Free Agent Watch
Who is in the market to tempt cashed-up suitors, and who is staying put? Senior reporter Nick Bowen tracks the players who qualify for free agent status in 2016.
| Player | Status | On the Move? | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Ricky Henderson ADELAIDE | Unrestricted | Did not play early in the season, but has a readily achievable trigger clause for 2017 in his existing contract. | |
 | Scott Thompson ADELAIDE | Unrestricted | If the 33-year-old's outstanding early form holds up, he should play on with Adelaide in 2017. | |
 | Nathan Van Berlo ADELAIDE | Unrestricted | Dropped early in the season, the former skipper, who turns 30 in June, will be keen to ensure he doesn't fall behind the Crows' new generation of midfielders. | |
 | Daniel Merrett BRISBANE LIONS | Unrestricted | The 31-year-old turned his back on rival interest in the 2014 NAB AFL Trade Period so is not about to leave the Lions now. In July or August, the club and player will likely sit down to discuss his future. | |
 | Daniel Rich BRISBANE LIONS | Re-signed | Committed himself to the Lions long-term when he re-signed for another five years in March. | |
 | Dennis Armfield CARLTON | Unrestricted | Was a free agent last year and his future should again be decided later in the season. | |
 | Kade Simpson CARLTON | Unrestricted | After being appointed Carlton vice-captain in 2016, the 31-year-old is likely to play on at Ikon Park next season, fitness and form permitting. | |
 | Jarryd Blair COLLINGWOOD | Unrestricted | The small forward is a senior regular with the Pies and wants to stay. There will be rival interest but we expect he'll re-sign. | |
 | Nathan Brown COLLINGWOOD | Restricted | Will be in demand as key defenders are hard to find, but rival clubs expect him to re-sign with the Pies. | |
 | Brent Macaffer COLLINGWOOD | Unrestricted | Finally back to full fitness after a knee reconstruction in August 2014, Macaffer will seek to re-establish himself in Collingwood's best 22 this year. Discussions with the club will likely begin mid-season. | |
 | Steele Sidebottom COLLINGWOOD | Re-signed | Sidebottom attracted significant rival interest before re-committing to the Magpies on a five-year deal, understood to be worth around $3 million | |
 | Dane Swan COLLINGWOOD | Unrestricted | The 32-year-old faces a difficult decision on his future after suffering a severe foot injury in round one that is likely to sideline him for the rest of 2016. The 2011 Brownlow medallist will likely take his time before deciding whether to extend his career at the Holden Centre into a 16th season. | |
 | Alan Toovey COLLINGWOOD | Unrestricted | Will be on opposition clubs' radar, but the 29-year-old defender is highly unlikely to leave Collingwood. | |
 | Courtenay Dempsey ESSENDON | Unrestricted | The 28-year-old needs to produce a good season to extend his career at Tullamarine. Talks with Essendon won't start until later in the year. | |
 | Heath Hocking ESSENDON | Re-signed | Demonstrated his loyalty to Essendon when he re-signed for 2017 in April. | |
 | Cale Hooker ESSENDON | Unrestricted | Fremantle has made an aggressive pitch for the West Australian, but he is just as likely to stay in Melbourne, either at Essendon or a rival club such as Hawthorn. If he ultimately elects to move as an unrestricted free agent, a rival offer is likely to be lucrative enough to earn the Bombers a first-round compensation pick. | |
 | David Myers ESSENDON | Unrestricted | Unlikely to make a decision on his future until the middle of the season. Has been linked with West Coast. | |
 | Tayte Pears ESSENDON | Unrestricted | Could opt to pursue a career in fire-fighting rather than taking up a new one-year deal with Essendon. | |
 | Brent Stanton ESSENDON | Unrestricted | Like Hocking, Hooker, Myers and Pears, Stanton is one of the 12 Essendon players serving a one-season WADA ban. The Bombers have offered all 12 players a one-year contract extension but, like most of those players, Stanton probably won't make a call on his future for some time. |
| Player | Status | On the Move? | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Zac Clarke FREMANTLE | Unrestricted | Re-signed for one season at the end of last year and will want to ensure he's well placed in the Dockers' ruck pecking order before re-committing beyond 2016. | |
 | Matt de Boer FREMANTLE | Unrestricted | In a similar situation to Pearce. At 26, his versatility will appeal to opposition clubs if he is still available when the free agency period opens. | |
 | Chris Mayne FREMANTLE | Unrestricted | The hard-working forward has yet to start contract talks with Freo. Bounced back to form last year after an indifferent 2014, and there is a growing sense opposition clubs are starting to circle. | |
 | Matthew Pavlich FREMANTLE | Unrestricted | At 34, the club great is almost certainly playing the final season of a stellar career. | |
 | Clancee Pearce FREMANTLE | Unrestricted | The 25-year-old midfielder's standing at Freo is unlikely to be clear until later in the season when the Dockers can properly assess both his form and where their list is at. Opposition clubs have expressed preliminary interest. | |
 | Aaron Sandilands FREMANTLE | Unrestricted | Assuming the four-time All Australian makes a strong return from his rib injury, he is every chance to play on in 2017. | |
 | Jimmy Bartel GEELONG | Unrestricted | As a 2015 free agent, the 2007 Brownlow medallist delayed a decision on his future until the end of last season. We expect he'll do the same this year. | |
 | Corey Enright GEELONG | Unrestricted | Has started 2016 in such strong form, he could conceivably play on next year at 35 – with the Cats, of course. The star defender won't make any decision until the end of the season. | |
 | Tom Lonergan GEELONG | Unrestricted | Turns 32 in May and will either continue with the Cats in 2017 or retire. | |
 | Luke Hodge HAWTHORN | Unrestricted | The captain does not turn 32 until June and will play on at Hawthorn in 2017. | |
 | Sam Mitchell HAWTHORN | Unrestricted | Has started 2016 in such outstanding form, the star 33-year-old is a near certainty to re-sign for next season. | |
