On the outer: The players at every AFL club who can’t get a game
Every club has a player that fans are asking – what happened to them? We take a look the key men at all 18 clubs stuck in the reserves, their contract status and who is keeping them out.
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They are the favourites who have been discarded or the older models who have been usurped.
Every club has a player or two that used to be pencilled in the team each week that has found themselves on the outer this year and running around in the reserves.
This is a look over at least one player from every club who has played a role in the AFL side in years gone by but can’t break in so far in 2024, their contract status and who has replaced them.
To be chosen, players had to have been predominantly fit this year and play two or less AFL games before round 8.
ADELAIDE
Billy Dowling
Age: 19, Career AFL games: 0, 2024 games: 0, Contract ends: 2026
SANFL stats Disposals: 25.4, Clearances: 6.4 Tackles: 5.4, Goals: 0.4
Who’s keeping him out: The Crows’ poor start to the season, especially in their clearance game, gave Dowling the best chance of a debut, but the new-look midfield is firing now.
Dowling has been impressive in the SANFL this season, and Adelaide fans have been quick to recognise his improvement since he was drafted in 2022.
But Adelaide’s new-look midfield, which includes more Izak Rankine and Jake Soligo, has worked in recent weeks and Matthew Nicks will likely try to keep the system firing after an impressive Showdown win last round.
Dowling will likely get his chance in the AFL side this season, however the youngster is currently biding his team in the reserves.
BRISBANE LIONS
Deven Robertson
Age: 22, Career games: 43, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2025
VFL stats: Disposals:20.5, contested possessions: 11.5
Who’s keeping him out: Kai Lohmann has earned a spot this season as a mid-forward.
Some within the Lions thought Robertson was out the door until late last year when he stuck fat and signed a two-year contract after playing in the losing grand final.
Things haven’t gone to plan since. A wrist injury hindered his pre-season and he dislocated his shoulder in his last VFL game and should miss the next month of action.
He has been picked just twice by Chris Fagan this year and totalled 16 disposals in losses to Fremantle and Collingwood.
CARLTON
Alex Cincotta
Age: 27, Career games: 19, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Disposals: 22, Disp. efficiency: 86.4 per cent
Who’s keeping him out: Zac Williams was unavailable all of last year and has been the big addition to Carlton’s defensive small unit.
A breakout campaign last season saw mature-age recruit Cincotta play 19 games, including all three of Carlton’s finals.
Cincotta fell out of favour to start the season, but with injuries smashing the Blues defence – each of Adam Saad, Mitch McGovern, Caleb Marchbank, Sam Docherty have been out recently – Cincotta was finally called up in round 8.
He only had 10 disposals, three marks and three tackles in the loss to Collingwood, and he will be desperate to get a chance again given his deal runs out at the end of the year.
COLLINGWOOD
Ash Johnson
Age: 26, Career games: 26, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2025
VFL stats: 9.4 disposals, 0.8 goals
Who’s keeping him out: The Pies are still in flux up forward, with Will Hoskin-Elliott spending more time there in recent weeks.
With Dan McStay injured, this was meant to be Johnson’s year. Or at least Reef McInnes’.
But neither have had much impact on the season thus far, with Johnson dropped after round 1. He didn't have more than 10 disposals in any of his first four VFL games of the year but starred in a loss to Essendon last week, gathering 20 touches and booting two goals.
At age 26, Johnson isn’t as young as you expect. Is it time for a fresh start for the West Australian?
Fin Macrae is another who has been kept out of the Collingwood side for much of this season, having played three games – two of which he started as the sub and the other in which he was subbed off. The ball magnet signed a contract for 2025 earlier this year but will surely have suitors asking the question.
ESSENDON
Sam Weideman
Age: 26, Career games: 75, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Disposals: 12, intercept marks: 2.2
Who’s keeping him out: Weideman has been playing in defence recently at VFL level but the AFL side is happy to roll with Jayden Laverde and Nik Cox as tall support for Ben McKay while Jordan Ridley is injured.
Having played seven consecutive weeks without a goal midway through last year, Brad Scott sent Weideman to the VFL. He has since showed some signs as an intercepting defender and in the last two VFL games he has grabbed nine intercept marks.
