In a dramatic conclusion to the AFL trade period, a multi-club swap delivered high-profile moves for Bailey Smith, Jack Macrae, and Matt Kennedy, as a flurry of trades unfolded in the final minutes on Wednesday night. Despite some tense moments, all key players involved found new homes, marking a thrilling end to the 2024 player movement window.
Bailey Smith, a standout who missed the entire 2023 season due to an ACL injury, headlined the multi-club swap that involved Geelong, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, and Carlton. The Cats secured Smith’s services, a move orchestrated by list boss Andrew Mackie, in exchange for Geelong’s picks 17 and 38. Smith’s arrival at Geelong signals a major addition for the Cats, who are eager to integrate the explosive midfielder into their plans for 2025.
Meanwhile, St Kilda landed Jack Macrae from the Bulldogs, a move that offers Macrae a fresh start after his reduced role in the Dogs’ midfield over the past two seasons. The Saints gave up pick 45, which was subsequently passed on to Geelong. Macrae is expected to be a key figure in St Kilda’s midfield rotation next season, bolstering a unit that will be looking to improve on its 2024 campaign.
Matt Kennedy, on the other hand, found a new home at the Western Bulldogs, leaving Carlton in search of greater opportunities in the midfield. Carlton, who encouraged Kennedy to explore other options, received pick 38 as compensation. The No. 17 pick, which Geelong parted with to acquire Smith, also ended up with the Bulldogs, helping balance the books for both clubs in the complex deal.
Jake Stringer also found a new destination, moving to the GWS Giants in exchange for pick 53. The 30-year-old forward endured over a week of negotiations regarding his trade value, but in the end, the Giants were able to add Stringer to their already potent forward line, which features the likes of Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene, and 2022 No.1 draftee Aaron Cadman. Stringer is expected to provide significant depth and versatility in GWS’s attacking structure.
Several other notable moves happened in the chaotic final moments of the trade period. Tom Barrass, the key defender from West Coast, was traded to Hawthorn after days of difficult negotiations. The Hawks, who had earlier frustrated West Coast by trading pick 14 to Carlton, finally agreed to a deal that saw them part with a future first, second, and third-round pick to secure Barrass. In return, the Eagles sent a 2025 fourth-round pick to Hawthorn. Barrass will now bolster the Hawks’ defense alongside free agency acquisition Josh Battle from St Kilda.
North Melbourne was active in the trade period as well, adding Caleb Daniel, Luke Parker, and Jacob Konstanty to their roster in the final minutes. The Kangaroos gave up pick 25 to secure Daniel but managed to land Parker by upgrading their offer from pick 62 to 44, also adding Konstanty, who was selected at pick 20 just two years ago. Despite missing out on All-Australian Dan Houston, who joined Collingwood a day earlier, North Melbourne ended the trade period with some valuable additions to their squad.
The Adelaide Crows and GWS Giants also completed a last-minute deal, with the Crows securing midfielder James Peatling in exchange for a future second-round pick, as well as the Giants’ 2025 third- and fourth-round selections. Peatling had been a breakout performer for GWS, and his addition will strengthen the Crows’ midfield depth heading into the 2025 season.
One of the biggest surprises of the trade period was Richmond’s flurry of activity on deadline day. After days of intense negotiations, the Tigers managed to trade away premiership stars Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli. Bolton was traded to Fremantle in exchange for all three of the Dockers’ first-round picks, while Rioli was sent to Gold Coast in return for picks six and 23. Richmond also handed over a set of late-round picks to help Gold Coast match a bid on academy prospect Leo Lombard.
Earlier in the week, Richmond had already dealt with another key departure, as Liam Baker was traded to West Coast in a three-club swap with Carlton. Baker’s departure, along with those of Bolton and Rioli, marked a challenging period for the Tigers, who also lost Jack Graham to free agency. However, the Tigers now hold an impressive array of early draft picks, providing list boss Blair Hartley with the opportunity to rebuild the club’s roster with young talent.
As the dust settled on the 2024 AFL trade period, it became clear that this year’s activity was defined by bold moves and last-minute deals. Clubs like Geelong, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, and North Melbourne all made significant moves to reshape their squads, while Richmond, despite losing several key players, positioned itself for a bright future with a treasure trove of draft assets.
For fans, the high-stakes drama and last-minute trades added excitement to what was already an action-packed trade period. With the AFL Draft just around the corner, teams will now turn their attention to securing the best young talent available, as they look to build for the future and compete for premiership success in 2025.
