Providing power rankings for the AFL player movement period is difficult – it is a reach to write off clubs that did poorly when the players have yet to play.

But I’m going to have a crack at it anyway.

18. Hawthorn

New faces: Lloyd Meek (Fremantle), Cooper Stephens (Geelong), Karl Amon (Port Adelaide) Cam Mackenzie (pick 8), Josh Weddle (18), Henry Hustwaite (37), Jack O’Sullivan (46), Bailey MacDonald (51), Joshua Bennett (category B rookie).

Departing: Tom Mitchell (Collingwood), Jaeger O’Meara (Fremantle), Jack Gunston (Brisbane), Liam Shiels (North Melbourne), Jackson Callow, Connor Downie, Kyle Hartigan, Tom Phillips, Jack Saunders, Ben McEvoy.

The Hawks are not in a win-now mentality. They are three to five years from contending, so that the light at the end of the tunnel is barely flickering. However, that makes their decision to trade for pick 18 (and select a key back) all the more nonsensical.

They gave up 27, a future second and a future third for that pick. This decision would have made more sense if they filled an urgent need (like an inside midfielder) but instead they selected yet another defender despite the oodles of talent they have in that part of the list.

This is nothing against Josh Weddle – I think he will in time prove to be a good player – however, Hawthorn taking him in their current context makes little to no sense, particularly when you consider it’s pretty obvious they’re going to struggle next year. They gave up two highly valuable picks to the Sydney Swans, who salted the wound when they selected Cooper Vickery, a Hawthorn NGA player, at 27.

17. Adelaide Crows

New faces: Izak Rankine (Gold Coast), Max Michalanney (17), Billy Dowling (43), Hugh Bond (50).

Departures: Billy Frampton (Collingwood), Ben Davis, James Rowe, Brett Turner, Luke Brown.

The Crows were a bottom-six team this year, and they’re lacking in nearly every part of the field. The only thing that went well for them this off-season was a pick swap with North Melbourne, but even that is predicated on North finishing below them in 2023.

I expect that Izak Rankine will be a jet for them; however, they had to give up pick five and a healthy wage to get him over, and it just seems like they’re trading before they’ve got the necessary organic growth from their list to be a viable side.

Matthew Nicks will be under enormous pressure to succeed next year and if he fails to do so he may be shown the door. Additionally, thanks to some chicanery from the Sydney Swans, the Crows ended up having to match a bid substantially higher than they were expecting for father-son talent Michalanney.

16. Gold Coast Suns

New faces: Tom Berry (Brisbane), Bailey Humphrey (6), Jake Stein, Conor Blakely, Lloyd Johnston (category B rookie), Jed Anderson.

Departures: Izak Rankine (Adelaide), Jack Bowes (Geelong), Josh Corbett (Fremantle), Oleg Markov, Jez McLennan, Matt Conroy, Patrick Murtagh, Rhys Nicholls, Rory Thompson.

The optics of the Bowes trade are bad, but hindsight is 20/20. I believe it was more important that they create space in the cap to keep their valuable 2019 draftees in Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, both of whom form an integral part of their best 22.

The draft night was a success for them as they considered trading up to get Bailey Humphrey, before seeing him fall to their pick after Essendon took Elijah Tsatas.

The Suns are now at the stage where success needs to be required – they’ve had several years of high picks and they’ve also managed to gain some pretty strong talent through the academy. It is finals or a bust for the Suns this year and that sort of requirement sees them drop down these power rankings as I still think it is uncertain that they can do that.

The thing that sees them push above two other sides is I actually think they did a good job on draft night, as well as securing the points necessary to match a high bid on Jed Walter next year.

15. Western Bulldogs

New faces: Rory Lobb (Fremantle). Liam Jones (Carlton), Jedd Busslinger (13), Charlie Clarke (24), Harvey Gallagher (39).

Departures: Josh Dunkley (Brisbane), Lachie Hunter (Melbourne), Josh Schache (Melbourne), Zaine Cordy (St Kilda), Mitch Wallis, Louis Butler, Charlie Parker, Stefan Martin.

Suffice it to say I do not rate the collective trade and draft period by the Dogs. They needed to fix their key defensive shortcomings, which they did – however, they failed to get a fair market price for Josh Dunkley and they very obviously were bitter about it, as shown by their bid on Jaspa Fletcher in the middle of the first round of the national draft.

I don’t expect the Bulldogs will be at the pointy end next year. I am by no means writing them off, but such improvements they may make shall have to come from the players they’ve already drafted over the past couple of years, rather than the selections they’ve made this time around.

14. Fremantle Dockers

New faces: Luke Jackson (Melbourne), Josh Corbett (Gold Coast), Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn), Hugh Davies (33), Tom Emmett (41), Max Knobel (42), Corey Wagner (57), Liam Reidy (rookie draft), Josh Draper, Conrad Williams (category B).

