Good form of AFL’s older free agents means they might all play on in 2019, writes Jon Ralph
PLAYING in the AFL as a over-30s veteran is a perilous business. But as he looks at every free agent, Jon Ralph reckons the 10 oldest players in the competition are making strong claims to go around again.
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PLAYING in the AFL as a over-30s veteran is a perilous business.
Play a couple of stinkers and you are seen as over the hill and too old to turn it around.
Suffer one soft-tissue injury in seven years like Shaun Burgoyne and the pundits immediately think it might be the end.
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Scott Thompson was the last player signed by North Melbourne last year and Jarrad McVeigh might have even won a reprieve after being told he wasn’t going on.
And yet if Gary Ablett is fresh from a stinker against Essendon, this might just be the year of the Dad’s Army.
As Herald Sun reporter JON RALPH looks at every free agent across the competition, he writes that the 10 oldest players in the competition are almost without fail making strong claims to go on again next year.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
RORY SLOANE 28 (Adelaide Crows)
Adelaide would be stunned if the Crows talisman left, adamant he has always done his deals late in the season.
His management is sitting tight until he makes a declaration he wants to re-sign or explore other offers. His foot issues haven’t helped progress.
But despite Victorian clubs watching his progress, from Adelaide’s point of view if he left something would have gone badly wrong.
CAM GUTHRIE 25 (Geelong Cats)
Said in February he wants to stay at the club for “as long as he can”, but said to be haggling over figures right now as he is sidelined by injury.
Not going anywhere.
TOM LYNCH 25 (Gold Coast Suns)
It would be a shock if he stayed at Gold Coast.
He is adamant he won’t meet with clubs or consider their offers mid-year, but Gold Coast is increasingly fatalistic about him coming south.
The three suitors are Richmond, Collingwood and Hawthorn, his management having told others in no uncertain terms he wouldn’t consider them.
Plenty of reports about favourites for his services, but considering how dramatically things can change during trade time, ridiculous to suggest one is the outright favourite.
He isn’t seen to want to be a saviour, so Collingwood’s recent improvement will help him if he goes there considering the forward line alone wouldn’t rise or fall on his performances.
Gold Coast could consider matching a deal given they have huge cap space and would consider six-year deals and offer more than Victorian clubs.
Who knows what happens then, given neither of those three clubs would want to give up multiple first-rounders for Lynch, which would be the asking price.
Lynch is in Melbourne for the mid-season break, with many of those around him adamant he will be back in Victoria next year.
Figures bandied about of up to $1.5 million don’t marry with what those close to him are saying, which is that money won’t define his decision.
Instead he wants to play at a successful club that can win him a premiership, even if that means accepting $1 million a year (what a sacrifice!) instead of selling his services to the highest bidder.
TOM McDONALD 25 (Melbourne)
He wants to stay, Melbourne wants to keep him, but what will it take to keep him happy financially?
On the open market a bloke who is a free agent, can play key forward, key back and wing, is a lethal shot for goal and a powerful mark could write his own contract figure.
Is that $900,000 or $1 million a year? Definitely if was happy to move to a club like Gold Coast or Fremantle desperate for more talks, but you know he isn’t going interstate.
So after another four or six weeks his management and the club will have a better idea of his worth as a key forward and the dance will start.
Eventually you get the feeling they will compromise on a deal somewhere in between.
Given the club has salary cap room to consider luring players like Andrew Gaff, they have cash for him too. So it might take some time to find a number both parties are happy with.
SHAUN ATLEY 25 (North Melbourne)
Both club and management are happy to let his contract drift until they get an idea of his form.
Has been solid this year with greater time forward, his accuracy (6.9) taking some of the gloss off what could have been a great season so far.
Hasn’t been a consistent enough player for the Roos to be desperate to keep him, but they wouldn’t get a heap for him in free agency compensation if he did depart to a rival club.
You get the feeling he stays but who knows if a rival club would come at him because of his speed if they miss out on other free agency targets.
BACHAR HOULI 30 (Richmond)
One of a number of Tigers who are waiting on contract talks, with Richmond seemingly keeping their options open to keep money for Tom Lynch.
