AFL 2026 off-season news

Welcome to Off-Season Central.

Below you can track every move by every club leading into and during the 2026 off-season.

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MAY 25 - RECENT RECRUIT RETIRES MID-SEASON TO HELP DEMONS’ DRAFT PLANS

Three-club forward Shane McAdam has retired on the eve of the mid-season draft.

Melbourne announced on Monday evening McAdam had told the club he wanted to return home to WA to be closer to family.

The timing allows the Demons to open up a third mid-season draft pick following the retirements of Steven May and Tom Campbell earlier this year.

Having been pre-listed by Carlton in 2018 as part of an assistance package, he was immediately traded in the Mitch McGovern deal to Adelaide, playing 50 games across the 2020-23 seasons.

McAdam was then traded for a future second-round pick after the 2023 season, a pick which was sent back to the Demons a year later in exchange for Alex Neal-Bullen.

McAdam played just three games for the club, all in 2024, battling multiple injury issues.

“Shane has been a valued member of our club and we fully support his decision to return home to his family,” Demons GM of Football Performance Alan Richardson said.

“Unfortunately, Shane has battled injuries during his time at the club, which has made it difficult for him to contribute out on the field the way he would have liked.

“On behalf of everyone at the Melbourne Football Club, we thank Shane for his contribution and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”

The mid-season draft will be held at 6:30pm on Tuesday May 26, in reverse ladder order, with clubs having as many picks as they have free list spots.

Essendon holds pick 1 having been linked to Tasmania VFL defender Jaxon Artemis, with Richmond linked to 200cm Geelong VFL defender Kye Annand and Carlton eyeing Blues VFL ruckman Flynn Riley.

2026 AFL MID-SEASON ROOKIE DRAFT ORDER

First round

1 - Essendon

2 - Richmond

3 - West Coast

4 - Carlton

5 - Port Adelaide

6 - North Melbourne

7 - St Kilda

8 - Collingwood

9 - Western Bulldogs

10 - Adelaide

11 - Melbourne

12 - Hawthorn

Second round

13 - West Coast

14 - Port Adelaide

15 - Collingwood

16 - Melbourne

Third round

17 - Port Adelaide

18 - Collingwood

19 - Melbourne

EVERY AFL CLUB’S 2026 OFF-SEASON MOVES

ADELAIDE CROWS

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 12, 30, 37, 48

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

BRISBANE LIONS

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 11, 29, 49, 51, 65

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

CARLTON

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 4, 17, 24, 32, 47, 58

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

COLLINGWOOD

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 9, 27, 61, 63, 71

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

ESSENDON

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 1, 19, 55

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

FREMANTLE

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 18, 36, 54, 72

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

GEELONG

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 16, 34, 52, 70

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

GOLD COAST SUNS

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 68

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

GWS GIANTS

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 7, 31

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

HAWTHORN

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 15, 25, 26, 33, 67

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

MELBOURNE

Who is leaving: Steven May (retired), Tom Campbell (retired), Shane McAdam (retired)

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 13, 14, 43

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

NORTH MELBOURNE

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 6, 42, 60, 66

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

PORT ADELAIDE

Who is leaving: Ivan Soldo (retired)

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 5, 22, 23, 41, 50, 59

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

RICHMOND

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 2, 20, 38, 56

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

ST KILDA

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 8, 44, 62

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

SYDNEY SWANS

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 35, 40, 45, 69

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

WEST COAST EAGLES

Who is leaving: Nil so far

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 3, 21, 39, 53, 57, 64

Promoted rookies: TBC

Retained rookies: TBC

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Who is leaving: James Harmes (retired)

Who is arriving: TBC

Draft picks (after Round 11): 10, 28, 46

Promoted rookies: TBC

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