Departures: Blake Acres (Carlton), Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs), Griffin Logue, Darcy Tucker (North Melbourne), Lloyd Meek (Hawthorn), Connor Blakely, Mitch Crowden, Joel Western, David Mundy).

It was a strange trade and draft period for Fremantle. I would argue that across the course of their history, they have a worse trading record than Gold Coast.

They brought in Luke Jackson and drafted Max Knobel, both of whom are ruckmen, a position of relative strength for the rising Dockers. Not only that, but they sacrificed a lot of pieces necessary to win a premiership. Suffice it to say I believe Longmuir’s Dockers did not fix the area they needed to, which is their forward line, and they will face all of the top six twice next season.

As a result, I believe they will barely make the eight, or be on the fringes once again. The Luke Jackson trade is comparable to the Dylan Shiel trade, where they gave up a king’s bounty for a player who may not do that much for them.

13. St Kilda

New faces: Zaine Cordy (Western Bulldogs), Mattaes Phillipou (10), Olli Hotton (35), Isaac Keeler (44), James Van Es (31), Angus McLennan (category B rookie).

Departures: Ben Long (Gold Coast), Darragh Joyce, Jarrod Lienert, Paddy Ryder, Dan Hannebery, Jarryn Geary (retired).

The Saints have had a shocking off-season, and were it not for some fortuitous pick-ups at the draft table I would have them lower on this list.

First off they went after and failed to get Jordan De Goey, then they sacked their coach in Brett Ratten and hired their old coach in Ross Lyon – this is a shocking turn of events, and I am surprised the Coaches Association is not baying for their blood given the weak payout that is heading Ratten’s way.

However through the draft and the trade period they were able to provide fixes for two of their worst parts of the ground – their key defensive stocks and their attacking midfield – so it’s not a complete write-off for the Saints. However if they don’t make finals next year (as I expect they won’t) several fans will be disappointed.

The Saints require wholesale change from the board on down to prevent such reckless impulsivity moving forward.

12. West Coast Eagles

New faces: Jayden Hunt (Melbourne), Reuben Gibney (9), Elijah Hewett (14), Harry Barnett (23), Coby Burgiel (29), Noah Long (58), Jordyn Baker (category B rookie).

Departures: Hugh Dixon, Tom Joyce, Zac Langdon, Patrick Naish, Jackson Nelson, Jack Redden, Josh Kennedy, Junior Rioli (Port Adelaide).

This is a transitional year for the Eagles. It finally looks like they have given up on aspirations of another elusive flag in favour of having a real solid crack at a rebuild.

With multiple years left on Adam Simpson’s deal, he has a mandate to build a new game style from the ground up. I was actually unsure of where to put the Eagles on this list, but given their quiet trade period and the high likelihood they’ll be down the bottom of the ladder next year, I have them rounding out the bottom six.

11. GWS Giants

New faces: Toby Bedford (Melbourne), Aaron Cadman (1), Harry Rowston (16), Darcy Jones (21), Max Gruzewski (22), Toby McMullin (34), Jason Gilbee, Nick Madden (category B rookie).

Departures: Jarrod Brander, Zach Sproule, Jake Stein (Gold Coast Suns), Bobby Hill (Collingwood), Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper (Richmond), Matt de Boer.

Do the Giants have a banger of a team song? Yes. Have they handled the combined trade and draft period well? I think the answer to that question is more of a split decision.

They have easily fixed their shortage of small forwards as a result of the Bobby Hill trade, with Bedford, Jones, and McMullin coming in via trade and drafting . However, the fact they were unable to bring in replacements for Taranto and Hopper means that their midfield is going to be in dire straits.

Rowston can take some of the load; however, the Giants are still reeling from needing to match a bid for him in the first round thanks to the machinations of Sydney.

10. Port Adelaide

New faces: Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne), Junior Rioli (West Coast), Francis Evans (Geelong), Tom McCallum (36), Tom Scully (53), Kyle Marshall (59), Nathan Barkla (Category B rookie).

Departures: Robbie Gray, Stephen Motlop, Martin Frederick, Sam Mayes, Taj Schofield, Sam Skinner, Karl Amon (Hawthorn).

The question one needs to ask themselves when writing a power rankings list such as this is: did the side achieve their aims and will this contribute to them winning a flag? I think with Port Adelaide, the answer is a resounding and apathetic ‘meh’.

This was a mid draft and trade period for the Power, which only seeks to exacerbate the pressure on head coach Ken Hinkley. I would have the Power higher if they used the golden opportunity to move Hinkley on with open seats at St Kilda and Essendon, yet they didn’t.

The positive part of this trade period is going to be the additional support in the midfield with Horne-Francis helping out, but they still lack a big bullocking defender that can shut down the biggest forwards in the game, and they need another tall forward to take over after Charlie Dixon retires.