The man who starred in last year’s Grand Final is still in excellent form at only 30 so eventually should win another one-year deal.
ANDREW GAFF 25 (West Coast)
Melbourne clubs are going gaga over this bloke, who is an out-and-out star. He is pushing back talks until late in the year, which is offset by his determination to play in a premiership.
Keeping his options open, but has never really indicated he is desperate to come home. Until something changes, the good money is on him staying at West Coast. Set to meet his manager Paul Connors in Perth in coming weeks, which is when talks might heat up.
SCOTT LYCETT 25 (West Coast)
Roaring up the charts as an elite ruckman given he and Nic Naitanui are forming a strong combination that hands them both solid game time.
The question is whether he wants to be a first-choice ruckman and whether the Eagles have the cash to withstand bumper offers elsewhere given commitments to Elliott Yeo, Jeremy McGovern and Gaff.
Clubs don’t want to recruit ruckmen any more, they want to poach them, and Lycett is doing everything possible to maximise his options after an injury-ravaged 2017.
No one would forgive him if he jumped ship to a club which can give him big money and the lead role, but right now with West Coast’s form, why would you want to leave?
If he did want to leave, you would think all of Richmond, Carlton and Essendon would be considering their succession plan for ruckmen.
JEREMY McGOVERN 26 (West Coast)
Has put off talks until the end of the year amid mixed messages over his future. Why would he want to go anywhere given his form and West Coast’s premiership aspirations?
Colleague Sam Edmund reported a Melbourne club had offered a six-year, $7 million deal but his manager Colin Young says the extra year offered elsewhere isn’t why he’s put off talks.
Fremantle doesn’t think he will move, even though they would pony up in a heartbeat to get him across town. He says his main objective is still to stay, and while it’s Young’s main job to get him as much money as possible, the good money is still on him staying.
Sydney asked briefly about him in January but hasn’t done so before. They are one of a raft of clubs which would come hard if he genuinely suggested he wanted to leave. Like Dusty Martin before him, putting off talks until the end of the year can only reap him a bigger deal than the initial West Coast offer of four year and $800,000.
JORDAN ROUGHEAD 27 (Western Bulldogs)
Has indicated to the Dogs he wants to stay, but has played only three senior games after a combination of a head knock and modest form.
The Dogs clearly believe Tim English is their ruckman of the future, so its hard to judge what their true pecking order is with Tom Boyd, Jackson Trengove, English and Tom Campbell.
He played seniors again last week (12 disposals, 17 hit-outs) so a good stretch of quality football makes it much easier for everyone concerned.
MITCH WALLIS 25 (Western Bulldogs)
Another who has indicated he wants to stay and who at 25 should be looking forward to a prosperous future at the Dogs.
Fair to say he wasn’t thrilled to start the season in the VFL but is averaging 20 touches and 10 contested possessions since his Round 3 recall.
Not quite in good enough form for rivals to think he is the answer if they miss out on Gaff or Sloane, so seems destined to stay on.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
RICHARD DOUGLAS 31 (Adelaide Crows)
Has played every game bar one missing through suspension and stepped up in the absence of the midfield stars. At 31 is in good enough form for another one-year deal.
DAVID MACKAY 29 (Adelaide Crows)
Coming off a four-year contract, the reliable Crow has played eight games and only turns 30 in July. No reason to think his career at the Crows won’t keep ticking over.
ANDY OTTEN 29 (Adelaide Crows)
Kicked 20 goals last year and then signed a one-year deal that took time to come to fruition. Only five games this year in a different role but having just turned 29 will back himself to win another deal at the Crows.
ROHAN BEWICK 28 (Brisbane Lions)
Has played only three games so far as the new brigade pushes hard for spots. Coming off a two-year deal signed in 2016, so at 28 needs to find his way back into the senior team to feel more comfortable about his position.
RYAN LESTER 25 (Brisbane Lions)
In outstanding form in the NEAFL after five early-season games in the seniors averaging 13 possessions and nearly four tackles a game. Solid depth player and at 25 in the right age demographic. Good chance of winning his spot back soon.
