Wreck it Ralph: Every free agent — where is your club placed with its players
Dyson Heppell will be at the Bombers in 2024, but which other free agents are up for grabs? Jon Ralph gives an update on every free agent’s future.
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Alastair Clarkson needs to call in every favour he has ever accumulated over 36 years in the AFL industry.
North Melbourne is close to securing the No.1 draft pick, but whether the Kangaroos also get pick 2 depends on the value of the hottest free agent left, Ben McKay.
Someone has to pay McKay up to $800,000 a season to trigger the first-round free agency compensation that would see that selection follow the No.1 overall pick.
Sydney, Port Adelaide and Essendon are all keen on defenders, but the Dons don’t believe McKay is worth that much.
The AFL has confirmed the Roos cannot top up the McKay salary to trigger first-round compo – clubs can only pay a portion of existing contracts in trades, not future deals.
So Clarkson has to plead and hope and cajole a rival into stumping up the cash.
How much exactly would the contract need to be?
Essendon secured first-round compensation for a three-year $750,000 deal for Joe Daniher in Brisbane, with the key forward then signing a two-year extension only a year later.
The AFL eventually ticked off that subsequent deal (which would have smoothed out the salary over five seasons), so surely there is a club that might follow a similar formula even as it skirts close to the league’s rules.
Under the AFL’s formula every player 25 and over has their salaries listed by the AFL, with a contract in the top 5 per cent earning first-round compensation for a free agency move.
Daniher’s deal was signed in 2020, so McKay’s salary might need to be over $800,000 given pay rises since that date.
On the same weekend as the Roos inherited the No.1 pick, Jesse Hogan annihilated Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (who, to be fair, got no help from his midfield) in a nine-goal performance.
Clarkson will have to hope an Essendon side that has given up six goals twice this year to Tom Hawkins might believe McKay’s price is worth it.
Jon Ralph assesses every free agent on the AFL landscape, with all players previously delisted then relisted qualifying for unrestricted free agency status.
ADELAIDE
Tom Doedee is the main concern with round 24 in coming days and he still hasn’t signed the club’s long-term offer.
Why wouldn’t he stay, given the Crows are going places, he has a nice little radio and TV side gig with Adelaide media and there is a clear role for him in the Crows defence.
Brisbane is the only confirmed suitor right now.
Matt Crouch would ideally stay in Adelaide but has played five excellent games in a row, enough to get a two-year deal at a club desperate for clearance power.
He surely cannot believe he is certain to remain in the first-choice midfield at Adelaide.
Rory Sloane has just signed a one-year deal, while Paul Seedsman has retired with concussion issues.
Tyler Brown has played 17 mostly excellent SANFL games, averaging 97 SuperCoach points and 22 possessions, so will hope for another one-year deal.
BRISBANE LIONS
Daniel Rich is 33 and likely out of chances as the new breed come through, so will strongly consider retirement, while Dayne Zorko would believe he has another season in him despite turning 35 in February.
He is uncontracted, but his issues are body rather than form-related.
Nakia Cockatoo’s VFL form has been encouraging in 17 games, so he is hopeful of another one-year deal.
Rhys Mathieson missed six games mid-year with a hamstring issue but hasn’t played a single AFL game and hits free agency, so his future might be elsewhere.
Irish defender Darragh Joyce has played only five AFL games and none since round 6.
CARLTON
There are teams in the AFL who need a clever mid-sized forward who can go into the centre square to relieve a first-choice ruckman.
Carlton just isn’t one of those sides.
So Jack Silvagni’s manager is assessing rival interest although it’s not out of the realms of possibility Carlton would re-sign him on a modest deal.
But if he can find a club like Richmond or Melbourne (if they trade Brodie Grundy) who will play him, it would be clever business to move on.
David Cuningham will be re-signed, Lachie Plowman is in trouble, Ed Curnow was the last man signed last year but has played 17 games (often as the sub), so might get one last year.
There is enough defensive depth that key back Sam Durdin might be nervous.
COLLINGWOOD
Oleg Markov is a required player after being overlooked in the summer rookie draft for Oscar Steene then securing a one-year deal when Charlie Dean was injured again.
Despite his strong form it might only be a one-year deal, while Cooper Murley has kicked 13 goals in 18 games in the VFL as a free agent delisted last year then relisted by the Pies.
ESSENDON
Darcy Parish wants to stay but also wants to get paid.
Which is entirely fair enough as a restricted free agent who has put together two seasons of excellent form.
Geelong’s interest seems to have cooled, so Parish might have to accept excellent rather than outrageous money.
It would be smart business for Essendon to re-sign him if they are truly keen on Ben McKay, given the McKay deal would neutralise any Parish free agency compensation if he departed.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will retire, and three goals in the past eight weeks in the VFL makes it harder to give him a farewell game against the Pies.
Dyson Heppell has signed another one-year deal after 12 weeks of consistently strong form in defence.
Will Snelling only has six goals in 14 AFL games but should be at the Hangar next year.
FREMANTLE
Joel Hamling is the Dockers’ only free agent, finally fit after a horror injury run and keen to extend his career at a rival club given he is unlikely to win a new deal with the Dockers.
As revealed by the Herald Sun in March, Liam Henry, who is not a free agent, is considering his future, but he is the only real list issue as long as Sean Darcy signs a long-term pre-agency deal over summer.
GEELONG
Isaac Smith timed his retirement perfectly instead of pushing on for one more year at a Cats outfit that knows it needs to play more kids.
Jon Ceglar’s injury-prone season means his two-year stint could come to a close while Sam Menegola wants to play on after knee issues and has put together six increasingly strong games.
