AFL 2024: The verdict on every player out of contract at every club
As some players prepare to lead their team into September, others are playing for their careers in the final five weeks of the season. Our experts deliver the verdict on every out-of-contract player.
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The run towards finals may be heading towards fever pitch but the season is only just beginning for player managers and list bosses across the AFL.
With just five weeks to go in the home-and-away season, a total of 244 players remain without a contract for next season.
As they ponder how to shape their lists, the Saints and Tigers lead the way with 21 players unsigned.
Some of those names – like Josh Battle, Liam Baker and Cameron Zurhaar – haven’t signed by design as they ponder their future.
Others are desperate to prove in the next five weeks they deserve to be at their club in 2025.
Our team has made the calls and poured through the lists at all 18 clubs to reveal who is yet to sign and where each player sits.
ADELAIDE
– Matt Turner
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 5, 31, 43, 61
Unrestricted free agents: Will Hamill, Elliott Himmelberg, Brodie Smith, Taylor Walker, James Borlase
Non-free agents: Sam Berry, Ned McHenry, Patrick Parnell, Hugh Bond, Lachlan Gollant
Adelaide has made contract moves in the past week, signing Lachie Sholl and Brayden Cook to two-year extensions. But with the Crows near the bottom of the ladder, and with finals out of the question, the future of veteran Taylor Walker will be much discussed. Brodie Smith is set to play on after reaching a contract trigger. Matthew Nicks has moved to blood some youngsters, with Hugh Bond making his debut last weekend, but this off-season is poised to be a pivotal one in the rebuild of the Crows’ list after a disappointing topple down the ladder. Rory Sloane was uncontracted but retired in April.
BRISBANE LIONS
– Callum Dick
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 15, 53, 62
Unrestricted free agents: Darragh Joyce, Ryan Lester, Jarryd Lyons, Dayne Zorko
Non-free agents: Carter Michael, Darcy Craven, James Madden, Jaxon Prior, Kalin Lane, Luke Beecken
The Lions have already handled their key pieces of business in extending free agents Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry on long-term deals – and silenced talk of a Charlie Cameron move by tacking a further three years onto his contract. A trio of veterans – Jarryd Lyons, Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester – will be the signatures of interest as the season winds down. The Lions will have something of a list cull on their hands at the end of the year given they added three players in the mid-season draft following the spate of season-ending ACL injuries.
CARLTON
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 17, 37, 64, 65, 70
Unrestricted free agents: David Cuningham, Sam Durdin, Caleb Marchbank
Non-free agents: Jack Carroll, Jack Martin, Matt Carroll, Domanic Akuei, Matt Owies, Alex Mirkov
The equal-smallest list of out-of-contract players belongs to the Blues, with just ten. As they stay in the flag window, the Blues will want to hang on to Matt Owies, Jack Martin, Jack Carroll and likely David Cuningham. Valuable tagger Alex Cincotta ticked off a contract trigger for next season and hopes to get another deal on top of that. Youngster Cooper Lord signed an 18-month deal when taken in the mid-season draft.
COLLINGWOOD
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 26, 44, 45
Unrestricted free agents: Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jack Bytel, Josh Eyre, Oleg Markov, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jeremy Howe
Non-free agents: Reef McInnes, Joe Richards, Lachie Sullivan, Aiden Begg, Charlie Dean, Ned Long, Oscar Steene
Pies veterans Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe likely all carry on. There may be a squeeze coming for a bunch of younger players who haven’t found a spot yet like Reef McInnes, Joe Richards and Charlie Dean. Then there are all the summer signings looking to stick around. Will Hoskin-Elliott is in talks on a new deal and Oscar Steene is hunting one too. Nathan Murphy and Josh Carmichael were both on this list but unfortunately retired due to concussion.
ESSENDON
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 13, 33
Unrestricted free agents: Dyson Heppell, Todd Goldstein, Jake Kelly
Non-free agents: Jye Caldwell, Sam Weideman, Will Setterfield, Nik Cox, Lewis Hayes, Nick Hind, Jake Stringer, Kaine Baldwin, Matt Guelfi, Jayden Davey, Tex Wanganeen, Jye Menzie, Jaiden Hunter, Saad El-Hawli
The Dons have done well to whittle this list down mostly to role players or veterans. Jake Stringer is the notable exception but the club has been happy to hold fire on talks with him. Jye Caldwell will sign on and contributors like Matt Guelfi, Jake Kelly, Nick Hind and Nik Cox will be next in line. Dyson Heppell and Todd Goldstein will make calls later on. Some intriguing questions await about players still developing, like Tex Wanganeen, Jayden Davey and Lewis Hayes. Developing ruck Vigo Visentini signed a one-year deal this week. Forward turned winger Harry Jones will be with the club next year thanks to a contract trigger.
