UPDATED: The players your team has been linked to in 2026 – AFL trade news - Zero Hanger

With only a week before the beginning of the 2026 AFL Finals series, the trade talk channels are set to hit fever pitch. After this coming weekend, eight clubs will turn their attention to improving their list during the off-season in a bid to rise up the ladder next year, while the remaining 10 will push for premiership success. As the weeks continue, more clubs will drop away from the flag chase, and silly season will take its place. With plenty of names included in the trade and free agent conversation in 2026, we've listed every player each AFL team has been tied to so far this season. Adelaide The Crows are still heavily into Brisbane's Zac Bailey and are understood to have a strong offer on the table. Ahead of a finals campaign for both clubs, it's likely Bailey won't make his decision until the end of the season, but his decision is very much live. Gold Coast's Charlie Ballard could also become a player of interest if he seeks a trade amid a deal that expires at the end of 2029. Brisbane The Lions have continued looking at improving their list, even as they hunt a third consecutive flag. If the club loses Zac Bailey to Adelaide, they have gauged interest in Arthur Jones as a potential replacement. Jones has enjoyed a breakout year for the Bulldogs, and has gained interest from rival clubs. Essendon defender Jordan Ridley also has a desire to head to Queensland, and views Brisbane as a potential landing spot. Carlton The Blues have quickly become a destination club once again, and the signing of Josh Fraser, coupled with a shock finals appearance, has made them attractive. Sydney free agent Joel Amartey is still high on Carlton's list, and he is yet to make a decision, although it's largely believed he'll remain in the Harbour City. Nevertheless, the Blues are gunning for the key forward, potentially teaming him up with close mates Will Hayward and Ollie Florent. Brisbane depth forward Will McLachlan has gained interest from Carlton following an extraordinary season in the VFL. Bulldogs utility Buku Khamis is yet to determine his future, but has an interest in joining the Blues. Calsher Dear is another name linked to the Blues, as is Geelong's Gryan Miers. Collingwood The Pies are busy getting better every day, according to coach Craig McRae, and they've taken that motto to the trade and free agency table. It looks all but certain they'll sign Lachie Neale for the next three seasons, and are keen to pair him with Port Adelaide free agent Zak Butters. Collingwood tabled a club-record offer to lure Butters to Olympic Park. Outside of that, the Pies have discussed luring free agents Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer to bolster the club's forward line, although they have noted they are not a high priority. Calsher Dear is another name linked to the Pies, as is Suns forward Jake Rogers, but he is set to stay at the club. Essendon The Bombers are on the hunt for experience, which is why they have sounded out the likes of Touk Miller, Lachie Neale and Scott Pendlebury. Miller is contracted at the Suns for next year, and hails from Maribynong, which is near Essendon. His links to Matt Rosa would make the transition easier, but it's understood there's no desire to don the red and black. Essendon also went after Pendlebury and Neale, although both are expected to play for Collingwood next year. James Hird made a pitch to GWS captain Toby Greene. Greene grew up an Essendon supporter and is considering a move to Victoria, with Geelong looming large. Brisbane's Will McLachlan quickly became a player of interest after dominating in the VFL and could seek more opportunities. Adelaide's Luke Pedlar is also weighing up his options at the Bombers, as is Jack Bowes. Fremantle The Dockers have been focused on retaining their stars, and have locked away a few key pieces to their future. Captain Alex Pearce is a player of interest to Tasmania, but it's understood he is keen to remain and help deliver a maiden flag to Fremantle. Ruckman Sean Darcy is on the outer, and could depart the club at season's end. Geelong The Cats are as busy as ever, and are deemed the front runners for Zak Butters' signature. Geelong have a long history of luring star talent, and even used Bailey Smith in its pitch to Butters. The Cats also sounded out Mitch Georgiades earlier in the year in a potential plan to sign both Port Adelaide stars. Toby Greene is set to move to Kardinia Park, with no movement at the Giants on his deal, while St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall has once again been listed as a player of interest. Calsher Dear is another name linked to the Cats. Gold Coast The Suns have locked away Bailey Humphrey and Jed Walter to new deals amid heavy interest, but are expected to lose Ben King to Hawthorn. They have gone on the offensive, and have considered making a play for Scott Pendlebury in a bid to improve the standards of the club. Essendon defender Jordan Ridley has indicated a desire to move to Queensland, but is weighing up multiple options in the league. Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan is also on Gold Coast's radar. GWS The Giants are in retention season, which is largely where they've been for the past few years. Many clubs are coming after their players, but they'd like to keep them in the orange and charcoal, including Tom Green and Lachie Ash. Hawthorn Hawthorn have been keen on Zach Merrett and Ben King for a long period of time, and their interest is set to be realised this coming off-season. There are plenty of moving parts from a trade perspective, but the Hawks are determined to land both ahead of the 2027 season. Merrett is contracted for next year, so Essendon and Hawthorn will need to broker a trade, while the Suns could consider taking the free agency compensation from the AFL. Melbourne The Demons are into two Hawthorn youngsters as a squeeze at Dingley persists. Calsher Dear is set to feel the pinch when Ben King arrives from Gold Coast. Dear has struggled to cement his spot in the senior side this year due to injury and form. Dear's teammate and running defender Bailey Macdonald is on Melbourne's radar. The pair have links to the Demons, with Changkuoth Jiath starring for the club after making the switch ahead of the 2026 season. Zane Duursma is another name to watch for Melbourne, as is Brisbane's Will McLachlan. North Melbourne The Kangaroos want defensive help, and Adelaide's Nick Murray looms as the likeliest, although he is contracted until the end of 2028. Murray and teammate Jordon Butts are on North Melbourne's radar, but the latter is set to join the Western Bulldogs. Carlton's Oliver Hollands doesn't have a deal for next year and has met with North Melbourne. Hollands was coy on his future following a VFL game recently, saying: "Obviously a busy week, but I just want to continue playing good footy for the rest of the year," Hollands said on Fox Footy's VFL broadcast. "And then let all that stuff unfold in the back end of the year." Port Adelaide The Power's focus has been attempting to keep Zak Butters at the club, but it's looking more and more likely that won't be the case. They will be pleased with retaining Mitch Georgiades beyond next year, with a new deal taking him until the end of 2029. Gold Coast's Charlie Ballard could also become a player of interest if he seeks a trade amid a deal that expires at the end of 2029. Richmond The Tigers want Zak Butters. Bad. The Power star has been on the club's agenda for some time, and they have the trade capital and the salary cap room to make it happen. Richmond is deemed a genuine player in the race for Butters' signature, and could pitch the captaincy as part of the sell. The Tigers are looking at adding some rucks to their list, and GWS tall Kieren Briggs is one set to join the club. The Giants signed Nick Madden, leaving Briggs open for the picking. Fremantle's Sean Darcy has also been floated as a potential option, although he is contracted until 2030. St Kilda It was revealed the Saints went after Matt Rowell for the second straight year, but it is understood to have not made a meaningful impact on his future plans. Calsher Dear is one to watch as well, as he weighs up his future away from Hawthorn amid a forward line squeeze, compounded by the imminent arrival of Ben King. Gold Coast defender Charlie Ballard was previously named with links to the Saints, as has Brisbane's Sam Marshall. Collingwood's Dan Houston is contracted at the Pies until 2030, but has been floated as a potential option. Sydney If Jake Stringer were to depart the Giants, he would be open to joining Sydney as his fourth AFL club. Stringer has put together another 40-plus goal season, and would add to the Swans' forward-line mix. Tasmania The Devils have already begun pitching players to join their club ahead of their 2028 introduction. Richmond's Rhyan Mansell and Collingwood's Beau McCreery are players of interest, while Tiger gun Sam Lalor was pitched alongside great mate Finn O'Sullivan. The North Melbourne youngster extended at the Roos, leaving Lalor unsigned beyond 2027. Collingwood's Nick Daicos will always be linked to the club,b while Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has been sounded out. West Coast The Eagles have ramped up their pursuit of Lachie Neale as he weighs up his future beyond this year. Neale is tipped to join Collingwood, but the lure of returning to the state his children are living in will be a major factor. Melbourne's Trent Rivers and Port Adelaide's Mitch Georgiades are also names thrown up for West Coast given they grew up in the state, although the latter is set to sign a two-year extension. Western Bulldogs The Bulldogs want Zak Butters. No surprise there. They have been working him for a while, but have been up against three other Victorian clubs. The Whitten Oval club was seen as the frontrunner, but in recent times, may have slipped down the pecking order. They will pick up Adelaide free agent Jordon Butts, but are set to lose Buku Khamis. Essendon's Jordan Ridley's name has been thrown out there as a potential defensive top-up for the Bulldogs, while Matt Rowell's links to the club and Luke Beveridge won't go away. And Gold Coast's Charlie Ballard will be one to watch. Fremantle's Nathan O'Driscoll has been sounded out by the Bulldogs, while the club is sniffing around Lions youngster Sam Marshall.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	FRE	22	19	3	76	142.5
2	SYD	22	17	5	68	134.5
3	BL	22	15	7	60	119.5
4	HAW	22	14	6	60	117.3
5	MELB	22	15	7	60	111.2
6	GEEL	22	14	8	56	120.2
7	ADEL	22	14	8	56	115.1
8	COLL	22	12	8	52	106.1
9	WB	22	12	9	50	94.1
10	CARL	22	11	10	46	99.6

UPDATED: The players your team has been linked to in 2026 – AFL trade news

Here are the names your club has been tied to this year👇

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