That is likely to be at another club.
Tom Hawkins will sign on for another one-year deal, while Rhys Stanley is also on track to play on unless the Cats shock with a Sean Darcy-style ruck acquisition.
GOLD COAST
Levi Casboult is footy’s great survivor, about to win a third season at the Suns after his strong career at Carlton.
Sam Day is only 30 and has averaged 2.2 goals in the VFL but the Suns might have enough key-position cover to moved gone past him.
Ditto for ex-Giants defender Jake Stein.
Connor Blakely and Charlie Constable were also brought in as cover and given Constable played only two senior games (rounds 1 and 2), Damien Hardwick might move on all of his free agents bar Casboult.
GWS GIANTS
Daniel Lloyd can feel rightly proud to have eked out a solid AFL career before retiring last week, while Phil Davis was a foundation Giant who did so much to forge this club’s identity and also retired on Monday.
Lachie Keeffe continues to be a valuable role player who adds valuable depth and, while he is 33, the Giants should strongly consider handing him another season.
Matthew Flynn has had his thunder stolen by fellow ruckman Kieren Briggs and will have interest elsewhere, but there are plenty of back-up ruckmen looking for new homes in a crowded landscape.
He is averaging excellent numbers in the VFL – 16 possessions, 109 SuperCoach points, 4.4 clearances.
HAWTHORN
Just the one free agent for the Hawks – Fergus Greene.
The former Bulldogs-listed player and VFL success story kicked 15 goals in 11 AFL games.
His VFL form is strong and unless they can find a foil for Mitch Lewis (trade target Jake Riccardi just re-signed at GWS) he’s valuable insurance for a young side.
MELBOURNE
James Jordon is a free agent after being delisted and then relisted, and clubs including Essendon, Gold Coast and Sydney are interested.
The Demons want to re-sign him, but he would get a long-term deal and a more prominent role elsewhere.
Jake Melksham had 15 goals in nine games before a goalless past two games, then bounced back with 3.4 against Hawthorn.
He turns 33 in the next fortnight and would believe he can secure a one-year deal.
Michael Hibberd turns 34 in January, so his age is against him, but in 11 games he is shown he is still a tight-checking defender in an excellent backline, so he’s a chance to play on.
NORTH MELBOURNE
If rivals only offer Ben McKay $700,000the Roos will match the bid, so they will be desperate for a bidding war between Sydney, Port Adelaide and Essendon to get his free agency deal to that magical threshold for first-round compensation (which under current ladder position would get them pick 2).
Jack Ziebell has just retired, Kayne Turner’s career would seem likely to come to a close despite 11 senior games, and Todd Goldstein is likely to sign one more single-season deal.
If he isn’t re-signed he will play on elsewhere as ruck cover.
Liam Shiels and Dan Howe are also free agents, so it is a Clarko call on Shiels who has played 16 reasonable games and provided key off-field leadership.
PORT ADELAIDE
Scott Lycett will likely look elsewhere for a two-year deal as his $650,000 a season five-year deal expires.
Charlie Dixon will play on with a one-year deal yet to be brokered, while Travis Boak wants to play on and will be given the chance on a one-year deal.
Tom Jonas looks more likely to retire, especially if the Power can land another key defender, while Riley Bonner will have to wait for a new deal after 11 games in the AFL as a wingman but excellent SANFL form when he has been demoted to the lower level.
RICHMOND
Kamdyn McIntosh is technically a free agent, but has hit a games-based trigger so will be at Punt Rd in 2024.
Free agents Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt just joined Robbie Tarrant in retirement, so $1 million or more of cap space will be freed up, although much of it will be swallowed up when Shai Bolton’s seven-figure deal kicks in next year.
Bigoa Nyuon is also a free agent after being delisted and relisted. He has played only one AFL game but after strong VFL form as a ruckman and defender he will be confident of another contract.
ST KILDA
Mason Wood is a free agent, but has hit a games-based trigger that means he will be at RSEA Park for 2024.
Jade Gresham has been strongly linked to Carlton but that deal is not yet done, and if nothing else has last eight weeks of improved form have helped his contract price.
Will another suitor apart from the Blues emerge, with the Saints seemingly happy to take the compo pick and go back to the draft?
Liam Stocker can expect a multi-year deal after climbing off footy’s scrap heap while Jimmy Webster is an automatic selection each week and can also expect a new deal after strong form since returning from a fractured cheekbone.
Dan McKenzie is also an unrestricted free agent but has had a torrid run with injury, so should stay at the club under Ross Lyon.
Tom Campbell’s future depends on finding more ruck insurance for Rowan Marshall. His VFL form is excellent, so he could stay on the list.
SYDNEY
Lance Franklin has retired and Sam Reid’s season was decimated by injury.
He is about to turn 32 but did play 18 games last year, so his future depends upon how much John Longmire believes he needs key-position cover.
Defender Lewis Melican has been linked to the Roos and he is an unrestricted free agent. He would be a low-risk, high-reward prospect at Arden St.
WEST COAST
Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn have just retired, with Isiah Winder the only other free agent on the list.
Winder has played only five WAFL games this year after a troublesome summer, banished by the club from training with his teammates then avoiding an assault charge after an altercation during a Geelong indigenous players summit.
He would need everything to go right to secure another deal.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Bailey Williams is close to a new deal after playing every game this year, but given it’s round 24 rivals will be asking questions.
Other clubs should circle Toby McLean who has produced huge VFL numbers but managed only five AFL games.
Tim O’Brien is hopeful of a one-year deal, and Taylor Duryea is expected to get another one-year deal after 20 solid games as a lock-down defender.
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