FREMANTLE
– Eliza Reilly
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 7, 10, 14, 24, 60,
Unrestricted free agents: Ethan Hughes, Matt Taberner, Corey Wagner, Bailey Banfield, Patrick Voss
Non-free agents: Conrad Williams, Ethan Stanley, Josh Corbett, Liam Reidy, Max Knobel, Nathan O’Driscoll, Odin Jones, Sam Sturt, Sebit Kuek, Tom Emmett
Fremantle has some decisions to make at the end of the season with 15 players currently out of contract. Bailey Banfield is the most sought after signature of the lot off the back of a career-best season but the Dockers have recently put a contract offer in front of the in-form forward. Expect Corey Wagner, Ethan Hughes, Patrick Voss, Sam Sturt and Tom Emmett to re-sign and give Fremantle crucial depth given all have played senior football this season. Matt Taberner is at the crossroads after several injury-riddled seasons while Liam Reidy and Nathan O’Driscoll could be tempted by the promise of more opportunity elsewhere.
GEELONG
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 16, 36, 54, 72
Unrestricted free agents: Jed Bews, Mitch Duncan, Tom Hawkins, Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij, Brandan Parfitt, Rhys Stanley, Emerson Jeka, Zach Tuohy
Restricted free agents: Patrick Dangerfield
Non-free agents: James Willis, Gary Rohan, Oscar Murdoch, Ted Clohesy, Mitch Hardie
List boss Andrew Mackie has done everything right so far in locking away the likes of Max Holmes and Tyson Stengle this year. As usual host of older players – Rhys Stanley, Zach Tuohy, Mitch Duncan, Gary Rohan – will likely wait to push a case at the end of the year. Tom Hawkins and Jed Bews look set to hang them up, Patrick Dangerfield wants to carry on and Jack Henry will surely sign on soon. Brandan Parfitt will test the market.
GOLD COAST
– Callum Dick
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 8, 9, 20, 28, 35, 51, 71
Unrestricted free agents: Sam Day, Brandon Ellis, Sean Lemmens, Darcy Macpherson, Levi Casboult, Jack Mahony
Non-free agents: Alex Sexton, Hewago Oea, Will Rowlands, James Tsitas, Oskar Faulkhead, Sandy Brock
The bulk of Gold Coast’s core senior list has signed on beyond the end of this season, with restricted free agent Ben Ainsworth re-signing on Monday. He was the final puzzle piece before the Suns look further down the list as Damien Hardwick takes stock of his resources before forging ahead to free agency and the draft.
GWS GIANTS
– Lachlan McKirdy
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 12, 32, 50, 55
Unrestricted free agents: Isaac Cumming, Nick Haynes, Lachie Keeffe, Adam Kennedy, Harry Perryman, Callan Ward
Non-free agents: Braydon Preuss, Conor Stone, Cooper Hamilton, James Peatling, Josh Fahey, Ryan Angwin
The Giants still have a bit of contract work to do before the end of the season. Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman are the two main names whose negotiations continue to drag on, while they’ll have to decide just how many of their veterans they’re willing to move on.
HAWTHORN
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 6, 27, 73, 74
Unrestricted free agents: Luke Breust, Harry Morrison, Conor Nash, Cooper Stephens, Chad Wingard, Jack Gunston
Non-free agents: Sam Frost, Changkuoth Jiath, Denver Grainger-Barras, Ethan Phillips, Josh Bennetts, Jack O’Sullivan, Clay Tucker
The Hawks are buyers as they hunt for top-up talent from across the league. That could mean some homegrown players have to wait. Changkuoth Jiath should re-sign, as will Conor Nash. Interesting call coming on Chad Wingard, while Jack Gunston and Luke Breust are coming to the end. Now the No.1 ruck at the Hawks, Lloyd Meek is under contract next year.
MELBOURNE
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 11, 38, 42, 47, 67
Unrestricted free agents: Tom McDonald, Jake Melksham, Adam Tomlinson, Marty Hore, Joel Smith
Non-free agents: Ed Langdon, Josh Schache, Oliver Sestan, Kynan Brown, Kyah Farris-White, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Ben Brown
Plenty of questions around the Dees as the season carries on. Older players like Ben Brown, Adam Tomlinson, Josh Schache likely go. Ed Langdon will sign a new deal soon and Jake Melksham wants to earn one in the next couple of months. Does Tom McDonald go again? Youngster Andy Moniz-Wakefield should get a new deal, while surely Joel Smith will drop off the list. This masthead revealed last week that young backup ruck Will Verrall had committed to a new deal, while surprise forward Daniel Turner has also inked a new deal. Lachie Hunter has a contract in place for 2025.
NORTH MELBOURNE
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 2, 22, 40, 58, 69
Unrestricted free agents: Hugh Greenwood, Bigoa Nyuon, Toby Pink, Liam Shiels
Restricted free agent: Cameron Zurhaar
Non-free agents: Curtis Taylor, Bailey Scott, Will Phillips, Jackson Archer, Charlie Lazzaro, Tyler Sellers, Cooper Harvey, Finnbar Maley, Blake Drury, Hamish Free, Robert Hansen
The big one here all year has been Cam Zurhaar and there are hopes the tide has turned and he has grown more keen to stick around. Bailey Scott is a surprise player out of contract, Will Phillips might need to look elsewhere. One father-son is staying with Jackson Archer to sign a two-year deal but another in Cooper Harvey faces a nervous wait. Eddie Ford inked a new one-year deal this week. Mid-season draftees Brynn Teakle and Geordie Payne both signed 18-month deals so will play on next year.