The Dons haven’t shown much sign of calling him up to the seniors so he is stuck as a back-up and it’s hard to see him getting another year if that stays the case.
Dylan Shiel is another Bomber trying to find a spot in the seniors after recovering from injury.
FREMANTLE
Will Brodie
Age: 25, Career games: 54, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2026
WAFL stats: Disposals: 25.5, contested possessions: 13.3
Who’s keeping him out: Jaeger O’Meara has been keeping Brodie at bay the last couple of years while Jeremy Sharp has come into the Dockers midfield this season.
The breakout star of Fremantle’s 2022 campaign, Brodie averaged 26.8 touches a game in his first year after crossing from Gold Coast. But he can’t break back into Justin Longmuir’s side despite racking up numbers in the WAFL.
Brodie signed a three-year extension early last year that keeps him at Fremantle until the end of 2026. Given the dwindling interest in big bodied midfielders, it is unlikely there would be much of a rush to go after him from a trade perspective if he stays on the outer.
Nathan O’Driscoll
Age: 21, Career games: 22, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
WAFL stats: Disposals: 11.7, uncontested possessions: 8
Who’s keeping him out: Sharp has claimed a wing spot for Fremantle and even youngster Cooper Simpson has started to soak up running minutes for the Dockers.
The young winger looked to be a future lock on the outside for the Dockers but knee surgery in the pre-season has led to a slow start in the WAFL.
The West Australian native is out of contract at the end of this year.
GEELONG
Jed Bews
Age: 30, Career games: 166, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
VFL stats: Disposals: 15.4, intercepts: 2.8
Who’s keeping him out: The Cats have rolled more midfielders through the half-back line than in recent years, with Tom Atkins and Max Holmes spending plenty of time there.
The premiership Cat was a virtual lock in defence for most of the past six seasons but hasn’t had a look in yet through Geelong’s undefeated start.
Chris Scott said last week Bews would “come into our team at some point” but the Cats have worked to have more rotations from defence this year, as shown by Cam Guthrie starting there on his return against Carlton.
Bews is an unrestricted free agent so could walk anywhere at the end of this season but after 11 quality seasons at Geelong after a slow start, this might be the end of the road for him.
GOLD COAST
Darcy MacPherson
Age: 26, Career games: 97, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
VFL stats: Disposals: 25, uncontested possessions: 19
Who’s keeping him out: Sam Clohesy has become a SuperCoach darling and has taken up plenty of wing minutes.
One of six Suns to play every game last year, MacPherson was the starting sub in the opening two rounds and hasn’t been seen since.
He had a monster 35 disposal game in round 1 of the VFL but has only been OK since and appears part of a band of Suns that Damien Hardwick has bypassed.
Plenty of other Suns are in the same boat with Sean Lemmens, Alex Davies and veteran Sam Day battling for playing time this year.
GWS GIANTS
Nick Haynes
Age: 31, Career games: 205, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
VFL stats: Disposals: 31, intercepts: 7
Who’s keeping him out: Unfortunately for Haynes, the Giants have a stacked backline and he is behind the likes of Harry Himmelberg, Leek Aleer, Jack Buckley and Connor Idun.
Haynes had his choice whether to go or stay from GWS last post-season and he decided to stand pat.
It’s unlikely that would continue this post-season if he can’t get a look in with the Giants, given he is putting up huge numbers in the VFL in his two outings there.
In a skinny market for tall defensive help, Haynes will be fielding plenty of phone calls at the end of the year.
Lachie Keeffe
Age: 34, Career games: 111, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
VFL stats: Disposals: 8, goals: 1.7
Who’s keeping him out: Aaron Cadman and Jake Riccardi are sharing the second-ruck role this year.
Don’t count him out just yet – Keeffe didn’t play until round 11 last year but was soon locked into the team and playing in GWS’ finals run.
The journeyman utility hasn’t set the world on fire numbers wise in the reserves but bagged four goals last week.
Braydon Preuss is another Giant on the outer as he continues battling injury – including a hamstring in the warm up on the weekend – while remaining stuck behind Kieren Briggs.
HAWTHORN
Ned Reeves
Age: 25, Career games: 40, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2026
VFL stats: Disposals: 9.7, hit-outs: 28.7
Who’s keeping him out: Lloyd Meek has claimed the ruck spot for now.
