The RIVAL trade target your AFL team should be scouting throughout 2026

Some trade and free agency deals can often be finalised in the final moments on deadline day, but the first initial steps can be in swing before the AFL home and away season is even underway. Last year's trade window saw 34 players find new homes ahead of the 2026 season, with some deals being completed within hours and others being completed after months in the works. Between both contracted players and free agents, AFL clubs and their list managers will often be scouting targets right from their first games of the season, or enter the new year with signings in mind. With the 2026 season almost underway, each club is sure to have its list of targets coming together, as they plan to scout players across the season. With this list, we name one player your club should be keeping a close eye on in 2026. Adelaide Zac Bailey Zac Bailey is touted as one of the biggest free-agent targets of 2026, with almost every club expressing interest in the forward star. The Lions have tabled an offer for the 26-year-old, but he is expected to take his time and consider other clubs offers. Bailey averaged a career high 20 disposals per game last season while booting 42 goals for the season, and was a key piece in the Lions premiership success in 2024 and 2025. The Crows forward and midfield mix would be taken to another level, adding Bailey to their forward mix alongside Riley Thilthorpe, Izak Rankine, and another dynamic to their midfield mix. Brisbane Aliir Aliir It's hard to find a major weakness and position of need for the Lions, but if anything, they may need another star key defender alongside captain Harris Andrews, and Aliir Aliir would fill that role. Aliir is coming towards the end of his career, and a homecoming and a chance at a premiership would be the best way to finish an AFL career. Alongside Andrews, there is no doubt Alir would be able to get back to his best, as one of the best intercept defenders in the league, still averaging three intercept marks per game, while playing more of a lockdown role at Port Adelaide. Carlton Buku Khamis The Blues were already interested in the Bulldogs' utility during the 2025 trade period, but were unable complete a deal with the Dogs. Carlton will be thin in the forward line for 2026, after Charlie Curnow joined Sydney and left Harry McKay as the sole key forward at the Blues, and Khamis will add the depth that Michael Voss's side needs. Khamis has the versatility to play at both ends of the field, playing as an intercepting defender or taking high-flying marks up forward at the Bulldogs. Collingwood Ben King Another big free agent in 2026, there is no doubt the Suns will be doing everything they can to keep Ben King in the Gold Coast, but there will be several clubs trying to lure him across. The Pies haven't had a star key forward for several years, and Ben King will fill the void in Craig McRae's forward line. King finished second in the Coleman race in 2025, kicking 69 goals during the home and away season, and if the Pies are looking for a final premiership run, they will need to push hard for King in 2026. Essendon Zac Bailey The Bombers are another club pushing hard for Zac Bailey, as they look to develop and add young talent to their side. Essendon have utilised the draft over the last two seasons, adding young talent to their side, and now they will need to add ready-made talent, as they look to climb back up the ladder, and Zac Bailey fits that. Bailey would play a key role in Brad Scott's side, featuring heavily in the midfield and up forward alongside young duo Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako. Fremantle Jedd Busslinger The Bulldogs defender has only featured in seven games over his three years at the Kennel, stuck behind fellow defenders Rory Lobb and James O'Donnell in Luke Beveridge's side. Busslinger may look to leave the Dogs for more opportunities at AFL level, and could head back home to WA for that opportunity. Busslinger has shown his ability in his limited game time so far at the Dogs and will add another layer to the Fremantle backline, alongside Alex Pearce and Brennan Cox. As the Dockers look to push for finals success, Fremantle will look to shore up its side and strengthen its depth of their side. Geelong Rowan Marshall The Cats were pushing hard for Marshall during the 2025 trade period, but were unable get a deal done with St Kilda, and the Cats clearly need to add to their ruck stocks, with Rhys Stanley and Marc Blicavs both towards the end of their career. St Kilda were adamant on retaining Marshall during the 2025 trade period, which means Geelong will have to pay a fair price to lure the ruckman across. Geelong is a key destination club, and if things don't go well for St Kilda in 2026, it won't be a surprise if Marshall looks to leave again. Gold Coast Maurice Rioli It is hard to find an obvious need for the Suns, with their best 23 stacked with elite talent, and young academy talent always coming through, but Rioli will add depth to their small forward stocks after Ben Ainsworth and Malcolm Rosas left in 2025. There is an obvious connection at the Suns for Maurice Rioli, with relative Daniel Rioli at the Suns, and his former head coach taking on the reins in 2024. Rioli has been in and out of the Tigers' side in recent years, missing a large chunk of time with a broken leg, and may not be offered another contract at the end of 2026, as the Tigers look to continue