Source :- THE AGE NEWS
We are past the midway point of the AFL season, and starting to get a clearer picture on where certain players fit in their clubs’ plans.
Some face an anxious wait through the trade period in October to see if they will receive a contract lifeline, while the biggest remaining free agents are yet to show their hand. We spoke to industry sources in clubland and player management to get the lowdown on where each club’s out-of-contract players sit.
Adelaide (15 uncontracted players)
James Borlase (unrestricted free agent), Jordon Butts (UFA), Brayden Cook, Billy Dowling, Charlie Edwards, Hugo Hall-Kahan (UFA), Mitch Hinge (UFA), Chayce Jones (UFA), Finnbar Maley, Luke Pedlar, Oscar Ryan, Lachie Sholl (UFA), Zac Taylor, Taylor Walker (UFA), Tyler Welsh (UFA).
Breakout utility Cook is in advanced discussions on a two-year deal. Key defenders Borlase and Butts will have options if they choose to play elsewhere, and Adelaide may not retain both. North Melbourne, who tried to woo Butts last year while he was still under contract, and the Bulldogs are keen to recruit him. Edwards is a first-round pick from three years ago who has played only twice at senior level, while Jones could end up an option for Tasmania eventually, and Pedlar is often mentioned as someone who could seek a fresh start.
Brisbane Lions (14)
Zac Bailey (restricted free agent), Luke Beecken, Darcy Fort, Darragh Joyce (UFA), Ryan Lester (UFA), Luke Lloyd, Sam Marshall, Lincoln McCarthy (UFA), Conor McKenna, Will McLachlan, Lachie Neale (UFA), Reece Torrent, James Tunstill, Dayne Zorko (UFA).
Bailey joins Zak Butters and Ben King as the league’s most-coveted free agents, and will receive more money to play for a different club. Adelaide and Port Adelaide are among the interested parties, as well as Victorian teams. The Lions face several retention battles, with Neale’s future a major talking point after his marriage breakdown. Brisbane want to keep him, but he has options in three other states, including at Collingwood. Marshall, who spent his draft year in Melbourne, is another one to watch.
Carlton (21)
Jordan Boyd, Ben Camporeale, Lucas Camporeale, Harry Charleson, Wade Derksen (UFA), Matt Duffy, Francis Evans (UFA), Lachie Fogarty, Nick Haynes, Elijah Hollands (UFA), Ollie Hollands, Mitch McGovern (UFA), Rob Monahan, Nic Newman (UFA), Hudson O’Keeffe, Flynn Riley, Adam Saad, Zac Williams (UFA), Billy Wilson, Flynn Young, Lewis Young.
This is an interesting group – most of whom are fringe and/or veteran types – as the Blues enter a new era after former coach Michael Voss’ departure, along with list manager Nick Austin. Williams’ big-money free agency deal after crossing from the Giants expires at season’s end. Saad has fallen out of favour, and may need to find a new home to extend his career. McGovern has revived his career returning to the forward line, but his form was stronger early in the season. Ollie Hollands remains one of Carlton’s most promising young players.
Collingwood (15)
Ed Allan, Joel Cochran, Harrison Coe, Jeremy Howe (UFA), Noah Howes, Tim Membrey (UFA), Wil Parker, Scott Pendlebury (UFA), Mitch Podhajski, Liam Puncher, Jakob Ryan, Jai Saxena, Steele Sidebottom (UFA), Iliro Smit, Lachie Sullivan.
Billy Frampton’s new two-year deal will be announced imminently, reward for his excellent form in defence for Craig McRae’s Pies. AFL games record-holder Pendlebury may no longer be in his prime, but he remains a key contributor, and it is his decision whether to play on. Fellow veterans Sidebottom and Howe also remain first-choice players, but Collingwood may want to stagger their exits. The Magpies are in the market for a key forward, which could impact Membrey, who has kicked 12 goals in nine matches this year.
Essendon (13)
Nik Cox, Tom Edwards, Saad El-Hawli, Kayle Gerreyn, Jade Gresham (UFA), Matt Guelfi (UFA), Liam McMahon (UFA), Jayden Nguyen, Archie Perkins, Jaxon Prior (UFA), Will Setterfield (UFA), Elijah Tsatas, Rhys Unwin.
It is a waiting game for the Bombers without a deal for 2027 as they seem headed for their first wooden spoon in a decade. There are some fascinating names here, but none more so than first-round selections Cox, Perkins and Tsatas, who could all be playing elsewhere next year. Gresham has a contract trigger to extend his career, but he is currently out of the side and may not play enough games to reach it.
Fremantle (16)
Bailey Banfield (UFA), Jaren Carr, Hugh Davies, Leon Kickett, Ryda Luke, Oscar McDonald (UFA), Charlie Nicholls, Nathan O’Driscoll, Jaeger O’Meara, Ollie Murphy, Aiden Riddle, Chris Scerri, Sam Sturt (UFA), Sam Switkowski (UFA), Corey Wagner (UFA), Toby Whan.
