Every club has players on their list that can't crack into their best 22 but might be a good fit for another AFL list.
During the AFL off-season, these players can decide to leave if they are more likely to get opportunities elsewhere.
Success stories from last year include Will Brodie, Mabior Chol and Patrick Lipinski, who played a combined 45 more games in 2022 than they had in the previous year.
This year's trade period is set to be one of the biggest ever and therefore the scope for zero-to-hero trade successes increases.
One of these players is Gold Coast midfielder-turned-defender Jack Bowes who has been slated for a move away from the Suns.
His situation is unique given his sizeable contract rumoured to be worth $850,000 a year for the next two seasons.
Despite being a former first-round draftee, Gold Coast are willing to package Bowes with the seventh pick in this year's draft in order to dump his salary from their books, as reported by AFL Media.
This looms as an attractive trade for a club with the salary cap space to take on Bowes' contract, with Brisbane and Geelong reportedly among those interested.
Clubs only need to look to the success of Brodie's trade to Fremantle last year as evidence of the benefits of such a move.
Brodie averaged almost 27 disposals and played 24 games, including two finals, as an important onballer for the Dockers.
Another fringe player in search of another club is Essendon defender Aaron Francis.
The 25-year-old only played four games in a 2022 season marked by injury and form issues.
Once a highly-touted draft prospect, Francis has the versatility to play in a number of different roles due to his 193cm height and experience playing in different areas of the field.
Fremantle is a club that has to contend with a plethora of fringe players seeking a move away in search of greener pastures after their most successful season since winning the minor premiership in 2015.
Darcy Tucker and Lloyd Meek fit into this category, having both been starved for opportunity during the 2022 season.
Both players signed two-year contract extensions in 2021 but only played a combined 20 games in 2022.
Meek in particular has interest from a bevy of clubs, and Kim Hagdorn told SEN WA’s Drive that he could "double his earnings" at a rival team.
Tucker has nominated North Melbourne as his desired destination this off-season, having been drafted from Victoria in 2015.
Perhaps the most intriguing fringe player in this year's trade period is former All-Australian midfielder Matt Crouch.
Crouch was dropped numerous times throughout the 2022 season, playing just 11 AFL games despite dominating in the SANFL.
He has reportedly been told he will not be offered a deal beyond 2023 and has been linked to a trade away from the Crows previously.
However, Crouch has not officially requested a trade and there doesn't appear to be any clubs forthcoming for his services.
To add to the confusion, Adelaide assistant coach Nathan Van Berlo stated that Crouch is a "required player" a month ago on SEN SA Breakfast.
Other fringe players to watch this trade period include Billy Frampton, who has reportedly requested a trade to Collingwood, Paddy Dow, Ollie Henry and Lewis Melican.
