Who is up for Free Agency?

FOR years the league and AFL Players' Association have been squabbling over different models and formulas for free agency.

Finally it is upon us, but it is easy to get bogged down in the technicalities.
There are nearly 140 players who have reached the eight-year threshold, 72 of whom are out of contract at season’s end.

Many loyal veterans won’t be going of premiership success, or be given a contract with Tattslotto numbers that their existing club simply cannot match.

The AFL will announce the official list of uncontracted players on March 20, but Herald Sun experts JON RALPH and MICHAEL WARNER have provided an advance copy.

ADELAIDE
Chris Knights: 8 years, out of contract
Michael Doughty: 12, out of contract
Ben Rutten: 10, out of contract
Nathan Van Berlo: 8, signed to 2013
Graham Johncock: 12, signed to 2013
Brent Reilly: 11, signed to 2013
Scott Thompson: 8, signed to 2013


VERDICT: The Crows will be almost untouched by free agency. Ben Rutten has clocked up 10 years, but you don’t get the feeling he would be tempted. There may be some interest from Victorian clubs in Chris Knights, who is classified a restricted free agent.

BRISBANE LIONS
Josh Drummond: 8, out of contract
Jed Adcock: 9, out of contract
Daniel Merrett: 10, out of contract
Ashley McGrath: 12, out of contract
Jonathan Brown: 13, has option for 2013
Simon Black: 15, has clause for 2013

VERDICT: Brown and Black are stalwarts who, depending on the club’s development this year, may seek a move to a club in the premiership mode. Drummond, Adcock and Merrett are injury-prone, but the Lions would be loathe to lose.

CARLTON
Jordan Russell: 8, out of contract
Heath Scotland: 9, out of contract
Bret Thornton: 10, out of contract
Andrew Carrazzo: 8, signed to 2013
Andrew Walker: 9, signed to 2014
Kade Simpson: 10, signed to 2014
Jarrad Waite: 11, signed to 2014

VERDICT: Carlton’s list management team has ensured most of its veterans are locked away, but they may have to work hard to retain Russell, who is only 25 and is unlikely to be in the club’s top 10 paid players, therefore is available to any other club.

COLLINGWOOD
Travis Cloke: 8, out of contract
Nick Maxwell: 8, out of contract
Heath Shaw: 9, out of contract
Ben Johnson: 13, out of contract
Dane Swan: 11, signed to 2014

VERDICT: The Pies have three stars out of contract on a restricted basis, but it may be costly to keep them. Rivals such as GWS would be stupid not to throw heaven and earth at Cloke, still just 24. Then the salary cap may come into play.

ESSENDON
Angus Monfries: 8, out of contract
Henry Slattery: 8, out of contract
Nathan Lovett-Murray: 8, out of contract
Brent Stanton: 9, out of contract
Ricky Dyson: 9, out of contract
David Hille: 12, out of contract
Mark McVeigh: 14, out of contract
Jason Winderlich: 10, signed to 2013
Jobe Watson: 10, signed to 2013

VERDICT: Stanton would attract serious interest if he was still out of contract at year’s end, but it’s hard to see him moving. The rest need big seasons to improve their currency.

FREMANTLE
Ryan Crowley: 8, out of contract
Luke McPharlin: 11, out of contract
Antoni Grover: 14, out of contract
Michael Johnson: 8, signed to 2013
Matthew Pavlich: 13, signed to 2014
David Mundy: 9, signed to 2014
Aaron Sandilands: 10, signed to 2014

VERDICT: The Dockers have already paid the king’s ransom on Pavlich, Mundy and Sandilands, their three highest-paid players, so are almost immune. McPharlin is a veteran playing out his career with the Dockers.

GEELONG
Shannon Byrnes: 9, out of contract
Steve Johnson: 11, out of contract
Josh Hunt: 12, out of contract
Paul Chapman: 13, out of contract
Corey Enright: 13, out of contract
Tom Lonergan: 10, signed to 2013
James Kelly: 11, signed to 2014
Andrew Mackie: 11, signed to 2014
Jimmy Bartel: 11, signed to 2015
Joel Corey: 13, signed to 2013

VERDICT: Seven players as free agents is cause for alarm, but Matthew Scarlett and David Wojcinski will most likely retire and free up salary-cap room. Johnson signed a three-year deal after seven seasons, and is now out again.

HAWTHORN
Tom Murphy: 8, out of contract
Clinton Young: 8, out of contract
Brad Sewell: 10, out of contract
Michael Osborne: 11, out of contract
Chance Bateman: 12, out of contract
Lance Franklin: 8, signed to 2013
Jarryd Roughead: 8, signed to 2014
Luke Hodge: 11, signed to 2013
Sam Mitchell: 12, option for 2013

VERDICT: Sewell is the worry. If a side in need of a hard midfi elder wanted the 28-year-old and could pay overs, how could he say no? And tellingly, how could Hawthorn ever hope to match any figure above $400,000?

