AFL contracts: Every current player without a deal for 2022
After yet another disappointing season, Carlton is faced with a host of big list calls. Plus, why hasn’t a former top pick signed a new deal?
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More than 200 AFL footballers remain without a contract for next year as the home and away season enters its final round.
Retirements and delistings have started filtering through, but more players are set to learn their fate in the next week and beyond.
Here’s where your club’s out-of-contract list is at.
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Adelaide
Out of contract (10): James Borlase, Matt Crouch (restricted free agent), Ben Davis (unrestricted free agent), Lachie Gollant, Jake Kelly (UFA), David Mackay (UFA), Tariek Newchurch, Ronin O’Connor, Patrick Parnell, Kieran Strachan
The Crows started the clean-out when they announced unrestricted free agents Tom Lynch — who continues to play in the senior side — and Daniel Talia won’t be offered contracts for next year. Both are generating rival interest. They have tabled a two-year offer to Crouch, who is yet to be sighted at AFL level after groin surgery, but he may be able to secure a longer deal elsewhere. Negotiations are still ongoing for Kelly, while 33-year-old Mackay’s done what he can to extend his stay into 2022. Strachan is filling in for Reilly O’Brien and should be at West Lakes again next season, along with mid-season draftee Parnell. Talia’s departure likely helps Borlase.
Brisbane
Out of contract (8): Connor Ballenden (UFA), Grant Birchall (UFA), Tom Joyce, Kalin Lane, Rhys Mathieson (UFA), Mitch Robinson (UFA), Archie Smith (UFA), Brock Smith
Carter Michael signed a new one-year deal last week, while Connor McFadyen has agreed to a deal of the same length and Robinson is also close to securing his spot for 2022. Fringe midfielder Mathieson continues to go in and out of the senior side, but is a proven depth player and is likely to return. Mid-season draftee Lane is a longer-term project who should eventually be locked in for next year. Birchall is holding his place, but younger options are challenging him and a decision on his future, as with Joyce, will be made later.
Carlton
Out of contract (14): Jordan Boyd, Matt Cottrell, Mick Gibbons, Josh Honey, Brodie Kemp, Matt Kennedy (UFA), Oscar McDonald (UFA), Nic Newman, Lochie O’Brien, Matt Owies, Luke Parks, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Sam Ramsay, Jack Silvagni
Marc Pittonet (two years) and Ed Curnow (one) have agreed to extend their careers in navy blue. Eddie Betts and Marc Murphy are retiring, but Levi Casboult — who is not being offered a contract — is surveying his options elsewhere. The delay in Kemp re-signing has sparked opposition interest as discussions continue. Kennedy has resurrected his career since breaking into the Blues’ on-ball rotation, while Newman will re-sign for one year or two. Silvagni is expected to secure two more seasons. Owies is headed towards a one-year contract, probably still as a category B rookie. There is widespread interest in Petrevski-Seton, but it remains unclear what will happen with O’Brien.
Collingwood
Out of contract (13): Isaac Chugg, Mason Cox, Jack Ginnivan, Max Lynch, Jack Madgen, John Noble, Scott Pendlebury (UFA), Jay Rantall, Trey Ruscoe, Brayden Sier, Anton Tohill, Josh Thomas (UFA), Tom Wilson
Chris Mayne is retiring at season’s end, while Noble will re-sign for two years and it is just a matter of time before Pendlebury is locked in for next season. Wilson, Ginnivan and Chugg are also likely to return on one-season contracts. Ruscoe is believed to be a required player, but Sier last played in Round 12 and has fallen way down the pecking order, while Thomas will have to wait. What happens with Cox, who is now being managed by Liam Pickering, remains to be seen, and Lynch has value if he chooses to depart.
Essendon
Out of contract (9): Ned Cahill, Dylan Clarke (UFA), Tom Cutler, Marty Gleeson (UFA), Tom Hird, Lachie Johnson, Cian McBride, Andrew Phillips, David Zaharakis (UFA)
Breakout defender Jayden Laverde’s contract trigger takes him through to 2022, after which he becomes an unrestricted free agent. There’s been a lot of list movement in the past week, with Cale Hooker and Patrick Ambrose retiring and Matt Guelfi and Kaine Baldwin — a fit-again junior star — inking deals for next season. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher re-signed for two more years, but Irving Mosquito, who hasn’t been at the club for months, is finalising details to part ways with the Bombers. Clarke has buoyed his re-signing hopes with three solid games back at AFL level since recovering from a long-term ankle setback. It could be the end of the road for Zaharakis, while Gleeson is touch and go.
