AFL trade wrap: Zach Merrett fails to get to Hawthorn, Charlie Curnow makes move to Sydney

Charlie Curnow will look to add to his two Coleman Medals in the red and white of Sydney after being traded from Carlton, but Zach Merrett will have to return to Essendon after a deal couldn’t get done on a dramatic final day.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LIST OF EVERY COMPLETED DEAL

Merrett will have to walk back into Tullamarine after he and his manager Tom Petroro couldn’t execute his wish to get to Hawthorn, leaving the skipper in an awkward position ahead of the 2026 season.

The Hawks had put forward a final offer of pick No.10, No.22, a future first-round pick and midfielder Henry Hustwaite in exchange for the 30-year-old and a future third-round selection which was knocked back by the Bombers.

It was widely reported that Essendon wanted four first-round picks for in exchange for the six-time fairest and best winner.

Petroro was strong in his stance that he felt the deal in front of Essendon was good enough to get Merrett out of the club.

“Zach really wants to be a Hawthorn footballer. He is all in on this, it’s been a difficult five or six week period and his instruction to me is to get to Hawthorn this afternoon,” he told Trade Radio.

“He is at home, he’s motivated to get to Hawthorn. He is in a position where he feels like he’s given his all to Essendon over the last 12 years. He has never wavered ... he needs a fresh start and he wants to chase success at Hawthorn.

“The reality for me is I have been lucky enough to be in this game for 23 years, I have never seen a deal like this for a 30-year-old.”

But the deal was not accepted, leaving Merrett to have to honour his contract in red and black.

Sydney landed Curnow in the biggest deal 10 days but had to wait until the dying minutes to get it done.

The Swans coughed up their first-round picks for the next three years as well as forward Will Hayward for the 28-year-old who has kicked 313 goals in 149 matches as well as some later selections.

It came after the two clubs did a deal early in the day for Oliver Florent to go from the Swans to the Blues for a future third-round selection.

Melbourne cleared up millions of dollars in their salary by trading Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca and four-time fairest and best Clayton Oliver to Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney respectively.

Petracca joined the Suns alongside two second-round picks for this year (currently No.24 and 28) and a future second-round pick in exchange for two first-round selections this year (currently No.7 and No.8) and a future first-round pick as well as several late selections.

Meanwhile, Oliver heads to the Giants who paid only a future third-round selection and will only have to pay part of his salary for the next five years which is worth more than $1m a season.

The Demons brought in now former St Kilda captain Jack Steele, who relinquished his leadership position and was told to look for opportunities elsewhere by the club at the same time.

Melbourne coughed up a third-round pick in the 2027 draft to bring in the 29-year-old who is a two-time All-Australian and two-time Trevor Barker medallist.

The Western Bulldogs traded out troubled forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan after a year of turmoil, with the former No.1 draftee sent to the Queensland club in exchange for a fourth-round selection (currently No.74).

Ugle-Hagan has agreed to a one-year deal with a trigger for a second at the Suns on a much-lower wage than he would’ve been on at the Bulldogs, who in a media release confirmed they would not be paying any of his salary next season which was worth more than $800,000 before the deal.

The 23-year-old addressed his departure in a post on Instagram moments after the deal was done.

“Though it didn’t end the way I would have liked, I have nothing but gratitude and respect for the Doggies. My time at the Kennel has come with its share of lows — there’s no denying that — but the memories and friendships I’ve made will stay with me for life,” Ugle-Hagan wrote in a post.

“From a shy 15-year-old who moved to Melbourne, the Doggies took me in and gave me a family and a home. For that, they’ll always hold a special place in my heart.“Part of me wishes things had ended differently, but I leave proud to have worn the red, white, and blue. Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, and staff who’ve been part of my journey — I’m forever grateful. Only good things to come from here. Can’t wait to get up to Goldy and do myself and my community proud.”

Not all moves were completed though, with North Melbourne skipper Jy Simpkin to remain at Arden Street despite interest from preliminary finalists Collingwood, while West Australian forward Callum Ah Chee did not get a move from dual reigning premiers Brisbane to Adelaide after a series of deals were rejected.

Defender Buku Khamis will also remain at the Western Bulldogs despite his desire to get to Carlton, while Rowan Marshall has to stay at St Kilda despite requesting a trade to Geelong after the arrival of free agent Tom De Koning.

Several smaller deals went through, with Claremont product Jack Buller getting his with to move from Sydney to Collingwood in exchange for some ate draft picks, while North Melbourne mid-season draftee Finnbar Maley made the move to Adelaide.

Hawthorn defender Jai Serong made the move to Sydney while half-back Changkuoth Jiath was sent to Melbourne.

EVERY DEADLINE DAY DEAL

(all times WST)

11.55am: Oliver Florent joins Carlton, with Sydney getting the Blues’ 2026 third-round pick

12.44pm: Changkuoth Jiath joins Melbourne, with Hawthorn getting the Demons’ pick 42 and 2026 fourth-round pick

12.54pm: Jai Serong joins Sydney, along with Hawthorn’s 2026 fourth-round pick, with the Hawks getting the Swans’ 2026 third-round pick

1.15pm: Hawthorn sends picks 10 and 22 to Carlton, in exchange for picks 9, 31, 42 and 43

1.26pm: Finnbar Maley joins Adelaide, along with North Melbourne’s pick 64, with the Roos getting the Crows’ pick 57 and 2026 fourth-round pick

1.49pm: Jamarra Ugle-Hagan joins Gold Coast, with the Bulldogs getting the Suns’ pick 74

2.23pm: Jack Buller joins Collingwood, along with Sydney’s 2026 fourth-round pick, with the Swans getting the Magpies’ 2026 third-round pick

3.06pm: Jack Steele joins Melbourne, with St Kilda getting the Demons’ 2027 third-round pick

3.10pm: Clayton Oliver joins GWS, with Melbourne getting the Giants’ 2026 third-round pick

3.18pm: Patrick Retschko joins Richmond, with Geelong getting the Tigers’ pick 99

3.26pm: Christian Petracca joins Gold Coast, along with Melbourne’s pick 24, pick 28 and 2026 second-round pick, with the Demons getting the Suns’ pick 7, pick 8, pick 37, 2026 first-round pick and 2027 third-round pick

4.27pm: Charlie Curnow joins Sydney, along with pick 31, pick 42 and a 2027-second-round pick, with Carlton getting Will Hayward and the Swans’ pick 11, 2026 first-round pick and 2027 first-round pick