MELBOURNE
Brent Moloney: 8, out of contract
Matthew Bate: 8, out of contract
Lynden Dunn: 8, out of contract
Mark Jamar: 10, out of contract
Jared Rivers: 10, out of contract
Brad Green: 13, out of contract
Colin Sylvia: 9, signed to 2013
Aaron Davey: 9, signed to 2013

VERDICT: A club like Melbourne with huge salary-cap room should actually benefi t from free agency. But having Jamar and Moloney out of contract is far from ideal. Bate and Dunn could be ideal pick-ups as unrestricted free agents.

NORTH MELBOURNE
Brent Harvey: 17, out of contract
Michael Firrito: 9, out of contract
Drew Petrie: 12, signed to 2013
Daniel Wells: 10, signed to 2013
Hamish McIntosh: 10, signed to 2013

VERDICT: North has its key players tucked away nicely, given it has a young list with only a handful of quality veterans. Petrie signed again recently to take away any potential suitors.

PORT ADELAIDE
Jacob Surjan: 8, out of contract
Troy Chaplin: 9, out of contract
Brett Ebert: 10, out of contract
Steven Salopek: 10, out of contract
Domenic Cassisi: 12, out of contract
Kane Cornes: 12, signed to 2013

VERDICT: Port does not disclose contract lengths, which makes predictions difficult. But after just three wins in 2011, few clubs would hold too much interest in their list. Chaplin, at 26, might be the exception who needs offer-matching.

RICHMOND
Brett Deledio: 8, out of contract
Nathan Foley: 8, out of contract
Luke McGuane: 8 out of contract
Kelvin Moore: 9, out of contract
Shane Tuck: 9, out of contract
Daniel Jackson: 9, signed to 2013
Chris Newman: 12, signed to 2013

VERDICT: Deledio, still only 24, is the worry. If an opposition club came with an $800,000-a-season offer, the Tigers could still match it under the rules, but they don’t want to get into a bidding war. Same applies to Nathan Foley.

ST KILDA
Raphael Clarke: 9, out of contract
Sam Fisher: 9, out of contract
Brendon Goddard: 10, out of contract
Leigh Montagna: 11, out of contract
Justin Koschitzke: 11, out of contract
Lenny Hayes: 14, out of contract
Stephen Milne: 12, signed to 2013
Jason Gram: 9, signed to 2013
Nick Dal Santo: 11, signed to 2013
Nick Riewoldt: 11, signed to 2013

VERDICT: The problem is not just that GWS is reputedly considering Goddard. It is that Fisher and Montagna are both out of contract as well. Can the Saints keep all three?

SYDNEY
Jarred Moore: 8, out of contract
Nick Malceski: 10, out of contract
Jarrad McVeigh: 10, out of contract
Jude Bolton: 14, out of contract
Ryan O’Keefe: 12, out of contract
Lewis Roberts-Thomson: 11, signed to 2013
Adam Goodes: 15, signed to 2013

VERDICT: Sydney will be fine under free agency, because it never loses players it wants, and it has extra salary-cap space to keep them if rivals do come. The more pertinent issue is who the Swans can lure.

WEST COAST
Matt Rosa: 8, out of contract
Mark Nicoski: 10, out of contract
Quinten Lynch: 10, out of contract
Daniel Kerr: 12, out of contract
Darren Glass: 13, out of contract
Sam Butler: 9, signed to 2013
Mark LeCras: 8, signed to 2014
Beau Waters: 9, signed to 2013
Adam Selwood: 10, signed to 2013
Dean Cox: 12, signed to 2013
Andrew Embley: 14, signed to 2013

VERDICT: Surely West Coast’s resurgence means those players who could leave for big cash or potential premierships will stay put. Hard to see the skipper Glass leaving, and if Kerr’s body holds up, he will be a top priority for the Eagles.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
Will Minson: 10, out of contract
Lindsay Gilbee: 13, out of contract
Ryan Hargrave: 13, out of contract
Dale Morris: 8, signed to 2013
Tom Williams: 8, signed to 2014
Ryan Griffen: 8, signed to 2015
Matthew Boyd: 9, signed to 2013
Adam Cooney: 9, signed to 2013
Brian Lake: 11, signed to 2013
Daniel Cross: 11, signed to 2013
Daniel Giansiracusa: 12, signed to 2013
Robert Murphy: 13, signed to 2013

VERDICT: The Dogs’ have already struck a blow against free agency, signing up Griffen. Most of their veterans are locked away until 2013. Only Minson could interest suitors if he has a big season.