Fremantle
Out of contract (10): Bailey Banfield (UFA), Brett Bewley (UFA), Adam Cerra, Mitch Crowden, Taylin Duman, Stefan Giro, Lachie Schultz (UFA), Darcy Tucker, Tobe Watson, Nathan Wilson
There is one less ruckman on the market, with Lloyd Meek knocking back interest elsewhere to recommit for two more years. Cerra has offers in front of him from the Dockers, but seems increasingly likely to request a trade. Conca played seniors just once since Round 9 and was told he won’t receive a contract offer, while there is no development on a new deal for Wilson — now out with a hamstring injury — despite him playing 18 games in 2021. Duman and Giro might also find it tough. Schultz has been in discussions for a while, and Banfield and Crowden are among the players who will have to wait. Stephen Hill retired, while the Dockers parted ways with Leno Thomas last month.
Geelong
Out of contract (14): Oscar Brownless (UFA), Brad Close, Charlie Constable, Francis Evans, Lachie Henderson (UFA), Cam Guthrie (UFA), Zach Guthrie, Ben Jarvis, Josh Jenkins, Nathan Kreuger, Quinton Narkle, Stefan Okunbor, Rhys Stanley, Cameron Taheny
Reigning club champion Cam Guthrie is poised to re-sign for as many as four years. Close has positioned himself for a multi-year deal, while Zach Guthrie and Evans are also expected to stay on. Henderson’s late-career revival has him on track to play again in 2022, along with Stanley. Narkle is amid the best season of his life and weighing up his options. Only six players have won more disposals than Constable in the VFL, but he hasn’t played seniors since Round 3. The AFL’s new rookie rules could work in Okunbor’s favour, but Jenkins is long odds to continue after two games in as many years. Kreuger has emerged as a key defender and his is a situation to watch.
Gold Coast
Out of contract (8): Matt Conroy, Sam Day (UFA), Aiden Fyfe, Patrick Murtagh, Hewago Paul Oea, Malcolm Rosas, Luke Towey, Jacob Townsend (UFA)
Sean Lemmens is no longer a free agent, agreeing to a three-year deal as reward for a strong campaign. Day is close to re-signing, most likely for one year with a trigger for a second. The Suns cleared the decks this week, with Jack Hombsch, Jordan Murdoch and Zac Smith all retiring and Jarrod Harbrow playing his final game this weekend, too. Rosas is lightly played but has rival clubs monitoring him. The rest of the out-of-contract crop are rookie-listers whose future will be decided next week.
GWS Giants
Out of contract (15): Callum Brown, Matt Buntine (UFA), Phil Davis, Matt Flynn, Jesse Hogan, Jacob Hopper, Tom Hutchesson, Daniel Lloyd (UFA), Shane Mumford, Sam Reid (UFA), Jake Riccardi, Will Shaw, Nick Shipley, Zach Sproule (UFA), Jake Stein (UFA)
Josh Kelly’s decision to green light his eight-year deal won’t impact Hopper, who will also remain at the Giants on a probable two-year arrangement through to free agency. Hogan will re-sign on a one-year deal, likely with a trigger for a second. Davis’ situation is interesting after he was overlooked for selection last week and with several younger options emerging. With Mumford set to retire, re-signing Flynn is a priority, but Braydon Preuss and Kieren Briggs are contracted. Riccardi has an offer in front of him and is figuring out what to do, while Sproule has drawn some interest as a forward-ruck option. Discussions haven’t started for the much-improved Stein, but the new rookie rules help Brown and Shaw. Reid faces another long wait.
