Every out of contract player that your club should be targeting, who is yet to sign for next season, free agency, analysis, opinion

There’s no doubt that the likes of Zak Butters, Zac Bailey, Lachie Neale and Ben King — among others — have dominated the headlines of AFL players out of contract at year’s end.

But, what about the lower-profile players from rival clubs that your team should be targeting?

Foxfooty.com.au dissects the second wave of players at every club that should be starting to attract interest from other clubs, as they remain unsigned at the start of July.

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ADELAIDE

At West Lakes, it’s all about protecting the club’s defensive stocks. Despite a four-year deal on the table from the Crows, Jordon Butts still remains undecided on his future — and it means rivals will be enquiring more and more. As revealed by foxfooty.com.au in September last year, North Melbourne has genuine interest in the 195cm key position player, as do the Western Bulldogs among others. After just 16 games in his first five years at Adelaide, there’s now zero doubt that the club will offer James Borlase a worthy contract extension. His commitment will only become more important if Butts departs, as the club continues to juggle all their key defensive talent. Other players who should be of interest outside of South Australia include Mitch Hinge and Luke Pedlar, though the former is at this stage expected to stay put. As per The Advertiser’s Matt Turner, Pedlar’s future at the club could depend on their pursuit of two-time premiership player Zac Bailey.

BRISBANE LIONS

Beyond the obvious decisions facing Zac Bailey and Lachie Neale, the Lions have most of their star power wrapped up. That being said, noise is growing louder around the future of Academy graduate Sam Marshall, who has played just two matches at senior level this year. While a Sunshine Coast local, the 20-year-old attended boarding school in Melbourne, which could see Victorian clubs at the front end of the queue in the case of any move. It will be a big watch to see whether any potential move is linked to the future of Neale, given their shared status as midfielders. Down back, Darragh Joyce has perennially waited in the wings for opportunity down back, playing just 14 senior games in nearly four years at the club. At 27 years of age, he would surely walk into the starting backline of some clubs across the league. Another Lion who has been deprived of opportunity is James Tunstill, who has played 19 AFL games in nearly five seasons at Springfield.

CARLTON

Funnily enough, despite the large number of Blues players out of contract, few will command major rival interest — mostly due to their age profile. 21-year-old defender Billy Wilson has looked promising in his 10 senior matches to date and will have caught the eyes of opposition recruiters, but it seems unlikely he’d leave given his recently increased opportunities. The likes of Francis Evans and Wade Derksen are playing good football, and should be towards the front of the queue for a new deal as things stand.

COLLINGWOOD

There’s really only one man out of contract at the Magpies who has rival interest at the moment, and that’s Ed Allan. As foxfooty.com.au first revealed in early May, Gold Coast and West Coast have preliminary interest in the 22-year-old, but his opportunities this season have increased as more senior players are being managed. Lachie Sullivan’s opportunity at senior level has dwindled in 2026, and there would have been recruiters admiring his work when he first came into the system a couple years back.

ESSENDON

At Tullamarine, the focus is on injecting some spark into a list in transition — which sneakily opens the doors for rivals to swoop on a couple of fringe players with evident potential. 2022 first-rounder Elijah Tsatas has struggled to cement a consistent senior role despite flashes of midfield promise, and with no new deal in sight, rival clubs are expected to circle for the athletic 21-year-old. Further up the field, forward Tom Edwards offers goalkicking nous on a cheap deal after joining the list as an SSP signing last year before doing his ACL. Despite being omitted from the senior side in recent times, he’s shown he can impact games when given opportunities and is clearly too good for VFL level. He’s a great depth piece option that several clubs could target to bolster their forward lines without breaking the bank.

FREMANTLE

The Dockers have very few players with senior experience out of contract. Sam Switkowski, while still yet to sign a new deal, is expected to stay in Perth. A value selection for interstate clubs would be medium forward Sam Sturt, who when on the park has shown a marking ability and strong goal sense. The 26-year-old hasn’t played at the top level since the end of 2024, and with a stacked forward line, may struggle for regular senior opportunity when the club has such a good bill of health.

GEELONG CATS

As they do most years, the Cats have several young depth pieces whose futures could open doors elsewhere. Jhye Clark and Mitch Knevitt are versatile midfielders who have shown promise, but continue to face stiff competition for senior spots and could thrive with more opportunity at another club. Similarly, George Stevens has been loosely linked interstate before and offers versatility — though has recently found himself back in Chris Scott’s side. Noise around Jack Bowes potentially joining a third AFL club is slowly gaining momentum, despite the suggestion the 28-year-old was expected to start discussions on a new deal shortly. Bowes has found himself out of Chris Scott’s side once more in Round 17, and has at times been an under-utilised option that remains far too good for VFL level.

GOLD COAST SUNS

The Suns’ list management will be fascinating given their salary cap pressures. As revealed by foxfooty.com.au in early May, midfielder Alex Davies is open to a move once more and is attracting interest from multiple Victorian clubs. Injury has halted the season of third-year forward Jake Rogers, who has shown scoring potential but remains on the fringe, but could clubs do some prying to see if the Academy graduate would ever leave Queensland. The future of Jed Walter is, while more high-profile, still one to watch closely given how many clubs are enquiring on him and Ben King.

GWS GIANTS

The Giants’ plethora of key forward stocks will almost certainly create opportunities for rivals to bounce. Forward Jake Riccardi has strong assets that many a club could use in their forward half, and every week that goes by without recommitting to GWS suggests he’s gettable. In a similar boat is young tall Max Gruzewski, who already has Victorian clubs keeping tabs on his development. He’s reportedly been offered a two-year deal to stay, but with veteran Jesse Hogan expected to sign on again, his career could well continue at another club. As first reported foxfooty.com.au back in early May, young ruck Nick Madden had heavy links to Richmond, but re-signed at the Giants on a four-year deal on Thursday. Now, all eyes turn to Kieran Briggs and his future — with the fellow ruck also out of contract at year’s end.

