Free agency preview, unrestricted and delisted free agents, where will they go, verdicts, analysis, latest news – MASHAHER

With the door on the 2024 AFL season officially closed, another is about to open in the form of the unrestricted free agency period.

A label first introduced to the competition in 2012, a player who qualifies as an unrestricted free agent can move to any club of their choice in the off-season.

They have to have been at one club for eight or more years and be out of contract — or, alternatively, have been previously delisted by a club during their time in the AFL system (also known as a delisted free agent).

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However, unlike a traditional trade when someone leaves one club to join another, the club taking on the ‘unrestricted’ player does not have to give up anything in the form of a player or draft pick in return.

The free agency period will run from October 4 to 11, while the trade period will begin next Monday October 7 and run for eight days until the evening of Wednesday October 16.

On Friday, the deals that are expected to go down immediately include Josh Battle to Hawthorn, Harry Perryman to Collingwood, and Isaac Cumming to the Adelaide Crows.

St Kilda ruckman Tom Campbell is also expected to depart for Melbourne, while Nick Haynes will make his way to Carlton, and at some stage ex-Blues forward Jack Martin will head to Geelong as a delisted free agent.

Meanwhile, dual Richmond premiership midfielder Jack Graham has reportedly toured West Coast’s facilities but hasn’t yet officially indicated a desire to move clubs.

But while numerous moves already been decided, there are plenty of unrestricted and delisted free agents whose AFL futures aren’t as certain at this stage.

All that said, Foxfooty.com.au has analysed the league’s most intriguing unrestricted and delisted free agents heading into the player movement period.

ELLIOTT HIMMELBERG

The Crow of eight years has long looked out of favour at West Lakes and is now one of just five players at the club without a contract for 2025. However, the 26-year-old is looking increasingly likely to head to Gold Coast this off-season, with the Suns showing notable interest according to Nine’s Tom Morris. Himmelberg has previously entertained interest from GWS – where his brother Harry plays – but that seems to have somewhat fizzled this season. From his 50 games at Adelaide, Himmelberg has never played more than 11 games in a season (2020 and 2022) – and averages almost exactly a goal a game in his key forward role.

VERDICT: Joins the Gold Coast Suns.

SAM DURDIN

Out and contract and now 28 years of age, Durdin’s career may depend on Carlton’s activeness in this year’s off-season. The former Kangaroos defender has been in and out of the AFL system since being drafted in 2014, playing 22 games at Arden Street before being delisted in 2020. The Blues swooped on his services in the 2022 mid-season draft after an impressive 18 months at SANFL side Glenelg, but he has since only managed to play two games for them – once in 2022, and once this season as injuries continue to impair his availability. One thing certainly working Durdin’s favour is the high demand for key defenders across the competition, with ready-made talls hard to come by for many. With Nick Haynes’ arrival imminent, his future may rest entirely on whether Lewis Young pens another deal at Ikon Park for 2025.

VERDICT: One of many left hanging on his club’s other moves. If there’s a spot, he stays.

ALEX SEXTON

The 181-game Sun had a resurgence in season 2024, taking like a duck to water in his newfound role across half-back. Twice a leading goalkicker for Gold Coast in 2018 and 2019, Sexton’s versatility certainly should be a wanted asset under coach Damien Hardwick. But with Sam Flanders and Wil Powell now the preferred half-backs and Victorian rivals Daniel Rioli and John Noble set to join in the coming weeks, his time at the club is looking increasingly up. At 30 years of age and still plenty to give, Sexton would be a welcome addition to multiple clubs across the competition; fitting in well at the likes of North Melbourne for his experience, or Richmond – who will all but certainly lose Rioli and Liam Baker this month. His form this year certainly deserves at least one more season at the top level.

VERDICT: On the outer but should have suitors elsewhere.

LEVI CASBOULT

Keen to play on in 2025, the former Blue only appeared for the Suns three times this season before returning to the VFL – where his eventually finished on the back of a hamstring injury. Gold Coast interestingly delisted fellow key forward Sam Day earlier last month, perhaps insinuating Damien Hardwick and his list management are open to the idea of keeping the 34-year-old around for what would be his 16th season on and AFL list. Two games shy of 200, Casboult looks ever so slightly more likely than not to play on with the Suns on a one-year deal. Should a deal not eventuate however, his services could be useful at a club like Sydney – which is screaming for a veteran key forward to give their young forward line experience, or even Brisbane following the retirement of Joe Daniher. The expected arrival of Elliott Himmelberg might lessen his chances of staying on under Hardwick, but either way he’s unlikely to know his fate until the end of the trade period. Casboult qualifies as an unrestricted free agent after his delisting from Carlton in 2021.

