Trade grades: Every 2021 AFL trade and free agency move ranked from 1-20?
Twenty players moved clubs in last year’s exchange period, and some deals worked out better than others. See our expert rankings on the best and worst trades and have your say.
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The trades that make the most noise don’t always prove the best deals.
Last year’s trade period didn’t reach the levels of chaos the final three days in 2022 are likely to produce, but there were 22 deals in total and 20 players moved clubs.
How do they look 12 months on?
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Here’s how we rate every trade and free agency move based on what the recruits delivered in their new colours and the value of the deal (a player who cost a third-round draft pick is ranked higher than a player with similar stats that forced a club to part with a first-round selection).
Note: The trades that only involved draft picks haven’t been listed (good luck figuring out the winners there).
Did we get it right? Leave a comment below!
1. WILL BRODIE
The deal: Fremantle gained Will Brodie from Gold Coast plus picks 19, 61 and 69 in exchange for a future second-round pick and future fourth-round pick
Bargain alert! Gold Coast offloaded Brodie effectively for nothing and he was one of the finds of the season – and all-time bargain picks in KFC SuperCoach. Brodie played 25 games in five seasons at the Suns after being taken with pick 9 in the 2016 draft. He didn’t miss a game at the Dockers this year, averaging 26.8 disposals, 5.3 tackles and 5.7 clearances as he helped take Fremantle all the way to a semi-final. In another win for Freo, that high finish means the extra second and fourth-round picks Gold Coast has this year are later than they would have planned. One often overlooked aspect of the deal is the Dockers also gained pick 19 from Gold Coast, which they used on midfielder Matt Johnson, who spent the year developing in the WAFL. Now the Suns are planning more salary dumps with players like Jack Bowes and Brayden Fiorini – can they reproduce Brodie’s heroics?
2. GEORGE HEWETT
The deal: Moved from Sydney to Carlton as a free agent
One of the biggest improvers of the 2022 season, Hewett went from a defender/tagger at the Swans to a ball-hunting midfielder at the Blues, and a key part of Michael Voss’s engine room. He averaged 28.5 disposals a game (his previous best was 21.9), and was also rated elite for clearances and above average for tackles. The only downside was a back problem that kept him out for the final five rounds. But Hewett’s four-year deal looks like an excellent investment. The Swans received pick 40 as compensation, which they used on Chad Warner’s little brother Corey, who is yet to make his AFL debut.
3. PATRICK LIPINSKI
The deal: Moved from Western Bulldogs to Collingwood in exchange for pick 43
After failing to cement a spot in the Dogs’ best 22 in five years, Lipinski played all 25 games in his first season as a Magpie. He rated above average for disposals (average 22), clearances (3.2) and tackles (3.7), and at age 24 will be a key part of Craig McRae’s plans for many seasons. The pick the Dogs received was used to help nab father-son gun Sam Darcy.
4. LEWIS YOUNG
The deal: Moved from Western Bulldogs to Carlton in a three-way trade that cost Carlton Sam Petrevski-Seton
One of the best deals of the trade period in terms of value for money. Young played 24 games in five seasons at the Dogs then added 19 in his first year at Carlton, holding down a key defensive post and ranking elite for spoils and above average for intercept marks and disposals. Meanwhile, Petrevski-Seton battled to win a place in the Eagles’ best 22.
5. JORDAN DAWSON
The deal: Moved from Sydney to Adelaide in exchange for a future first-round pick
Sydney didn’t want to give up Dawson last year but it has worked out OK for both clubs, with the development of a wave of youngsters taking the Swans to a grand final and Dawson starring in his first year as a Crow. He justified the high trade price with a career-high average of 24.6 disposals a game, ranked No.2 at Adelaide, and you can’t get much better than a goal after the siren to win a Showdown. And he’s just 25. Somewhat confusingly, the Swans have Melbourne’s first round pick this year (currently pick 14) as a result after the Crows traded it for Dawson.
