We’ve hit the end of the home-and-away season and decision time on players is fast approaching – whether they’re going to be traded, re-signed, or delisted.
This masthead has spoken to list management and other industry sources through the season – who’ve remained anonymous to speak freely about the clubs – to get an insight into what each of the 18 clubs has planned.
This is where each club stands as we approach the start of the finals.
Adelaide
Out of contract: Jordon Butts (unrestricted free agent), Billy Dowling, Charlie Edwards, Mitch Hinge (UFA), Chayce Jones (UFA), Luke Pedlar, Oscar Ryan, Lachie Sholl (UFA), Tyler Welsh (UFA)
Linked to: Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions)
Taylor Walker’s standout career will finish at season’s end, having announced his retirement this month. Butts is expected to cross to the Western Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent, while fellow key defender Nick Murray – who is contracted until 2028 – is likely to request a trade to North Melbourne. Essendon are keen on Pedlar, while it will be interesting to see if a Victorian club makes a play for two-gamer Edwards, the No.21 pick in the 2023 draft. The Crows are hoping to woo the Lions’ restricted free agent star Bailey on a lucrative long-term deal.
Brisbane Lions
Out of contract: 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), Dayne Zorko (UFA)
Linked to: N/A
The Lions’ top priority, beyond a flag three-peat, is convincing Bailey to stay, while Neale has strong interest from Collingwood and West Coast. Fringe players Marshall (predominantly St Kilda) and McLachlan (Essendon) seem likely to pursue more opportunity elsewhere. Fort and McKenna are senior regulars who should roll over for another season. Lester has signed eight one-year deals, and his form offers no reason for him not to ink a ninth, while Zorko intends to play in 2027.
Carlton
Out of contract: Jordan Boyd, Ben Camporeale, Lucas Camporeale, Harry Charleson, Lachie Fogarty, Nick Haynes, Elijah Hollands (UFA), Ollie Hollands, Rob Monahan, Nic Newman (UFA), Hudson O’Keeffe, Flynn Riley, Adam Saad, Zac Williams (UFA), Flynn Young, Lewis Young
Linked to: Joel Amartey (Sydney), Calsher Dear (Hawthorn), Marcus Herbert (West Coast), Buku Khamis (Western Bulldogs)
Ollie Hollands has fallen out of favour under new coach Josh Fraser and there is mutual interest between him and North Melbourne. Haynes is in advanced discussions to go around again next year, while fellow veteran Newman has enjoyed another solid season to position himself for a new deal. There is uncertainty for Saad and Williams. Irishman Matt Duffy is returning home. The Blues are hunting for a tall forward to partner Harry McKay, and have renewed their interest in defender Khamis after trying to trade for him a year ago.
Collingwood
Out of contract: 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, Iliro Smit, Lachie Sullivan
Linked to: Calsher Dear (Hawthorn), Jesse Hogan (GWS), Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions), Jake Rogers (Gold Coast), Jake Stringer (GWS)
Steele Sidebottom will retire at season’s end, but Howe has a one-year offer to play on next year that should enable him to reach 300 games. Scott Pendlebury may have played his final game for the Pies as he recovers from a hamstring injury, with his future unclear. Membrey has conceded he needs to bide his time. Allan had to wait until late in the season to receive a two-year offer, and it is a modest one, while the rest of Collingwood’s uncontracted crew are in a holding pattern. The Magpies missed out on Zak Butters, but remain firmly in the chase for Neale and Hogan, while Stringer clearly hopes to wear black and white in 2027. Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill has been delisted.
Essendon
Out of contract: Nik Cox, Tom Edwards, Saad El-Hawli, Kayle Gerreyn, Jade Gresham (UFA), Matt Guelfi (UFA), Liam McMahon (UFA), Jayden Nguyen, Archie Perkins, Will Setterfield (UFA), Elijah Tsatas, Rhys Unwin
Linked to: Alex Davies (Gold Coast), Zane Duursma (North Melbourne), Arthur Jones (Western Bulldogs), Will McLachlan (Brisbane Lions), Lachie McNeil (Western Bulldogs), Luke Pedlar (Adelaide)
Mark McVeigh’s appointment as the Bombers’ new coach means we can expect list calls to occur imminently, with particular interest in what happens with top-10 draftees Cox, Perkins and Tsatas. Perkins was the only one of the trio who played in the last round. Tsatas and Cox could both end up being delisted. Setterfield has played well when given the chance, but projects only as a depth piece in a rebuild and is no certainty to remain. Gresham is not expected to survive the list cull after arriving three years ago as an in-demand free agent. Zach Merrett is likely to try to get to Hawthorn again and North Melbourne are interested in Jordan Ridley, while Essendon are targeting several fringe players at other clubs.
Fremantle
Out of contract: Bailey Banfield (UFA), Jaren Carr, Leon Kickett, Ryda Luke, Oscar McDonald (UFA), Nathan O’Driscoll, Jaeger O’Meara, Ollie Murphy, Sam Sturt (UFA), Sam Switkowski (UFA), Toby Whan.
