AFL player managers are bracing themselves for what is being touted as one of the biggest off-season exchange windows for some time.
High-profile AFL agent Paul Connors has flagged there will be a "little bit going on" in his own office in the coming months, with the owner of Connors Sports Management set to oversee several anticipated deals this trade period.
With a star-studded list of clientele, including the likes of Daniel McStay, Jacob Hopper, Brodie Grundy and Tanner Bruhn, Connors is set to play a significant role in the wheeling and dealings 2022 has to offer.
McStay has been heavily linked to a lucrative move to Collingwood this year as he assesses his rights as a free agent, while the Magpies have also been rumoured to be weighing up trade discussions for Grundy.
Bruhn is understood to be assessing his own future at GWS as his current contract reaches its conclusion, while his teammate in Hopper, who is signed until the end of next year, is understood to have gained interest from Geelong, Richmond and Adelaide this year.
The quartet of names are just the tip of this year's player movement iceberg, with 2022 likely to see a plethora of other key figures potential head elsewhere at season's end.
Off the back of his prized client Bailey Smith's new deal at the Kennel, Connors indicated his office is nearing its busiest period of the year.
"The nice thing is for once, I'm sort of one out one back in the trade period," Connors told. RSN. "My office will have a little bit going on.
"Overall, I think it's going to be a big trade period
"If it's not big, it's certainly going to be big with the names we discuss with potential trades... Just the names that have been speculated in the media already, it feels like it's going to be big. Whether that transpires... my gut feel is yes.
"It's a really interesting period because We're having one of the best footy seasons I can remember in my time in footy.
"I know it's not sexy and we don't tend to talk about it...I think it's one of the great years but soon enough we'll head our attention to trade period because it's what the punters want."
McStay is seen as a near guarantee to join the Magpies on a five-year deal this year, with the free agency window opening on October 7 and running until October 10.
The likes of Bruhn, Grundy and Hopper will likely be involved in trade deals should they move clubs in 2022, with the trade period confirmed to run from October 3-12.
Connors will also have a notable few weeks after the trade deadline, with the AFL agent home to several of this year's top draft prospects, according to AFL Media.ย
Potential No.1 pick George Wardlaw, exciting duo Elijah Tsatas andย Harry Sheezel, key forward Matt Jefferson, Saints NGA prospect Cam Mackenzie and South Australian Jakob Ryan are all under Connors' wing.
The 2022 AFL National Draft will again be held across two nights, beginning on Monday, November 28 (first round only) - Tuesday, November 29 (remaining rounds).