The Dockers are close to extending Wagner for two more years as he continues to establish himself in the senior side after being delisted at North Melbourne and Melbourne after a combined 19 games. Switkowski has Victorian suitors if he wants to return to his home state, but is expected to re-sign. O’Driscoll has enjoyed a strong month as he looks to secure his future, while O’Meara, 32, is nearing the end. Davies has a contract offer, but is focused on trying to break into the senior side.
Geelong (17)
Jed Bews (UFA), Mark Blicavs (UFA), Jack Bowes, Cillian Burke, Jhye Clark, Patrick Dangerfield (UFA), Lennox Hofmann, Mitch Knevitt, Jake Kolodjashnij (UFA), Jack Martin (UFA), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (UFA), Jesse Mellor, Jacob Molier, Mark O’Connor (UFA), Joe Pike, Rhys Stanley (UFA), George Stevens (UFA).
Dangerfield is playing well enough to keep going, and has indicated he wants to, but any decision on his future is months away. Ex-Sun and Blue Martin has a contract trigger that he is expected to hit that would roll him over into next season as his career resurrection continues. Essendon and North Melbourne have expressed interest in O’Connor, but the Irishman is in talks to stay at the Cats. Bowes will have interest elsewhere if he decided to look around, but is expected to remain at the Cattery.
Gold Coast (15)
Oscar Adams (UFA), Cooper Bell, Alex Davies, Asher Eastham, Zak Evans, Jy Farrar, Caleb Graham (UFA), Nick Holman (UFA), Ben Jepson (UFA), Ben King (RFA), Caleb Lewis, Jake Rogers, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Jed Walter, Jarrod Witts (UFA).
A massive off-season awaits the Suns, who would dearly love to retain King and Walter, in particular, as well as fellow first-round selection Rogers. King, a restricted free agent, has had a two-year offer worth about $1.3 million annually in front of him for some time, as Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong try to bring him back to Victoria. Walter’s decision may rest on what happens with King, but he also has an army of suitors. Ugle-Hagan has a games-played trigger in his contract, but has made only three appearances in 2026.
GWS (9)
Kieren Briggs (UFA), Stephen Coniglio (UFA), Toby Greene (UFA), Max Gruzewski, Jesse Hogan, Nick Madden, Jake Riccardi, Conor Stone (UFA), Jake Stringer (UFA).
Gruzewski is the interesting one. The 21-year-old forward has played the best football of his career this year, but remains a fringe option and lost his spot last weekend when Hogan returned from his hip injury. Victorian clubs are monitoring Gruzewski’s situation. The Giants remain in negotiations with Hogan on a new deal. Forward-ruck Riccardi is currently injured, but a senior regular when fit, while Briggs and Madden could be interesting names on the ruck merry-go-round as the season progresses.
Hawthorn (15)
Cody Anderson, Max Beattie, James Blanck, Calsher Dear, Jack Gunston (UFA), Matt Hill, Henry Hustwaite, Mitch Lewis (UFA), Bailey Macdonald, Will McCabe, Harry Morrison (UFA), Flynn Perez (UFA), Max Ramsden, Bodie Ryan, Jaime Uhr-Henry.
The Hawks’ tall forwards are of most interest here. Gunston continues to play at an incredible level, while unrestricted free agent Lewis – who has a four-year offer to re-sign in front of him – is enjoying easily his most-productive season since 2023. There is a flow-on effect to Dear, who is currently in the VFL and playing in defence, while fellow key-position options McCabe and Ramsden are among those looking for a new deal for 2027.
Melbourne (17)
Jed Adams, Oscar Berry, Lukas Cooke, Joel Fitzgerald, Bayley Fritsch (RFA), Jack Henderson, Matt Jefferson, Aidan Johnson, Luker Kentfield, Bailey Laurie, Max Mapley, Tom McDonald (UFA), Jake Melksham (UFA), Ricky Mentha, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Christian Salem (UFA), Tom Sparrow (UFA).
Pre-season recruit Paddy Cross’ impressive debut season has earned him a fresh one-year deal, but the Demons face a nervous wait to see if Sparrow will spurn rival interest to remain in red and blue. Sparrow is amid a breakout season in the midfield – thanks to more opportunity sans Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver – but has interest from both South Australian clubs. Fritsch is having another strong campaign and discussions are well advanced on a new multi-year contract.
North Melbourne (19)
Zac Banch, Tom Blamires, Lachy Brewer, Callum Coleman-Jones, Aidan Corr (UFA), Jack Darling, Wil Dawson, Zane Duursma, Brayden George, Josh Goater, Ollie Griffin, Robert Hansen jnr, Riley Hardeman, Cooper Harvey, Luke McDonald (UFA), Toby Pink (UFA), Bailey Scott (UFA), River Stevens, Luke Urquhart.
