Comprehensive list: Your AFL club’s 2023 free agents

Doedee, the Crows’ intercepting defender and emerging leader, is the top re-signing priority from this group. The 25-year-old bounced back from season-ending ACL and hamstring setbacks to play 41 games in the past two years. Walker kicked almost 100 goals across the 2021 and 2022 campaigns and will write his own contract if he maintains that pace, while his replacement as skipper, and fellow 32-year-old, Rory Sloane, is recovering from an ACL rupture in April. McPherson and Seedsman were delisted and redrafted as rookies.

Brisbane (6)

Nakia Cockatoo*, Ryan Lester*, Rhys Mathieson*, Conor McKenna^, Daniel Rich^, Dayne Zorko^

The Lions keep on getting things done, wiping their top free agent, Eric Hipwood, off the list with a fresh deal that ties him to the club until 2029. That leaves veterans Rich and Zorko as the biggest names here – and it would be a shock if either left the Lions at this stage. Irishman McKenna is young enough to score a multi-year deal if he makes every post a winner in his second AFL stint. Bull-at-a-gate midfielder Mathieson seems the most likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. Cockatoo and Lester will try to keep their career pulse beating after being delisted then redrafted as rookies.

Carlton (6)

David Cuningham, Ed Curnow*, Sam Docherty, Sam Durdin*, Lachie Plowman, Jack Silvagni

Docherty, 29, is the man list boss Nick Austin and co. will be keenest to secure from the free agency crop, with out-of-contract ruck-forward Tom De Koning – not a free agent – the No.1 re-signing priority overall. But no one expects Docherty to go anywhere. There is plenty to prove elsewhere among the above group, including for Plowman, who was dropped for the final rounds of the season. Where Silvagni fits into Carlton’s senior side will be interesting, especially if both De Koning and Marc Pittonet are healthy. Injury-cursed Cuningham needs some luck, while the older Curnow is entering the final stages of his career.

Collingwood (5)

Mason Cox^, Jack Crisp, Jeremy Howe^, Cooper Murley*, Scott Pendlebury^

No Steele Sidebottom again. There was surprise when Sidebottom, 31, wasn’t on the 2022 free agency list, but you also won’t find him on next year’s one, with a multi-season deal that was never announced locking him away until 2024. Negotiations for a new deal for Crisp, 29, are set to begin early in the new year. The dual Copeland Trophy winner is durable and seemingly only getting better, so a lucrative deal is certain – but the length will be the interesting part. Howe and Pendlebury are likely looking at one-year contracts from now on, assuming they both choose to extend their career. Cox will be fighting for his football survival next year, as will Murley, who was redrafted as a rookie only 12 months after being selected in the national draft.

Essendon (4)

Dyson Heppell^, Darcy Parish, Mason Redman, Will Snelling*

There was speculation Heppell would move to the Suns before he inked a one-year deal to return to Tullamarine and the likeliest scenario is he finishes a Bomber. Parish has earned himself a big payday after two excellent seasons in Essendon’s midfield, but will negotiations drag well into next season? It’s rare for a Melbourne-raised star on-baller to switch clubs. A fourth placing in the Crichton Medal was great timing for Redman, who will look to extend that purple patch and turn it into a hefty contract. Snelling’s become a reliable contributor since the Bombers snared him in the 2019 mid-season draft.

Fremantle (3)

Nat Fyfe^, Lachie Schultz*, Michael Walters^

Fyfe is one of the AFL’s modern titans, although his on-field powers are waning and injuries are more common at age 31. With the Dockers’ premiership window wide open, the two-time Brownlow medallist will keep going, but will the club give him more than one year at a time now? Walters is also on the wrong side of 30 but still an important contributor. Schultz was a player in demand a year ago after a breakout campaign, but ultimately rejected Hawthorn’s advances, after being delisted at the end of 2020 and selected again as a rookie.

