The dust has settled from the trade period and the next important AFL offseason milestone comes on November 1st. Friday signals the start of the delisted free agent period – the first chance discarded players have to sign with a new club and revive their footy career. The reality is most of these guys won’t find themselves on an AFL list ever again, but there are some players on the scrap heap who deserve another opportunity.
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Done deals…sort of
Tim Membrey ➡️ Collingwood – If you believe the rumour mill this is as good as done. Great get for the Pies’ FWD line if you ask me.
Quintin Narkle ➡️ Fremantle – Despite being delisted by the Power one week ago, