AFL 2022 free agents: Who will command the most money and attention next season?
Weeks after contending for the premiership, Western Bulldogs will have to turn their attention to re-signing some of their biggest names. Can they fit everyone in?
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Jake Kelly, George Hewett and Mabior Chol aren’t the biggest names in the AFL, but they could be handy free agent pick-ups for Essendon, Carlton and Gold Coast.
And this year’s quiet free agency period could be the calm before the storm.
Some seriously big names are available in 2022 — will clubs try to splash the cash to lure a superstar?
JAY CLARK nominates the 20 biggest free agents in the game next season.
1. Jordan De Goey, 25 (Collingwood), midfielder
Status: Restricted FA
The most interesting contract negotiation across the league as De Goey looks to become one of the game’s most damaging midfielders. On his day, he can be unstoppable in the engine room, as he showed in the back half of last season. If he starts the season in good shape, and continues that sizzling form, the big money offers will surely come, remembering North Melbourne threw $1 million a year at him back in 2016. Do the Magpies match the big bucks next year for the Christian Petracca-like wrecking ball? Or consider a potential top-five compensation pick if they finish low down and he departs as a free agent? Probably depends on how big the gap is between his best and worst. Suspect he is setting himself up to have a huge one in a contract year.
2. Darcy Moore, 25 (Collingwood), key defender
Status: Restricted FA
The centrepiece of Collingwood’s backline has arguably become the Magpies’ most important player. Work has already begun on a new deal for Moore after last signing a two-year contract extension worth about $800,000-$850,000 which expires at the end of 2022. Expect the Magpies to try to re-sign the All-Australian for life with a long-term extension, if he’s keen. Clearly one of the best couple of defenders in the league, who will attempt to make a full recovery from a knee injury which ended his season in Round 13. There was plenty of talk Sydney was interested two years ago and they Swans are still looking for a premium key defender.
3. Jackson Macrae, 27 (Western Bulldogs), midfielder
Status: Unrestricted FA
Doesn’t attract the same fanfare as Marcus Bontempelli, but if the Bulldogs’ skipper is Batman then Jackson Macrae is Robin. The consistent midfielder set a league record in 2021, racking up the most disposals ever recorded in a season. Won his third straight All-Australian jacket and will command more than $700,000 a year on his next deal in that packed midfield unit, which will try to go one better in 2022. Hell will freeze over if he ever leaves the kennel, but he commands respect.
4. Touk Miller, 25 (Gold Coast), midfielder
Status: Restricted FA
Seems certain to clinch one of the biggest contracts of the year when he signs a whopping extension at Gold Coast, showing his faith in the franchise club. After an All-Australian season, he’s become the midfield rudder and a beacon for a club that has been down the ladder for far too long. We all know the shadow Alastair Clarkson casts over this club next season and if there isn’t a significant climb up the ladder the pressure on Stuart Dew will be immense. It’s why they’ll need Miller to commit over summer to a long-term deal and pray that Ben King follows suit.
5. Isaac Heeney, 25 (Sydney Swans), midfield-forward
Status: Restricted FA
Has all the tools to become one of the game’s elite. Booted 36 goals to finish seventh in the best-and-fairest in 2021 as the impressive young Swans jumped up into the eight. Next season, a move into a full-time midfield berth seems on the cards. If he can take his game to another level a big payday is heading his way. Hard to see the Newcastle product leaving Sydney given he has become one of the biggest poster boys and most marketable figures at the club.
6. James Sicily, 26 (Hawthorn), defender
Status: Restricted FA
Could be the man to take over from Ben McEvoy as captain at the end of next season if, as expected, he makes a successful recovery from a knee reconstruction. The intercepting defender has a huge role to play in the rebuild under Sam Mitchell and could even be swung forward at times to be the Hawks’ most threatening marking target. It’s that versatility and aerial dominance that could see Sicily become Hawthorn’s highest paid-player on his next deal. Hawthorn has been open to trading its senior midfield stars Jaeger O’Meara, Chad Wingard, and Tom Mitchell, but it’s highly unlikely Sicily is also on the off-load list.
7. Brayden Maynard, 25 (Collingwood), defender
Status: Restricted FA
The hard nut defender has long maintained the ambition to become a permanent midfielder. As part of a significant rebuild, it might be something new coach Craig McRae thinks about doing in 2022 to bolster the Magpies’ engine room. That said, Maynard is one of his best in the league at his craft in the backline and can physically work over his opponents. It is hard to see him leaving Collingwood, but if a rival club was going to dangle the full-time midfield carrot it could be something which tempts Maynard. Zac Williams joined Carlton on a similar promise, but ended up returning to the backline.
