While a portion of trade and free agency deals are often finalised in the dying seconds of the exchange window's deadline day, the wheels can often be in motion before the AFL home and away season is even underway.
Last year's trade window saw 36 players find a new club ahead of the 2023 season, some deals being brokered within hours and others landing after months in the making.
Between contracted players and free agents, AFL clubs and their list managers will often be putting the wheels in motion to scout targets right from their first appearance of the season, or could very well enter the new year with priority signings in mind.
Lion-turned-Magpie Daniel McStay was among the movers at the end of last season, with his switch to Collingwood coming months after his mind was already made up.
"Daniel McStay was a free agent of mine who I got across to Collingwood. But that was all done in July," CSM agent Nick Gieschen revealed to Zero Hanger in the off-season.
"It was still six months in the making, though. There was Brisbane's offer. Then came Collingwood's meeting. It then went back to Brisbane to think about whether to keep him. It eventually got to a stage where Daniel decided, ‘nup, I want to come home'."
With the new season just over a month away, each club is sure to have their list of targets slowly coming together as they plan to scout out-of-contract names across the course of the year.
With this list, we name the one off-contract player your club should be keeping a close eye on in 2023.
The young Saint's rookie contract is set to expire at the conclusion of this season, with Wanganeen-Milera among the half-dozen of 2021 first-round draftees yet to confirm their future beyond their second year.
While the Saints will have Wanganeen-Milera as their priority re-signing for 2023, Adelaide, and potentially cross-town rivals Port Adelaide, are sure to pry at the chances of the outside midfielder potentially wanting a return to South Australia.
Much like Jason Horne-Francis' short-lived stint at North Melbourne, the abrupt departure of Wanganeen-Milera would be a harsh blow for St Kilda.
But with Adelaide looking to add to their midfield group, most likely searching for a replacement for the injury-stricken Paul Seedsman, the Crows might be the ideal suitor for St Kilda's young star.
Adelaide will carry their own first-round selection, a future first-round pick and North Melbourne's second-round selection into the off-season, equipped with more than enough trade capital to potentially please the Saints.
It's hard to find an area on the Lions' list where they're in desperate need of attention, but with a cloud hanging over the future of defender Marcus Adams, coupled with the likelihood Brisbane have little wiggle room in their salary cap, Khamis could be the man for Chris Fagan.
The Lions can't afford an A-grade talent, nor do they need any more, so a role player with the frame and versatility of Khamis could be the way to go should the Lions look to add to their list.
The Bulldogs swingman has shifted between defence and attack as a third-tall, intercepting option, standing at 190cm and boasting an array of traits that have him well-rated as an aerial threat.
Whether he be utilised as a reinforcement in defence, or seen as a successor for Jack Gunston once he hangs up the boots, Khamis could be an astute bargain pickup for Brisbane this year.
The Blues' list team are sure to have their attention placed firmly within their own four walls this year, with emerging tall Tom De Koning their biggest fish off-contract in 2023.
But while Carlton continues their push to have De Koning sign on the dotted line, a portion of their focus will still need to be on who they can bring into the club should the 23-year-old look to move on from Ikon Park.
Much like their pursuit of Lewis Young ahead of Liam Jones' shock departure late into 2021, the Blues can get proactive if they're unsuccessful in retaining De Koning beyond this year.
Wanting to bolster their ruck stops to aid the workload of Marc Pittonet, who has faced extended periods on the sidelines through injury, then the Blues could have Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet in mind.
The 205cm ruckman enters this season off-contract and still placed third in line for ruck duties at Witten Oval, remaining behind Tim English while Rory Lobb has slotted into the pinch-hitting role.
Sweet has shown glimpses he can compete at the highest level, averaging over 21 hit-outs and four tackles across his 11 appearances under Luke Beveridge.
The Magpies were able to add depth to their key-defensive stocks through the off-season with the addition of Billy Frampton from Adelaide, with the tall utility heading to Olympic Park to potentially replace the retired Jordan Roughead on Craig McRae's last line.
Whether Frampton is seen as a member of Collingwood's best 23 remains to be seen, with the club's top line of defenders in Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard and Jeremy Howe already making spots hard to come by.
But with Frampton needing to fill a large void, and Howe into the twilight of his career, the Magpies may again consider their options for tall defensive options come the off-season.
Likely relying on cheaper options given their reportedly tight salary space, Bombers backman Brandon Zerk-Thatcher could be the man to add further competition for a spot in Collingwod's rearguard.