Hawthorn
Out of contract (14): Lachie Bramble, Keegan Brooksby (UFA), Jackson Callow, James Cousins, Damon Greaves, Ollie Hanrahan, Michael Hartley (UFA), Dan Howe, Finn Maginness, Dylan Moore (UFA), Harry Morrison, Tim O’Brien (UFA), Harry Pepper, Jack Saunders
Moore’s breakout season is set to deliver him a two-year deal. Talks have started on a new contract for father-son selection Maginness, while Howe’s career-best season and Bramble’s strong debut campaign have them on target for extensions. Swingman O’Brien played his best football of the year in recent rounds as a defender, but where he fits in Sam Mitchell’s plans is still to be determined. Morrison — a senior regular this year again — Cousins, Callow, Hanrahan, Pepper, Greaves and Saunders are others biding their time. Shaun Burgoyne plays his 407th and final game on Saturday. Veterans Brooksby and Hartley may be up against it.
Melbourne
Out of contract (17): Oskar Baker, Toby Bedford, Austin Bradtke, Mitch Brown (UFA), Kade Chandler, Majak Daw (UFA), Michael Hibberd, Marty Hore, Neville Jetta (UFA), Nathan Jones (UFA), Jay Lockhart, Aaron Nietschke (UFA), Deakyn Smith, Aaron vandenBerg, Sam Weideman, Kye Declase, Daniel Turner
Weideman is still the clear standout name here. Several clubs, including North Melbourne and Gold Coast, are keen to add to their key forward stocks, and the 24-year-old’s appeared at AFL level only five times in 2021. Joel Smith re-signed for another season last week, while fellow backman Hibberd and vandenBerg — if his body holds up — are also likely to go around again. Fringe players Baker, Chandler, Lockhart and Bedford will have to be patient. Bradtke’s cause is helped by the new rookie rules. Hore and Nietschke are recovering from ACL ruptures, including a third for the latter, who will be up against it to score a new contract. This is almost certainly Jones’ and Jetta’s final season.
North Melbourne
Out of contract (15): Shaun Atley (UFA), Tom Campbell (UFA), Trent Dumont (UFA), Taylor Garner (UFA), Aaron Hall, Charlie Ham, Kyron Hayden (UFA), Matt McGuinness, Connor Menadue (UFA), Robbie Tarrant (UFA), Dom Tyson, Josh Walker (UFA), Patrick Walker, Will Walker (UFA), Jack Ziebell (UFA)
Hall’s excellent season is set to extend his time at Arden St, but probably for only one year, given he turns 31 in November. Dumont isn’t in a rush to make a decision and is one to watch. Decisions on veterans Tarrant, Ziebell and Atley will be made at season’s end, but none is likely to receive a contract beyond one year. The Walkers, Josh and Patrick, are both tipped to continue. The uncertainty around the club’s ruck stocks might work in Campbell’s favour, particularly given his solid campaign. The others will have to wait it out.
Port Adelaide
Out of contract (11): Riley Bonner, Trent Burgoyne, Martin Frederick, Joel Garner, Tyson Goldsack (UFA), Robbie Gray (UFA), Hamish Hartlett (UFA), Jarrod Lienert, Steven Motlop (UFA), Boyd Woodcock (UFA), Jed McEntee
Gray’s stellar career will continue next year, but Rockliff has retired after his opportunities dried up and health issues developed. Contract negotiations are ongoing for Hartlett, who underwent a knee arthroscope this month, while fellow veteran Motlop is close to returning from ankle surgery. Frederick will be at Alberton in 2022, but hasn’t signed a contract yet. It’s a waiting game for Lienert, Bonner, Woodcock, Burgoyne, Garner and McEntee. Goldsack is likely to retire this year.
Richmond
Out of contract (15): Mabior Chol (UFA), Callum Coleman-Jones, Noah Cumberland, Thomson Dow, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (UFA), Ryan Garthwaite, Bachar Houli (UFA), Rhyan Mansell, Ben Miller (UFA), Patrick Naish, Bigoa Nyuon, Matt Parker (UFA), Dan Rioli, Ivan Soldo, Sydney Stack
Kamdyn McIntosh has signed a two-year deal, a week after Will Martyn recommitted for 2022, but premiership defender David Astbury hung up the boots. Astbury’s exit should help Garthwaite and even Miller. Houli has declared he wants to play on, but the Tigers haven’t committed either way yet. Sydney Stack and Ivan Soldo will remain at the club, along with Dow, who is nearing a fresh two-year deal. The industry consensus is that only one of Chol and Coleman-Jones will be at Punt Rd next year, with both players having rival admirers. Rioli, who has revived his career as a defender, put off contract talks but a decision is set to be revealed shortly after this weekend. Parker’s second AFL start is likely to extend into next year, while Mansell is also in a good position.
