2022 Trades

The free agency and trade periods commenced in late September with the trade period following the free agency. The trade period ended October 12 and there was plenty of activity. Port Adelaide's Karl Amon officially became a Hawk on a four year deal. Port will receive a second round draft selection as compensation.

Melbourne's Jayden Hunt, 27, has joined West Coast as an unrestricted free agent. Hunt played 114 games for the Demons. Hem missed out on the 2021 premiership due to an ankle injury. He did manage 20 games in 2022. The Eagles were keen to add some speed to their midfield.

GWS midfielder Tim Taranto, 24, told the club at the end of the season that he wanted to be traded with Richmond his desired destination. The two clubs struck deal with GWS getting selections 12 and 19 in return. Taranto has signed a seven year contract with the Tigers. He debuted for the Giants in 2017 and played 144 games.

GWS forward Bobby Hill has been traded to Collingwood, Hill, 22, had requested a trade at the end of 2021, but a trade deal could not be done. He requested the trade to be closer to family. Collingwood received a future second round selection. The two clubs also swapped draft selections with Collingwood receiving selection 40 in exchange for selection 43. Hill played 41 games for the Giants.

Free agent Liam Jones has joined the Western Bulldogs, Jones, 31, quit Carlton at the end of last season due to his stance against CO-VID vaccines. After sitting out 2022, he was designated a free agent. Jones was originally drafted by the Bulldogs. He has played 161 games and kicked 84 goals between the two clubs. Carlton received selection 49 as compensation.

The Demons traded picks 33, 43 and 53 for Port Adelaide's compensation selection they received for losing free agent Karl Amon.

Bulldog Zane Cordy joined St Kilda as an unrestricted free agent. Cordy played 124 games for the Bulldogs since being drafted in 2014. He was a member of the 2016 premiership side.

Docker winger Blake Acres has been traded to Carlton in exchange for a future third round draft selection. Acres began his career with the Saints and has played a total of 120 games in his career. He was in career best form in 2022 to help the Dockers reach the finals.

Brisbane's Daniel McStay,26, decided to explore his options at the end of the 2022 season. He has now joined Collingwood as an unrestricted free agent.. He is originally from Victoria. McStay played 161 games and kicked 138 goals for the Lions. He has the versatility to play ruck and defense as well as forward. Brisbane received selection 35 as compensation.

St Kilda's Ben Long, 25, requested a trade with the Suns his preferred destination. The deal was done with the the Saints also giving up a future round four selection in exchange for selection 32. Long has played 79 games in six seasons with St Kilda, including 19 this year.

Brisbane's Tom Berry requested a trade for more playing opportunities and he has also joined Gold Coast, his club of choice. Berry has  managed just three games for the Lions while brother Jarrod has played 20 in four seasons. 

In September, the AFL granted a draft assistance package to North Melbourne. The club will receive the following: a 2023 second- and 2023 third-round pick that must be traded to another club or clubs for at least one player. the rights to add an additional two rookies on the list in 2023. The draft selections must be traded in the upcoming trade period or be forfeited. The selections will be placed after the Roos’ existing picks in the 2023 NAB AFL Draft.

North completed a trade for Dockers Griffin Logue and Darcy Tucker. Both had requested to be traded to the Kangaroos. North also received a future third-round pick in exchange for a future second-round (AFL special assistance), future third-round selection (AFL special assistance) and a future fourth-round selection. A natural defender, Logue was drafted in 2016 AFL Draft and played 64 games. Logue, 24, lad a stint in the forward line late in the season. Tucker, 25, was drafted in 2015 and played 108 games. Tucker is originally from Victoria.

Melbourne traded Luke Jackson, their third round selection and their round four selection to Fremantle in exchange for the Dockers' first round selection and future first and second round picks. Jackson had told the club he wanted to return home to West Australia. Melbourne also traded Toby Bedford to GWS for a round three selection. Bedford was drafted in 2018 and played 18 games for the Demons.

The Suns traded small forward Izak Rankine, their round three selection and their future round four selection to the Adelaide Crows in exchange for Adelaide's first round selection and future third and fourth round selections. Rankine had told the Suns he wanted to be traded. Rankine, 22, played 48 games for the Suns. He signed a three year deal with the Crows.

There was a four way trade involving North Melbourne, West Coast, GWS and Port Adelaide. Throughout much of the season, there was speculation that number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis was not happy at North Melbourne. At the end of the year, he informed the club that he wanted to return home to South Australia. He got his wish with a trade involving four clubs and Horne-Francis has landed at Port Adelaide. The other clubs were GWS and West Coast. Eagle Junior Rioli also was traded to Port Adelaide. Port gave North a future first round selection. West Coast received future second and third round selection's. Horne-Francis signed a six-year deal while Rioli signed for four. North gave GWS their first round selection. GWS also gave up a first round selection to West Coast and their future second round pick to Port Adelaide. Port Adelaide traded its round one selection, their future second and third round selections to the Eagles. North also received Port's third round selection. West Coast gave up their first and third round selections to North.