The key-position defender was among Essendon's best performers in the back half of last season and enters 2023 off-contract. Should he need to consider his options for next year, then the Magpies should be the ones to come calling.
Much like Carlton, Essendon's list management priorities firmly remain in-house, with the likes of Darcy Parish, Peter Wright, Mason Redman, Harrison Jones and Ben Hobbs all needing new deals for 2023.
Similar to the end of last season, the Bombers will be placing some attention toward their forward pack, especially if either Wright or Jones remain unsigned deep into the off-season.
While the duo loom likely to recommit to the club, list boss Adrian Dodoro may be keen to have a player of Riccardi's ability on his radar as the season progresses.
The former Werribee forward could be the missing piece among Brad Scott's forward line, which has struggled to find a partner for Wright in attack. Ex-Demon Sam Weideman will be hoping to follow the breakout trend that saw Wright boot over 50 goals last year, while Jones will have his eyes on senior football after an injury-interrupted past two seasons.
Riccardi can add further selection competition under Scott while also being deployed to the backline if called upon.
Could the Demons look to lure a WA boy from the Demons' grasp for the second year in a row?
Speculation between the two clubs over Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett is already hitting the rumour mill, but Rivers could be the Dockers' top target should they assess the off-contract names at Casey Fields.
After securing Luke Jackson's return to Western Australia, Fremantle could come calling with their sights on Rivers.
The Fremantle-born backman would add to an already lethal defensive structure under Justin Longmuir, potentially allowing a dashing Docker like Jordan Clark or Heath Chapman to work further up the field.
Rivers has quickly emerged as a key component in Simon Goodwin's backline as a competitive two-way asset.
A move to Kardinia Park works in more ways than one for Tom De Koning.
The off-contract Carlton tall would take on the sole ruck duties at the Cats while linking up with his younger brother Sam in the hoops.
Should he have a strong enough 2023 season, De Koning's asking price may very well place Carlton out of the race to sign their key-position youngster given the club's own salary cap restraints.
With Geelong already a tempting destination for De Koning, the 203cm talent would be the perfect target to replace veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley and solve the Cats' ruck dilemma for the years to come.
It's hard to see Gold Coast as a destination club for many players, but should Stuart Dew's side show further signs of the positive direction they're heading, and potentially land a finals berth, players may begin weighing up moves to Carrara in the coming years.
An obvious area for attention on the Suns' list is their key defender depth chart, with Sam Collins and Charlie Ballard pulling the weight with a handful of role players lining up as reinforcements.
Needing another tall option on defence, Himmelberg could ponder a move north as his Giants work themselves through a rebuild.
The versatile tall was a standout for GWS last year after switching to the backline, and could adopt a similar role with the Suns should look to depart Western Sydney this season as a free agent.
The Giants won't be the most attractive landing spot for players to consider this season, likely enduring another season at the bottom of the ladder as they look to rekindle a finals push in the coming years.
The type of talent that can attract are serviceable role players who may not be looking for a more senior role at another club.
Off-contract Bulldog Bailey Williams has hit some fine form in his past two seasons at the Kennel and could be seen as a fitting target for the Giants as they look to lure flexible flank options under Adam Kingsley.
The South Australian can slot onto the half-backline, on the wing or in the attacking mix as a 'Mr. Fix It' type role.
The Hawks have their backline locked in and their future midfield sorted, with their attacking third the next area for Sam Mitchell to tweak and refine.
Mitch Lewis looks set to be their spearhead in the forward line, but a partner to compete for the first-string duties in attack is sure to be on the Hawks' wishlist.
With Essendon yet to re-sign Jones beyond 2023, and potentially having the likes of Peter Wright, Darcy Parish and Mason Redman as retention priorities, a window could open for the Hawks to utilise their healthy salary space and look to lure Jones to Waverley.
It'd take an attractive plea to pluck the lifelong Bombers fan out of Tullamarine however.
With Melbourne tasked with needing to persuade Kysaiah Pickett to recommit to the club, the Demons will be keeping an eye on who they could bring into their forward line in the chance their young star opts to depart.
The Dockers are among the clubs likely to be pressing for Pickett's services, and the Demons could look to snatch one of Fremantle's own goalsneaks to even the score.
Schultz, who joined the Dockers from Williamstown in 2018, could consider a switch back to Victoria if the Demons came calling, with a potential trade involving the 25-year-old and Pickett something all parties could consider.
The dashing GWS defender-midfielder would be an immediate favourite of Alastair Clarkson, offering plenty of run across the back half of the field to succeed veteran Aaron Hall at Arden Street.