St Kilda
Out of contract (15): Sam Alabakis, Jack Billings (RFA), Oscar Clavarino (UFA), Leo Connolly, Luke Dunstan (UFA), James Frawley (UFA), Jarryn Geary (UFA), Paul Hunter (UFA), Darragh Joyce (UFA), Dean Kent, Jack Lonie, Seb Ross (UFA), Paddy Ryder, Cooper Sharman, Mason Wood (UFA)
Jake Carlisle has almost certainly played his last AFL game, with the Saints not offering him a contract for next year, while Shaun McKernan told his playing peers on Tuesday that he was retiring. Billings is likely to spurn free agency to stick with St Kilda, and Connolly and Sharman are both on track for new deals. Geary is also expected to secure another year but those discussions are ongoing, and there’s some intrigue about Ross’ and Dunstan’s situation. Ryder’s latest Achilles issue has complicated matters but he’s a key Saint when fit and should continue into next season. Lonie and Wood fell short of contract triggers that would have locked them in for another year, but the former has some opposition interest.
Sydney Swans
Out of contract (18): James Bell, Kaiden Brand (UFA), Malachy Carruthers, Jordan Dawson, Robbie Fox (UFA), Will Gould, Sam Gray (UFA), George Hewett (RFA), Matt Ling, Hayden McLean, Barry O’Connor, Colin O’Riordan, Luke Parker (UFA), Sam Reid (UFA), Ben Ronke, Callum Sinclair, Dylan Stephens, Sam Wicks
The delay in Parker re-signing is believed to be related to the star midfielder’s wish for a four-year contract, as he prepares to turn 29. Wicks (two years) and Fox (one) have contract offers in front of them, while Reid is keen to go around again after returning to the senior side. Both Adelaide clubs have registered interest in Dawson, but the Swans remain confident of retaining him. Sydney shopped Hewett in last year’s trade period and it’s unclear what happens this time around, and Sinclair could have options elsewhere as a back-up big man if he misses out on a deal. Discussions are ongoing with Stephens, and Ling returned to action last weekend from a foot injury and opposition clubs haven’t forgotten about him. Bell has a contract trigger in place.
West Coast
Out of contract (15): Brendon Ah Chee (UFA), Brayden Ainsworth, Jarrod Brander, Will Collins, Liam Duggan, Luke Foley, Shannon Hurn (UFA), Mark Hutchings (UFA), Ben Johnson, Jamaine Jones (UFA), Josh Kennedy (UFA), Jack Redden, Josh Rotham, Nathan Vardy, Connor West
Kennedy won’t make a call on his future until season’s end, but is leaning towards playing again next year, while fellow star veteran Hurn wants to go on. Daniel Venables retired because of ongoing concussion-related issues. Redden is hopeful of securing another one-year deal, as is mid-season draftee Collins. Negotiations are ongoing on multi-year deals for Rotham and Duggan, and discussions are also continuing in regards to Brander. Foley has established himself at the Eagles and looks safe, and Ah Chee’s future may depend on the Eagles’ list strategy. Hutchings is up against it.
Western Bulldogs
Out of contract (8): Ben Cavarra (UFA), Will Hayes (UFA), Patrick Lipinski, Stefan Martin (UFA), Roarke Smith (UFA), Jordon Sweet, Mitch Wallis (UFA), Lewis Young
Zaine Cordy’s reached a contract trigger for next year, while Ed Richards is locked in for two more seasons and Buku Khamis has inked a one-year deal and Young has a two-year offer in front of him but has had limited senior opportunities. Taylor Duryea has re-signed for another year, but Lin Jong retired after an injury-riddled few years. It will be Martin’s call on playing into 2022 and young big man Sweet has broken through for his first AFL games this year. There is fascination about what Lipinski and Wallis do after being unable to cement a senior spot. The others will have to be patient.
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