Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The AFL free agency period opens on Friday and a host of high-profile players – both restricted and unrestricted free agents – are on the move.
ZAK BUTTERS (Port Adelaide, restricted)
There is no bigger name in this year’s free agency pool and many supporters of rival clubs were happy to see Butters resist Geelong’s advances after deciding to leave Port Adelaide. The 26-year-old has chosen the Western Bulldogs, who are poised to rocket into premiership calculations next season. But the Dogs will likely need to get a trade done for Butters, who is a restricted free agent and won’t come cheap. The trade period crosses over with the free agency period and officially opens on Monday.
TOBY GREENE (GWS, unrestricted)
The Giants great is heading to Victoria for family reasons and spoke to Butters about the possibility of teaming up at Geelong. Greene chose the Cats anyway, and will join former GWS teammate Jeremy Cameron at the Cattery in a move that should help Chris Scott’s side stay in premiership contention.
BEN KING (Gold Coast, restricted)
The key forward is planning to head home to Victoria to take up a seven-year deal with Hawthorn. But there is a stumbling block, with Gold Coast reportedly set to turn down the AFL’s compensation pick and force a trade for King, who has been the Suns’ leading goal-kicker is six of the past seven seasons.
LACHIE NEALE (Brisbane Lions, unrestricted)
After a year in the headlines – on field and off – Neale is on the move to Collingwood. He will go with the blessing of the Brisbane Lions, having played a key role in a third consecutive flag. The former Docker had previously been linked with a return to WA after the breakdown of his marriage, but the Magpies swooped with a three-year offer he found too hard to refuse.
JOEL AMARTEY (Sydney, unrestircted)
Another key forward on the move, Amartey has informed the Swans he intends to take up an offer from the Blues. He will link up with Harry McKay in attack as Carlton seek to carry forward the momentum built under Josh Fraser since he took the coaching reins from Michael Voss.
KIEREN BRIGGS (GWS, unrestricted)
Briggs is leaving the Giants and looks set to join Richmond as support for captain Toby Nankervis. It could be one of multiple ruck moves around the competition, with St Kilda’s Rowan Marshall trying to get to Geelong and speculation around the playing futures of Tim English (Western Bulldogs) and Sean Darcy (Fremantle).
JACK VINEY (Melbourne, unrestricted)
A 2021 premiership mainstay, Viney played just one game this year because of Achilles, back and toe injuries, and has been told to look for opportunity elsewhere. Essendon and West Coast are both reportedly interested in the 32-year-old midfielder, who is contracted for another two years on a reported $700,000-a-season deal.
JORDON BUTTS (Adelaide, unrestricted)
Butts has nominated the Western Bulldogs in an important coup for Luke Beveridge’s side, who have been trying to bolster their defensive stocks for some time. The Dogs couldn’t get a trade done when they tried to lure Butts last year, but the fact he now qualifies for free agency makes the move simple.
OTHER FREE AGENTS
Jesse Hogan is a delisted free agent linked to Collingwood, while Scott Pendlebury will leave the Magpies for Gold Coast in a trade rather than through free agency. Fremantle’s Bailey Banfield has been delisted and has interest in Victoria.