Darling has a games-based trigger for an automatic extension to next year, and he remains a staple of Alastair Clarkson’s team, so he will be at Arden Street in 2027. There were constant rumours last year about Duursma potentially wanting to leave, but he is expected to re-sign. North drafted Dawson hoping he would be part of their key-defensive solution, but other clubs are sniffing around, while Hardeman has a two-year offer to stay.
Port Adelaide (16)
Tom Anastasopoulos, Benny Barrett, Zak Butters (RFA), Darcy Byrne-Jones (UFA), Lachie Jones, Mani Liddy, Ollie Lord, Will Lorenz, Ewan Mackinlay, Jackson Mead, Jacob Moss, Balyn O’Brien, Jordon Sweet, Xavier Walsh, Ollie Wines (UFA), Mitch Zadow.
Butters is the most in-demand restricted free agent in the competition, and is widely tipped to be playing for a Victorian club next season. The Western Bulldogs – who are considered the favourites to secure Butters’ signature – Geelong, Collingwood and Richmond are among the star midfielder’s suitors. Josh Lai and Harrison Ramm have re-signed for another season, but most of this group will have to wait until late in the year to discover their fate.
Richmond (14)
Nathan Broad (UFA), Tom Burton, Patrick Carr, Liam Fawcett, Steely Green, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Mykelti Lefau, Tom Lynch (UFA), Dion Prestia (UFA), Hugo Ralphsmith, Kaleb Smith, Tyler Sonsie, James Trezise.
Broad is in the final season of his stellar, premiership-winning career at Tigerland before he heads home to Western Australia, where he will likely provide experience for a rebuilding West Coast line-up. Any decision on veterans Lynch and Prestia will likely be closer to season’s end. Much of this group is trying to prove they deserve to be part of Richmond’s future.
St Kilda (13)
Eamonn Armstrong, James Barrat, Dan Butler, Ryan Byrnes (UFA), Jack Carroll (UFA), Alex Dodson, Paddy Dow, Dougal Howard, Isaac Keeler, Liam O’Connell, Patrick Said (UFA), Liam Stocker (UFA), Darcy Wilson.
The curious case of Wilson remains unresolved. It is extremely rare for a first-round selection to depart at the end of their draft contract, but pretty much every club believes the hard-running midfielder is gettable. Whether this is just a tactic to score a more-lucrative deal at Moorabbin remains to be seen, but Wilson is blossoming into a star. Dodson is an interesting one because fellow big man Rowan Marshall unsuccessfully tried to get to Geelong last year, and will stop him from playing senior games if he remains. Dow has had a horror injury run since crossing from Carlton.
Sydney (8)
Taylor Adams, Joel Amartey (UFA), Noah Chamberlain, Harry Cunningham (UFA), Joel Hamling (UFA), Liam Hetherton, Jake Lloyd (UFA), Dane Rampe (UFA).
The Swans’ top priority is finding a way to convince emerging key forward Amartey to stay in the Harbour City as Victorian clubs line up to try to bring him back to his home state. The unrestricted free agent, who has kicked 28 goals in 14 games, is likely to attract offers north of $1 million per season, particularly once Suns star Ben King makes his call. Adams’ three-year deal at the Swans expires at season’s end, and it would be a surprise at this point if the 32-year-old played on.
West Coast (19)
Harry Barnett, Rhett Bazzo, Tyler Brockman, Malakai Champion, Tom Cole (UFA), Jamie Cripps (UFA), Matt Flynn (UFA), Marcus Herbert, Elijah Hewett, Harvey Johnston, Noah Long, Ryan Maric, Jake Miles-Wrency, Milan Murdock, Jacob Newton, Fred Rodriguez, Harry Schoenberg (UFA), Bailey Williams (RFA), Jack Williams.
Maric and Murdock are nearing new two-year pacts, while Swan Districts product Hewett, the No.14 pick in the 2022 draft, has a long-term offer from the Eagles to stick around amid interest from interstate clubs. Bailey Williams was the shock name among this year’s restricted free agents on his back-ended contract, and the versatile big man is tipped to stay. Flynn might need to hop on the ruck merry-go-round to survey his options.
Western Bulldogs (15)
Oskar Baker (UFA), Jedd Busslinger, Nick Coffield, Harvey Gallagher, Ryan Gardner (UFA), Arthur Jones, Luke Kennedy, Buku Khamis (UFA), Will Lewis, Tom Liberatore (UFA), Lachlan McNeil (UFA), Michael Sellwood, Lachlan Smith, Adam Treloar, Zac Walker.
Sellwood, who is proving a bargain recruit for Luke Beveridge’s defence, is poised to ink a two-year deal to extend his career at the Kennel. Khamis requested a trade to Carlton last year, but can walk to another club 12 months later. Jones has enjoyed some electric moments on the field this season, and will hope to go to another level in the second half of the year to receive a stronger deal. Liberatore hopes to make his return soon after a lengthy absence following a seventh concussion. Busslinger, from East Perth, was the Dogs’ first-round pick in 2022, but has struggled to earn senior opportunities.
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