AFL release full list of restricted and unrestricted full agents for 2018

WESTERN Bulldogs confident of retaining free agents Luke Dahlhaus and Tom Liberatore while the Sun Tom Lynch and Eagle Jeremy McGovern are gaining plenty of interest. SEE FULL FREE AGENCY LIST

Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch will be highly sought after. Picture: Alix Sweeney

HIGH profile Western Bulldogs free agents Luke Dahlhaus and Tom Liberatore have given positive indications about their futures at the Kennel.

The players are among four Bulldogs who would have real appeal to rivals among the list of 51 free agents officially released to clubs on Thursday.

Of that list, 11 players including Adelaide star Rory Sloane are restricted free agents, which means their clubs can match a bid.

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Possible changes to free agency regulations were pushed back a year, changes that would have seen him an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2018.

Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch, West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern and Melbourne’s Tom McDonald are among those free agents in no hurry to sign new deals.

But amid a furore over the Dogs’ intentions over their star players, Dahlhaus, Liberatore, Mitch Wallis and Jordan Roughead remain free agents, alongside veteran Dale Morris.

Bulldogs star Luke Dahlhaus. Picture: Michael Klein

Bulldog Tom Liberatore. Picture: Michael Klein

It is understood the Dogs and Dahlhaus’s management considered a contract extension last year.

New list manager Sam Power is still settling in, but ahead of Round 1 Dahlhaus is said to be happy at the club.

Liberatore, son of Brownlow Medallist Tony, has burnt up the track this year and is ready to re-establish himself as an elite midfielder.

Coach Luke Beveridge told the Herald Sun recently both club and player wanted to remain together in the future.

“He’s had a strong pre-season, he’s talking in encouraging mode about his future. Obviously he’s up for contract at the end of this year,’’ he said.

“And we’d love Tom to be a part of our future beyond 2018, so it’s all up to us to work with him and get the absolute most out of him and his football ability and help him influence the team.”

North Melbourne’s Shaun Atley, 25, is a restricted free agent and given his pace off half-back and the wing is a clear priority signing for the Roos.

Blues free agent Murphy, closing on a new deal at Ikon Park, has admitted there were times he briefly considered rival offers.

Carlton captain Marc Murphy is a free agent. Picture: Michael Klein

The Blues captain has played just six finals in a 236-game career.

“Look, there has been a fair bit go on in my career, a few lows over the last five or six weeks, and I think most players would weigh that up,” he told the Herald Sun last week.

“I am certainly one of those. I didn’t go exploring other options, but you think about what is important to you at the time and whether you are happy where you are.

“Obviously I have decided to stay at Carlton over those years and we are in a good place now. As a bloke who is 30 I am hoping we can improve at a rapid rate and I can taste some success.”

Of the remaining free agents, Cam Guthrie has already said he wants to sign a new deal at Geelong at some stage this year.

Collingwood’s Alex Fasolo, set to the start the season in the VFL, is in no hurry to sign a new deal while he builds into a strong line of form.

Likewise, Richmond’s Reece Conca is yet to start contract talks as he hopes to find a regular spot after injury issues saw him miss last year’s premiership.

FULL 2018 FREE AGENT LIST

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Rory Sloane (Adelaide Crows)

Cam Guthrie (Geelong Cats)

Tom Lynch (Gold Coast Suns)

Tom McDonald (Melbourne)

Shaun Atley (North Melbourne)

Bachar Houli (Richmond)

Andrew Gaff (West Coast Eagles)

Scott Lycett (West Coast Eagles)

Jeremy McGovern (West Coast Eagles)

Jordan Roughead (Western Bulldogs)

Mitch Wallis (Western Bulldogs)

Rory Sloane is a restricted free agent. Picture: Mark Stewart

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Adelaide

Richard Douglas, David Mackay, Andy Otten

Brisbane

Rohan Bewick, Ryan Lester

Carlton

Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson

Collingwood

Jarryd Blair, Alex Fasolo, Tyson Goldsack, Ben Reid

Essendon

Tom Bellchambers

Fremantle

Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Johnson, David Mundy, Aaron Sandilands

Geelong

George Horlin-Smith, Daniel Menzel

Gold Coast

Jarrod Harbrow, Michael Rischitelli

Hawthorn

Shaun Burgoyne, Taylor Duryea, Paul Puopolo, Ryan Schoenmakers, Brendan Whitecross

Melbourne

Neville Jetta

North Melbourne

Scott Thompson, Sam Wright

Port Adelaide

Justin Westhoff

Richmond

Reece Conca, Shaun Grigg

St Kilda

Sam Gilbert

Sydney

Heath Grundy, Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Smith

West Coast

Mark LeCras, Eric Mackenzie

Western Bulldogs

Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore, Dale Morris

Originally published as AFL release full list of restricted and unrestricted full agents for 2018