ESSENDON
Stuck in the mire trying to get a better deal than Port Adelaide's first pick for Paddy Ryder. It could still go down the free agency option in the hope of getting compensation but Port Adelaide might be able to sweeten the deal if it can release a player. Talking around Jason Winderlich – who looked headed to Richmond – and re-signing Ben Howlett made it a reasonable week for the Bombers.

FREMANTLE
The Dockers' big play ahead of the trade period was for James Frawley, but once out of the race for the key-position player they have been very quiet. They haven't pursued out-of-contract Carlton midfielder Kane Lucas, leaving them without a deal in the first week of trade talks. If they do deal in the second week, they are likely to be seeking an improved position in the draft, rather than players.

GEELONG
Shocked mid-week when Allen Christensen revealed he wanted to head north. Subject to a medical the Cats will get pick No.21 in exchange for the 23-year-old midfielder. The Cats are waiting for the Magpies to agree to take on Varcoe so they can arrange a three-way deal that would see Mitch Clark lob at Geelong. They also had the Western Bulldogs try to poach Tom Lonergan with a deal the club could not match in financial terms, but after a remarkable 24 hours at the Dogs, Lonergan decided to stay. No one would have begrudged him accepting a once-in-a-lifetime deal but the club will be pleased he stayed.

GOLD COAST
Nick Malceski was a big coup for the club with the free agent agreeing to join the club in a three-year deal. The Suns spoke to Christensen after he decided to leave the Cats but never seriously entertained recruiting him. Gold Coast will work out whether an acceptable deal can be found for young ruckman Daniel Gorringe, who wants to join Port Adelaide.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
One of the busiest clubs in week one, the Giants landed defender Joel Patfull from the Brisbane Lions in exchange for pick No.21 and dealt midfielder Jono O'Rourke to Hawthorn in exchange for pick No.19, with a swap of later selections. Week two will be about sending Kristian Jaksch to Carlton, potentially alongside Mark Whiley, in a deal that could land the Giants pick No.7 from the Blues. The club would then be in a strong position to put together a package to land Ryan Griffen from the Bulldogs or pick No.1 from St Kilda. Ruckman Jonathan Giles is seeking a new home in a lower-profile deal that will take shape in the second week.

HAWTHORN
No mucking around from the premier, recruiting free agent James Frawley from Melbourne and then landing young Greater Western Sydney midfielder Jono O'Rourke for its first-round pick. The Hawks remain open to the possibility of trading Ryan Schoenmakers but he looks set to stay at Hawthorn and back himself to force his way into the team.

MELBOURNE
Could Jack Trengove get to the Tigers for an exchange of picks that would see Melbourne with picks No.2, No.3 and No.12? It would be a gamble for Richmond but Melbourne needs to be aggressive in attempting to rebuild its list. It has secured Jeff Garlett from Carlton for an exchange of late picks and is awaiting the deal that would see Heritier Lumumba join the club from Collingwood. Sam Frost is keen to join the Demons but there is some work to be done to find a deal that will satisfy Greater Western Sydney.

NORTH MELBOURNE
The Roos hit the player exchange period running, picking up free agents Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins on the opening day. Not content with that, they are now exploring trades for Geelong's Travis Varcoe and Western Bulldog Adam Cooney. The Magpies appear to be the frontrunners for Varcoe's signature, and North faces competition from clubs including Essendon for Cooney. However, the Roos are considering making a two-year offer to Cooney, who is contracted to the Western Bulldogs for 2015 but open to making a fresh start. Collingwood has offered pick No.30 for Levi Greenwood, but the Roos are holding out for an earlier second-round pick.

PORT ADELAIDE
The Power are back to where they started in negotiations with Essendon for Paddy Ryder after a left-field trade involving Ryder as a free agent was knocked back by the AFL. The two clubs remain a way apart in talks, with the Power's first-round pick (No.17) not yet satisfying the Bombers. Essendon has asked for a player of the ilk of Hamish Hartlett or Ollie Wines, which was instantly rejected by Port. If talks break down completely, Ryder could seek to break his contract at a AFL grievance tribunal hearing and become a delisted free agent. This has been a factor in talks between the clubs. Defender Cam O'Shea could make his way to St Kilda in the second week, while Gold Coast ruckman Daniel Gorringe is of interest to Port. 

RICHMOND
The Tigers appear to have lost their battle to convince Jason Winderlich to come out of retirement and join the club as a free agent. They looked set to take their early picks to the draft but they have opened discussions late in the week with Melbourne in a deal to exchange their No.12 pick for Jack Trengove and Melbourne's No.23 pick.

ST KILDA
It's understood the Saints are talking with three clubs about pick No.1, with two of those clubs working actively to put a satisfactory package of picks together. Missed out on Jono O'Rourke and now appear unlikely to secure Kristian Jaksch, who is on track to land at Carlton. Sydney Swans forward Tim Membrey will get to the Saints, however, in the second week. Membrey's preferred destination is St Kilda and he can be taken in the pre-season draft if the Swans aren't satisfied with the Saints' offer. The Saints' goal to enter the draft with three selections inside the first 22 will take shape in week two.

SYDNEY SWANS
The Swans' hands are largely tied by an AFL edict that they can't trade players into the club for the next two years as the cost of living allowance is phased out. The Swans look set to release forward Tim Membrey to St Kilda for a late draft pick.

WEST COAST
The Eagles are set on adding pace to their midfield, making them an interested party in Geelong runners Travis Varcoe and Allen Christensen. Varcoe appears out of their reach, but they are monitoring the situation with Christensen closely in case the door opens for him to move west. The Eagles don't appear interested in Carlton's Kane Lucas and would be content to work at ways to upgrade their position in the draft through week two. They are aware of interest in ruckman Callum Sinclair, with several clubs chasing a big man.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs were rocked by the news on Thursday that their skipper Ryan Griffen wanted a trade to Greater Western Sydney. The Dogs have said they expect Griffen to honour the final year of his contract in 2015, but they could decide the early draft picks the Giants could offer them – they have pick No.4 and look set to get No.7 from Carlton in a complex trade for Kristian Jaksch – are too good to refuse. Especially, when those picks, together with the Bulldogs' pick No.6, could enable them to make a serious play for the Saints' pick No. 1. That pick would give the Dogs access to the elite key forward they have been craving for so long. Adam Cooney, Liam Jones and Jason Tutt all look set to find new homes, but the Bulldogs will probably only receive later draft picks in return. The Bulldogs aggressively pursued Geelong key defender Tom Lonergan and North defender Levi Greenwood this week, but missed out on both. However, they still have the cap space to launch a play for another opposition star next week. Had expressed interest in Lions key defender Daniel Merrett earlier this week, but seem to have gone cold on him.