While players and coaches are gearing up for another campaign after a long pre-season, list managers have also been pulling strings before a ball has bounced almost a year out from the 2025 trade period.
While not a common occurrence, pre-season trade news has been a feature this year as star players Luke Davies-Uniacke, Matt Rowell, Oscar Allen and Tom De Koning have calls to make.
Reports have gone as far as to suggest Allen and Rowell have spoken to other clubs over the off-season, with club list managers getting their interest in early.
With this year's crop of off-contract names still home to a plethora of quality players, we've looked at who could be up for grabs and which clubs are positioned as potential landing spots.
With this list, we name the one player your club should be keeping a close eye on in 2025.
The Crows' fascination with Sam Draper comes from the club's desire to bolster its ruck stocks.
Draper originally hails from South Australia and the pull home will be used in negotiation talks with the former soccer player.
Adelaide signed ex-Swan Lachlan McAndrew in desperation following the move of ruckman Kieran Strachan to the inactive list.
Veteran tall Reilly O'Brien continues to hold the No.1 spot at West Lakes but was found out of the senior side in 2024 following a dip in form.
Matthew Nicks does have forward-ruck Riley Thilthorpe if need be but the preference would be to keep him inside 50.
So from Adelaide's perspective, the 26-year-old Draper is a perfect fit.
Out Daniher, in Allen?
If Brisbane had their way, it would happen.
It has become known that the 2024 premiers have invested their interest in luring the Eagles captain to the northern states.
Allen is a Western Australian product, so to pull him from his roots will be difficult, except for one thing...
The Lions and Eagles are on the opposite ends of the ladder. And Brisbane isn't going anywhere fast.
Chris Fagan has created a perfect environment to lure star players to the Lions, as well as retaining a whole bunch to perpetually contend for the flag, reflected by six finals series in a row.
Allen has played one final in seven years, and that poor record is expected to increase, giving Brisbane the perfect leverage.
If you've got one, you might as well go for the second.
Carlton has been screaming to find Jacob Weitering some key defensive assistance and joining his brother Tom in the navy blue could be an offer he might not refuse.
De Koning is a premiership backman at Geelong but found himself out of the senior side late in 2024 through injury before being trialled in the ruck.
But the crash and bash of the role may not necessarily suit Sam, although it may suit his brother.
The Blues have experimented with Lewis Young, Caleb Marchbank, Mitch McGovern, Brodie Kemp, Sam Durdin and will begin assessing Nick Haynes' impact in the back half.
But the sureness of De Koning in defence would immediately straighten up Michael Voss' side, whilst his versatility adds another bow that most clubs can't match.
The imminent retirements of club legends Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom will no doubt leave a gaping hole on the field, while the salary cap pressures may also ease.
Enter Victorian and Gold Coast onballer Matt Rowell.
The Suns' Pick 1 in the 2019 draft has already been flagged as a player of interest to multiple clubs.
Collingwood, despite luring Dan Houston and Harry Perryman, will need to bolster their on-ball stocks to assist with budding star Nick Daicos.
The seduction of playing for arguably the biggest club in the AFL could sway Rowell's thinking while the potential of teaming up with former schoolmate Daicos, like the Houston acquisition, could help put the Pies in the box seat.
There's no shock that Essendon need a young, emerging key forward to join forces with Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako.
The Bombers were clear with their intention that they want to invest in youth and someone like Geelong's Shannon Neale shouldn't be ignored.
Aside from Peter Wright, who hasn't reached the 2022 Crichton Medal heights in recent years, Brad Scott doesn't have a genuine key forward to work with.
Scott's may attempt to put Sam Draper in front of the ball to add a unique option inside 50 while Kyle Langford, Harrison Jones and Caddy all pose as second and third-tall options.
Hence the watch should be on Neale.
The tall Cat emerged as a handy key forward in 2024, playing 15 games and proving his worth in the finals.
Neale kicked goals in 14 of the 15 outings whilst also chopping out in the ruck.
If Draper, or Nick Bryan, explored their futures, the 22-year-old should be a player of interest.
The links Kysaiah Pickett has to the Dockers make it incumbent for the Western Australian club to explore a potential trade despite the star Demon's contract status.
It should be known that Melbourne president Brad Green wouldn't entertain a deal for the contracted star forward unless "three first-round picks" were involved.
Nevertheless, Fremantle will be keeping a close eye on Pickett due to his desires to head west and join good friends Quinton Narkle, Shai Bolton and Michael Walters, as well as former Demon Luke Jackson.