VERDICT: Goes around again in 2025.

ADAM TOMLINSON

The inaugural Giant has been out of favour at Demonland in 2024, playing eight games this season. Still raring and ready to play more football though, Tomlinson now looks very likely to join a third AFL club before the start of the 2025. As reported by AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge, Collingwood, St Kilda and Gold Coast have been interested in recruiting the 31-year-old to their club. The Pies at this stage look the likeliest of the trio to acquire his services, but his official preference still remains to be seen. Tomlinson has kept his status as an unrestricted free agent after moving from GWS to Melbourne back in 2019.

VERDICT: Departs for a Victorian-based rival.

TRAVIS BOAK

371 games into his career at Port Adelaide, Travis Boak’s career is at somewhat of a crossroads. The 36-year-old is still undecided on his future, despite being offered a one-year deal by his club of 18 years. Boak’s 2024 season was stronger of that in 2023, which indicates he still has more to give at the top level. The club have indicated they’ll give Boak all the time he needs to decide on what next year looks like for him; whether it be as a player or otherwise. The three-time All-Australian played 23 of Port Adelaide’s 26 games this year; a showing to his fitness and longevity.

VERDICT: Goes around again in 2025.

KAMDYN MCINTOSH

The two-time premiership Tiger has played almost every game for the Tigers in the last three seasons, and with players leaving left, right and centre, it would be simply shocking to not see McIntosh signed on. Nonetheless, it is certainly peculiar to have not seen the 30-year-old put pen to paper just yet. His experience is now mostly unmatched at Punt Road given the imminent departure of many premiership teammates, and with not many recruits expected to join him down back, his signing really should be a matter of when, not if. No rival interest has been reported, if he was remarkably cut loose, they would swoop. McIntosh is an unrestricted free agent for his decade of service to Tigerland.

VERDICT: Stays at Richmond.

NOAH CUMBERLAND

After five years and 25 games for the yellow and black, Noah Cumberland’s time at Punt Road may have come to a close. Still so hopeful for more time at the top level, the 23-year-old kicked six goals from seven AFL games, and eight goals from 10 VFL appearances. Interestingly, the Tigers are still yet to announce any delistings well over a month since their last game in 2024 – presumably waiting to see the true extent of their exodus before confirming changes. Public interest in the medium-sized forward hasn’t been overwhelming, but there is a world where he could find a second home if he is delisted by the Tigers. The retirement of Dustin Martin and imminent departure of Shai Bolton may be his saving grace for a sixth year at Richmond. Cumberland is eligible to move clubs as an unrestricted free agent as he was delisted by the Tigers at the 2021 season, before being picked up again heading into 2022.

VERDICT: A waiting game but could be given a lifeline with the expected departure of so many players.

TIM MEMBREY

After 19 games this year and a decade in St Kilda colours, Membrey looks set to make a call on his future in the coming weeks. The Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan reported late last month that the 30-year-old’s management has been “pushing” Essendon his way should the out-of-favour Jake Stringer move elsewhere for the 2025 season. His 30 goals this season in a side where forward delivery wasn’t exactly standout is noteworthy, and like Levi Casboult, he could add some much-needed experience in attack for their younger forwards. After being delisted by the Swans in 2014 after two years, Membrey subsequently qualifies as an unrestricted free agent.

VERDICT: Looks 50/50 on joining a third AFL club in 2025. Will be hoping Stringer moves.

JOSH ROTHAM

Rival interest has pleasantly arisen for the West Coast defender, who at one stage this season looked down and out to continue his AFL career. As per AFL Media’s Callum Twomey, Essendon are the club at the forefront for his services in 2025, after playing 13 games in each of his last three seasons. Having previously won the Eagles’ ‘Emerging Talent’ award in 2020 and searching for his first full year at the top level, Rotham may be better suited on the eastern seaboard in 2025. After eight years in royal blue and yellow, Rotham qualifies as an unrestricted free agent.

VERDICT: Interstate interest looms enough to see him more likely than not playing somewhere in 2025.

JASON JOHANNISEN

After 13 seasons, one premiership and one Norm Smith Medal, Jason Johannisen sits out of contract, unsure of what the next 12 months will bring him. Turning 32 on the eve of the 2025 pre-season, Johannisen’s body has let him down consistently across the last three seasons – and is almost certainly the reason the Bulldogs are yet to offer him a contract for next year. Currently sitting on 196 AFL games, the dashing defender would be a welcome addition to several lists across the competition – the only question is, who’s interested? If the premiership hero can prove his fitness to either the Bulldogs or a rival suitor, he is an asset that still has two to three years left in him. With a couple of Dogs on the outer and not many linked in a move to Whitten Oval, Johannisen may get one last season to prove he has more left in him.