 | Brendan Whitecross HAWTHORN | Unrestricted | Attracted interest from the Brisbane Lions in last year's NAB AFL Trade Period before re-signing with the Hawks for 2016, but could look to move if he struggles for senior opportunities this season. | |
 | Jack Grimes MELBOURNE | Restricted | After falling out of favour at Melbourne last season, Grimes' future with the Demons will be shaped by his ability to re-establish himself as a senior regular. Does not turn 27 until May, so rival clubs will keep a close eye on his form in 2016. | |
 | Neville Jetta MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | The small defender has attracted some opposition interest, but he has begun contract negotiations with the Demons and should re-sign in the coming weeks. | |
 | Jake Spencer MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | Will struggle for senior opportunities behind the Demons' No.1 ruckman Max Gawn, and clubs looking to bolster their ruck depth will monitor his form this season. Melbourne's lack of ruck depth could also see the club offer the 26-year-old another contract. | |
 | Jack Watts MELBOURNE | Restricted | No team made a serious play for 2008's No.1 pick in last year's trade period. The chance to get him as a free agent will see suitors emerge, but the 25-year-old feels a strong sense of loyalty to the Demons. | |
 | Michael Firrito NORTH MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | Turns 33 in November but has been one of North's best players at the start of 2016, so could sign yet another one-year deal at the end of the year. | |
 | Brent Harvey NORTH MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | After a career-high six goals against Melbourne in round three, who's to say the competition's oldest player can't make a tilt at 450 games next season? Talks with North, however, won't start until late in the season. | |
 | Drew Petrie NORTH MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | Remains such a pivotal player on North's forward line that, fitness and form permitting, he could play a 17th season at Arden Street next year. Like Harvey, talks will be delayed until later in the year. | |
 | Lindsay Thomas NORTH MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | The 28-year-old has been consistently near the top of North's goalkicking table in recent seasons and should remain with the Roos. But if his negotiations with the club drag on, there will be rival interest. | |
 | Daniel Wells NORTH MELBOURNE | Unrestricted | North generally offers players over 30 one-year contracts, but Wells is understood to want a two-year deal. The 31-year-old's ability to stay fit and in form will be a key factor in negotiations. | |
 | Paul Stewart PORT ADELAIDE | Unrestricted | The journeyman utility has been a great servant for Port but his AFL career will likely wind up at the end of this year. | |
 | Ty Vickery RICHMOND | Restricted | The 25-year-old's ability to rotate between attack and the ruck makes him an attractive commodity for opposition clubs, especially after his solid start to 2016. He is understood to be in no rush to decide his future, but rival clubs expect he'll stay at Punt Road. | |
 | Sean Dempster ST KILDA | Unrestricted | Remains a key player for St Kilda in defence at 32, so a good chance to continue at Seaford in 2017. | |
 | Sam Fisher ST KILDA | Unrestricted | The 33-year-old is likely to retire at the end of the season, given the Saints' defence will be bolstered by Jake Carlisle's return from a WADA suspension in 2017. | |
 | Leigh Montagna ST KILDA | Re-signed | Dual All Australian Montagna was delighted to have earned a one-year contract extension. The deal ties the 32-year-old to the Saints until the end of 2017. | |
 | Nick Riewoldt ST KILDA | Unrestricted | The club legend's flying start to this season suggests his battle-scared body could carry him into 2017, but the forward and club won't sit down for serious talks until later in the year. | |
 | Kieren Jack SYDNEY SWANS | Unrestricted | The Swans co-captain said last month that he expected to sign a new long-term contract with the Swans early in 2016. We expect that deal to be finalised soon. | |
 | Ted Richards SYDNEY SWANS | Unrestricted | The 33-year-old key defender will assess his future later in the season. Either plays on with the Swans or retires. | |
 | Mitch Brown WEST COAST | Unrestricted | Has had no luck with injury – he is coming off a knee reconstruction last year and suffered a finger injury in round one that was expected to sideline him for two months – but faces a challenge to re-establish himself in the Eagles' backline given their tall options include Eric Mackenzie, Jeremy McGovern and Will Schofield. The 27-year-old Victorian will be in the sights of opposition clubs looking to add height in defence. | |
 | Sam Butler WEST COAST | Unrestricted | Like last year, the future of the sole survivor of the Eagles' 2006 premiership team will probably be decided late in the season. | |
 | Patrick McGinnity WEST COAST | Unrestricted | As a 2015 free agent, he re-signed for one year after last year's NAB AFL Trade Period. His future is again likely to be decided late in the year. | |
 | Will Schofield WEST COAST | Re-signed | Signed a new three-year deal with the Eagles in March. | |
 | Matthew Boyd WESTERN BULLDOGS | Unrestricted | The 33-year-old has played on a year-by-year basis for several seasons now. Whether he plays on with the Bulldogs or retires will be decided near the end of the season. | |
 | Will Minson WESTERN BULLDOGS | Unrestricted | Out of favour at the Bulldogs, but clubs light-on for ruckmen could offer the 31-year-old a fresh start. | |
 | Dale Morris WESTERN BULLDOGS | Unrestricted | Like Boyd, Morris is a dyed-in-the-wool Scragger taking it one season at a time. A call on his future will be made late in the year. | |
 | Robert Murphy WESTERN BULLDOGS | Unrestricted | The Bulldogs captain ruptured his left anterior cruciate ligament in round three. The club is keen for the veteran, who turns 34 in June, to play on in 2017. |
