One of the most entertaining days on the AFL calendar each and every year, the final day of the Trade Period, or 'deadline day' as it is more commonly known, always sees an abundance of activity as clubs scramble to secure key players and draft picks. 

Geelong has already had a busy 2026 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period, bringing in ruckman Rowan Marshall and defender Jordan Ridley, while also adding star forward Toby Greene as a free agent. 

While the Cats remained quiet on deadline day last year, they have had a strong history in previous seasons, executing some of the club's biggest moves with time ticking down on the clock. 

Take a look back at some of Geelong's big moves on the final day of the Trade Period, as the build up begins to an exciting deadline day in 2026. 

2024 AFL Trade Period

An exchange across four different clubs saw the Cats land dynamic on-baller Bailey Smith, bolstering the future of the Cats' midfield right in the dying moments of the 2024 Trade Period. 

Geelong ultimately received Smith and Pick 45, giving away Pick 17 (Western Bulldogs) and Pick 38 (Carlton) in return, with the trade also including Jack Macrae and Matthew Kennedy. 

What a move it has already turned out to be for the Cats, with Smith earning two All Australian selections, a pair of podium finishes at the Brownlow and a Carji Greeves Medal, all within his first two seasons at the club. 

As an added bonus, Geelong also selected Jay Polkinghorne with the draft pick they received as part of the deal, with the emerging forward showing plenty of great signs after making his AFL debut late this year. 

2023 AFL Trade Period

This is a move that gets better for the Cats with each passing season, as they received three draft picks in exchange for Esava Ratugolea on the last day of the 2023 Trade Period. 

While Geelong parted ways with the talented defender, it was what they did with their selections that turned the deal into a success, using the first and last picks to draft Mitch Edwards and Lawson Humphries. 

Humphries continues to grow across the half back line, now with 60 AFL games under his belt over the last three seasons, while Edwards broke onto the scene in 2026 with a strong first year at the elite level. 

2022 AFL Trade Period

Another trade has worked out superbly for the Cats, securing Ollie Henry in a three-club exchange with Collingwood and Hawthorn. 

Geelong gave away Cooper Stephens and Pick 25, which was ultimately used by Collingwood to select Jakob Ryan, while the Cats received Henry who has proven to be an integral piece in their forward structure. 

Henry kicked 48 goals this year, which included a five-goal haul in the Semi Final, booting a total of 140 goals across 84 games in the Hoops. 

2021 AFL Trade Period

The Cats were busy on the final day of action in 2021, with three separate moves that saw a number of players and draft picks change hands. 

The initial move saw Darcy Fort head to Brisbane and the Cats received pick 50 and a future third-round selection in return, then sending that future third-rounder to Hawthorn for Jonathon Ceglar and a future fourth-round pick. 

Geelong then did a deal with Fremantle to receive pick 22 and a future third-round pick for Jordan Clark, with the Cats then using pick 22 to draft Toby Conway. 

2020 AFL Trade Period

One of the biggest blockbuster deals in AFL history saw Geelong secure Jeremy Cameron, while sending three first round picks to GWS in a monumental exchange on the final day of the 2020 trade period. 

Cameron has gone on to play six seasons in the Hoops to the end of 2026, playing 128 games and kicking 350 goals, winning a Coleman Medal and earning three selections in the All Australian team. 

The star forward was also instrumental in helping the Cats win the 2022 premiership, certainly worth the haul that Geelong handed over to secure his services.