AFL 2021: The players who could find new homes in the delisted free agency period
While his return would need to be approved by AFL doctors, Paddy McCartin is on the cusp of being given another opportunity via the rookie draft.
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Paddy McCartin’s best chance of securing an AFL lifeline after overcoming a series of career-threatening concussions is in the November 26 rookie draft alongside ex-Carlton big man Levi Casboult.
Sydney is seriously considering taking former No. 1 McCartin as a rookie after his turbulent but successful return to the game last year, playing VFL matches with the Swans and Essendon.
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The ex-St Kilda key forward played mostly as a defender in the VFL for Sydney, hauling in 11 marks to go with 27 touches in a match against Footscray.
Then playing alongside Alex Rance while filling in for Essendon’s reserves team he kicked 3.2 and took a series of strong marks later in the year.
While McCartin is not certain to be selected by Sydney, his best chance is in the rookie draft rather than as a delisted free agent.
It would mean he would have to wait until after the national and pre-season drafts, with Sydney excited by his development and capacity to get through the season without another concussion.
Rookies are paid $85,000 plus $4000 per match under the last year of the current collective bargaining agreement.
McCartin’s strong marking power at both ends of the field means he would be a perfect back-up who would be eligible for senior selection under current AFL rules.
Senior coach John Longmire told the Herald Sun how much he rated McCartin’s character in the 2021 pre-season before an inexplicable brain fade saw him suspended for five weeks an off-the ball punch on Geelong’s Aaron Black.
The AFL has said its medical board would have to approve McCartin’s return to a senior list, having already given him the tick-off to return to training and then full contact after a spate of concussions.
But with the decision in the AFL’s hands rather than Sydney’s medical doctors, it means the Swans can rely on the pre-eminent medical experts rather than having to weigh his capacity to suffer more concussions.
After McCartin suffered eight concussions he said he was a “shell of the person” he had formerly been.
But after time out of the game and intensive rehab he was able to recover from severe symptoms including light sensitivity, head aches, dizzy spells and bout of depression.
Ex-Carlton swingman Casboult will be selected by the Suns in the rookie draft, with Gold Coast not having room on its primary list and only likely to take its No. 3 draft selection.
Casboult battled fluid on his knee all season but is equally capable of playing ruck, key forward or key back in a team that needs support for Ben King and free agency acquisition Mabior Chol.
Saints extend lifeline to ex-Roo, Dogs big man
Big man Tom Campbell is headed to his third AFL club after signing on with St Kilda.
The former Kangaroo and Bulldog will back up Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall in the ruck after inking a one-year deal on Friday.
“We’re really pleased to have signed Tom for 2022,” Saints list boss James Gallagher said.
“Stability in our ruck is extremely important for us, and we believe Tom will provide important depth, competitiveness and flexibility to allow us to maintain our structure next season.
“Tom is known for his professionalism and team-first approach and will no doubt be a great influence on our young and developing players.”
Campbell, 30, signed as a delisted free agent after 42 games at the Western Bulldogs and then 12 at North Melbourne.
He was first drafted in the 2011 rookie draft.
Meanwhile, the off-season recruiting campaign at Geelong has continued, with the club officially locking away small forward Tyson Stengle.
Stengle’s signature comes as reports emerged from Ireland on Thursday that the Cats had snared gun GAA player Oisin Mullin.
The addition of Stengle had been seen as a fait accompli given his links with new Cats coaching staff member Eddie Betts but the confirmation the 23-year-old has signed for two years was a welcome one for Geelong, with football manager Simon Lloyd saying it was a rare opportunity too good to overlook.
“It is rare to be able to pick up such a young player as a free agent, and we are thrilled that Tyson has decided to continue his career with Geelong,” Lloyd said.
“Tyson has shown an ability to play at AFL level, and he had a very successful season in the SANFL.
“We believe Tyson has the ability to have a long career at AFL level and he is a positive addition to our playing list.”
Stengle has played 16 games and kicked 15 goals at Richmond and then Adelaide, but it was his performances with SANFL club Woodville West Torrens this year that caught the eye of Geelong recruiters.
He was named in the SANFL Team of the Year after kicking 44 goals in 19 games and featured in the Eagles premiership side.
Free agent deals
The delisted free agency period has begun and Jarrod Brander is the first player to find a new home. The former Eagles utility had already been promised a spot on the Giants list and the official paperwork was lodged with the AFL on the opening morning.
So who else will get a second, third, fourth, or even fifth chance.
After the culling at clubs that has taken place those who have now found themselves cut can try and get an AFL lifeline.
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Starting today this year’s delisted free agency period will run across two windows and a total of 12 days.
The first goes from Wednesday to Tuesday and after a list lodgement day on November 10 a second window for delisted free agents will run from November 11 to 15. For those that miss out in these windows, there’s still a chance to find a new home in the rookie draft on November 26.
Here are some of the players who might find new homes over the next fortnight.
Jarrod Brander
Locked in. GWS has already announced that it is interested in taking Brander as a delisted free agent.
The former West Coast utility was a member of the Giants Academy before being selected by the Eagles with pick 13 in the 2017 draft.
At 196cm, he can play on the wing or as a marking forward.
