The 2026 AFL trade period saw a marked departure from the brinkmanship of previous years. Columnist Jake Niall writes that Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs were the clubs that gained the most momentum, with the negotiations themselves characterised as unusually honest and reasonable.
Zach Merrett's transfer from Essendon to Hawthorn, which had collapsed the previous year in a standoff, was concluded more than a week before the deadline. Both clubs emerged satisfied, with Hawthorn landing the player and Essendon receiving draft capital and saving face. The trade was enabled in part by the Suns' decision not to match Hawthorn's offer for Ben King, allowing the Hawks to acquire both Merrett and King without exhausting their draft capital. The Hawks also sent Aidan Schubert to the Suns in a related side deal.
Niall notes that with two A-grade recruits—a midfielder who can hit targets and a key forward capable of 50 to 60 goals if he stays healthy—Hawthorn becomes the logical favourite for the 2027 premiership, though how the pieces play out on the field remains to be seen. The Western Bulldogs also made significant gains, though specific details of their transactions were not provided in the column.
The Suns were praised for their pragmatism in not overpaying to retain King. Essendon, while obtaining less than they might have a year earlier, still secured draft capital and maintained team harmony. The climate of the trade period, Niall suggests, could set a constructive precedent for future exchanges.