Geelong (6)

Mark Blicavs, Jon Ceglar*, Tom Hawkins^, Sam Menegola*, Isaac Smith^, Rhys Stanley

There is plenty of talent in the Cats’ 2023 free agency class, but none of the players is younger than 30, so list manager Andrew Mackie has no great concerns. Hawkins, Blicavs and Norm Smith medallist Smith remain stars, while Stanley stood up for Geelong’s maligned ruck corps. Menegola’s age may preclude him from finding another opportunity, so he will probably have to stay and fight for his senior spot. Ceglar will hope to receive more senior chances next season, otherwise his career could be in the balance.

Gold Coast (6)

Jed Anderson*, Connor Blakely*, Levi Casboult*, Charlie Constable*, Sam Day^, Jake Stein*

There’s a fair bit to unpack here. The Suns slashed two names off their 2023 free agency list after the trade period, when they extended Brayden Fiorini – who was linked with Collingwood – and Alex Sexton for two more years to remedy their salary cap hit. That followed Jack Bowes’ trade to Geelong for cap relief. Gold Coast’s three recycled recruits – Anderson, Blakely and Stein – all scored one-year, prove-it deals. Casboult will try to keep retirement at bay with another big season up forward, while Day needs to deliver more to earn another contract.

GWS Giants (7)

Phil Davis*, Matt Flynn, Harry Himmelberg, Lachie Keeffe*, Daniel Lloyd*, Callan Ward, Jacob Wehr*

Flynn and Himmelberg are the most interesting names here. Flynn is in a ruck logjam-of-sorts, competing for senior games with Braydon Preuss and Kieren Briggs, while the Giants also recruited academy product Nick Madden in this year’s rookie draft. How that situation shakes out in 2023 could determine what Flynn does, given clubs are always on the look-out for ruckmen. Himmelberg reinvented himself as a defender last season and that versatility could put him on rivals’ radar. Former co-captains Davis and Ward are nearing retirement, while Keeffe, Lloyd and Wehr are prototypical GWS role players.

Hawthorn (3)

Fergus Greene*, Seamus Mitchell*, Dylan Moore*

Moore’s become one of the AFL’s most improved players – and one of the Hawks’ most promising – since barely surviving being delisted after the 2020 season. He was one of only two AFL players to average more than 20 disposals and at least a goal per game this year. The other? Marcus Bontempelli. Moore will certainly be of interest elsewhere but don’t expect Hawthorn to let him go. Mitchell was delisted then redrafted as a rookie, while Greene is on his second AFL chance after earning another shot with his VFL form for Box Hill.

Melbourne (3)

Luke Dunstan*, James Jordon*, Alex Neal-Bullen

Neal-Bullen may not have a mighty reputation outside the Demons but is highly regarded internally for his work ethic, running ability and defensive nous in attack. He hasn’t lacked the senior opportunities the likes of Jayden Hunt and Sam Weideman did when they chose to leave this off-season. So long as it stays that way, Neal-Bullen will likely extend his stay in red and blue. Jordon was the medical substitute for Melbourne’s drought-busting 2021 grand final triumph and was better again this year. Could Lachie Hunter’s arrival impact Jordon’s opportunities? Fringe midfielder Dunstan is entering the second and final year of his contract after crossing from St Kilda.

North Melbourne (7)

Todd Goldstein^, Dan Howe*, Ben McKay, Liam Shiels*, Kayne Turner*, Lachie Young*, Jack Ziebell^

Operation: Re-sign McKay is the Roos’ top priority. They went out and found McKay a defensive partner in ex-Docker Griffin Logue and can’t afford to lose their intercepting star, the twin brother of Carlton’s Coleman medallist Harry. Goldstein has had many chances to leave in the past few years but is set to be a one-club player. The only question now is how long he plays for, which is also the case with fearless captain Ziebell. Young’s been a solid contributor since joining from the Bulldogs, while experienced trio Howe, Shiels and Turner will need to perform well to fit into new coach Alastair Clarkson’s plans beyond next year.

