AFL Market Trends Analysis Rd 18

While there's only 6 rounds left in the AFL season, the market is heating up with lots of savvy coaches planning for the future.

A lot of coaches will no doubt have all the cards they need for the 2025 season, but it is usually this time of year that coaches are preparing for the upcoming finals series, as well as projecting a longer term view for 2026 and beyond.

Here at Game Day Society, we take a look at some of the hot market trends we're seeing and hearing:

BUY:

Finals Bound Rucks

Come finals time we'll be facing the prospect of losing Max Gawn, Tom De Koning, Rowan Marshall, Tristan Xerri & Brodie Grundy severely depleting our ruck choices. Expect the likes of English, Cameron, Witts & Meek to become more in demand as we get closer to finals

B-Grade All Star Cards

When finals do arrive, those wanting to play 6 special cards in the challenger competition in finals will be tested with a limited pool.

We've seen the likes of Dylan Moore, Gryan Miers, Luke Ryan & Sam Flanders be largely ignored this year - but come finals time these cards might be needed to fulfil an all-star quota of 6.

Similarly, the big AS cards bound for finals (think Zorko, Bont, Whitfield, Brayshaw, Naicos) will only become more sought after, so consider this when assessing the market.

Elite Top Team Diamonds

Continuing on with the finals theme, it pays to predict who might be featuring in the 2nd round of finals and beyond.

Traditionally the first week of finals with 8 teams playing hasn't tested coaches too much - but when we drop down to only 4 teams in weeks 2 & 3 then the demand for cards goes through the roof as coaches look to pile their rarities into the top players.

If we have a semi final weekend of Collingwood, Adelaide, Brisbane & Hawthorn for example - who are your 7 defenders going to be? Players like Dan Houston, Mitch Hinge, Darcy Wilmot & Karl Amon have been practically irrelevant all year... they won't be this week!

2026 Planning:

Predicting future position changes and adjusting before the market does can save (and make) you big money! It's worth considering which players might be gaining a new position in the off season which will see their GDS stocks soar.

Here's a list of players to consider that may gain a valuable new position in 2026

Christian Petracca (Forward),

Chad Warner (Forward),

Harry Sheezel (Forward),

Sam Flanders (Forward),

Connor Rozee (Back),

Josh Daicos (Back),

Levi Ashcroft (Forward),

SELL! SELL! SELL!

For every player that becomes more valuable from a position change, there's usually a player that becomes less valuable. The list below highlights some players who unfortunately are going to drop value rapidly once the season ends. For coaches who want to cash in now, you've got 7 weeks to try to sell whilst they still have some currency!

Caleb Daniel (Lose Forward, Gain Back),

Jack Macrae (Lose Forward, Gain Back),

OTHER HOT CARDS:

Colby McKercher (The role has finally come with plenty of kick-in's and looks to be sucking up all those sweet Sheeziball points we've been used to lately),

Errol Gulden (We saw a whopping $225 diamond sale last week which indicates Errol is back! It looks like we won't see Errol in finals this year, but you definitely need him moving forward),

Darcy Cameron (The pies are looking good to go deep into September and without Gawn/Xerri/Marshall/TDK & Grundy it looks like DC could be the anchor for our ruck lines all September).

Let us know your position change predictions and join in the discussion over over on our socials

-The GameDay Society