Day one opens with plenty of intrigue
At the stroke of 9am AEDT, the AFL trade period has officially kicked off, and fans are glued to their screens for the first wave of updates. While the window is fresh and negotiations are just starting to heat up, the chatter already centers on marquee names and potential moves. Our live coverage will track whether players request moves, which clubs show real intent, and how the initial landscape could shape the next few days of negotiations.
Has Zach Merrett officially requested a trade?
A central question early on is whether Essendon star Zach Merrett has formally requested a trade. The chatter from insiders suggests no official request has been lodged yet, with some believing a formal request could accelerate negotiations between Essendon and prospective suitors. Merrett’s decision, when it comes, could act as a significant lever for clubs eyeing a midfield upgrade. In the meantime, clubs like Hawthorn and others are likely monitoring the situation, waiting for a concrete signal before deepening talks.
Clayton Oliver to Collingwood on the radar
Cal Twomey of AFL.com.au has highlighted Collingwood as a potential destination for Clayton Oliver as Melbourne explores its options. Oliver has already held talks with GWS and remains undecided about his future after being told to look elsewhere by Melbourne. With Melbourne prepared to subsidize a large portion of his salary, Oliver represents a high-value, high-reward target for a club looking to add class and stoppage impact straight away. If the Pies press ahead, expect a rapid negotiation phase as both clubs weigh up salary cap realities and draft collateral.
Three-club trade scenario: Petracca, Flanders and Heath in the mix?
Another talking point among pundits is a three-club deal involving Christian Petracca, Sam Flanders and Max Heath. One hypothetical floated by fans and analysts has St Kilda offering Max Heath to Melbourne in a corridor trade with Gold Coast, sending Sam Flanders to Moorabbin and Petracca to the Suns, plus draft picks 6 and 7. It’s a bold plan that would shake up three franchises and force a careful balancing act around salaries, list spots, and the long-term development trajectory for each club. Heath’s current contract status adds a layer of complexity, but it’s precisely the sort of move that could emerge as the window unfolds.
Glimpses from the front lines of live coverage
ABC Sport’s coverage team is back for another year of fresh starts and dramatic endings. The broadcast team will be joined by analysts and fans alike as the game plan evolves in real time. Expect early whispers, provisional lists, and the occasional bold prediction as the first day’s stories take shape. If a big-name swap gains momentum, we’ll know soon enough as clubs work through negotiation bottlenecks and brokered trades, all while keeping an eye on the AFL’s salary cap framework and waiver rules.
What to watch today
Key indicators to follow include whether Merrett formalizes a request, where Clayton Oliver might land, and how the pieces of any three-club deal start to fit together. Watch for rising interest from midfields shallow on depth to see which club is most willing to push hard for an upgrade. As day one progresses, the pace will quicken, negotiations will intensify, and the structure of the trade period could begin to crystallize in surprising ways.
Stay with us for the latest
Welcome to ABC Sport’s live coverage of the 2025 AFL trade period. We’ll bring you all the updates, expert analysis, and fan reactions as the market moves. Strap in for a summer of negotiations, surprises, and inevitable drama as players decide where their futures lie.
