North Melbourne best placed to recruit players and manage salary cap if list sizes are reduced

North Melbourne could be the big winners if AFL clubs are forced to offload players next season. However, the uncertainty over list sizes has caused angst with some clubs.

North Melbourne forward Ben Brown is set to sign a new contract. Picture: AAP

North Melbourne is perfectly positioned to capitalise on list size cuts in an uncertain player market with just 22 contracted players for 2021 and significant cap space.

Amid growing anger from player managers about a lack of clarity over the future of players, some are willing to shift players to rival clubs to ensure they retain current wages.

Clubs like the Kangaroos with significant cap space to absorb list cuts while still having money to lure rivals will be at an advantage in that turbulent market.

In contrast, Gold Coast’s brilliant job to secure 41 of its 51 players to contracts for 2021 means it will struggle to reduce its wage bill quickly in the event of significant list cuts.

Some player managers believe the league could reduce list sizes to 40 next year then 35 in 2022 plus a group of six part-time players who are effectively rookies.

Part-time players could still devote themselves to their craft as developing or project players while also working or studying.

Currently clubs can have 38 senior listed players plus rookies and category B players.

Richmond is believed to have over 30 of its players contracted past 2020 and almost all of its stars.

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Majak Daw is out of contract while Ben Brown’s contract talks is currently on hold. Picture: Michael Klein

If the league did cut the salary cap by more than 20 per cent the Tigers would have less flexibility to move on players and remain under the cap.

Melbourne has over 20 players uncontracted.

Carlton’s new list team Nick Austin has half its list out of contract.

The Roos on Monday received good news on Majak Daw’s injured pec muscle, with the uncontracted defender not needing surgery and likely to be back in 3-4 weeks.

The Roos have a list management meeting next week, with nimble clubs who can sniff out opportunities in an unprecedented list space likely to thrive.

With around 350 uncontracted players for 2020, there will be a frantic rush to retain and recruit talent crammed into a short space of time when the league allows contracts to be signed again.

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The Roos will secure Ben Brown as a priority target when contracts can be signed, with other uncontracted players including Mason Wood, Daw, Ben Jacobs, Jed Anderson, Marley Williams, Sam Durdin, Ed Vickers-Willis.

The Roos have 45 total players and most of their stars under contracts.

AFL football boss Steve Hocking said last week the league had not even considered when that might be as it continued working on a return to AFL footy next Thursday.

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Originally published as North Melbourne best placed to recruit players and manage salary cap if list sizes are reduced