AFL Trade Period LIVE 2025: The Buzzer Beaters and Big Moves
The AFL trade period for 2025 is edging into its final hours, with clubs scrambling to secure deals as the deadline looms. In a sensational development, Carlton appears to have rejected a strong offer from the Sydney Swans for highly-touted forward Charlie Curnow, underscoring the Blues’ confidence in their core and their willingness to stand firm on valuation.
Front-Runner Stories: Buckley’s Geelong Move and the Coaching Shake
Separately, the football world is watching Nathan Buckley’s announced move to Geelong as a full-time assistant to Chris Scott in 2026. Buckley revealed that a spontaneous text from Scott last week set the wheels in motion, and after meetings with Geelong leadership, he confirmed a role that he believes aligns with his passions and expertise. Buckley, who led Collingwood as coach from 2012 to 2021 and has spent the past four years in media, said this is a chance to re-enter the competitive fabric of the game with a fresh perspective.
“Scotty came at this from a different angle,” Buckley told SEN. “If I had a chance to chat, I’d take it. We had the conversation, and there’s a fit there for what I’m passionate about.”
The Buckley-Geelong Dynamic
Buckley’s shift to the Cats follows his brief flirtation with the Melbourne coaching vacant role, from which he was overlooked in favor of Steven King. He also spoke with Geelong’s broader football operation about the Tasmania Devils’ ambitions and the path to a senior coaching role there, highlighting the long-term planning involved in his career trajectory.
Last-Minute Trades and the 7:30pm Deadline
As always, the moratorium ends today at 2pm, and clubs will lodge trades with the AFL, anticipating a flurry of action in the final half-hour before the 7.30pm AEDT capstone. In past years, late-window dramas have delivered some of the most shocking and consequential moves, including big-name switches like Josh Dunkley to Brisbane and Tom Mitchell to Collingwood. The 2025 countdown is already drawing a similar arc as clubs weigh immediate impact against long-term fit.
Headline Players and the Ongoing Negotiations
This year’s marquee players include Christian Petracca, Charlie Curnow, and Clayton Oliver, with the ongoing Zach Merrett saga adding an extra layer of intrigue. Merrett’s preference to join Hawthorn remains on the table, but Essendon’s reluctance to surrender ground has kept negotiations tense. The AFL’s endorsement process will ripple once deals clear, and fans should brace for a few late inclusions and refusals as teams lock in their lists for 2025.
What to Expect on D-Day
Expect trades to trickle in after the deadline while some agreements are ratified in the ensuing hours. The AFL typically publishes each deal only after it has received final clearance, meaning not every expected move will appear in real time. As clubs weigh short-term needs against long-term strategy, supporters can anticipate a mix of blockbuster swaps and more subtle reshuffles—each one shaping the season ahead.
