Free Agency 2024: Every free agent at all 18 AFL clubs named
Clubs now are looking at players that come out of contract in 2024 and its the Cats who have a pile of paperwork to get through to protect its list. See every club’s 2024 free agents.
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Geelong is well progressed on a new contract for the game’s best defender in Tom Stewart as the Cats navigate a 2024 season with an astonishing 13 free agents.
The Cats on Wednesday night showed their future direction in returning to the draft table instead of bringing in players in the trade period.
They will take early picks with selections 8 and 25, keen to blood a long list of youngsters already on the club’s list.
But having signed Rhys Stanley, Gary Rohan and Zach Tuohy to one-year deals the Cats will have 11 plus-30s on their list.
Stewart, All Australian small forward Tyson Stengle, Jack Henry, Mark O’Connor, Zach Guthrie and Brandan Parfitt are among the free agents.
The Herald Sun can reveal talks are already well under way for a deal that would see Stewart extending his 2024 contract by at least two seasons to ensure he remains a one-club player.
The South Barwon product has been All Australian in five of the past six years, with his only exclusion when he played only 18 games in the 2020 season.
His management was keen to wait until the AFL’s collective bargaining agreement dropped to assess the future pay rises.
The salary cap rises 15 per cent from $15.6 million in 2024 (plus $1.26 million in marketing agreements) to $17.6 million in 2025 (with $1.26 million agreements), so Stewart will again be well-paid.
But like many Geelong players he has always played for less to keep the list together, coming in a $625,000-$725,000 on the Herald Sun’s AFL rich list this year.
Stengle signed a new deal in February this year until the end of 2024 but as a previously delisted player he is an unrestricted free agent next year.
He kicked only 29 goals in 17 games after breaking his arm in Gather Round so will be keen to bounce back with an extended run of form before he consider his new deal.
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is also a free agent next year but turns 34 in April so like his senior teammates will be in no hurry to pen a new deal.
The Cats haggled hard for two late picks in the 70s and 90s in their trade with Esava Ratugolea and believe they will use the first one _pick 76 – when it comes back into around 60 after academy picks.
Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie said on Wednesday the club was open to trading its pick 8 if a strong deal was offered as the club seeks to strengthen its draft hand.
Footy’s biggest free agents in 2024 include Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English, Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy, Essendon half back Andy McGrath, North Melbourne’s Cam Zurhaar and Port Adelaide’s Todd Marshall.
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