MARC MURPHY 30 (Carlton)
Despite the clamour for the Blues to shunt him to another club, he is working towards signing a two-year deal. If he did leave as a 31-year-old (he is 31 in July), the Blues would get little free agency compo for him anyway, so why the rush to push out a long-serving and loyal captain? Could imagine why he would want to chase a flag elsewhere, but given he doesn’t it's a dead issue.
KADE SIMPSON 34 (Carlton)
The evergreen Carlton defender turned 34 this month but is fighting hard against the flow in Carlton’s defence, still averaging 25 disposals in a half back line decimated by injury.
Is clearly in good enough form to consider going again next year in a defence that will get back Sam Docherty, with Tom Williamson soon to return to the back line to help with rebound.
No reason why the Blues would want to push out such a respected and much-loved defender from their list despite his age.
JARRYD BLAIR 28 (Collingwood)
Great VFL numbers for the diminutive 28-year-old half forward, who had 36 possessions in his two senior games.
But there are plenty of young forwards who are quicker and more explosive in front of him in the seniors, so will have to prove himself all over again to win another deal next year.
ALEX FASOLO 25 (Collingwood)
Might feel aggrieved by what has befallen him over the summer, after a fantastic 29-goal 2017 season where he was also lauded for bravery in coming out with his depression battle.
Then had shoulder surgery in the pre-season that could have been expedited to straight after the season, and seemed to lose confidence despite getting plenty of pre-season miles on the clock.
Had to wait until Round 9 for his chance, and then suffered a high ankle sprain. So with Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jordan De Goey and Jamie Elliott clearly in front of him does he look elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent? West Coast was keen on a trade last year — he wasn’t — but now they have developed their own fleet of small and mid-sized forwards. Too good not to have a prominent role in a forward line somewhere.
TYSON GOLDSACK 31 (Collingwood)
The fan favourite tore his ACL early in the year after a fantastic 20-game season in 2017. The Pies said after his surgery it was too early to discuss his deal, but even though he turns 32 next May, surely he is versatile enough to secure another one-year deal.
BEN REID 29 (Collingwood)
Reid has this week signed a one-year deal to take him through to 2019. Looks like he’ll become a one-club player.
TOM BELLCHAMBERS 28 (Essendon)
Signed a one-year contract extension in 2016 while away from the club with a doping ban, so he isn’t going anywhere now.
In excellent form after myriad injury issues, having made real contributions in his eight games so far. Turns 29 in July so as an unrestricted free agent his management would surely push for a multi-year deal.
HAYDEN BALLANTYNE 30 (Fremantle)
Hanging in there at nearly 31, having kicked 10 goals in nine games with Michael Walters injured in Rounds 7 and 8. Too early to tell what the future holds, but after only ten games last year will reach that total this week.
Can’t do much more than keep kicking goals in the senior team.
MICHAEL JOHNSON 33 (Fremantle)
Played every game last year and still took until Grand Final week to sign a one-year extension, so given serviceable form as a rebounding defender is a chance to keep going despite turning 34 in October.
DAVID MUNDY 32 (Fremantle)
Ultra-consistent midfielder who has had between 21-23 possessions in six of his nine games so far, with seven goals to boot. Turns 33 in July but his form is clearly good enough to allow him the decision on playing on.
Has enough versatility as a mid-sized forward for the Dockers to believe he won’t be holding anyone back if he goes on next year.
AARON SANDILANDS 35 (Fremantle)
Keeps on signing one-year deals (the last in July last year) and after averaging 41 hit-outs playing every game this year, no reason why he won’t keep pushing on. His hitout to advantage rate is the still the competition’s best.
Turns 36 in December but with Sean Darcy sidelined with injury only a baby in ruck terms, the Dockers would be a brave club to push Sandilands into retirement.
GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH 25 (Geelong Cats)
Has played four of the past five games since coming in against Port Adelaide with a brilliant two-goal, 26 disposal effort. At 25, his senior opportunities for the rest of the year will dictate his future.
Too good a player to be hanging around playing twos at Geelong.
DANIEL MENZEL 26 (Geelong Cats)
Intriguing. Started in a blaze of glory with 14 goals in his first four games after being handed a one-year deal on extremely modest terms compared to his 40-goal season in 2017.
Then Chris Scott said his body meant the club would never be able to offer him long-term deals, which his manager Adam Ramanauskas disputed on Radio Sports National.