Port Adelaide (9)

Travis Boak^, Riley Bonner, Charlie Dixon, Trent Dumont*, Francis Evans*, Tom Jonas, Scott Lycett^, Trent McKenzie*, Dylan Williams*

There don’t seem to be any concerns here for Power list boss Jason Cripps. Lycett will be a free agent again at the end of his fifth year at the Power after exercising his rights in 2018 to leave West Coast after playing in a premiership. It would be surprising if Lycett moved again, while veterans Boak, 34, Dixon, 32, and Jonas, 31, are still important despite their advanced age but unlikely to leave. McKenzie, 30, has thrived as an undersized defender after being left on the Suns’ scrapheap. Bonner was put up for trade this year, with Dumont, Evans and Williams also fringe options.

Richmond (8)

Nathan Broad, Jason Castagna, Trent Cotchin^, Dylan Grimes^, Kamdyn McIntosh^, Bigoa Nyuon*, Jack Riewoldt^, Robbie Tarrant^

Broad inked a one-year extension in August to bring him through to free agency, and the dependable defender will have options despite preparing to turn 30 in a matter of months. Remember Gold Coast’s interest in him? Cotchin, Riewoldt and ex-Roo Tarrant could all be entering their last year at AFL level. Grimes is co-captain these days and extra important with more youth filtering into the backline. Role players Castagna and McIntosh need good years, while Nyuon will hope to build on his senior debut.

St Kilda (5)

Tom Campbell*, Jade Gresham, Daniel McKenzie^, Jimmy Webster^, Mason Wood*

Seb Ross was projected to be on this list but satisfied a contract trigger that took him through to the end of the 2024 season. Retaining Gresham is a must for the Saints, who have identified their lack of A-grade talent. He is comfortably one of the club’s most talented players and should command a lucrative long-term contract. McKenzie and Webster are senior regulars when fit and will aim for strong campaigns to secure fresh deals, while Wood had a career-best 2022 season on a wing in his second year at St Kilda. Back-up ruckman Campbell is one of the AFL’s ultimate stayers.

Sydney Swans (4)

Lance Franklin^, Lewis Melican, Dane Rampe^, Sam Reid^

Franklin’s future was a major talking point for much of this year as his nine-year deal expired – and don’t expect it to be any less so in 2023. What we do know is ‘Buddy’ is far closer to the end than the start, but how many key forwards are capable of kicking 50-plus goals a year, as he did again? The Swans are prepared for his retirement if it comes as soon as next year. Co-captain Rampe and the resurgent Reid were important cogs in Sydney’s campaign this year, but younger options are beginning to challenge them. Melican was open to a move at season’s end and will likely survey his options again, given he appears to be down the key defender pecking order.

West Coast (7)

Jamie Cripps, Shannon Hurn^, Jamaine Jones*, Jeremy McGovern^, Luke Shuey^, Zane Trew*, Isiah Winder*

Premiership players McGovern, Shuey, Cripps and Hurn are all on the wrong side of 30 at a time the Eagles are in full-bore rebuilding mode, but it would be a major surprise if any chose to play elsewhere. Former Cat Jones is a success story as a recycled player and will hope for longer-term security if he can back up his 2022 season. Winder, who is under police investigation for an incident after last week’s AFL/AFLPA Indigenous and Multicultural Summit, and Trew were delisted and redrafted as rookies, so need big seasons to survive the cut.

Western Bulldogs (7)

Taylor Duryea^, Ryan Gardner*, Tom Liberatore^, Toby McLean^, Tim O’Brien^, Roarke Smith*, Bailey Williams

The Bulldogs did an impressive job in the past year or so of retaining key talent. The 2023 crop isn’t quite as star-studded, but the likes of Liberatore, Williams and Gardner fill important roles at the Kennel. Williams, who grew up in Adelaide, looms as the most gettable of that trio, given he has never played more than 14 matches in any one season. O’Brien joined the Dogs as a free agent last year and will aim to make more than 11 senior appearances in season two. Duryea, McLean and Smith will also try to go beyond being fringe members.