Collingwood backs change to AFL trade period to provide clubs with more injury ‘flexibility’

Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch says introducing an in-season trade deadline could be the answer to navigating pre-season injuries.

The AFL trade period kicked off on Monday and runs through until Wednesday, October 15, forcing all 2026 deals to be completed in just more than a week.

Leppitsch is in favour of an extended deadline over the much more time sensitive period, as it would provide clubs with “more flexibility” around long-term injuries.

“I’d prefer it to go somewhere into round 5 or 6 into the season,” he said.

“That’s my personal view because you see all the time guys get injured throughout pre-season.

“You could potentially make changes or if a ruck goes down in March and you’re sort of stuck until mid-season sometimes.

“It would be good to have a bit more flexibility once the ball is bounced to still make decisions.”

Collingwood will do its due diligence on Melbourne best-and-fairest winner Clayton Oliver and is the favourite to land Jack Buller from Sydney.

The Magpies aren’t set to be the most active in this year’s trade period – but it won’t stop Leppitsch from waking up in the middle of the night.

“Going to bed is OK, sometimes you wake in the middle of the night counting points in your head, silly things like that,” he said.

“It’s obviously such a condensed period. Other sports around the world, this will go for months and it’s a much more drawn-out process.

“But you have to get it right given it’s such a small window.”