HAWTHORN

There’s been a squeeze at the Hawks for a couple of years now, with a handful of players each year consistently proving themselves too good for VFL level — and it could see their depth raided. Key forward Calsher Dear and tall Max Ramsden are the unlucky key forwards out of the senior side with everybody fully fit, and depending on whether Max King ends up at the club next season, there’s a world where either are forced to seek opportunity elsewhere. While not out of the senior side, what Mitch Lewis does could well dictate the decisions of the aforementioned duo. With no super strong links to rival clubs yet, intrigue remains around the unsigned four-year deal on the table for Lewis. The inside midfielder duo of Henry Hustwaite and Cam Mackenzie offer inside midfield grunt, though it feels unlikely the latter would leave at this stage. Expect Bailey Macdonald to receive questions from rival recruiters, while experienced winger Harry Morrison could be an asset for a younger list having played just four senior games in 2026.

MELBOURNE

All questions now revolve around Tommy Sparrow, with conflicting reports on his preference between the Demons and Port Adelaide. It seems unlikely the South Australian would land anywhere outside of those two clubs. The versatility of Bailey Laurie could be looked upon favourably elsewhere, having been a fringe player ever since his AFL debut in 2023. There aren’t many other out-of-contract players that would be roping recruiters in just yet, though a still-unsigned Christian Salem is beginning to raise eyebrows.

NORTH MELBOURNE

As the Roos continue to try to launch themselves out of a rebuild, a couple of younger types could be left for rivals to swoop in on — namely Zane Duursma. The 20-year-old has shown glimpses at AFL level, but has lacked consistency; all the while being linked to other clubs last year. Expect Essendon to lead the chase for his services should he want out once more. Untried fourth-year Roo Brayden George would absolutely be worth inquiring about at a bargain price, given his ceiling when fully fit. Key defensive prospect Wil Dawson isn’t expected to depart, but remains unsigned for now.

PORT ADELAIDE

A plethora of names are out of contract at Alberton this season, though it remains to be seen how many will have rival clubs chasing them. An injured Ollie Lord has been loosely linked elsewhere in years gone by, but with Mitch Georgiades a potential flight risk across the next 18 months, they may hold firm. Senior regulars Darcy Byrne-Jones and Jordon Sweet are without a deal yet for 2027, but as foxfooty.com.au reports, it’s very unlikely at this stage either will look for opportunity elsewhere. Oh, and there’s a guy named Zak Butters that’s out of contract too…

RICHMOND

With the Tigers deep into their rebuild and the club looking to retain its young talent, there’s unlikely to be many players to be pried out of Richmond. Clubs may feel pressure forward Maurice Rioli could thrive with the right mix of players around him. Developing key forward Liam Fawcett remains out of contract for 2027, but there’s very little suggesting Richmond won’t keep him around. Among a young group in desperate need of leadership, Tom Lynch isn’t any chance of playing elsewhere, but it could keep Fawcett waiting that little bit longer for regular AFL game time. Wing duo Hugo Ralphsmith and Tyler Sonsie haven’t been linked elsewhere, but of the other players out of contract, at this stage and you would expect that they would be content to remain at the Tigers should a deal be put on the table.

ST KILDA

All the noise at the Saints and their out of contract players revolves around Darcy Wilson, who foxfooty.com.au revealed was being chased hard by Adelaide earlier this season — with over a dozen other clubs eyeing off his services. A versatile outside runner with upside at just 20 years of age, you can understand why there’s so much interest. Two-club player Jack Carroll entered the club’s mid-season bye off the back of an absurd VFL performance, and has played a dozen senior games this season. Utility prospect Isaac Keeler has been on the fringes for a little while now, and could see appeal to clubs needing tall forward depth — particularly out of his home state in South Australia.

SYDNEY SWANS

The Swans have very, very few players out of contracts at season’s end, and unrestricted free agent Joel Amartey is the only one below the age of 32. Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph reported in late June that the Victorian is keen to stay, with a five-year deal on the table there ready for him to sign before his unfortunate Achilles injury in Round 16. The only slight worry for Sydney fans? There’s greater money being thrown his way interstate. Expect rival clubs to try and poach players running out of contract next year in 2027.

WEST COAST EAGLES

Elijah Hewett is the biggest name that rivals will be targeting this off-season, with the 22-year-old still yet to accept a five-year offer from the Eagles that’s been on the table for a little while now. Clubs across the league — especially Victorian ones — are showing interest, and is a promising option for sides needing inside and outside balance. There’s also restricted free agent Bailey Williams, who hasn’t been expected to leave at any point in his contract year. That being said, it’s now nearly July and he’s still yet to sign.

WESTERN BULLDOGS

The Dogs are in a similar boat to Hawthorn with the calibre of players who remain out of contract at the end of June. The most high-profile is Buku Khamis, who while slightly inconsistent at times this year, has showcased what his best football looks like. He has a three-year deal on the table at Whitten Oval, but rival clubs are evidently circling given his reluctance to sign that just yet. Fourth-year Dog Harvey Gallagher has struggled to crack into the senior side this year, and may be a younger type being looked at externally. Interest in Jedd Busslinger from 12 months ago out of Western Australia looks to have simmered, but his performances at VFL level still look to be solid. South Australian Lachie McNeil is another name who could provide outside spark if given opportunity elsewhere, but is well-liked by coach Luke Beveridge and continues to play a role in the senior side — so expect him to be offered a new deal.