Top-10 paid player who has played at one club for eight or nine seasons and is out of contract:
* Can field offers from rival clubs
* Current club can match best offer
* If the club matches offer, player must stay, seek a trade or enter the draft
* If the club does not match offer, player can move to new club
* Original club receives compensation pick for the loss of the player, based on AFL formula

Player who has served 10 or more seasons at one club
* Can field offers from rival clubs
* Original club does not have right to match offer
* Player can move automatically to new club
* Original club receives compensation pick for the loss of the player, based on AFL formula

Bottom-30 paid player who has played at one club for eight or nine seasons and is out of contract
* Can field offers from rival clubs
* Current club does not have right to match best offer
* Player can move automatically to new club
* Original club receives compensation pick for the loss of the player, based on AFL formula

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/who-is-up-for-free-agency/story-e6frf9jf-1226278832964

This list may not be 100% accurate (with a proper one to come next month from the AFL) and will change throughout the year when people sign up, but there are plenty of names there, who will be free agents.

For ease for this year, I have included the list below of those that are in the last year of their current contract.

You are restricted if you have served 8 or 9 years are in the top 25% of paid players (about a top 10). So I have made a guestimate on thier restricted and unrestricted status. So, the guys in Red are probably the most avaialable to move, but a lot will not, as they are in their twilight at a successful club.

ADELAIDE
Chris Knights: 8 years, Unrestricted (?)
Michael Doughty: 12, Unrestricted
Ben Rutten: 10, Unrestricted

BRISBANE LIONS
Josh Drummond: 8, Restricted
Jed Adcock: 9, Restricted
Daniel Merrett: 10, Unrestricted
Ashley McGrath: 12, Unrestricted

CARLTON
Jordan Russell: 8, Unrestricted
Heath Scotland: 9, Restricted
Bret Thornton: 10, Unrestricted

COLLINGWOOD
Travis Cloke: 8, Restricted
Nick Maxwell: 8, Restricted (?) --- eeeew
Heath Shaw: 9, Restricted
Ben Johnson: 13, Unrestricted


ESSENDON
Angus Monfries: 8, Unrestricted (?)
Henry Slattery: 8, Unrestricted
Nathan Lovett-Murray: 8, Unrestricted
Brent Stanton: 9, Restricted
Ricky Dyson: 9, Unrestricted
David Hille: 12, Unrestricted
Mark McVeigh: 14, Unrestricted


FREMANTLE
Ryan Crowley: 8, Unrestricted
Luke McPharlin: 11, Unrestricted
Antoni Grover: 14, Unrestricted


GEELONG
Shannon Byrnes: 9, Unrestricted
Steve Johnson: 11, Unrestricted
Josh Hunt: 12, Unrestricted
Paul Chapman: 13, Unrestricted
Corey Enright: 13, Unrestricted


HAWTHORN
Tom Murphy: 8, Unrestricted
Clinton Young: 8, Unrestricted
Brad Sewell: 10, Unrestricted
Michael Osborne: 11, Unrestricted
Chance Bateman: 12, Unrestricted


MELBOURNE
Brent Moloney: 8, Restricted
Matthew Bate: 8, Unrestricted
Lynden Dunn: 8, Unrestricted
Mark Jamar: 10, Unrestricted
Jared Rivers: 10, Unrestricted
Brad Green: 13, Unrestricted


NORTH MELBOURNE
Michael Firrito: 9, Restricted
Brent Harvey: 17, Unrestricted


PORT ADELAIDE
Jacob Surjan: 8, Restricted (?)
Troy Chaplin: 9, Restricted
Brett Ebert: 10, Unrestricted
Steven Salopek: 10, Unrestricted
Domenic Cassisi: 12, Unrestricted


RICHMOND
Brett Deledio: 8, Restricted
Nathan Foley: 8, Restricted
Luke McGuane: 8 Unrestricted
Kelvin Moore: 9, Unrestricted
Shane Tuck: 9, Unrestricted


ST KILDA
Raphael Clarke: 9, Unrestricted
Sam Fisher: 9, Restricted
Brendon Goddard: 10, Unrestricted
Leigh Montagna: 11, Unrestricted
Justin Koschitzke: 11, Unrestricted
Lenny Hayes: 14, Unrestricted


SYDNEY
Jarred Moore: 8, Unrestricted
Nick Malceski: 10, Unrestricted
Jarrad McVeigh: 10, Unrestricted
Jude Bolton: 14, Unrestricted
Ryan O’Keefe: 12, Unrestricted


WEST COAST
Matt Rosa: 8, Unrestricted
Mark Nicoski: 10, Unrestricted
Quinten Lynch: 10, Unrestricted
Daniel Kerr: 12, Unrestricted
Darren Glass: 13, Unrestricted


WESTERN BULLDOGS
Will Minson: 10, Unrestricted
Lindsay Gilbee: 13, Unrestricted
Ryan Hargrave: 13, Unrestricted

Two names interest me of the unrestricted agents.

Daniel Merret and Clinton Young.

I am gueeing that Clinton Young is not one of the top 10 paid at the Hawks.

Maybe, but it doesn't matter, he is unrestricted, so they can offer him whatever he likes, but he can still leave and come to us (for even less money) if he wants to move to Melbourne and play in front of 70,000 at the MCG.

I will be watching them both closely this year to see how they go, form wise and also injury wise.