6. MABIOR CHOL
The deal: Moved from Richmond to Gold Coast as a free agent
Chol produced the best footy of his career after moving north, playing every game and booting 44 goals to win the Suns’ goalkicking. The four-year deal they offered to lure him out of Punt Rd looks a sound investment. The Tigers received a pick at the end of the second round as compensation, which ended up at the Dogs (Arthur Jones) after trades with North Melbourne.
7. JORDAN CLARK
The deal: Fremantle received Clark and a future fourth-round pick from Geelong in exchange for pick 22 and a future third-round pick
On face value this looks like a big win for Fremantle. Clark played 22 games as a damaging running defender, averaging 21 disposals (up from 10 last year). Pundits wondered why the Cats would give up such a promising young talent but it didn’t hurt them on the field, this year at least. Doubt Stephen Wells and his team at your peril. The Cats used the pick in last year’s draft they received for Clark on untried ruckman Toby Conway – who also took Clark’s locker.
8. JEREMY FINLAYSON
The deal: Port Adelaide received Finlayson from GWS in exchange for a future third-round pick
Finlayson’s place in the Port side wasn’t entirely clear early in the season, but then Scott Lycett went own injured and the trade suddenly became a masterstroke. Finlayson played as a ruckman for most of the rest of the year and had a great season despite often getting beaten in the hitouts, ranking above average for disposals and booting 21 goals. His versatility was a great asset for Ken Hinkley, how will he be used when Lycett returns?
9. ADAM CERRA
The deal: Moved from Fremantle to Carlton in exchange for pick 6 and a future third-round pick
Cerra was one of the biggest names to move clubs last year and is marked down slightly because of the high price Carlton had to pay. The 22-year-old produced solid numbers at the Blues which basically matched his output in his previous two years at the Dockers. He rated above average for disposals, clearances and tackles, and Carlton will be hoping for a spike from the former No.5 draft pick in his fifth season. Fremantle used the top-10 selection to recruit key forward Jye Amiss, and the third-round pick this year is now with Geelong after it was part of the Jordan Clark trade.
10. DARCY FORT
The deal: Moved from Geelong to Brisbane with pick 41 in exchange for pick 50 and a future third-round pick
One of many clubs to trade for ruck insurance and the Lions may have got the best bang for their minimal buck. Fort played 18 matches including matching it with – and arguably beating – Max Gawn in a semi-final when Oscar McInerney was out with suspension. Unlucky to be dropped for the prelim.
11. ROBBIE TARRANT
The deal: Richmond received Tarrant, pick 40 and a future second-round pick from North Melbourne in exchange for Callum Coleman-Jones, picks 42 and 47 and a future fourth-round pick
Tarrant struggled a bit early in the season but found his mojo after returning to the side in round 10 and did some big defensive jobs on opposition key forwards, with his shutout of Tom Hawkins (eight disposals, no goals) in round 15 a highlight. The 33-year-old will be a key part of the Richmond’s flag push next year while the second-round pick in this year’s draft (currently pick 19) is now with GWS as part of the Tim Taranto trade. Not a bad result considering Richmond didn’t want to lose Coleman-Jones.
12. JAKE KELLY
The deal: Moved from Adelaide to Essendon as a free agent
There were high hopes for the unheralded defender but his numbers dipped slightly from his last season at Adelaide, although he managed to finish seventh in the best-and-fairest. In the first season of a three-year deal Kelly rated below average for disposals, tackles and metres gained for his position this year in a defence that was under siege most weeks.
13. NATHAN KREUGER
The deal: Moved from Geelong to Collingwood with pick 55, in exchange for pick 41
The super sub in the Pies’ qualifying and preliminary finals got a taste of the action late in both nailbiters, but the loss the Cats was his first senior appearance since round 6 as most of his first season as a Pie was derailed by shoulder surgery. Pick 41 ended up at the Lions (James Tunstill).
