Get all the latest news in the trade, free agency and draft landscape in Inside Trading, AFL.com.au's dedicated column for player movement. Find out the latest on contracts, deals, trades, draftees, rules, agents and who is going where from the AFL.com.au team.

CLUBS GATHER AS TRADE TALKS START

FIFTEEN clubs met for trade talks on Wednesday as things geared up ahead of the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.

All bar three clubs – Hawthorn, Richmond and Port Adelaide – were on deck as the clubs gathered in inner city Melbourne for the trade proceedings.

With more movement in recent days on players keen to move clubs – Rowan Marshall's request to be traded from St Kilda, Zane Duursma's intent to be traded to Melbourne and the Demons telling Jack Viney he can explore trade options despite having two years left on his contract – clubs were able to start early discussions on certain players and targets before the trade window opens.

Other details shared at the start of the discussions across the short meetings on Wednesday included available list spots, plans for the draft and likely amount of draft picks, the contract status of players and who could be on the move.

The trade period officially starts on Monday, October 5, following the start of the free agency window on Friday, October 2. – Callum Twomey

HAWKS YOUNGSTERS SET TO STAY

HAWTHORN youngster Noah Mraz has made it clear he is not interested in a move this October amid interest from Gold Coast.

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The Suns had been keen on Mraz and fellow Hawks key-position talent Aidan Schubert as free agent Ben King prepares to head the other way, though both have remained determined to stay and fight for their place in Sam Mitchell's plans.

Schubert is contracted through until 2029 having re-signed in June amid his debut season at the club, while Mraz is contracted until 2028 and broke through for four senior appearances earlier in the year.

The Suns are considering whether they match the Hawks' restricted free agency offer for King, or take a compensation package that will likely net Damien Hardwick's side the No.7 pick in the draft.

But the club had wanted to deal separately on a Hawthorn player as part of the King negotiations and had identified Schubert and Mraz as potential options. – Riley Beveridge

DEE TO PLAY INTO 2027

MELBOURNE veteran Christian Salem is set to play on for a 14th season in 2027.

The Demons have offered the 31-year-old a one-year extension with the five-year deal he signed in his free agency season expiring in October.

Salem played only nine games this year due to a lingering foot injury and debilitating thyroid issue, which he battled in 2023 and 2024. 

The 2021 premiership player returned for the final four games of the home and away season, but was squeezed out of the team for the wildcard final. 

Salem finished fifth in the best and fairest last year and after a stop-start season, Salem will be aiming for a full pre-season this summer to return to that form next year. – Josh Gabelich

SAINT SIGNS ON

LIAM Stocker has locked in a one-year deal at St Kilda.

The 26-year-old played 18 games and was coming out of contract at the end of this year, but has ticked off a new deal for 2027.

The former Blue has become a reliable member of the Saints' back half with his toughness and aggression a key element in shutting out opposition forwards.

The new deal will take Stocker into his fifth season at St Kilda, having crossed from the Blues at the end of 2022 after four seasons with the club.

He played his 100th career game late in the Saints' season and was a fixture of their defence after an interrupted start to the year. – Callum Twomey

ROO RECRUIT'S NEW DEAL

NORTH Melbourne has signed mid-season recruit Ollie Griffin for 2027.

The 19-year-old was selected out of the Sandringham Dragons with pick No.6 in the 2026 Mid-Season Rookie Draft and was on the cusp of a debut late in the year. 

Griffin kicked three goals in the VFL on five occasions around a season-high four in his 10 appearances for the Kangaroos' reserves. 

North Melbourne had already re-signed Griffin before Zane Duursma requested a trade to Melbourne on Tuesday. 

But now the medium forward should get more opportunities next year. – Josh Gabelich

FREO WINGER WEIGHS UP INTEREST

FREMANTLE wingman Nathan O'Driscoll is on the radar of the Western Bulldogs. 

The 24-year-old has played a career high 17 games in 2026 after just 38 in his first five seasons at the club.

The Dockers have offered O'Driscoll a two-year extension through to free agency. 

Port Adelaide has also eyed O'Driscoll at different times and has a connection between the pair with Josh Carr previously working as the Dockers' midfield coach. 

The Western Bulldogs' focus has been predominantly on Zak Butters, but the club has also targeted a key defender this year and are poised to land Jordon Butts, while the club have expressed interest in O'Driscoll and scoured the ruck market across 2026.

O'Driscoll's younger brother Aidan was drafted by the Bulldogs in 2023, but was medically retired in his first season at the club after suffering a head injury. – Josh Gabelich

TIGER SET FOR EXTENSION

RICHMOND is set to give small forward Maurice Rioli jnr a new deal for next season as it heads into the off-season.

Rioli jnr played 10 games this season, in his sixth year at the club, but is expected to land a new contract for 2027.

The Tigers have already farewelled senior pair Dion Prestia and Nathan Broad, while Kaleb Smith and Liam Fawcett were delisted.

Hugo Ralphsmith and Tyler Sonsie are among the other Tigers who are without deals for next year at this stage, with Richmond recently signing 2024 draftees Sam Lalor, Taj Hotton and Jonty Faull to contract extensions past this season. – Callum Twomey

LATE-SEASON DRAFT SMOKIES EMERGES

EAST Perth defender Jake Soutar, Sandringham Dragons forward Oliver Mangoni and Calder Cannons prospect Jackson Watkins are among the late-season draft smokies to be in the mix for AFL clubs.

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Soutar, who is 20, has risen into draft calculations with a strong finish to the season with East Perth in the WAFL, with his athleticism and marking as a 190cm defender taking the eye of clubs.

He has been invited to the WA state Draft Combine in October and has shown his ability to read the ball in the air and use his speed.

Mangoni is a 187cm forward who kicked three goals in a game earlier this season playing for the Dragons and has recently emerged as a draft talent for clubs to consider this year.

He is yet to receive an invite to a state Draft Combine but the AFL can add extra names to its list if the demand from clubs grows, with Sandringham to feature in a preliminary final in the Talent League this Sunday.

Watkins, a half-forward, has generated interest from clubs in the back half of the season with a strong run of form with the Cannons to put himself on the draft radar. – Callum Twomey