AFL 2024: The biggest contract and free agency storylines at every club
From star free agents to unsigned young guns, it’s a big year for contracts across the AFL. But who will steal the headlines at your club? We look at how the key deals could play out.
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From start free agents to unsigned young guns and those on the cusp of retirement, contract talk will again dominate the headlines this season.
But what will be the biggest story at your club? Our experts take a look.
ADELAIDE
Taylor Walker
It will again be a wait-and-see approach when it comes to whether the Crows talisman continues on for an 18th season. Like he has done in recent seasons, the 33-year-old will look to treat 2024 as it will be his last and he should know by mid-year if he is physically and mentally ready to play on in 2025. But there is no doubt that when Walker is on, and he was a lot in 2023, the Crows walk a lot taller and are a potent attacking force.
BRISBANE
Hugh McCluggage
The Lions will want to get this one sorted quickly. The classy midfielder showed his importance to Brisbane in the finals – including a big effort in the grand final loss. Not only can he win the ball but he brings others into the game, ranking second in total goal assists. There should be nothing to worry about from a Brisbane perspective with McCluggage regarding Chris Fagan as a “father figure” and the club is right in the premiership window.
CARLTON
Jack Martin
Thanks to a number of big deals for star players, this year promises to be remarkably quiet for the Blues on the contract front. A famously front-loaded contract, Martin was paid huge dollars in 2020 after a plan to guide him to the club from Gold Coast. His pay has dropped dramatically after those heady days around $1 million and Martin will have to prove himself this year after not playing more than 15 games in any season with the Blues. Elijah Hollands should get a new deal easily after his contract was reduced after a drugs charge, while Caleb Marchbank, David Cuningham, Lachie Fogarty and Alex Cincotta are among others without a deal beyond this year. Things get a bit more interesting next year, with names like Tom De Koning, Jacob Weitering, Jack Silvagni, George Hewett, Adam Cerra and Adam Saad ending deals.
COLLINGWOOD
Nathan Murphy
A fascinating case, Murphy’s two-year contract ends this year. He was given the tick of approval in December to continue his career despite a series of concussions. Take away the head knocks and Murphy would be a sure thing for a longer term deal. But his future in the game must be in doubt and he will surely be left to wait until late this year before any new deal is struck. Veterans Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe are out of contract but their futures rest in their hands.
ESSENDON
Archie Perkins
Essendon has 23 players coming out of contract at the end of 2024, with Andrew McGrath, Elijah Tsatas and Sam Durham high on the priority list for the Bombers. But Archie Perkins, who is entering his fourth year at the club, will be top of the club officials’ minds as one to extend long-term after 62 games in three seasons. Perkins is set to play a more prominent role in the midfield going forward, and, at just 21-years-old, he shapes as an integral part of Brad Scott’s side for the next decade. Essendon fans will be anxious in waiting for the former ninth-overall selection to sign an extension.
FREMANTLE
Nathan O’Driscoll
There aren’t too many players out of contract at the Dockers at the end of this season but Fremantle will be hoping to lock-away the promising midfielder. After falling out of favour in 2023, there is a spot on the wing now open for O’Driscoll to make his own again – and he has started this quest well in pre-season with strong running performances. In a season that is set to be a massive one for the Dockers, 2024 looms as a big year for O’Driscoll individually in multiple ways.
GEELONG
Max Holmes
Shaping to be one of the biggest young stars coming out of contract, Geelong has already had to fend off rival interest for Holmes. In a year he is expected to become a permanent fixture in Geelong’s engine room, Holmes will likely put contract talks on hold until at least the midway point of the season to increase his own value, but any longer and Cats fans will start to sweat at the thought of losing one of their brightest young talents. Skipper Patrick Dangerfield is bullish on Holmes and has suggested he could become the league’s best player one day, and with interest already coming from clubs like Collingwood, Holmes’ signature will be worth a lot of money in the off-season.
GOLD COAST
Ben Ainsworth
Ainsworth has become a consistent part of the Suns’ best 23, and with 117 AFL games to his name, the former No.4 pick continues to prove his importance to the side. He was rated as elite by Champion Data and looked to benefit from his high half-forward role where he was also able to hit the scoreboard regularly. Being from Victoria, the risk is always there that he could return, but he will be eager to impress Damien Hardwick in his first year as Gold Coast coach.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Harry Perryman
The Giants are in a strong list position heading into 2024 with only a handful of players coming to the end of their deals this season. Perryman established himself as a key part of their formidable defence and as a Giants Academy product coming out of the Riverina, it would be a huge boost for the club to keep him in western Sydney. He has now played 108 AFL matches and his 22 games in 2023 were the most he had played in a season. His confidence is high after a fantastic year and a new contract will likely come his way.