Then he had an injection for his groin issues which dramatically backfired, meaning he has been sore and unable to train properly since Round 5.
Does that prove he isn’t a durable player, or would he feel upset that medical treatment gone wrong has again put him on the sidelines.
So Geelong and Menzel will likely do the dance again when he gets back, him trying to prove why he’s worth a two-year deal and them assessing his talent and durability all over again.
JARROD HARBROW 29 (Gold Coast Suns)
Still playing quietly excellent footy for the Suns, one of their finds as an initial uncontracted player despite the lack of fanfare. He is 30 in July, but it’s a no-brainer to recontract him given what he provides.
MICHAEL RISCHITELLI 32 (Gold Coast Suns)
A beloved player and leader at the Suns, Rischitelli has averaged only 13 possessions in a quiet year so far after signing a one-year deal. The foundation Sun was dropped in Round 6 but has played the last couple.
Needs to do more to extend a career full of merit.
SHAUN BURGOYNE 35 (Hawthorn)
The 35-year-old missed a month early in the year with a hamstring injury, the first meaningful injury of any kind since arriving at the Hawks with a knee injury.
Some wondered if the soft-tissue issue might be the first sign of the end, but his last two weeks have been as good as ever. He had 26 touches and 10 tackles against Sydney and 21 against Brisbane.
He has no intention of retiring, so unless Clarko pulls him aside for one of those honest conversations he is so capable of, there is a real chance he goes again next year.
It’s early in the season, but he plays so many positions he doesn’t really stifle the next generation of kids coming through.
TAYLOR DURYEA 27 (Hawthorn)
Duryea’s role as a pressuring forward meant he survived last year where Billy Hartung was moved on. In reasonable form this year — 18 possessions a game — and has played every game in a side with plenty of changes.
The 27-year-old has racked up 110 games as a no-fuss utility, so will back himself to extend his career at the Hawks.
PAUL PUOPOLO 30 (Hawthorn)
Still one of the AFL’s great pressure players and was in a rich vein of form before a Round 4 hamstring injury. Was quiet first-up against Brisbane, which is understandable.
But after trade rumours came to nothing last year he got another deal and is only 30, so if he can steer clear of soft-tissue concerns he is in a strong position to play on.
RYAN SCHOENMAKERS 27 (Hawthorn)
One of footy’s great survivors, with 114 games in a decade at Hawthorn. Just two games so far this year after an achilles complaint, then a run of VFL games. He just keeps hanging around, and it got him a much-deserved premiership. Only 27, but will need to prove himself again given the Hawks have plenty of talks and want to bring in Tom Lynch at season’s end.
BRENDAN WHITECROSS 28 (Hawthorn)
How can you not cheer for 28-year-old Whitecross, who played in Rounds 7-8 this year and has overcome so many knee injuries to remain on the Hawks list?
Dumped after the loss to Sydney, he will just have to do what he has so often before — prove the doubters wrong again. But after only eight games last year, needs regular senior footy to push his contract claims.
NEVILLE JETTA 28 (Melbourne)
A no-fuss year from Jetta, beaten early by small forwards in a rare form slump then bouncing back strongly.
Said in January he wanted to remain at Melbourne — “Ideally, I would like to stay a one-club player and have some success with the group that we’ve got now” — but no further updates have been forthcoming on his deal.
Remains a huge part of the Melbourne premiership charge given how often he has put small forwards to sleep with his pace and one-on-one defending.
SCOTT THOMPSON 32 (North Melbourne)
What a year. Effectively the last North Melbourne player to sign on last year, he has been superb this season.
Still playing on star forwards — he kept Jeremy Cameron to two goals last week — he is also intercept marking and finishing off his games with excellent field kicking to his teammates.
Just turned 32, but North Melbourne have shown they can mix and match by moving on some older players while selectively handing others contracts.
If he can keep up his form until August, he would be a certainty to play on next year.
SAM WRIGHT 27 (North Melbourne)
Hugely rated within the club, Wright has just returned from two years of ankle injuries and seamlessly slotted back into the Roos side.
No reason to rush into a deal while he re-establishes himself in the senior side, but Wright, 28 in July, can add another weapon to the Roos side.