VERDICT: Inclined to be given another shot at the Dogs, if not elsewhere.

DELISTED FREE AGENTS

CALEB MARCHBANK

The No. 6 draft choice in 2014, Marchbank will be 28 years old by the start of next season as he seeks a third AFL home. The luckless key defender’s past two contracts at the Blues were one-year deals, and in the aftermath of Carlton’s defensive issues this year — ranking a lowly 14th for points against despite making the finals — he was always a likely casualty. Marchbank barely managed a look-in this year, battling a spinal injury as well as bouts of concussion and illness. He played just three senior games, which was his lowest total for a season since 2016, and he has played a combined 15 matches over the past three years. Clubs in need of key-position stoppers will surely consider the former Murray Bushranger, but his inability to remain on the park is concerning. Might a team such as Essendon consider Marchbank? The Bombers are likely to be in the finals mix next season, but key-defensive depth remains a priority after they ranked fourth-worst this year for shots at goal per inside-50 rate. Essendon struggled particularly in the absence of Jordan Ridley, while Zach Reid has had a torrid time staying on the park, Jayden Laverde is said to be exploring his trade options, and Jake Kelly is now retired. Former Melbourne tall Sam Weideman played mostly in defence this year, and uncapped 19-year-old Lewis Hayes continues to develop, but, overall, there isn’t a lot for the Bombers to write home about depth-wise.

MATT TABERNER

The 31-year-old was delisted by Fremantle in September after 125 games across 12 seasons in purple, and he shapes as a ready-made depth option for clubs. Taberner never played more than 17 senior games in a season for the Dockers as recurring foot stress fractures cost him earlier in his career before more recently back and hamstring injuries proved a hindrance. The Victorian’s best return was 37 goals in 2021, but he has managed just a combined nine games in the past two seasons. Whether or not Taberner is able to get his body right will likely dictate whether he makes an AFL resurgence next year. He told The West Australian after his Fremantle exit that he is surveying his options but hasn’t yet made a concrete decision on his footballing future. “With the nature of it, I remain a delisted free agent just to keep the options open for now,” he told the publication. Having said that, I don’t know. It would have to be the right situation.” Taberner is said to have attracted interest from ‘several AFL clubs’ ahead of this year’s delisted free agency period. Following Joe Daniher’s retirement announcement, could Taberner be an option for the Brisbane Lions off the back of their premiership triumph? Darcy Gardiner had been trialled as a key forward prior to his season-ending knee injury, while 2023 recruit Brandon Ryan was offered limited opportunity this year, but Taberner has substantial experience at the position and could slot straight in. St Kilda could also be a viable landing spot if veteran goalkicker Tim Membrey departs this off-season. If Taberner still has the motivation to play at the top level and can achieve full health, he will likely find himself on an AFL list for the 2025 season.

CURTIS TAYLOR

Despite managing just eight senior games this year, Taylor was a surprising cut by North Melbourne at the end of the season and is looking to revitalise his career as a delisted free agent. Taylor’s manager, James Pitcher, relayed their surprise at the Kangaroos’ choice to cut bait with the 24-year-old. “We can see the talent that he’s got. We were probably a little bit surprised that North went down that angle,” Pitcher told AFL Trade Radio on Thursday. “But, similar to the Jack Martin (to Geelong) situation, maybe it is a better position to actually be delisted. Instead of being in limbo and the potential of a trade, you can be put on a list as a delisted free agent.” The Calder Cannons product played 76 games across six seasons at Arden Street. Taylor’s best season came in 2022 when he posted healthy averages of 15.4 disposals, 4.9 marks and 2.2 inside-50s per game. At a young age and with improvement undoubtedly left in him, Taylor should be able to find a new AFL home next season. Would a rebuilding side such as Richmond or West Coast express interest in the midfielder-forward?

GARY ROHAN

Along with Taylor, Geelong’s delisting of Rohan has been one of this year’s more eyebrow-raising ones to date, particularly given the Cats’ subsequent pursuit of ex-Carlton forward Jack Martin. The 33-year-old is four years Martin’s senior but considering the former Blue’s comprehensive injury history, you mightn’t have thought Rohan was that much older. Rohan, a 204-game premiership player, appeared 12 times at senior level this year after 15 matches last season, showing scattered glimpses throughout 2024 but managing just nine goals. The Geelong Falcons product was Pick 6 in 2009, and while his knee-injury history is well-documented, he has carved out more than a respectable AFL career over 15 years. After suffering a fractured skull in a VFL match late this year, it is currently unknown whether Rohan will seek another AFL opportunity for 2025.