The AFL’s next trade domino is beginning to wobble. These are the five rucks at the centre
The AFL trade period is approaching, with five key ruckmen at the center of speculation regarding their future contracts. Analysts are closely watching players like Tim English as teams adjust to new center-bounce rules.
Why it matters
Player movement in professional sports leagues significantly impacts team strategy and competitive balance.
AFL The AFL’s next trade domino is beginning to wobble. These are the five rucks at the centre Who are the P4P best value recruits? | 07:06 Will Faulkner from Fox Sports @willfaulknerfox July 10th, 2026 1:45 pm The AFL’s ruck dominoes haven’t fallen yet, but they’re beginning to wobble.
At the centre of the discussion over the coming months will be five names: Tim English, Rowan Marshall, Bailey Williams, Kieran Briggs and Reilly O’Brien.
Intriguingly, only West Coast’s Williams — a restricted free agent — and Briggs are currently without contracts beyond 2026, with the former’s situation especially adding another layer to what is traditionally a shallow market.
New centre-bounce rules have significantly reshaped the ruck landscape this season, while changing list dynamics have also cast fresh uncertainty over the futures of players such as Briggs and O’Brien.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in