AFL free agents thin on the ground ahead of 2013 trade period

AS the AFL trade period approaches, JON RALPH analyses all the AFL free agents and finds a shallow talent pool.

Eddie Betts

HERE at SuperFooty, we love free agency and trade stories because you do. Stories about the off-season meat market always drag readers like moths to the flame.

It's all about the possibilities of improving your side.

We considered ranking the top five gettable free agents for The Buzz this week, and we have still done so underneath as an exercise.

But while free agency was supposed to be all about improved player flexibility, the list of quality free agents is, to be honest, pathetic.

We could only find four free agents who might trade clubs that we actually think are worth a pinch of salt.

There are less than 50 free agents at present (all delisted players become unrestricted free agents) but most of them are players about to retire or desperate for another one-year deal.

Consider the Dogs, for example.

As of last week all of Dylan Addison, Adam Cooney, Daniel Cross, Daniel Giansiracusa and Dale Morris were unsigned.

Morris and Cooney have just re-signed, Addison would love another deal, Cross will retire or play on at another club, and "Gia" is probably going to be squeezed out but could get another one-year deal on a smallish contract.

Perhaps free agency has done exactly what the AFLPA wanted - force clubs to commit to players early or see them leave for bugger all.

Certainly clubs, aware of the paltry compensation teams got for free agents, have made it their duty to sign those they actually want early.

As we kept saying about Adam Cooney, the Dogs had to sign him up because he's in rare form and they might have got pick 45 for him as compensation when he left.

Last year we at least had some quality free agency selections to mull over and it was all new and uncharted territory.

This year we wouldn't suggest it will be a bust, but when you consider this list, you realise quality names are in short supply.

THE TOP GETTABLE FREE AGENTS

1. Lance Franklin. Hawthorn
Greater Western Sydney still won't put in an official offer for Franklin. They say they don't need to, and don't plan to. If they were panicking about him staying at Hawthorn, would they be giving the official offer? Those close to the Franklin camp keep saying he is staying, and point to a potential Crown Casino sweetener to stay. But Hawthorn truly has no idea. You be the judge. I still think the signs point to him going.

2. Dale Thomas. Collingwood.
Carlton wants him, Gold Coast doesn't. Greater Western Sydney don't really need him. Collingwood, through coach Nathan Buckley, chief executive Gary Pert and recruiter/list manager Derek Hine, all believe the messages they are getting from him is that he will sign on.

He is off overseas considering his options both contract-wise and surgery-wise for his ankle. Given the Pies won't low-ball him on their contract offer, would it be a big risk to go to Carlton when he might need surgery that could see him not playing any footy until Round 1? Think he probably stays, but don't put your house on it.

3. Colin Sylvia. Melbourne.
Has said he wants to stay, but rivals aren't so sure. Hope he does, but if Melbourne doesn't get a quality coach he might want to maximise the last few years of his career. He kicks goals, wins it from the middle, and always looks like he has more to give. Not sure if he will be the player we once hoped, but he would kick 40 goals from a half forward flank for a quality team without too much trouble.

4. Eddie Betts. Carlton
Love the talent, don't like the price tag. Carlton and his management have both scoffed at reports he wants $600,000 a year, but if he didn't want more than the Blues were prepared to give him he would have signed by now. He has had a poor year, but for a side desperately in need of a small forward he is all class and is only 26. Apparently North Melbourne are interested, but do they really need him given Lindsay Thomas' form?

5. Matt White. Richmond.
I know you are a laughing at us, but what are the other options? Luke McGuane (Richmond) is available, but he's no superstar. Hawthorn's Max Bailey is unsigned, but he's not going anywhere. Jason Porplyzia has been a disappointment, but who wants him? Simon Black and Jon Brown are out of contract, but both could both retire. Jason Winderlich is out, but he's as loyal as the day is long. Mathew Stokes has agreed to terms at Geelong, and the rest of his teammates aren't leaving.

Below we rate all the free agents from the most recent AFL release in August.

As you can see, it's hard to think there is going to be a free agency stampede come the first week of October.

MOST RECENT FULL FREE AGENCY LIST

ADELAIDE
Jason Porplyzia (unrestricted) MIGHT BE MOVED ON
Scott Thompson (restricted) WILL RE-SIGN

BRISBANE
Simon Black (unrestricted) RETIRE?
Jonathan Brown (unrestricted) RETIRE OR SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL

CARLTON
Eddie Betts (restricted) COULD GO TO NORTH MELBOURNE
Heath Scotland (unrestricted) RETIRE OR SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL

COLLINGWOOD
Alan Didak (unrestricted) RETIRE OR SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL
Nick Maxwell (restricted) ALL BUT AGREED TO TERMS
Dale Thomas (restricted) BLUES ARE KEEN AS MUSTARD

ESSENDON
Dustin Fletcher (unrestricted) WILL SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL
David Hille (unrestricted) WILL RETIRE
Nathan Lovett-Murray (unrestricted) NOT SURE
Jason Winderlich (unrestricted) WILL RE-SIGN

GEELONG
Paul Chapman (unrestricted) NOT SURE
Joel Corey (unrestricted) NOT SURE
Corey Enright (unrestricted) SHOULD DEFINITELY PLAY ON
Josh Hunt (unrestricted) NOT SURE. A 1-YEAR DEAL?
Mathew Stokes (unrestricted) HAS AGREED TO TERMS

HAWTHORN
Max Bailey (unrestricted) WILL RE-SIGN
Xavier Ellis (unrestricted) NOT SURE
Lance Franklin (restricted) THE BIGGEST FREE AGENT IN THE GAME
Brent Guerra (unrestricted) WILL STAY
Michael Osborne (unrestricted) MIGHT RETIRE

MELBOURNE
Aaron Davey (restricted) HAS RETIRED
Colin Sylvia (unrestricted) HAS SUITORS IF HE WANTS TO GO

NORTH MELBOURNE
Michael Firrito (unrestricted) HASN'T BEEN OFFERED CONTRACT

PORT ADELAIDE
Brett Ebert (unrestricted) HAS RETIRED
Tom Logan (unrestricted) NOT SURE
Matt Thomas (unrestricted) NOT SURE

RICHMOND
Luke McGuane (unrestricted) RETIRE OR SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL
Shane Tuck (unrestricted) RETIRE OR SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL
Matthew White (unrestricted) SHOULD RE-SIGN GIVEN FORM

ST KILDA
Jason Blake (unrestricted) RETIRING
Nick Dal Santo (restricted) HAS A CLAUSE IN CONTRACT TO PLAY ON
Lenny Hayes (unrestricted) HAS RE-SIGNED
Justin Koschitzke (unrestricted) RETIRING
Stephen Milne (unrestricted) RETIRING

SYDNEY
Jude Bolton (unrestricted) RETIRING

WEST COAST
Dean Cox (unrestricted) WILL SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL
Andrew Embley (unrestricted) GONE
Darren Glass (unrestricted) WILL SIGN A 1-YEAR DEAL
Mark Nicoski (unrestricted) RETIRED
Adam Selwood (unrestricted) RETIRED

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Dylan Addison (unrestricted) SHOULD SIGN ANOTHER DEAL.
Adam Cooney (restricted) JUST RE-SIGNED
Daniel Cross (unrestricted) WILL MOVE ON OR RETIRE
Daniel Giansiracusa (unrestricted) COULD GET ONE MORE YEAR
Dale Morris (restricted) HAS RE-SIGNED

REPLAY RALPHY'S CHAT BELOW