Linked to: N/A
The Dockers are in a good list position as they chase an inaugural AFL premiership. They have presented O’Driscoll and Switkowski – both of whom had a smattering of interest elsewhere – with two-year offers, while O’Meara is expected to go around for another season as well, which shapes as his final campaign. McDonald continues to be a good depth piece, but it looks like injury-riddled forward Sturt, the No.17 pick in the 2018 draft, will be up against it to score a new contract.
Geelong
Out of contract: Jed Bews (UFA), Mark Blicavs (UFA), Jack Bowes, Mitch Knevitt, Jake Kolodjashnij (UFA), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (UFA), Jacob Molier, Rhys Stanley (UFA), George Stevens (UFA)
Linked to: Zak Butters (Port Adelaide), Calsher Dear (Hawthorn), Toby Greene (GWS)
Blicavs wants to extend his career into 2027, which will be a fait accompli, but there is uncertainty for Kolodjashnij, who was the Cat who previously signed a concussion-related waiver. Bowes remains without a contract offer and has interest from Essendon, so could be headed for a third AFL club. Every other uncontracted player faces an anxious wait to discover their future. Geelong are again being aggressive in the player movement market to ensure they remain in the premiership mix. They are considered a strong chance to score both Butters and Greene for next season, albeit neither is confirmed. Premiership player Tyson Stengle has been delisted.
Gold Coast
Out of contract: Cooper Bell, Alex Davies, Asher Eastham, Zak Evans, Caleb Graham (UFA), Ben Jepson (UFA), Jake Rogers, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
Linked to: Jesse Hogan (GWS), Bailey Macdonald (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Ben King has informed the Suns he will exercise his restricted free agency rights to depart. The star spearhead is yet to reveal which club he will sign with, but is bound for Hawthorn, with Hogan a potential replacement. Nick Holman played his final game for the club last weekend after announcing his retirement. However, the Suns are optimistic that Rogers will re-sign for two seasons despite interest from Collingwood. Ugle-Hagan also has Damien Hardwick’s public backing to be at Gold Coast next year and beyond. Pendlebury is on Gold Coast’s radar to perform the type of Luke Hodge role that worked well for Brisbane, but he has given no indication of his plans.
GWS
Out of contract: Kieren Briggs (UFA), Stephen Coniglio (UFA), Toby Greene (UFA), Jake Riccardi, Conor Stone (UFA)
Linked to: N/A
Giants football boss Jason McCartney has already confirmed that both Jesse Hogan and Jake Stringer will play elsewhere next year after productive stints in Sydney. Briggs is also poised to join Richmond after Nick Madden inked a four-year deal to stay at GWS. McCartney has expressed optimism about retaining Greene, but the star veteran is yet to make his call publicly. Riccardi is expected to stay, but is still yet to accept the Giants’ contract offer.
Hawthorn
Out of contract: Cody Anderson, Max Beattie, James Blanck, Calsher Dear, Ollie Greeves, Henry Hustwaite, Bailey Macdonald, Will McCabe, Flynn Perez (UFA), Max Ramsden, Bodie Ryan, Jaime Uhr-Henry
Linked to: Ben King (Gold Coast), Zach Merrett (Essendon)
The Hawks are inside the top four entering the finals and plan to have King and Merrett on their list next year, so life is good for Sam Mitchell and co. Much will depend on whether Gold Coast match Hawthorn’s restricted free agency offer sheet for King. With so much depth and more stars on the way, rivals have inquired about several of their promising younger players, including Dear – who has met with Melbourne amid interest from at least five clubs – and Macdonald. Hawthorn have tabled a multi-year offer for Dear to stay. Blanck and Ramsden also have external interest, albeit not at the same level as the others.
Melbourne
Out of contract: Jed Adams, Oscar Berry, Jack Henderson, Aidan Johnson, Bailey Laurie, Ricky Mentha, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Christian Salem (UFA)
Linked to: Calsher Dear (Hawthorn), Zane Duursma (North Melbourne), Bailey Macdonald (Hawthorn)
Tom McDonald and Jake Melksham have announced they will retire at season’s end, joining ex-teammates Steven May, Shane McAdam and Tom Campbell in doing so this year. They are in negotiations to re-sign Laurie after what has been comfortably his best season at AFL level, but the future is uncertain for Salem after 208 games for the Demons. Melbourne could be one of the most aggressive clubs this off-season, with Hawks pair Dear and Macdonald on their radar, as well as potentially North’s Duursma.
North Melbourne
Out of contract: Zac Banch, Lachy Brewer, Callum Coleman-Jones, Aidan Corr (UFA), Zane Duursma, Brayden George, Josh Goater, Ollie Griffin, Robert Hansen jnr, Cooper Harvey, Toby Pink (UFA), Bailey Scott (UFA), River Stevens, Luke Urquhart
Linked to: Nick Murray (Adelaide), Jordan Ridley (Essendon), Max Ramsden (Hawthorn), Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn)
Riley Hardeman is the latest Roo to re-commit on a two-year deal after negotiations were finalised in the past few days. North’s aggressive hunt for key-position talent, headlined by Murray and Ridley, could spell danger for the future of the likes of Coleman-Jones, Corr and Pink. However, Corr has played regularly this season and should get another year. Banch has shown promise as a small forward. The Kangaroos have offered Duursma, once a prized draftee, a fresh two-year deal, but he is yet to make a call about where he wants to play.