The duel between Reeves and Lloyd Meek seems ever-constant and a couple of poor outings in the AFL to start the year saw Reeves punted to the VFL.
The ruck will surely get another chance to force out Meek at some point this year.
MELBOURNE
Adam Tomlinson
Age: 30, Career games: 178, 2024: 1, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
VFL stats: Disposals: 26.3, marks: 8.7
Who’s keeping him out: Tom McDonald has shifted back to defence and taken up a tall role.
How about this for a game on the weekend: 38 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 17 intercept possessions and two goals.
That is what Tomlinson produced in the VFL against Richmond in a dominant display.
Unfortunately for him, he appears behind Tom McDonald in the AFL pecking order at the moment and will have plenty of options if he moves on at the end of the year given every club needs more tall defenders.
Josh Schache
Age: 26, Career games: 76, 2024: 1, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Disposals: 12.5, goals: 2.8
Who’s keeping him out: Harry Petty is playing Schache’s role as the tallest forward, with Ben Brown also on the outer right now.
Like Tomlinson, Schache started the season in the seniors but hasn’t been seen since opening round.
He has bagged 10 goals in his last three VFL games and could get another crack soon given Melbourne’s ever-revolving door of forwards.
He is on the final year of his deal but it’s hard to see many suitors given his struggles over the last five seasons. But he is still somehow just 26.
Lachie Hunter is another Dee playing in the VFL at the moment, having returned from a calf setback and found himself supplanted by Caleb Windsor.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Hugh Greenwood
Age: 32, Career games: 120, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
VFL stats: Disposals: 15, goals: 1
Who’s keeping him out: Now playing as a forward, Greenwood is behind guys like Zane Duursma, Paul Curtis and Eddie Ford.
A contract trigger got Greenwood another year at Arden Street and it will likely be his last.
The Roos used him up forward for a couple of weeks in the AFL but he gathered just five touches in round 5 and was dropped.
A solid role player, the Roos have moved past giving gametime to players of his age.
Miller Bergman played 12 times last year but hasn’t had a look in at AFL level yet and he copped a broken jaw earlier this year.
PORT ADELAIDE
Tom Clurey
Age: 30, Career games: 124, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2025
SANFL stats: Disposals: 15.7, marks: 5
Who’s keeping him out: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea have come in to defence and locked Clurey out.
Clurey’s contract ties him to the Power until the end of 2025 but surely he will move on this year if things don’t change.
Never a world-beater, he was at least a worthwhile key defender and has put some injury issues behind him.
He trained a bit on the wing over summer.
Fellow defender Trent McKenzie also couldn’t get a run at it earlier this year and is currently sidelined with a quad injury.
RICHMOND
Noah Cumberland
Age: 23, Career games: 18, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Disposals: 10.3, goals: 0.8
Who’s keeping him out: Mykelti Lefau has slotting in up forward, while Rhyan Mansell and Maurice Rioli appear preferred to Cumberland.
Remember that stretch of form Cumberland had in 2022?
He kicked 19 goals in eight games and played in a final in a bright breakthrough. The left-footer has played just nine games since and even with Richmond hobbling through a huge injury list, he can’t kick down the door.
Adem Yze’s call to play Shai Bolton and Dustin Martin forward more hasn’t helped and Cumberland’s career appears to be fading.
Samson Ryan
Age: 23, Career games: 16, 2024: 1, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Hitouts: 20.5, goals: 2.3
Who’s keeping him out: Toby Nankervis is clearly the No.1 big man at Richmond and Sam Naismith appears to be No.2 given he was played last week.
With Ivan Soldo off to Port Adelaide, many thought Ryan would get a clean run in the AFL side this year but he hasn’t played since opening round.
The giant has split time with Sam Naismith in the VFL and kicked nine goals in four games but dominated as sole ruck on the weekend, racking up 39 hit-outs, with 16 to advantage.
Reports had Ryan as close to a new contract earlier this year but if that continues to drag, clubs will always be interested in young rucks who can pinch hit up forward.
ST KILDA
Brad Crouch
Age: 30, Career games: 161, 2024: 1, Contract ends: 2025
VFL stats: Disposals: 14, Tackles: 2
Who’s keeping him out: Jack Sinclair’s move to the midfield in round 8 produced his most complete game for the season.