9. Sydney Swans

New faces: Aaron Francis (Essendon), Jacob Konstanty (20), Cooper Vickery (27), Caleb Mitchell (40), Cameron Owen, Jaidyn Maigor (rookie), Will Edwards (category B rookie).

Departures: Josh Kennedy, Colin O’Riordan, Callum Sinclair, James Bell, Sam Naismith, Barry O’Connor, Ben Ronke, Lewis Taylor.

The aptly nicknamed ‘Bidney’ were busy on draft night with two successive bids on Harry Rowston (linked to GWS) and Max Michalanney (linked to Adelaide), followed by trading their pick out to Hawthorn. That was a strange decision given the Swans will soon be crying out for a medium-tall defender to take over from Dane Rampe and a bigger-bodied midfielder to take the reins from Josh Kennedy.

Not only did they bid on those aforementioned players here, they also took pacey half-back Cooper Vickery at 27 (one of the resulting picks traded with Hawthorn for 18), a player that was linked to the Hawks’ Next Generation Academy. But they made the grand final this year, and Kinnear Beatson has shown a preternatural ability to procure talent from all places in the past, so I can’t in good conscience have them any lower.

8. Melbourne

New faces: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood), Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs), Josh Schache (Western Bulldogs), Matt Jefferson (15), Jed Adams (38), Oliver Sestan, Will Verrall (rookie), Kyah Farsi-White (category B rookie).

Departures: Luke Jackson (Fremantle), Jayden Hunt (West Coast), Sam Weideman (Essendon), Toby Bedford (GWS). Oskar Baker, Fraser Rosman (delisted).

The Demons have long since prided themselves on their list management strategies designed to enable them to launch a prolonged challenge for a dynasty. They fell short this year, going out in straight sets due to a clear premiership hangover (as well as a fight between Steven May and Jake Melksham); however, with a lot of movement in the spine with Luke Jackson going to Fremantle and Sam Weideman to Essendon, the Dees need greater depth in the forward key position posts.

They succeeded, as they were long linked to Matt Jefferson at their first pick. Additionally, they selected a project player in Jed Adams, someone that can aptly hold a spot down back as a key defender that is so vital to the Melbourne structure. The question that remains, however, is can they fit two ruckmen who can only play in the ruck in Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy in their side, and that uncertainty sees them attain this middling rank.

7. Carlton

New faces: Blake Acres (Fremantle), Oliver Hollands (11), Lachie Cowan (30), Jaxon Binns (32), Harry Lemmey (47).

Departures: Will Setterfield (Essendon), Oscar McDonald, Jack Newnes, Luke Parks, Liam Stocker, Tom Williamson.

The Blues prioritised outside run at this year’s trade and draft period, and in that goal they were successful. Blake Acres shapes as a bargain basement wingman from Fremantle who has inconsistently shown his talent across his near decade in the system.

At the draft they would be ecstatic to have landed the best two-way runner in Hollands, followed by a half-back who can play in the midfield in Cowan. Finally, they ended the night selecting Harry Lemmey, who had a horrendous 2022 that saw him drop out of first-round calculations.

The Blues have done a lot to rectify their shortfalls but it remains to be seen if they can take that extra step and make finals.

6. Essendon

New faces: Will Setterfield (Carlton), Sam Weideman (Melbourne), Elijah Tsatas (5), Lewis Hayes (25), Alwyn Davey Jr (45), Jayden Davey (54), Anthony Munkara (category B rookie), Rhett Montgomerie (rookie).

Departures: Michael Hurley, Devon Smith, Tom Hird, Tom Cutler, Josh Eyre, Brayden Ham, Cody Brand, Alex Waterman, Garrett McDonagh, Aaron Francis (Sydney).

The Bombers aggressively trimmed the fat in pursuit of a possible high bid for their highly-valued father-son recruits in the Davey brothers. This was after an off-season from hell, with the Bombers still reeling from the ill-fated pursuit of Alastair Clarkson, as well as the bref appointment of Andrew Thornburn as CEO.

However, the draft went as well as they could have hoped – they took two live selections beefing up the midfield and key defensive postings. They also fixed the shortage of small forwards they had, taking three top-20 calibre players in the Davey brothers and Munkara.

I expect that the Bombers won’t make the eight next year, but they have the skeleton of a very high-quality team that just needs strong central leadership to show the path forward.

5. Brisbane Lions

New faces: Conor McKenna (Essendon), Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Will Ashcroft (2), Jaspa Fletcher (12), Shadeau Brain, Daryl McDowell-White Jr (Category B rookies).

Departures: Tom Berry (Gold Coast), Dan McStay (Collingwood), Mitchell Cox, Connor McFayden, Ely Smith, Devidas Uosis, Mitch Robinson.