PORT ADELAIDE
– Matt Turner
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 30, 48
Unrestricted free agents: Travis Boak, Charlie Dixon, Francis Evans, Trent McKenzie, Quinton Narkle
Non-free agents: Jeremy Finlayson, Tom Scully, Lachie Jones, Tom McCallum, Kyle Marshall
Port Adelaide is still in the hunt for finals, and while the fight for the eight is on, contract talks will be on the backburner at Alberton. The futures of several veterans, namely Travis Boak and Charlie Dixon, will be discussed at length at the end of the season, while a number of uncapped youngsters remain unsigned. If Port Adelaide misses the eight, what does the list look like in 2025?
RICHMOND
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 1, 21, 34, 39, 41, 52, 57, 63, 66
Unrestricted free agents: Jack Graham, Dylan Grimes, Dustin Martin, Kamdyn McIntosh, Dion Prestia, Sam Naismith, Mate Colina
Non-free agents: Jack Ross, Liam Baker, Maurice Rioli, Matthew Coulthard, Thomson Dow, James Trezise, Noah Cumberland, Mykelti Lefau, Seth Campbell, Steely Green, Kaleb Smith, Marlion Pickett, Jacob Blight, Campbell Gray
Reflective of the transition the Richmond list is in, the Tigers have 21 players waiting on new deals. Dustin Martin and Liam Baker will make their own calls, while interesting decisions will need to be made around Dion Prestia, Jack Graham and Kamdyn McIntosh. Seems like Dylan Grimes will hang them up. The premiership era is clearly over and yet a number of youngsters such as Thomson Dow, Maurice Rioli and Hugo Ralphsmith remain unsigned. How deep will the Tigers cut?
ST KILDA
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 4, 25, 49
Unrestricted free agents: Josh Battle, Riley Bonner, Tom Campbell, Tim Membrey, Seb Ross, Liam Stocker, Jimmy Webster, Mason Wood
Non-free agents: Zak Jones, Ryan Byrnes, Dan Butler, Isaac Keeler, Jack Hayes, Dougal Howard, Matthew Allison, James Van Es, Ben Paton, Olli Hotton, Angus McLennan, Max Heath, Cooper Sharman
St Kilda has a whopping 22 names to sort out in the second half of the year, more than any other club. Some interesting calls on veterans to come, particularly on Zak Jones, Seb Ross and Tim Membrey. Mason Wood will have plenty of option as a free agent if the Saints don’t lock him down, Josh Battle is being courted heavily by Hawthorn and Dougal Howard’s name has been in the trade space regularly over his career.
SYDNEY
– Lachlan McKirdy
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 18, 19, 56
Unrestricted Free agents: Harry Cunningham, Sam Reid
Non-Free Agents: Aaron Francis, Caleb Mitchell, Cooper Vickery, Harry Arnold, Jack Buller, Jacob Konstanty, Jaiden Magor, Lachlan McAndrew, Tom Hanily
Not only are the Swans flying high on top of the ladder, but they’ve also got most of their difficult contract negotiations out of the way well before the season’s end. The pieces are already in place long-term for the club going forward, so it’s about adding the right pieces of experience to enhance the list of the premiership favourites.
WEST COAST EAGLES
— Mark Duffield
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 3, 23, 59, 77
Unrestricted Free agents: Andrew Gaff, Josh Rotham, Jamaine Jones, Liam Duggan, Zane Trew.
Non-Free Agents: Alex Witherden, Coby Burgiel, Harry Edwards, Luke Edwards, Jordyn Baker, Lock Rawlinson, Jai Culley
Outgoing coach Adam Simpson suggested the club could move as many as 10 before his exit so it’s a nervous wait for out of contract players at the club. With a change of coaches and Jarrad Schofield promising to explore the list over the last two months of the season the final fates of many are still uncertain and there are critical games ahead for many on this list. Complicating the list management piece is how ruthless the club will be prepared to be with older stars like Jack Darling, Jamie Cripps and Dom Sheed who have contracts but may face tough conversations on their futures while out of contract.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
– Josh Barnes
Provisional draft picks (as of Round 18): 29, 46
Unrestricted Free agents: Taylor Duryea, Jason Johannisen, Lachie McNeil
Restricted free agent: Tim English
Non-Free Agents: Bailey Smith, Charlie Clarke, Buku Khamis, Dominic Bedendo, Lachie McNeil, Riley Garcia, Alex Keath, Kelsey Rypstra
Big names have dominated this list all season, with all in footy expecting Bailey Smith to depart. Tim English appears more likely to stay but hasn’t shown any movement on a new deal yet. Most others on the Dogs list are likely to stand pat until late in the year, including veterans Taylor Duryea and Alex Keath. Jason Johannisen’s calf has hurt his chances of pushing his case. Buku Khamis fielded interest last year, does that come again? Riley Garcia is one player who has been tearing it up in the VFL for years and could find more opportunity elsewhere.
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