HAWTHORN
Josh Weddle
The running machine has untapped potential and his first season showed he could be anything at AFL level. Hawks fans shouldn’t be too worried as the youngster will stay at Waverley for some time. Changkuoth Jiath is a fan favourite out of contract and, after some injury-hit years, needs a big season to get the requisite contract. A first-choice midfielder, Conor Nash is another important part of the future needing a new deal, as is Blake Hardwick. Veterans Jack Gunston and Luke Breust will likely make their decisions late in the year.
MELBOURNE
Tom Sparrow
A vital bridge player between the established stars and the high draft picks that Melbourne plans to keep the club in contention for years to come, Sparrow has generally gotten better every year and should continue to grow with more responsibility. Winger Ed Longdon and his opposite number Lachie Hunter are two other important Dees needing new deals. Then there are a bunch of known commodities – Jake Melksham, Josh Schache, Ben Brown, Adam Tomlinson, Tom McDonald – and unknowns – Will Verrall, Oliver Sestan, Kyah Farris-White, Jed Adams, Andy Moniz-Wakefield – searching for fresh contracts.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Cam Zurhaar
Set to play his 100th game in the first round of the new season, Zurhaar has become an integral part of the Kangaroos’ forward line since being drafted as a rookie in 2016. He played further up the ground in 2023 under Alastair Clarkson, averaging a career-high in disposals, inside 50s, rebound 50s and clearances while still also booting 20 goals in 16 games. He won’t be a free agent, and has not publicly signalled an intention to move, however he is an important piece to North Melbourne’s side. Bailey Scott is coming out of contract, as is Brayden George, Tom Powell, Will Phillips and Tarryn Thomas, so it will be a busy period for the Kangaroos’ list management team to keep the core of young talent at Arden Street.
PORT ADELAIDE
Todd Marshall
The Power is expected to shortly lock in a new deal for Marshall, who could become the leader of Port’s forward line as soon as this season given Charlie Dixon’s struggles with injury. The new deal for Marshall is expected to be one that goes for at least four years. After a breakout season in 2022, Marshall was hampered by a hip issue late last campaign that led him to barely training and having post-season surgery. But the Power will be banking on Marshall getting back to his best ahead of a huge season for Ken Hinkley’s side.
RICHMOND
Dustin Martin
For most of his 15 years in the AFL, there has been talk of Dustin Martin leaving Richmond in a bombshell move for millions of dollars. But the Brownlow Medalist, who has one of the most decorated careers in history, has never even looked like leaving. But ‘Dusty’ will be 33 at the end of 2024, out of contract and playing in a side that is expected to be a fair way off contending for premierships again. Martin has an obvious tie to Gold Coast in Damien Hardwick, and if the Suns start to compete and challenge in finals, that conversation around Martin will only intensify. It looms to be a big signing season for Richmond, with Dion Prestia, Dylan Grimes, Jack Graham, Kamdyn McIntosh, Noah Cumberland and Toby Nankervis all free agents at the end of the year, while Liam Baker, Jack Ross, Hugo Ralphsmith, Rhyan Mansell, Samson Ryan and Thomson Dow all come out of contract.
ST KILDA
Mattaes Phillipou
The former top 10 pick starred in his debut season, playing every game in 2023 for the Saints as a marking target up forward. He has been one of the standout trainers in the pre-season and is eyeing a move to the midfield in 2024, spending plenty of time working with Rowan Marshall, Jack Steele and Jack Sinclair through the centre square. Phillipou has been open about wanting to be a one-club player and is happy as a Saint, however the South Australian is one of just three top-10 picks from the 2022 draft to have not yet signed an extension beyond their first deal, with Essendon’s Elijah Tsatas and Geelong’s Jhye Clark also yet to sign on.
SYDNEY
Logan McDonald
There’s an argument that Errol Gulden is not only Sydney’s most important player but also their most important out-of-contract player in 2024. But as a local junior and Academy product, it’s highly unlikely he will look to leave NSW. As a result, retaining the services of Logan McDonald will be top of the list for the Swans. Sydney rarely gets as high in the Draft as they did with pick No.4 to take McDonald and the 21-year-old has shown glimpses that he could be their main key forward for the next decade. Fremantle will be working hard to lure him home, but the Swans will be confident they can convince him to stay.
WEST COAST
Liam Duggan
The 27-year-old defender was one of the Eagles’ most important players last year in terms of his leadership. While results rarely went the club’s way on the field, it’s clear that Duggan has a large role to play in bringing this young group into the future, and hopefully, away from the bottom of the ladder. He played 22 games last season and will play a similar number this campaign. It should be a no-brainer for the club to do what they can to keep him not just for his physicality, but for the way he can inspire his teammates.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Tim English
Some huge names are out-of-contract this year at Whitten Oval – English, Bailey Smith, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Tom Liberatore. English will be wooed by West Australian teams, while both Ugle-Hagan and Smith have opposition sides salivating. All-Australian ruck English might be No.1 priority, but Ugle-Hagan isn’t far behind. Impossible to imagine Liberatore playing anywhere else, so what is a pass mark in keeping the rest? Two out of three?
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