In-demand Demon, Crows’ star-in-waiting: Every AFL club’s biggest contract priority for 2023

AFL players may be returning to their clubs after an end-of-season break, but the contract talk hasn’t stopped.

Teams are already looking ahead to 2023 and beyond – and reaching out to player managers to sound out who might want to make a move.

Foxfooty.com.au lists every club’s most important re-signing in 2023.

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ADELAIDE

Darcy Fogarty

Taylor Walker has been the Crows’ focal point in attack, but Adelaide needs his replacement warmed up and ready to go – and that player is Darcy Fogarty. The key forward had a breakout 2022 season, impressing the likes of AFL great Dermott Brereton with his safe hands and ability to contest. Now with 58 games under his belt, Fogarty is finding consistency and that’s crucial for the Crows’ to move up the ladder. Fogarty went 12 straight games of hitting the scoreboard to see out the season, kicking 31 goals in that time.

BRISBANE

Marcus Adams

The Lions are in the premiership window, and they need the likes of lockdown defender Marcus Adams to stick around if that window is to stay open. There’s plenty of Lions youngsters who need deals too, but Brisbane have to stop leaking goals if they are to seriously challenge for the flag – and Adams is crucial to that. He missed the final two rounds of the season and the entire finals campaign through injury, and it only highlighted his importance to that backline set up alongside the likes of Harris Andrews.

CARLTON

Jesse Motlop

The Blues have weapons across the park, so keeping the likes of Jesse Motlop becomes a must as he serves at the feet of Carlton’s twin towers Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow. The big Blues duo showed how deadly they can be in attack – rivalling the likes of reigning premiers Geelong’s one-two combo of Hawkins and Cameron. But where the Cats got it right was having players at their feet to pick off the crumbs and apply the pressure – and that’s exactly why Carlton need to keep Motlop from returning home to WA when his contract is up in 2023.

COLLINGWOOD

Ash Johnson

The Magpies will be spoiled for choice when it comes to their attack end in 2023, but they are crying out for a key forward and have been since the days of Travis Cloke. While recruit Dan McStay is sure to help offset the issue, Johnson nailed his nine games for the Pies to show he’s a name for the future. His versatility and aerial skills make him a dangerous opponent, while his ability to turn a match, as he did with his four goals against Melbourne, looms as essential under coach Craig McRae. Let’s just hope there’s no second year blues on the horizon.

ESSENDON

Sam Draper

The man with the mullet who became an AFL sensation with his goal of the year efforts; athletic ruckmen like Draper don’t grow on trees. The Bombers need to hang onto the man who is well on his way to becoming a cult figure for the club – and at a time when Essendon needs all the good news it can get. Under new coach Brad Scott, expect Draper to get around the ground more as his fitness improves. Having a fit Draper also means two-metre Peter Wright can stay in the forward line where he’s been a shining star.

FREMANTLE

Caleb Serong

The Dockers are trying to bridge the gap to the game’s best, and to do that they need Caleb Serong on their list. The kid knows no other way than full throttle as he throws himself into every contest. His partnership with young Andy Brayshaw, who is tipped to take over as Dockers captain one day, helped Fremantle fire into top four contention in 2022. While they ultimately missed out on that double chance, the Dockers will want to be near abouts next season and Serong is crucial to that – even though he’s only 58 games into his career.

GEELONG

Sam de Koning

The reigning premiers have shrugged off their Dad’s Army tag, even mocking the age concerns by dressing as members of a retirement home for Mad Monday. But the date of births don’t lie and the Cats have an ageing list desperate for young blood. Enter Sam de Koning. The kid lit up the big stage in 2022 in his debut season and would have been the Rising Star in other season than this year due to Nick Daicos’ dominance for the Pies. De Koning will lead that Geelong defensive end for a decade if the Cats can fight off the raids that will be coming for the young gun.

GOLD COAST

Malcolm Rosas

The Suns’ list management hasn’t been a happy hunting ground with the club forced to offload players for cap reasons while the likes of forward Izak Rankine have opted for the go-home factor and departed. That leaves Malcolm Rosas Jnr as a priority for retention. The Suns have the big key forwards sewn up in Ben King, Levi Casboult and Mabior Chol – but they need someone at their feet and with Rankine gone, it has to be Rosas. He’s only 19 games into his career, but kicked a few bags to show he’s got the ability to find the target when needed.

GWS

Tom Green

The Giants were left reeling by Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper’s decision to walk away from the club and join Richmond in a big blow to the club’s midfield stocks. Stephen Coniglio isn’t getting any younger so GWS need to hang onto Tom Green and get him to commit to life as a Giant. Working in their favour is the fact he’s not Victorian – so the go-home factor that lured Taranto and Hopper away won’t be there. But clubs know the 21-year-old’s got potential and could throw the kitchen sink at him, even after just 45 AFL games.