While not a free agent, Ash's contract is set to conclude this year and is sure to prompt rival interest as the Giants weigh up adding a haul of draft picks for top talent to follow the trend of their recent off-season.
Ash has featured in 56 games across his three seasons with the Giants as a durable utility that would complement North Melbourne's emerging midfield mix.
While he's not a big-name recruit the rebuilding club might be after, Ash would be a viable target for North Melbourne to consider.
A name already closely linked to the Power before a ball has been bounced in 2023, with Pickett seen as one of the biggest names among the off-contract pool this year.
All eyes will be on the small forward's contract call, where he'll likely be weighing up a move to either WA or SA should he not remain with the Demons beyond this year.
The Power will face some competition for Pickett's services and already face an uphill battle to secure the young forward as they enter this year without a first-round selection for the 2023 National Draft.
But with cross-town rivals Adelaide unlikely to be shopping for a small forward, and Fremantle having parted with their first-round pick for this year as well, the Power might well be within the race for Pickett.
After a sizeable off-season that saw the Tigers pull in GWS star duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper, Richmond are likely to be in for a quieter trade period.
Their backline needs no adjustment, while their new recruits replenish their midfield for the coming seasons while Shai Bolton, Jayden Short and Tyler Sonsie look to rotate through the middle.
One area the Tigers are potentially needing more coverage for is their tall forward options, with triple premiership spearhead Jack Riewoldt likely entering his final year in the AFL.
A new forward piece to partner Tom Lynch in attack will be atop Richmond's wishlist, with a target that can also pinch-hit in the ruck an added bonus.
Swans tall Hayden McLean fits the mould for Richmond's recruiting plan, with the Beaumaris product a promising aerial threat that can slot into the forward line as well as work in tandem with Toby Nankervis.
Off-contract and seen as no certainty to feature in John Longmire's best 22-man side, the fifth-year Swan could consider a return to Victoria.
One of the biggest fish in the free agency pool, with McKay's signature sure to be a major coup for any club that manages to lure the key defender out of Arden Street.
With Ross Lyon more than likely looking to make a splash in his first trade period back in the AFL, alongside new list manager Stephen Silvagni, the Saints could press hard for McKay's services.
The Roos defender is one of the competition's best-emerging backmen and fits the bills as far as St Kilda's list needs.
Despite their recruitment of Zaine Cordy through free agency last year, the Saints are still lacking in their back third and will be wanting to add more names to their list down back.
As far as names on offer, none will come more enticing than McKay in 2023.
Already home to a handful of Western Australia's best young names, the Swans could add to their WA links with the addition of Neale.
A move to the Harbour City would see the burgeoning ruck-forward Cat slot beside ex-teammate Logan McDonald in Sydney's attack, while also relieving Sydney's first-string ruckman in splitting the hit-out duties.
The Swans are in need of further key forward options given Lance Franklin's nearing retirement, with McDonald soon becoming the club's go-to target.
What Neale can offer, at a bargain price, will aid John Longmire's key-position options as a tall forward target that can pinch-hit in the ruck.
The Eagles have already asked the question of Georgiades and his future at Alberton, with the young forward's name reportedly being raised in trade discussions between West Coast and Port Adelaide last year.
With the Power looking to secure Junior Rioli in the off-season, some wishful thinking from the Eagles saw Georgiades linked to a move back to his home state, only for those suggestions to be quickly denied.
The Subiaco product will again be on West Coast's radar given his contract's expiry date coming at season's end. With West Coast looking to regenerate their list for the future, Georgiades would be the perfect target for Adam Simpson to pair with young tall Oscar Allen in attack.
The Western Bulldogs have utilised the past two off-seasons to bolster their backline for what has been a key area in need of improvement at Whitten Oval.
The Dogs have called on soon-to-be 32-year-old Liam Jones to help fix their defensive woes, while Sam Darcy is likely to be developed as an intercepting backman along with first-round draftee Jedd Busslinger to form a promising key-position pair in Luke Beveridge's back six.
Looking toward a more senior option with his best football still ahead of him, Doedee could be a fitting target for the Dogs to keep a close eye on throughout the course of this year should they look to add a third prong to their defensive pack.
The medium-sized backman, who will be considered for the Crows' captaincy for 2023, could be tempted for a switch back to Victoria should he be overlooked to succeed Rory Sloane as skipper.
The Bulldogs would be wanting to show they're closing in on another premiership to persuade Doedee to make the switch, with Adelaide's rebuild showing enough signs finals football isn't too far away for the South Australian club.