The Dockers gave up two first-round selections to lure Bolton and hold, currently, a stock standard array of picks, with a third-round from Richmond on top of their original deck.
However, it should be noted that as of the 2025 draft and trade period, clubs will be able to exchange selections two years in advance, meaning 2027 picks will be on the table.
A Geelong local could be the missing piece in Geelong's midfield puzzle.
The gun Hawthorn midfielder currently holds a spot inside the Hawks' midfield, and is reportedly happy there, but has previously had inconsistent form patches leaving him out of the side.
Rivals targeted Worpel in 2023 but the 26-year-old turned down any interest by signing a two-year extension.
Still out of contract at the end of this year though, Worpel, who has childhood ties to Geelong after co-captaining the Falcons, could be the ball magnet the Cats are after to bolster their midfield.
A hard-nosed, contested-winning machine, Worpel's prototype is exactly what Geelong are after, confirmed even more so with their interest in Matt Rowell.
A lucrative contract or pull from his home town could be what pries the Hawk out of Sam Mitchell's grasp.
The 2021 draftee has shown promising signs in his 12 games at AFL level, however, remains out of contract beyond 2025.
The 194cm key defender presents as a viable depth option or third key tall in the backline, with Gold Coast already boasting the likes of Mac Andrew, Charlie Ballard and Sam Collins.
Stuck behind two of the best key defenders in the competition currently (Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley), Aleer may seek a role in another club's best 23.
The Suns could present this opportunity to Aleer, but may have to fork out a hefty wage for his services, with St Kilda reportedly offering the 23-year-old an $800,000 deal.
Low in the pecking order behind a trio of Dockers star midfielders (Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Hayden Young), and now Shai Bolton, Neil Erasmus may be on the move for opportunity in 2025.
The midfielder-forward averaged 28.2 disposals for the Peel Thunder in the WAFL last year and won best on ground in a winning grand final display. With just 23 games to his name, and entering a fourth season at AFL level, time is ticking for Erasmus to solidify his spot in an AFL side.
With an exodus of midfield talent looming, given James Peatling's departure and the inevitable retirements of Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio in the near future, Erasmus could quickly become a part of the Giants' main midfield if he seeks a move to New South Wales.
If the Hawks find themselves close to premiership glory again in 2025, then there's no reason to suggest why they wouldn't put all their chips in for a 'win now' mentality.
Securing dual-premiership Tiger Tom Lynch could be a short-term boost for the Hawks, who are currently lacking depth of ready-made key stocks in the forward line.
Mabior Chol impressed in his first year as a Hawk, but history suggests that the former Sun's consistency rarely lasts. Mitchell Lewis is a star in his own right but has struggled to stay on the park in recent years.
With Lynch reaching the latter years of his career, the 32-year-old could be a cheap fix for Hawthorn's key forward stocks and add the experience of a seasoned premiership winner to their largely youthful group.
Admitting in July last year that his home state was "always a temptation", Power defender Miles Bergman could seek a move to Victoria in 2025.
Melbourne seems like an ideal fit for the 23-year-old, as Bergman could provide extra rebounding ability besides two of the best lockdown defenders in Steven May and Jake Lever.
Rarely off the park and averaging 15.8 disposals, 2.8 inside 50s and 3.2 rebound 50s in 2024, Bergman can play a valuable role for a Demons side aiming to reascend the ladder after a poor 2024.
The Demons made a play for Bergman's former teammate Dan Houston last October, implying Melbourne's desire for a rebounding half-back, and while not All-Australian level yet, Bergman's traits fit the bill.
While the Roos are expected to see growth in 2025, their back six is still arguably the weakest in the league.
What a hard-nosed, premiership-winning defender could do to fix that...
Maynard has the experience and leadership qualities to drive the growth of North Melbourne's youngsters, while also having the quality to aid key defenders Charlie Comben, Aidan Corr and Griffin Logue.
Maynard is still only 28 years old too, meaning he'll provide more than just the serviceable two-year stint at the backend of his career.
Although Maynard has strongly suggested he'll remain a Pie, if the Roos can pull off a major coup for his talents it would perhaps be the landmark recruit that spurs them into finals contention.
The half-back options at Alberton will be a fascinating watch this year as Power look to see who emerges as Dan Houston's replacement, while just about every defensive option is also off-contract.
Kane Farrell, Miles Bergman, Logan Evans, Jase Burgoyne, Josh Sinn, Ryan Burton and Rory Atkins, as well as promising mover Jeremy Finlayson, are all unsigned beyond this season.