HAWTHORN

Jacob Koschitzke

Not since the glory days of Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead together has Hawthorn had a big key forward capable of kicking 60+ goals in a season. But they’ve got put the time and effort into Jacob Koschitzke, the cousin of Saints’ 200-gamer Justin Koschitzke, and will be hoping to see some results. Rated one of the best key position prospects in the 2018 Draft, Koschitzke is starting to find his feet with some AFL pre-seasons under her belt. At 198cm and almost 100kg, Koschitzke has the size to be what the Hawks are searching for. Now it’s keeping hold of him at a club that’s clearly in a rebuild stage.

MELBOURNE

Kysaiah Pickett

There’s already plenty of interest in young Demon Kysaiah Pickett, given his match-winning talents. Pickett is proving himself one of the premier small forwards in the competition and is a must-keep if Melbourne are to stay in the premiership window. After losing Luke Jackson in 2022, losing Pickett in 2023 would be a massive blow given they were their prized 2019 draft picks. Pickett has already played 62 games in just three seasons, with 88 goals to his name. But a return home to family in WA or SA could appeal, giving the talented 21-year-old options.

NORTH MELBOURNE

Ben McKay

The Kangaroos may have struggled to kick winning scores in recent tough seasons, but their backline has held up OK – given the sheer volume of ball coming their way. And a lot of that is down to the work of Ben McKay. North have pumped plenty of time into 201cm McKay since he was snapped up as their first pick in the 2015 Draft – managing just 52 games since then as the club sought to get his body right. Now fit and firing, McKay needs to be the anchor in that Roos backline if they are any chance to lift themselves out of the doldrums.

PORT ADELAIDE

Mitch Georgiades

The Power underperformed in 2022 and it cost young Mitch Georgiades his spot in the line up late in the season. But that doesn’t mean the club is willing to let him walk away. They’ve pumped 47 games into him after he arrived as a skinny kid from Perth. And he looms as the forward to step up and fill Charlie Dixon’s big shoes when he opts to retire. While size remains an issue for Georgiades, he has shown great hands to impress in just his third AFL season.

RICHMOND

Hugo Ralphsmith

The young defender is a name for the future – if Richmond can withstand poaching raids from rival Victorian clubs. Ralphsmith is proving to be one of the bargains of the 2019 Draft – snapped up by the Tigers with pick 46. He got six games under his belt in 2021 before finding his feet this season to show he belongs at the top level. The 20-year-old with the memorable mullet became Richmond’s first Rising Star nominee since Shai Bolton in 2019 and is only growing in confidence. Given the Tigers’ ageing backline, securing Ralphsmith is a must.

ST KILDA

Hunter Clark

Putting Hunter Clark on this list is a controversial call given how close he came to departing the club this last Trade Period. But Clark is a must-keep for the Saints and with a new coach at the helm, hopefully the 23-year-old will be able to cement himself in the best 22 and want to stay. North Melbourne has made no secret they are waiting in the wings after the Saints had reportedly tried to package Clark and pick 9 together for one of the Roos’ earlier pick two or three. Ross Lyon wants to move the ball – and a fit Clark can help him do it.

SYDNEY

Dylan Stephens

The Swans have locked away a fair chunk of their young talent, but Dylan Stephens remain a signature they’re yet to nail down. The midfielder managed to break into the strong Swans side and hold his spot for the finals campaign, including playing in the losing grand final. The experience will prove invaluable and the Swans will likely have a fight on their hands to fight off the likes of Port Adelaide and Adelaide who will want to lure the 21-year-old back to South Australia.

WEST COAST

Brady Hough

It’s no secret the Eagles are in a rebuild phase. And that needs to include young Brady Hough. Shannon Hurn is almost out the door, and despite being drafted as a midfielder/half-forward, Hough has shown plenty in the backline in his 15 AFL games to impress coach Adam Simpson. The Eagles will want to lock down the player who is not only versatile, but reads the play and can quickly turn defence into attack. The fact he’s a lifelong West Coast fan and WA product adds to the appeal for the club.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Sam Darcy

The 19-year-old rookie may only have four AFL games under his belt, but he showed remarkable promise – meaning the Dogs need to make his signature their big priority in 2023. Darcy may be a father-son selection, but that’s no guarantee he’ll stick around if the club can’t find a best position for him in their 22. Darcy debuted as a backman but was swung forward in the Round 23 win over Hawthorn and showed incredible aerial skills – kicking two goals. At 204cm, coach Luke Beveridge is spoilt for choice when it comes to Darcy. And he’ll want to keep it that way by locking him in on a new deal.