The AFL yesterday released its official list of players eligible for free agency in 2012.
The free agency window will run from 1-26 October and will be the first time the system has been used in AFL history.
For an explanation on the AFL free agency system visit click here.
A host of big names make up the list of 81 players with speculation about their future likely to increase as the season wears on.
The list consists of 62 unrestricted and 19 restricted free agents.
While many players listed are club stalwarts (Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Paul Chapman) upstart takes a look at the other free agents who are likely to make headlines during season 2012.
To view the complete list of eligible free agents click here.
Brendon Goddard:
Goddard is set to be the 2012 poster-boy for contract speculation, proceeding Gary Ablett (2010) and Tom Scully (2011) in years gone by. He will be entering his 10th season at St Kilda and at just 26 years of age will attract interest from any clubs with the salary cap room to spare.
Goddard told the Herald Sun last month he would like to be a one club player, but then went on to add:
‘At some point money does become important, but in the back of my mind, hopefully I’ve got another six years of footy left in me,’ he said.
Speculation over Goddard’s future was fueled last June when the midfielder told Triple M radio:
‘For me personally, I’m as loyal as they come but at some stage players are going to start thinking about their future and life after football is a lot longer than life in it,’ Goddard said.
It has been thought for a long time he is on the top of Greater Western Sydney’s shopping list. The league’s 18th team has the money to make life after football very comfortable for the two-time all-Australian.
Fellow key players Leigh Montagna and Sam Fisher are also out-of-contract, which will put further strain on the Saints’ salary cap woes. The club is under severe pressure to retain all three stars.
Goddard has resisted the lure of money in the past, however with St Kilda’s premiership window closing, a fresh start with a new club and secure future could prove an offer too good to refuse.
Travis Cloke:
Yet to begin contract negotiations with Collingwood but the Pies would want to get a move on. Still only 24, Cloke is arguably the competition’s most valuable key-position player, which makes the restricted free agent hot property.
It was reported GWS offered the all-Australian $1.5 million a season but this has been later denied by Cloke’s father and ‘football’ manager David.
GWS will surely try to splash the cash at Cloke, who last year broke the AFL record for most contested marks in a season, but the question still remains whether the premiership centre half-forward can be lured away from the luxury of the Westpac Centre.
Brett Deledio:
The youngest player to reach 150 games at Tigerland, Deledio’s contract situation will make Richmond fans nervous until he officially puts pen to paper.
The two-time best and fairest winner has already begun talks with the club and has publicly stated his wish to stay at Punt Rd.
‘I love the place. They’ve always been really good to me and I’m hoping to have it all sorted out in the not-too-distant future,’ Deledio told the Herald Sun.
GWS are yet to put a contract offer to the 24-year-old but the Tigers are likely to have the salary cap room to offer Deledio a substantial contract, who is already likely to be the club’s highest paid player.
Richmond fans need not worry, with the club on the rise and their star keen to stay; all seems smooth at Tigerland.
Brad Sewell:
Hard lined midfielders are a dime a dozen and Sewell will attract plenty of interest from sides looking for grunt around the ball.
Entering his 10th season at Hawthorn, the premiership midfielder will be an unrestricted free agent come season’s end.
At 28 years of age and approaching the later stages of his career, his eyes may turn to life after football, making a possible financial windfall an enticing factor.
Given the star-studded Hawks list, the club is unlikely to have the salary cap room to offer Sewell a pay rise; while many clubs will be prepared to spend big on the clearance specialist.
If Sewell can secure a second premiership medal at Hawthorn the sense of fulfillment may see him look elsewhere for a new challenge with a bigger payday.
Heath Shaw:
Several Collingwood premiership stars are out of contract at season’s end, making Shaw’s situation a difficult one to manage for the Magpies’ hierarchy.
Captain Nick Maxwell, Scott Pendelbury, Andrew Krakouer and Cloke are also yet to pledge their future at the Pies.
Salary cap room may become a serious issue, with the elite status of Pendlebury and Cloke likely to demand improved deals in order to ward off the temptations of GWS.
This may leave Shaw with whatever the club is left to afford.
Brother Rhyce has thrived in Sydney – a club that history shows will not shy away from offering big money to lure rival players.
The prospect of re-uniting with his brother and a hefty contract is an offer the Magpies will be unable to match.
William Botoulas is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe and upstart’s football writer. You can follow him on Twitter: @botoulas43