He couldn’t break into the Eagles forward line but in 2021 played on the wing and was one of West Coast’s most improved players.
All up, he played 22 games for the Eagles.
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Sam Skinner
The former Brisbane Lion has signed with Port Adelaide after a strong year in the SANFL.
The 24-year-old played three games for the Lions across five injury-interrupted seasons before being delisted at the end of 2020.
He spent 2021 with South Adelaide, playing as a forward for the first half of the season before switching to defence and impressing with his intercepting ability.
Charlie Constable
The unwillingness by Geelong to give Constable a sustained run in the side, and then for the Cats to delist him, has surprised many.
The 22-year-old midfielder has dominated in the VFL and averaged 18.5 disposals in 12 appearances for the Cats at AFL level.
Geelong has said it will consider redrafting him as a rookie if Constable can’t find a new club as a delisted free agent.
But surely Constable can find a new home and get the crack at AFL footy his form at the second-tier has warranted.
Charlie Constable's past 3 VFL games for the Cats
— The Phantom (@ThePhantomSC) October 14, 2021
44 disp, 21 cont poss, 10 clear, 9 marks, 175 #SuperCoach points
42 disp, 24 cont poss, 19 groundball gets, 12 clear, 132 SC
30 disp, 11 cont poss, 7 tackles, 4 clear, 146 SC
Jay Lockhart
Another player the Giants could nab for free, the question is whether the Tasmanian will join as a delisted free agent or as a rookie.
The small defender played 22 games across 2019 and 2020 but wasn’t able to crack the Demons’ side in their flag winning year this season.
Lockhart has shown that he can play a role at AFL level and it looks like he will get another chance to show this.
Tyson Stengle
Stengle has signed a two-year deal with Geelong after he was officially delisted by Adelaide recently.
While his Crows career ended after three off-field indiscretions in less than a year, Stengle has shown that he can be a damaging small forward at AFL level.
After playing with Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL those who know Stengle have paid tribute to his ability to turn his career around and get another AFL chance.
The former Richmond and Crows goalsneak will live with mentor and cousin Eddie Betts in Geelong, after the Adelaide and Carlton star joined the Cats in a part-time development role.
Patrick Naish
Surprisingly not offered a new deal by Richmond, the former father-son pick has already spoken with some clubs.
A hard runner with good kicking skills, Naish averaged 29 disposals in the VFL this year.
Those numbers are good enough to suggest he should get another chance in the AFL as a delisted free agent.
Trent Dumont
The ex-North Melbourne vice-captain has spoken with “a few” AFL clubs about a lifeline.
The 26-year-old wingman has played 113 games for the Kangaroos.
He has previously explored a move back to his home state of South Australia, but it is unclear whether Adelaide or Port Adelaide will pursue him.
Dumont is also willing to stay in Victoria to continue his career and would add depth to a number of lists across the competition.
Jarrod Lienert
The 27-year-old key defender was delisted by Port Adelaide after 23 games over four seasons.
He has shown he can play a role at AFL level when selected by the Power.
Reports last week suggested Lienert could make a sensational move to rival Adelaide, but it is understood that is unlikely.
Regardless, Lienert could add to a number of team’s depth as a key defender.
Oliver Hanrahan
Has been a small forward at AFL level but Hanrahan impressed in a new midfield role at the second-tier level this year.
This new versatility, combined with his speed, would appeal to rival clubs and Gold Coast, Geelong and St Kilda have all shown interest in him.
Just two years ago he was voted Hawthorn’s best first-year player, so it would be a surprise if he doesn’t find another club in this period.
Michael Gibbons
It was a surprise that Gibbons was axed by Carlton, especially after he had become much loved by the Blues fans.
Even more interesting was the reasons that Gibbons said Carlton gave him to justify his delisting – that the Blues saw him as a midfielder even though he had been playing as a forward at AFL level.
Over his 47 games for the Blues, Gibbons showed he can make an impact as a crafty forward at AFL level after dominating the VFL as a midfielder.
He’s a hard worker and would definitely be worth a punt for another club.
Jacob Townsend
The 2017 Richmond premiership player has been told by Gold Coast that it will consider redrafting him as a rookie if he can’t find a new home as a delisted free agent.
If the journeyman can, it will be his fifth club in his AFL career.
The 28-year-old, who started at GWS before stints at the Tigers, Bombers and Suns – where he played two games in 2021, for three goals – has shown that he can make an impact on an AFL list with his pressure and smarts around goal.
Levi Casboult
Gold Coast is set to add the ex-Carlton forward as a rookie in the draft, but the only thing that will stop the move is if another club makes a play for Casboult as a delisted free agent.
This is considered pretty unlikely, but Casboult does loom as a player who could improve the key-position depth at most clubs.
The 31-year-old played 154 games and kicked 156 goals for Carlton.
Delisted players who clubs have committed to redrafting in the rookie draft:
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Brisbane)
Matthew Cottrell (Carlton)
Lochie O’Brien (Carlton)
Isaac Chugg (Collingwood)
Connor Blakely (Fremantle)
Mitch Crowden (Fremantle)
Jared Polec (North Melbourne)
Sam Mayes (Port Adelaide)
Noah Cumberland (Richmond)
Lewis Taylor (Sydney)
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