The Lions had a busy busy trade and draft period. They would be ecstatic after a bid for Ashcroft at pick two meant they didn’t need to go into deficit to match the bid.

However, none of their new recruits will fix the fundamental problem with Brisbane, which is a lack of defensive intent. Do not mistake me, I expect the Lions will be very very good next year; however, they will not win the flag while their defence keeps its current configuration. Additionally, the bid came higher for Fletcher than they were, expecting clearly thanks to some lasting angst with the Bulldogs relating to the Dunkley trade.

The Lions need to win the flag shortly – their cap is too full not to win it, but I don’t think they can, especially with the Sword of Damocles that is the Hawthorn controversy hanging over Chris Fagan’s head.

4. North Melbourne

New faces: Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), Darcy Tucker, Griffin Logue (Fremantle). Harry Sheezel (3), George Wardlaw (4), Brayden George (26), Cooper Harvey (56), Blake Drury, Hamish Free, Daniel Howe (rookie).

Departures: Jason Horne-Francis (Port Adelaide), Jed Anderson (Gold Coast), Atu Bosenavulagi, Kyron Hayden, Matt McGuinness, Jared Polec, Josh Walker, Patrick Walker, Tom Lynch.

The Roos are still on struggle street in my opinion. They got their coach, but they lost their vaunted number-one pick Horne-Francis. That being said no one comes out looking good in that episode: Horne Francis will forever be tagged as a prima donna, and North fired David Noble because he lost the players.

The reason I have them this high is because they secured a lot of first-round picks alongside the master coach Alastair Clarkson, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. I expect that Wardlaw and Sheezel will play a lot of footy next year. Furthermore, they secured more depth for their key defenders in Logue.

The Roos have built from the midfield out and need one more year in the bottom four before beginning a surge up the ladder, the reason for that being they still lack a second fiddle for Nick Larkey up forward.

3. Collingwood

New faces: Bobby Hill (GWS), Billy Frampton (Adelaide), Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn), Dan McStay (Brisbane), Ed Allan (19), Jakob Ryan (28), Joe Richards (48).

Departures: Callum Brown, Tyler Brown, Isaac Chugg, Jack Madgen, Liam McMahon, Caleb Poulter, Jordan Roughead, Brodie Grundy (Melbourne), Oliver Henry (Geelong).

The Pies would be delighted with how the trade and draft period went. They were able to get both their targets in Richards and Ryan despite planning to use substantially higher picks on both of them. They were also able to get a draft bolter in Ed Allan, who fills dual needs as either an inside midfielder or a third tall defender to take over after Jeremy Howe retires.

Finally, there’s the bevy of players they traded in. I think they may be over-rating their list somewhat as the established talent they have is a year older and they don’t yet have a young core coming through to take over for them.

While I expect they will make finals, a game style built off winning a lot of close games is not a recipe for success, particularly as they lost one of their biggest advantages in Grundy last year.

2. Richmond

New faces: Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper (GWS), Kalevala Smith (49), Steely Green (55), Seth Campbell, Tyler Young (rookie).

Departures: Josh Caddy, Shane Edwards, Kane Lambert, Jake Aarts, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Will Martyn, Matthew Parker, Sydney Stack.

The Tigers are rebuilding on the run. They went out after the first week of finals seeking to turn what was perceived as their biggest weakness into their biggest strength. With the recruitment of Hopper and Taranto, it means that Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton can rest forward more often, and they can even take whole games off for their aged veterans assuming there is not another injury crisis.

Additionally, the Tigers were able to keep their wantaway talisman in Martin as well as trim the fat. It does leave them a little skinny for small forwards, which has been the hallmark of their game style across their recent dynasty. However, given that Taranto, Bolton and Martin can all play forward to great effect I do not foresee this being a big issue.

Furthermore, the reason the Tigers are so highly rated is because time and time again they’ve shown the ability to strike gold with junk picks in the national and rookie drafts.

1. Geelong Cats

New faces: Tanner Bruhn (GWS), Jack Bowes (Gold Coast), Oliver Henry (Collingwood), Jhye Clark (8), Phoenix Spicer (52), Oscar Murdoch (rookie). Oscar Riccardi, Oisin Mullin (Category B rookie).

Departures: Francis Evans, Paul Tsapatolis, Quinton Narkle, Zane Williams, Nick Stevens, Joel Selwood, Luke Dahlhaus, Shaun Higgins, Cooper Stephens (Hawthorn).

Dad’s Army have done it again. Shortly after winning their first flag in over ten years, the Cats have rejuvenated their list at a stroke.

With Bruhn, Henry, Bowes and Clark, the Suns have brought in four first-round picks to their ageing line-up. They have moved Higgins, Dahlhaus and Selwood on without damaging the integrity of the team as well.

The Cats win the trade and draft period and look set to go back to back with what is sure to be another deep trip into September for the old men of the AFL.