8. Tom Barrass, 26 (West Coast), key defender
Status: Restricted FA
There was a big nibble at Barrass from the Swans last year and their interest is surely only going to increase now that they can get him for nothing as a free agent. Good judges rate him an All-Australian contender, but it is going to be interesting to see how the Eagles perform in 2022 after a disappointing decline since the 2018 premiership. If they can’t rejoin the contenders, it might be time to take the list in a different direction, which could only fan the flames of interest in Barrass. West Coast already has Jeremy McGovern on about $1 million a season after signing a bumper deal in his free agency year.
9. Angus Brayshaw, 25 (Melbourne), midfielder
Status: Restricted FA
He might be the most selfless midfielder in the game, or close to it after stepping out on to a wing. As a natural ball hunter, there is no doubt Brayshaw would be an excellent onballer in the AFL. If a club was ever going to tempt him, they could roll out the red carpet for him in the guts. North Melbourne has tried hard in the past. But why would he leave the Demons when there is an opportunity to create a premiership dynasty alongside Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca after an exceptional Grand Final performance? Inside or outside, he belongs in red and blue.
10. Caleb Daniel, 25 (Western Bulldogs), defender
Status: Restricted FA
Master creator off halfback has some of the best foot skills in the game for a man who, in his draft year, was written off for being too short. Certainly, the script has flipped in his free agency year, as there would be plenty of suitors, but the reality is the Dogs are in the midst of another premiership window. The question for list boss Sam Power is, how does he fit the stars all under the cap?
11. Daniel McStay, 26 (Brisbane), forward
Status: Restricted FA
Flies under the radar a bit up in Brisbane, but the marking target plays an important role in the forward half and can do it at both ends. The Lions were quiet in the trade period knowing McStay is a priority signing for the club before a Victorian rival starts to sink their hooks into him.
12. Bailey Dale, 25 (Western Bulldogs), defender
Status: Unrestricted FA
The playmaking defender was a revelation this season and one of the most improved players in the competition, earning All-Australian honours. But with that increased recognition comes a bigger pay cheque. Dale’s will go up.
13. Liam Shiels, 30 (Hawthorn) midfielder
Status: Unrestricted FA
All eyes are on the way the Hawks manage their veteran premiership heroes after unsuccessfully trying to trade some out some big names this year. But if it was all a bit last-minute in 2021, there will be more time to execute the strategy this year. Would there be any takers in Shiels? For a club in the window he would be a wise pick-up, if he wants to depart the rebuilding Hawks.
14. Jamie Elliott, 29 (Collingwood), forward-midfielder
Status: Unrestricted FA
Brisbane had a go two years ago, and it would be no surprise if there is some widespread interest as the Magpies look to youth. Elliott enjoyed more midfield time last season but he remains a reliable goalkicker when fit and healthy. Supply has been an issue recently at Collingwood and another club could see him as a 40-goal a season option.
15. Jason Johannisen, 28 (Western Bulldogs), utility
Status: Unrestricted FA
Was redeployed as a speedy pressure forward but there remains strong competition for spots at the kennel. Luke Beveridge will throw the team around again in 2022 and while Johannisen secured a healthy contract on the back of his 2016 season, the big dollars won’t be there this time.
16. Jake Lloyd, 28 (Sydney Swans), defender
Status: Unrestricted FA
Has become a ball magnet and ultra-reliable in defence for the Swans. The club has had to let go Jordan Dawson over salary cap issues but the Horsham product seems locked in to the John Longmire journey.
17. Steele Sidebottom, 30 (Collingwood), midfield-forward
Status: Unrestricted FA
Heart and soul figure at Collingwood was repeatedly linked to a move last year but it would take a major shift in his thinking to change colours now. Fifth in the best-and-fairest shows you how highly he is still rated internally.
18. Karl Amon, 26 (Port Adelaide), midfielder
Status: Unrestricted FA
Considered a new home two years ago but he exploded in 2021 and has a big role to play riding shotgun alongside Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines. A jet who will get a much juicier deal this time around.
19. Kane Lambert, 29 (Richmond), midfielder
Status: Restricted FA
Has taken unders over the journey given his sustained excellent performance, but he is certain to get a decent lick of the ice cream to keep him at Punt Rd.
20. Jayden Short, 25 (Richmond), defender
Status: Unrestricted FA
Has one of the best pegs in the game which has become a key plank in the Tigers’ offensive game. With Bachar Houli gone, he becomes an even more important weapon. Best-and-fairest winner in a premiership year deserves good coin in the vicinity of $600,000-plus.
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Originally published as AFL 2022 free agents: Who will command the most money and attention next season?
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