to add young talent to their side. GWS Giants Will McLachlan Drafted in the 2024 midseason draft, McLachlan has shown flashes of his talent and ability across his six games at the Lions, but has been starved of much opportunity, trying to break into the stacked Lions side. The Giants will be looking to add to their forward line, as the likes of Toby Greene and Jake Stringer are heading towards the ends of their careers. McLachlan will continue to look for more playing time at the Lions in 2026, but if he doesn't crack their best 23, the Giants would be a good fit for him. Hawthorn Zach Merrett The former Essendon skipper tried to make a move across to the Hawks in the 2025 trade period, but the teams were unable to complete a deal, and it seems likely that Merrett might try the same again at the end of 2025. The Hawks' main weakness is their midfield heading into 2026, with Will Day set to miss half of the season, and James Worpel's move to the Cats, they are extremely thin. Hawthorn believed Zach Merrett would bring them one step closer to premiership success and would instantly elevate Sam Mitchell's side. Melbourne Mitch Knevitt Knevitt has been starved of midfield minutes at the Cats, and only given a real opportunity when the Cats have seen injuries to their midfield group, but when given the role, he has shown his ability as an AFL quality Midfielder. He is expected to take on a role this year in the forward line, when in the Cats side, and will unlikely spend much time in the midfield again in 2026. The Demons had a drastic change to their list, trading out star midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca, and will be looking to add more young talent alongside their draftees. North Melbourne Nick Vlastuin Alastair Clarkson's Kangaroos need to start making a push up the ladder, and are clear on adding experienced veteran players to help develop their younger side. Their back line is one of their biggest weaknesses, with little experience across the line, and they added premiership experience across their midfield group and forward line with Luke Parker and Jack Darling at the end of 2024, and Nick Vlastuin suits the same mould of player. Vlastuin would help add needed experience to the Roos' defence, and help mentor and develop their younger players, as well as improve their talent and help them climb back up the ladder. Port Adelaide Zac Bailey Another club that would love the services of Zac Bailey and would add another layer to Port Adelaide's forward line, and with the potential loss of Zak Butters, they would have the cash to spend on Bailey. The Power's forward line has lacked the small forward talent over recent years, and Bailey would add that elite small forward talent that Josh Carr's side needs Richmond Max Gruzewski The young Giants' key forward has featured in just 11 games over his three years at the club, stuck behind Jesse Hogan and Aaron Cadman for a spot in the Giants' best 23. In his seven games in 2025, Gruzewski booted 10 goals when filling in for the injured Hogan and showed glimpses of his abilities. The Tigers will be looking to continue to add talent to their young team, and with Tom Lynch nearing retirement, there will be a need for another key forward at Richmond. St Kilda Ben King The Saints reportedly still have enough cap room to sign another big fish in the 2026 offseason, and why not try to pair the King brothers together? Max King has missed plenty of time through injury over the last couple of seasons and has had to play without a key forward. Ben King, unlike his brother, has barely missed any time after his ACL injury in 2022. When both fit, the King brothers would provide a formidable forward duo for the Saints and help them push back into finals contention. Sydney Jordon Butts The key defender fell out of favour in 2025, missing time with a punctured lung, and was unable to break back into the Crows' best 23 for the rest of the year and finals series. Teams were interested in him during last year's trade period, and if Butts can't crack back into the Crows' side, he may look to leave in 2026 when he is a restricted free agent. The Swans will need to add another key defender alongside Tom McCartin to help shore up the defence for a run into the finals again. West Coast Lachie Neale Former Lions captain was rumoured to head back to Western Australia a couple of years ago, but nothing came from it. After a difficult off-season saw him stand down as captain, he may look to head to Western Australia to be closer to his family. The Eagles will be looking to add experience to their side and help develop their young rebuilding team. Bulldogs Zak Butters The Biggest free agent in 2026, Zak Butters, will have nearly every team interested in him, one of the best midfielders in the AFL, and will instantly elevate any team's midfield group. The Bulldogs are the frontrunners so far for Butters, which would instantly give the Dogs one of the best midfielders in the AFL. Port Adelaide will be doing everything they can to keep Butters, but it will be difficult, with several clubs trying to lure him to their club.

			P	W	L	PTS	%
1		CARL	0	0	0	0	0
2		ESS	0	0	0	0	0
3		WB	0	0	0	0	0
4		GEEL	0	0	0	0	0
5		ADEL	0	0	0	0	0
6		MELB	0	0	0	0	0
7		FRE	0	0	0	0	0
8		WCE	0	0	0	0	0
9		GWS	0	0	0	0	0
10		HAW	0	0	0	0	0

The RIVAL trade target your AFL team should be scouting throughout 2026

We name the player your club should have an eye on this year👇

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