Burgoyne and Evans are expected to re-sign, however Farrell and Bergman will garner strong interest from rival clubs.
The uncertainty surrounding their attacking backline options, coupled with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's own status as an off-contract asset, should have Port Adelaide in a position to make a play for the young Saints backman.
A product out of South Australia, Wanganeen-Milera is tipped to fetch the interest of both the Power and Crows this year should he remain unsigned.
Port Adelaide might be behind the Crows from a trade capital perspective given they're without their first-round selection for the 2025 draft.
Youth will remain the focus of Richmond's recruiting spree, but not every new face has to come through the draft.
Ward is entering his fourth season with Hawthorn and has struggled to cement his place under Sam Mitchell, with a top line of engine room incumbents ahead of him in the selection mix.
Fellow top 10 pick Cameron Mackenzie looks to have surpassed Ward ahead of the 2025 season, with both emerging onballers eyeing big campaigns this year as they come off-contract.
Mackenzie looms as a priority re-signing at Waverley, while Ward - who should still fetch an offer to recommit - could consider a larger role elsewhere if the right offer arose.
Richmond, who are building a midfield for the future, could look toward the Northern Knights junior as a potential addition to their young ensemble.
Ward has 42 games to his name and could benefit from a more senior role under Adem Yze that would see him placed as a key feature in the club's rebuild.
The Saints' interest in the North Melbourne star has been publicised for months, with the Moorabbin club expected to spend big in 2025 as they look to lure a big fish.
There may be none bigger than Davies-Uniacke, who will be eligible for free agency for the first time in his career this year.
The Saints will have to play their approach smart, with an offer that could be matched by North Melbourne triggering a trade deal given Davies-Uniacke's status as a restricted free agent.
If St Kilda can blow the Roos out of the water and leave the Arden Street side unable to compete with the fee, then Davies-Uniacke would walk to the Saints at no trade cost.
A bursting, powerful midfielder is what the Saints have been crying out for for some time, and they'll hope Davies-Uniacke isn't the next target on their list to knock back their advances.
The young Essendon defender is entering an intriguing year as he looks to put his injury woes behind him and hold a spot in Brad Scott's side.
The fascination surrounding Reid doubles as he weighs up a call on his next contract, with the 23-year-old having played just four games since inking a three-year deal midway through 2022.
The upside Reid possesses is what has kept Bombers fans excited since his arrival back in 2020, with the Victorian powerhouse viewing the athletic stopper as a major piece in their push back to premiership contention.
Equally, Sydney has shown a need to bolster their tall defensive options, particularly with Tom McCartin's floated move forward this pre-season. The Swans have also shown an ability to lure hampered players and get continued full seasons out of them in their early years in New South Wales.
Should Reid be assessing the open market with a desire for a new opportunity, the Swans should be at the front of the queue for the former top 10 pick.
The Eagles, and Dockers, will both be aggressive in their pursuits of Western Australian star Chad Warner, who is considering his future this year.
Sydney remains right in the hunt to land the explosive midfielder's signature, but the overtures from the Eagles could blow any other contender out of the water.
Likely loaded with salary cap space given their youthful list, West Coast have the wiggle room and trade capital to satisfy Warner and the Swans should the 23-year-old seek a move to Perth.
The Eagles hold Hawthorn's first-round pick for this year's draft as well as their own, with those two selections likely the starting point in any negotiations for Warner.
If West Coast can attain the Swans gun, it could aid their plans to retain sensation Harley Reid beyond his current contract also.
Luke Beveridge's backline looks to be an area of focus in their list planning moving forward, having settled on a star-studded midfield that is assisted by emerging names and a forward line home to a lethal cohort of attacking options.
The Dogs' defence does boast quality talent in the form of veteran stopper Liam Jones and All-Australian runner Bailey Dale, but another top-line defensive asset down back might be what's needed moving forward.
Beveridge still has a reliance on the lockdown efforts of veteran Taylor Duryea, who played 22 games in the red, white and blue last year, often against the opposition's best small forward.
With Duryea turning 34 next month, the Bulldogs will be considering his long-term replacement, and there may be none better than premiership Lion Brandon Starcevich.
The Brisbane backman is one of the best one-on-one small defenders in the competition, and with his status as a free agent this year, the Dogs could come calling without having to part with any trade capital.
In a win-now window, the Dogs would attain a prime-aged 26-year-old who could slot into a defensive post and alleviate the roles of dashing defenders Dale, Joel Freijah and Lachie Bramble.