Carlton traded midfielder Will Setterfield, their selection 68 in exchange for a future fourth round pick to Essendon. Setterfield, 24, was drafted by GWS in the 2016 but played just 2 games for the Giants before being traded to Carlton at the end of 2019. He played 55 games for the Blues.

GWS midfielder Jacob Hopper was traded to Richmond in exchange for Richmond's future first round selection and selection 31 in this year's draft. Hopper, 25, played 114 games with GWS. At the end of the season, he requested a trade to Richmond.

Hawk forward Jack Gunston decided to explore his free agency options at the end of the year and has been traded to Brisbane. The Lions gave up their pick 48 and a future fourth round selection. Gunston, 30, played 211 games for the Hawks after 14 with Adelaide. The Lions decided to trade for Gunston rather than acquire him via free agency, to avoid cancelling the free agency compensation they received for Dan McStay.

Collingwood's Brody Grundy was traded to Melbourne even though he still had five years to run on his contract. Through the late stages of the season, there was much speculation that he would be departing the club. The Demons were keen on getting Grundy with Luke Jackson wanting to be traded. Grundy, 28, was sidelined for most of the year (just six games) with a knee injury and a stress fracture in his left ankle, which allowed Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron to share the ruck duties and opened up the possibility of Grundy departing. He did speak with GWS, Port Adelaide and Geelong but wanted to remain in Victoria so settled on Melbourne. in return, the Magpies received selection 27 in the upcoming draft.

Collingwood also traded a future round three selection to Adelaide for tall utility Billy Frampton. Frampton, 25, played just six games in 2022 and 21 in the three seasons with the Crows. He began his career with Port Adelaide where he played three games in five seasons. He has transitioned from a ruckman-key forward to a key defender in the past 18 months.

Gold Coast traded midfielder Jack Bowes and their number seven selection to Geelong in exchange for a future third round selection. Bowes still had two years on his contract but the club decided to trade him for salary cap reasons. Bowes, 24, played 83 games for the Suns. Fremantle's Rory Lobb had advised the club that he wanted to be traded. He got his wish, with the Bulldogs securing him in exchange for their second round draft selection and a future second round pick. Lobb, 30, began with GWS in 2014 before joining the Dockers in 2018. He has played a total of 140 games.

The Bulldogs traded Josh Dunkley to Brisbane as well as two third round future selections. The Bulldogs received selection 21 in the upcoming draft, a future first and a future second, plus a future fourth round selection. Dunkley, 25, told the club he wanted to be traded to Brisbane for family reasons. He played 116 AFL games, including 23 this year and was a member of the 2016 premiership team.

The Western Bulldogs traded Josh Schache to Melbourne for a future round four selection. Schache, 25, played 27 games for Brisbane before being traded to the Bulldogs at the end of 2017. He played 45 games for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs also traded midfielder Lachie Hunter to Melbourne in exchange for a future round three selection. Hunter, 28, was a father-son selection in 2012 and played 173 games for the Bulldogs, including the 2016 premiership. He was the club best and fairest winner in 2018. He played just 10 games in 2022 due to form and personal reasons.

Oliver Henry told Collingwood at the end of the year he wanted to join his brother at Geelong. In a three-way deal, the Cats traded Cooper Stephens to Hawthorn. Collingwood traded Oliver Henry to Geelong for its round two selection (currently 25). Collingwood traded its round three Selection (41) and its round three selection (50) to Hawthorn for Tom Mitchell. Henry was drafted in 2020 and played 25 games for the Cats. Stephens, 21, debuted in 2022 and played seven games. Mitchell, 29, began with Sydney but blossomed at Hawthorn winning a Brownlow Medal three best and fairests and being named All-Australian twice.

Essendon traded Aaron Francis and their round three selection to the Sydney Swans for Sydney's second round selection and their future round four selection. Francis, 25, was drafted in 2016 and played 84 games for the Bombers. The versatile Francis can play both forward and defense.

Melbourne trade Sam Weideman, its round three selection (54) and its round four selection (72) to Essendon for their round 2 selection. (37). Weideman, 25, was drafted in 2015 and played 59 games for the Demons. He played only 10 senior games in 2022, but was a key member of Casey's VFL premiership team.

Sources: sen.com.au, afl.com.au, Will Botoulas, Carlton MR, Josh Cheadle, Gold Coast Media Release, Stacey Oates, North Melbourne Media Release, foxsports.com.au, Tash Lewis, Collingwood Media Release, Ashley Stewart, GWS Media Release, Stacey Oates, North Melbourne Media Release, Morgan Randolph, AFL Media release