By Michael Gleeson, Jon Pierik and Scott Spits
In today’s AFL briefing:
- Essendon delist key tall Sam Weideman as they continue to purge their list
- Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak will play on for a 19th season in 2025
- Hawthorn cut former top 10 draft pick Denver Grainger-Barras
- West Coast delist three players including former Lion Alex Witherden
Weideman the latest Bomber to be delisted
Essendon have delisted key tall Sam Weideman – the Bombers continuing to purge their list after a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Bombers list boss Matt Rosa said on Friday that Weideman, 27, would not be offered a contract extension for 2025.
“I’d like to thank Sam for his contribution to Essendon over the past two seasons. These decisions are never easy, but Sam handled it with maturity and professionalism,” Rosa said.
Sam Weideman played 17 games for the Bombers across 2023 and 2024.Credit: AFL Photos
“We wish Sam all the best for his future endeavours and he will always be a part of Essendon.”
Weideman managed only one senior game in 2024, and 17 overall for the Bombers across two seasons. A former No.9 selection in the 2015 national draft, Weideman played 59 games for the Demons from 2016 to 2022.
Weideman – the grandson of former Collingwood champion Murray, and son of ex-Pie Mark – joins Nick Hind, Kaine Baldwin, Jaiden Hunter and Tex Wanganeen (son of ex-Bombers and Power star Gavin) as delisted Bombers.
Dyson Heppell and Jake Kelly have also departed the club as retirees, while Jake Stringer was traded to Greater Western Sydney on a two-year contract – the Bombers insistent the forward-midfielder would play in 2025 on only a one-year deal. The Bombers received pick No.53 from the Giants in return.
Meanwhile, Weideman’s former Melbourne teammate and ex-GWS defender Adam Tomlinson says he is keen to join a third club, and has held discussions with Collingwood and the Gold Coast Suns.
Adam Tomlinson is on the lookout for a third AFL home.Credit: AFL Photos
Tomlinson, 31, was delisted by the Demons after five seasons and 45 games. A foundation player with the Giants, he had managed 140 games there, before crossing to Melbourne.
“There are some possible landing spots but there’s nothing concrete,” Tomlinson told SEN on Friday.
“As a 31-year-old I’m completely confident in my body and ability, and there are some opportunities, possibly. But I can’t really sit here and say I’ll definitely be playing AFL, as much as I hope to.
“We’ve spoken to Collingwood, Gold Coast and a few others. To be honest, there’s not as much of a rush right now. But there’s not as much opportunity as people think.”
Jon Pierik
Top 10 pick Grainger-Barras cut by Hawthorn
Hawthorn have cut a former top 10 draft pick, defender Denver Grainger-Barras, after 28 AFL games but none this season.
Grainger-Barras was picked by the Hawks with the No.6 pick in the 2020 national draft. The 22-year-old was grateful for his time at Waverley Park and expressed optimism for the future.
Scott Spits
Eagles delist three players including Witherden
West Coast have delisted three players including defender and former Lion Alex Witherden as they continue to assess their list after the trade period.
The Eagles indicated more changes could be made before the list lodgement deadline at the end of October but on Friday said 121-gamer Witherden, midfielder Jai Culley and uncapped youngster Coby Burgiel’s time at the club had ended.
Witherden was recruited from Brisbane at the end of 2020. He played 62 games for the Eagles and 59 games for the Lions.
Alex Witherden playing for the Eagles in May this year.Credit: Getty Images
Culley, the first player picked in the 2022 mid-season rookie draft, returned from a knee reconstruction this year and played 12 matches in total.
Burgiel has been plagued by injuries since being selected with pick 29 in the 2022 national draft and did not play a senior game.
West Coast said 20-year-old Burgiel will be considered for a spot as a train-on player over pre-season.
“On behalf of the club I would like to acknowledge the contributions Alex, Jai and Coby have made to West Coast and thank them for their service,” said West Coast’s general manager of football.
Scott Spits
Boak to play on. Is the 400 club in his sights?
Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak will play on for a 19th season in 2025.
Boak, who played his 350th game this season, will join fellow 36-year-olds Scott Pendlebury and Todd Goldstein as the last men standing in 2025 after Tom Hawkins’ retirement this year.
Boak finished the 2024 campaign on 371 games so would have to play on for a 20th season in 2026 to join Pendlebury on 400 games. Pendlebury is seven months older, was drafted in 2005, and debuted a year earlier than Boak.
Travis Boak – then and now.Credit: John Donegan and AFL Photos / Getty Images
Boak had a good season in 2024 after doubts about whether he should play on. Like his team, he had a poor preliminary final, but his season had been so good the club was happy for the former captain and three time All-Australian to make the decision to play on.
“It’s not about one result and losing that game – it’s about how I felt. Could I still impact the game? Did I still feel comfortable in the game? Did I still have my speed and ability to impact? And I felt I did,” said Boak, who was runner-up in the 2020 Brownlow at the age of 32, the oldest player to finish that high in the Brownlow.
“Performances will go up and down – they always have in my whole career, so it is not about one game. You know when you are an athlete in the arena if you still feel like you can impact a game.
“I didn’t want to go around just making up the numbers, so you ask yourself: ‘Can I be someone making an impact, and can I do that and face the scrutiny of being a footballer?’
“There are always people who have opinions on your career – that is part of football. But I am not playing on to hang around to win a premiership. Don’t get me wrong, yes I want to win a flag, but I am more interested to impact the group – to get better as a footballer and help the club continue to grow on-field and off the field, and if that results in a flag, then amazing.
Port Adelaide’s AFL games record holder Travis Boak was an All-Australian as recently as 2020.Credit: Getty Images
“I am out there to make an impact.”
Port have undergone significant list change already this off-season, with Dan Houston traded out, veteran forward Charlie Dixon and key back Trent McKenzie retiring while former top draft pick leading forward Jack Lukosius was traded in from Gold Coast and small forward Joe Richards brought in from Collingwood.
Boak by the numbers
Born: August 1, 1988
Games: 371
Goals: 209
Draft: #5, 2006 AFL National Draft (from the Geelong Falcons)
Debut: Round 12, 2007 v Essendon at Football Park
AFL honours
- All-Australian (2013, 2014, 2020)
- Brownlow Medal runner-up (2020)
- AFLPA MVP runner-up (2020)
- AFLCA Champion Player of the Year runner-up (2020)
- Showdown Medal (2013, 2020, 2021)
- Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award (2021)
- International Rules (2014, 2017)
Club honours
- John Cahill Medal (2011, 2019)
- John Cahill Medal runner-up (2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022)
- Power captain (2013-18)
Michael Gleeson
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