AFL: Clubs cutting lists hard ahead of ‘Super Draft’ as 30 players remain in contract limbo

Ahead of a ‘Super Draft’, clubs are cutting their lists hard. With the total number of delisted players set to eclipse 100, there are still plenty of players nervously awaiting a call on their futures.

It has been labelled a ‘Super Draft’, and list managers are cutting harder and younger than they have in years in an effort to maximise their November hauls.

In an effort to create more list space and flexibility entering this year’s draft, which has been touted as the deepest in years, clubs are culling former top picks that were once the future of these teams.

There have already been 84 delistings across the competition, while there are still 30 players that remain in contract limbo.

Reef McInnes is in limbo. Picture: Getty Images

Premiership player Kamdyn McIntosh is yet to be offered a new deal. Picture: Getty Images

The total number of delisted players is destined to eclipse 100 for the first time since the Covid-impacted 2020 season, which had 121.

Seven former first-round selections have already been cut, which includes Denver Grainger-Barras (2020 No.6), Cooper Stephens (2019 No.16) and Ned McHenry (2018 No.16).

Players from the 2022 draft class, who all came out of their rookie contracts at the end of this season, have also found their futures at risk if they had not broken into the senior side.

Charlie Clarke (No.24), Cooper Vickery (No.27), Coby Burgiel (No.29), James van Es (No.31) and Tom McCallum (No.36) were all second-round picks in 2022 and have all been delisted, while Jacob Konstanty (No.20) was set to be cut before being involved in the trade to North Melbourne.

Mid-season draftee in 2022 Jai Culley was also cut on Monday.

Jai Culley has been delisted by West Coast. Picture: Getty Images

The average age of delisted players, currently 23.6, is the youngest it has been since the 2020 off-season (23.3), while it is the least experience class of delisted players (34.9 average games) since 2014 (34.4).

That includes 11 of the 2024 class having eclipsed 100 games, with former Saint Seb Ross (211) and premiership Cat Gary Rohan (204) both reaching the 200-game milestone.

While the list of uncontracted players includes players like Pat Dangerfield, who will sign a two-year extension to play on, and Tim Membrey, who will likely sign at Collingwood, there are still plenty of names without clarity about their future.

The list also doesn’t include Melbourne’s Joel Smith, who is set to be delisted following allegations of cocaine trafficking.