Port Adelaide
Out of contract: Tom Anastasopoulos, Darcy Byrne-Jones (UFA), Lachie Jones, Ollie Lord, Ewan Mackinlay, Balyn O’Brien, Ollie Wines (UFA), Mitch Zadow
Linked to: N/A
The Power received the news on Monday they were dreading: resident superstar Zak Butters will exercise his restricted free agency rights to join a Victorian club, which rivals increasingly believe will be Geelong. Port will almost certainly match any offer, but there is still a bit to play out. Wines wants to extend his career into next year, but a new deal is yet to be struck. Jones will score another contract, and Byrne-Jones is expected to continue as well, but Jackson Mead, Will Lorenz, Mani Liddy, Xavier Walsh, Benny Barrett and Jacob Moss were delisted. The Power tried to woo Demon Tom Sparrow, but he re-signed for five years.
Richmond
Out of contract: Tom Burton, Patrick Carr, Liam Fawcett, Steely Green, Oliver Hayes-Brown, Hugo Ralphsmith, Kaleb Smith, Tyler Sonsie, James Trezise
Linked to: Kieren Briggs (GWS), Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
The Tigers’ season is done, and they are not at risk of losing an important player, but would dearly love to convince Butters to come to Punt Road. They are considered outsiders for the ex-Port Adelaide midfielder’s signature. Briggs is poised to join Richmond as an unrestricted free agent on a four-year deal, which should be confirmed in the weeks ahead. Green had a career-best season and will hope for a multi-year deal, while Sonsie and Trezise also played regularly in the AFL this year, so should be optimistic. Tall prospects Fawcett and Hayes-Brown are lightly played, but have shown glimpses.
St Kilda
Out of contract: Eamonn Armstrong, Dan Butler, Ryan Byrnes (UFA), Jack Carroll (UFA), Alex Dodson, Paddy Dow, Isaac Keeler, Liam O’Connell, Patrick Said (UFA), Liam Stocker (UFA)
Linked to: Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast), Dan Houston (Collingwood), Sam Marshall (Brisbane), Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
Dodson’s management is in discussions with St Kilda about re-signing, while Stocker remained a regular and is on record as liking being kept accountable with constant one-year deals. Byrnes is used to waiting until late in the year to find out his playing future, including being delisted last year. Dow has had a nightmare injury run at the Saints, and has not played an AFL game since his first season at his second club in 2024. St Kilda were big spenders last off-season and again hope to bolster their list in the trade and free agency period, with contracted pair Ballard and Houston in their sights if they look to move.
Sydney
Out of contract: Joel Amartey (UFA), Noah Chamberlain, Harry Cunningham (UFA), Joel Hamling (UFA), Liam Hetherton, Dane Rampe (UFA)
Linked to: N/A
There is plenty going on at the Swans, but at least they have little left to do with their out-of-contract crew. That said, they must be concerned about Amartey entering the finals without a deal for next season, particularly with Carlton tabling him a lucrative five-year offer. It remains to be seen whether there will be any trade movement involving the five suspended Sydney players, but it is a situation to monitor as Dean Cox tries to steady the ship to challenge in September. Rampe has a big call to make on whether he extends his career for another season if a premiership eludes him again this year.
West Coast
Out of contract: Harry Barnett, Tyler Brockman, Malakai Champion, Tom Cole (UFA), Matt Flynn (UFA), Marcus Herbert, Harvey Johnston, Noah Long, Jacob Newton, Fred Rodriguez, Harry Schoenberg (UFA), Bailey Williams (RFA), Jack Williams
Linked to: Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
Herbert has been a revelation since the Eagles plucked him out of Geelong’s VFL program in the mid-season draft, to the point several rival clubs, including Carlton, are trying to lure him back to Victoria. However, the expectation is he will re-sign at West Coast to repay them for giving him a shot – possibly on a multi-year deal. Long and Cole are also tipped to play on in 2027, but Jamie Cripps announced his retirement mid-year after a stellar career. Neale is the big-name recruit the Eagles are hoping to land, but they are considered underdogs to Collingwood in that pursuit.
Western Bulldogs
Out of contract: 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), Lachlan Smith, Adam Treloar, Zac Walker
Linked to: Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
Jones is the fascinating one on this list, with Essendon, in particular, trying hard to lure him out of “the Kennel”. The Bulldogs have made their own three-year offer to retain the lively forward. Khamis tried to get to Carlton while still under contract last year, but now he can walk there if he chooses, although the Dogs are willing to give him a four-year deal. McNeil is another one in the Bombers’ sights. Liberatore wants to play on in 2027, but Treloar is not expected to continue. Busslinger has an offer in front of him, but may be surveying outside interest before making his call. They remain in the race for Butters, but face an uphill climb to beat Geelong.
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