AFL trade period deadline day AS IT HAPPENED: Charlie Curnow traded to Sydney for remarkable haul as unprecedented amount of deals fall through
AFL trade period
How it works
The AFL trade period is a 10-day window where AFL clubs are allowed to trade players for each other or for draft picks. It runs until the evening of October 15, and usually sees around 30 players shift clubs each year.
Players who have been with their clubs for six years qualify for free agency and are allowed to change clubs freely without needing to be traded.
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That's a wrap
That's a wrap on our coverage of the AFL trade period for 2025.
It was a chaotic final few minutes, but it has now all come to an end.
Keep an eye on our site for more analysis on the major moves that came from this trade period.
Footy Furnace will air live on Nine in Melbourne and 9Now at 9.45pm.
Hawks speak on Merrett
Hawthorn's Mark McKenzie speaks on the Zach Merrett trade falling over:
"We put our best foot forward, but unfortunately it didn't get done."
"Definitely disappointed ... to not have it happen, you're disappointed.
"We think that our offer at the end was very strong and very reasonable.
"In the end you've got to respect their position. He's a contracted player."
Forgotten man in all of this
Will Hayward will join Ollie Florent at Carlton in 2026 as he was the player thrown in to get the Charlie Curnow trade done.
Carlton gets a marking forward to replace Curnow, as well as the three first round picks.
Hayward nearly joined Carlton last year, but opted to remain with the Swans.
Crows speak on Ah Chee
Adelaide remains fully confident Callum Ah Chee will come to the club via the draft, not return to Brisbane.
They've confirmed they're disappointed Brisbane wouldn't do the trade.
"We've told them for months what we wanted to do. He's 28-year-old with a family. We'll pick up the player welfare pieces after this."
Curnow trade officially confirmed
What's next for Zach Merrett?
Zach Merrett returns to Essendon. He will have to put all of this chaos behind him and rock up day one of pre-season.
The question will be whether he remains captain of the club - and whether he even wants to be captain.
AND whether he requests another trade at the end of next season. He is contracted to Essendon until the end of 2027.
Andrew Welsh stood by his words
The Essendon chief has stood by his words.
Ah Chee specifics
To recap
Charlie Curnow got to Sydney.
Zach Merrett did not get to Hawthorn.
Rowan Marshall did not get to Geelong.
Buku Khamis did not get to Carlton.
Callum Ah Chee did not get to Adelaide - but will via the draft as he doesn't have a contract for 2026.
Curnow trade specifics
Charlie Curnow's manager Robbie D'Orazio says Sydney put the third first round pick on the table for Curnow at 7:27pm. Three minutes before the deadline.
Talk about an incredible haul.
