne footy fishbowl in the hopes of extending his career.
Forgotten Lion eyes new beginning
Brisbane Lions half-back flanker Keidean Coleman was in Norm Smith Medal calculations at the half-time mark of the 2023 Grand Final.
Bobby Hill won the medal, and Collingwood, the game, and Coleman, through injury and form, was resigned to watch from the stands as his Lions won the next three premierships.
He is now reportedly seeking a fresh start elsewhere, in the wake of such a heartbreaking three years of football.
No suitors have emerged as yet, but most clubs in the league could do with a healthy Coleman and his laser-like distribution coming out of trouble. He is also as ferocious as they come, notably executing a stellar bump on Steele Sidebottom earlier this year.
Watch this space!
Geelong get their man, but are not done yet
The greatest Giant yet has left Sydney's west, trading his orange and charcoal for the hoops of the Geelong Cats.
After 15 years with the Giants, Toby Greene has signed a three-year deal with the Cats, reuniting him with best mate Jeremy Cameron, and landing GWS Pick 26 as compensation.
The Cats now turn their attention to the pursuits of Rowan Marshall and Jordan Ridley, with the Saint and the Bomber representing key position pillars that would materially impact the side's spine positively, and see the club progress further than 2026's semi-final round, next year.
