They’re men on the move (from left to right): Adam Cerra, Robbie Tarrant, Jordan Dawson

The dust has barely settled on the 2021 AFL season, but the focus quickly shifts to next year on Friday with the commencement of the free agency/trade period.

With this year’s premiership decided only five days ago, it almost feels inappropriate to be giving so much attention to the annual meat market already, especially considering how significant historically was Melbourne’s grand final win. But here we are.

And as the Demon faithful continue to let their hair down and party like it’s 1964 (COVID restrictions permitting in the eastern states, of course), for the other 17 clubs, it’s back to the drawing board, and the time has come to devise list management strategies to catch up to the newly-crowned premier.

While the free agency/trade period almost always throws up a curveball that few see coming, this year’s edition, at this stage at least, looks like it will be a fairly low-key affair.

The biggest name player set to move clubs in the next couple of weeks is talented Fremantle youngster Adam Cerra, who has nominated Carlton as his preferred club of choice.

The Blues are expected to stump up pick No.6 in this year’s national draft at least for the 76-game 21-year-old, who himself was taken at No.5 in the 2017 draft.

Sydney has come to terms with the reality that the very talented Jordan Dawson has requested a trade back to his native South Australia to continue his career with the Crows. Dawson was outstanding this year, recording a career-high 513 disposals, at an average of 22 per game, while ranking second at the Swans for rebound-50s.

Carlton looks set to be one of the busiest players this year, with Sydney’s George Hewett expected to join the Blues as a restricted free agent, while defender Sam Petrevski-Seton has declared he wants to return home to Western Australia and link up with the Eagles.

West Coast’s Jarrod Brander looms as the potential key to making the Petrevski-Seton deal a reality.

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Veteran North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant will join Richmond as an unrestricted free agent as the Tigers look to shore up their defence following the retirements of Bachar Houli and David Astbury.

Richmond is also bracing for the departures of other key position players Callum Coleman-Jones and Mabior Chol. Coleman-Jones has requested a trade to North Melbourne, while Chol has agreed to a long-term deal with Gold Coast as an unrestricted free agent.

Essendon will bolster its key defensive stocks, too, with Adelaide backman Jake Kelly on track to land at The Hangar as a free agent.

Talented Bulldogs youngster Patrick Lipinski has requested a trade to Collingwood after being starved of opportunities at The Kennel, while vice-captain Mitch Wallis could join him through the exit door too after managing only six games in 2021.

Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams is still contracted to the Power in season 2022, but is open to joining another club for more opportunities. Jeremy Finlayson is a chance to move from GWS to Port Adelaide, as is Hawthorn tall Tim O’Brien.

Resurgent but delisted, St Kilda midfielder Luke Dunstan also looks set to find a new home, while his former teammate Ben Long could be on the move from Moorabbin as well, despite being contracted.

Former Adelaide defender Daniel Talia’s career might not be over just yet, with rival clubs reportedly showing some interest in acquiring his services.

Meanwhile, the Cats look set to lose a trio of players, with Jordan Clark likely to request a trade to Fremantle, Nathan Kreuger expressing a desire to become a Magpie and ruckman Darcy Fort also looking set to continue his career elsewhere in 2022l.

FREE AGENCY PERIOD
Friday, October 1 to Friday, October 8
TRADE PERIOD
Monday, October 4 to Wednesday, October 13