JUSTIN WESTHOFF 31 (Port Adelaide)
Triggered a contract extension last year that secured him through to the end of 2018 and at 32 just days after the Grand Final, he isn’t going anywhere now.
One of a handful of Port Adelaide players desperate to win that elusive premiership, he has played every game so far and remains a superb and versatile tall.
REECE CONCA 25 (Richmond)
Conca played three, six and six games respectively in the past three years. Finally he has overcome his injury hoodoo, playing every game and moving into the midfield as hard-tackling presence.
Like many others at Richmond his contract talks are yet to kick off, but after years of rumours about interest from WA clubs, he seems a Tiger through and through.
No reason why he won’t get another deal given he is only 26 in August.
SHAUN GRIGG 30 (Richmond)
Into his eighth season at Richmond, the Tigers premiership ruckman (sort of) is yet to kickstart contract talks but he has only just turned 30.
Remains an underrated part of the Tigers’ makeup as a goalkicking mid who can tag or back up Toby Nankervis. Should play on.
SAM GILBERT 31 (St Kilda)
Out long-term with a cracked thumb, he made it to 200 games this year and remains a lock in the club’s back six when available. Turns 32 this year but with the young defenders like Hugh Goddard not yet coming on and concerns over Dylan Roberton’s future, might go around one more time.
HEATH GRUNDY 31 (Sydney Swans)
He will sit down with his manager Phil Mullen mid-year to discuss whether he retires or not at year’s end, but on current form there is no reason why he wouldn’t.
The Swans have a bunch of kids coming up — including young defenders like Aliir Aliir — but he is comfortably holding his spot in a quality side.
JARRAD McVEIGH 33 (Sydney Swans)
Depending on who you believe McVeigh was either told he wasn’t playing on this year, or was perilously close to that position. But the 33-year-old always knew he if he could get his body right he was good enough to keep going.
Case in point — last weekend against Fremantle he had 31 possessions in another flawless display, the half back flanker playing every game this year.
He either gets to retire this year on his own terms or maybe considers another year if he can stay injury free and his form holds up.
NICK SMITH 29 (Sydney Swans)
Smith has a clause in his contract that means on games played this year he will get another season, rich reward for a former rookie who just played his 200th game for the Swans.
MARK LECRAS 31 (West Coast)
Come on, admit it, you thought LeCras was shot too. The veteran goalkicker eventually signed another contract in September last year and has reinvented himself as a tackling, pressuring forward.
Turns 32 in October, but after 18 goals and 31 tackles, couldn’t be doing more to give himself a chance to play on.
ERIC MACKENZIE 30 (West Coast)
Played 13 games last year but only two after Round 11, and has now been sidelined with stress fractures in both feet. Turned 30 this week but impossible to know if he might survive as defensive cover for the Eagles.
LUKE DAHLHAUS 25 (Western Bulldogs)
Has told the club he wants to stay and his manager nearly negotiated a deal last off-season. Reports that Geelong are interested, but he has been adamant he isn’t leaving.
Dogs chief executive Ameet Bains said recently he wanted a longer deal than the Dogs were offering. Still averaging 23 possessions a game — down from 26 in the premiership year — but has kicked just a single goal for a player who used to regularly hit the scoreboard. Only one way to prove to the club you deserve a longer deal — get the back into the scintillating form of past years. At 25, they can’t afford to lose him.
TOM LIBERATORE 26 (Western Bulldogs)
Out for the season with a ruptured ACL, his manager Tom Williams has told the Herald Sun he wants to stay. List manager Sam Power has confirmed talks are ongoing, but not escalating that quickly only because the club wants to let him get through the early part of his rehab. He had seemed in such brilliant form in the pre-season but has had his issues in the past two years. Surely both parties can structure a contract with enough incentives that it rewards him for performances while giving the club enough security to lock him away for multiple years. Turned 26 last week.
DALE MORRIS 35 (Western Bulldogs)
This was to be his swan song, and definitely seemed the case when he partially tore his ACL in the pre-season. Back last week in the VFL in a recovery that was nothing short of stunning.
You figure this is his last year, but the 35-year-old has defied convention before.
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