14. MAX LYNCH
The deal: Hawthorn received Lynch, a future third-round pick and a future fourth-round pickfrom Collingwood in exchange for a future third-round pick and a future third-round pick
The idea of getting ruck insurance for a swap of late future picks was smart, as the Hawks’ depth in that are of the ground was exposed in 2022. And Lynch cost practically nothing. Unfortunately, he suffered multiple concussions and played just seven games. With Ben McEvoy retired, he should play a bigger role next year.
15. CALLUM COLEMAN-JONES
The deal: North Melbourne received Coleman-Jones, picks 42 and 47 and a future fourth-round pick from Richmond. The Tigers receive Robbie Tarrant, pick 40 and a future second-round pick
Time is on Coleman-Jones’ side player but at the moment the Tigers are well ahead on this deal. CCJ moved between the AFL and VFL in his first season at North Melbourne, averaging 11 disposals and 10 hitouts in 10 senior matches. With Todd Goldstein playing on at the Roos in 2023 and developing talls Tristan Xerri, Charlie Comben and Jacob Edwards on the list, he will be keen to make his mark. Contracted until 2025, so this is a long-term play.
16. PETER LADHAMS
The deal: Sydney received Ladhams and pick 16 from Port Adelaide in exchange for pick 12 and a future third-round pick
Ladhams was required for 11 games when Tom Hickey missed with injury and went OK without setting the world on fire. A 19-disposal, 34-hitout and 164 SuperCoach point game against the Hawks in round 6 was a clear standout. His tempter caused problems at AFL and VFL levels with a three-match suspension for a crude off-the-ball hit at the lower level costing him a possible spot in the grand final. Sydney used the draft selection it received in the deal on Angus Sheldrick (one game). Port traded the pick it got back from the Swans to West Coast (who took Campbell Chesser) then did a live trade on draft night to get back to pick 12 and grab Josh Sinn.
17. JON CEGLAR
The deal: Geelong received Ceglar and a future fourth-round pick from Hawthorn in exchange for a future third-round pick
A premiership hard-luck story, Ceglar was an emergency for the grand final – as he was in two previous deciders. The 31-year-old ruckman played just two full games, including racking up 24 disposals and 29 hitouts against the Eagles in round 23. Rhys Stanley remains Chris Scott’s preferred option, but Ceglar will be available if needed in the second year of his two-year deal.
Spare a thought for Jon Ceglar, who has been on an AFL list for 12 years, in which time his club in any given year has made five grand finals and he hasn’t played in any of them, three times an emergency including this year.
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) September 23, 2022
18. TIM O’BRIEN
The deal: Moved from Hawthorn to Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent
Hard to rank because he cost the Dogs nothing apart from some salary cap space and a spot on the list, but the plan to bring him in as a defensive interceptor definitely didn’t pan out. He played 11 matches and took 25 intercept marks – ranked fourth at the Dogs – but wasn’t seen after round 16 despite the team’s defensive issues. Has a year to run on a two-year deal but now has Liam Jones ahead of him in the selection queue.
19. LUKE DUNSTAN
The deal: Moved from St Kilda to Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent
The Demons nabbed Dunstan after he was delisted by the Saints following 116 games in eight seasons. As a minimal outlay he was always going to be insurance for a club with one of the strongest midfields in the competition, and that’s how it panned out, playing five games and none after round 11 (apart from one appearance as the unused medi-sub in round 18).
20. SAM PETREVSKI-SETON
The deal: Moved from Carlton to West Coast in a three-way trade that costs West Coast pick 52
The Eagles hoped a move back to his home state would spark the No.6 pick in the 2016 draft, but after year one of a two-year contract the signs aren’t great. Petrevski-Seton averaged a career-low 11.7 disposals in 14 games for a team that won just two matches. Needs to find something next year to keep his career alive. At least the Eagles didn’t give up much.
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