Crouch started the season in the Saints’ best 22, but after a 15-disposal effort in round 1 against Geelong, the ball-winner was dropped to the reserves.
But the 30 year old lasted just one game for the Zebras before suffering a knee injury that ruled him out for 6-8 weeks.
Crouch is still out for another 2-3 weeks, having required arthroscopic surgery, causing more disruption to his 2024 after a stop-start pre-season.
He is still a chance to get a call up once he returns from injury, with St Kilda struggling in the midfield in recent weeks, but Jack Sinclair played his first game as a pure midfielder and excelled.
If Ross Lyon continues to keep Sinclair in the centre square, Crouch may find it difficult to break back into the rotation when he is fit.
SYDNEY
Aaron Francis
Age: 26, Career games: 69, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Disposals: 20, intercept marks: 3.5
Who’s keeping him out: Lewis Melican has bedded down a defensive spot and the smaller Matt Roberts is now a lock back there for the Swans.
No action at AFL level this year after 15 games last year in his first season since leaving Essendon.
Francis appears to be in back up status now for John Longmire, given he wasn’t called upon as Dane Rampe battled with a hamstring.
Clubs always need key defenders – and Francis is still just 26 – so if he keeps performing at VFL level he could earn a third shot at it.
Peter Ladhams
Age: 26, Career games: 52, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2025
VFL stats: Disposals: 18.8, hit-outs: 11.8
Who’s keeping him out: Brodie Grundy and Hayden McLean.
The moment the Brodie Grundy deal went through in the off-season, Ladhams slipped down the pecking order at Sydney.
He doesn’t have the upside of forward-ruck Hayden McLean either.
Ladhams just hasn’t quite broken through at either Sydney or Port Adelaide.
WEST COAST
Jamaine Jones
Age: 25, Career games: 57, 2024: 2, Contract ends: 2024 (UFA)
WAFL stats: Disposals: 24, intercepts: 7.5
Who’s keeping him out: Jayden Hunt, Josh Rotham and Brady Hough have done enough in defence.
The former Cat showed plenty off half-back through the 2022 and 2023 seasons but that seems to have faded now.
He played twice in rounds 2 and 3 but hasn’t been seen since despite putting up solid numbers.
The Eagles are probably better served finding younger players to fill his role as an attacking back flanker.
Jai Culley
Age: 21, Career games: 9, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
WAFL stats: Disposals: 9.7, tackles: 4.7
Who’s keeping him out: Jake Waterman’s return and Jack Petruccelle slipping forward again has made it tough for Culley.
The No.1 pick in the 2022 mid-season draft, Culley looked a player until he did his knee in round 8 last year.
He has returned to play three WAFL games so far this season but hasn’t had more than 11 possessions in any of those outings as he finds his groove again.
He signed a one-year deal at the end of last season.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Anthony Scott
Age: 29, Career games: 57, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2025
VFL stats: Disposals: 13.7, inside-50s: 2.3
Who’s keeping him out: Laitham Vandermeer and Rhylee West have sailed past Scott, while youngsters like Riley Garcia and Harvey Gallagher have been regular players.
With Cody Weightman out for two months, a hole has opening up in the forward line for the Dogs.
Much has been made of Luke Beveridge throwing senior players around this year but the hardest hit might actually be Scott.
He only missed one match last season – which was due to suspension – but hasn’t been picked once this season and hasn’t put up huge VFL numbers.
Arthur Jones, who played 13 games last year and also hasn’t been seen in 2024, might be more likely to pick up Weightman’s spot.
Alex Keath
Age: 32, Career games: 104, 2024: 0, Contract ends: 2024
VFL stats: Disposals: 16.3, intercepts: 4.5
Who’s keeping him out: The Dogs are happy to go with Liam Jones, James O’Donnell and Buku Khamis as tall defenders at the moment.
A sore knee slowed down veteran Keath’s pre-season but he has played in the VFL throughout the season.
The Dogs are keen for more athletic types down back rather than Keath, and the injured Ryan Gardner, so despite playing 74 games across his four seasons at the Dogs leading into this year, Keath is stuck on the outer.
His contract winds up at the end of this year.
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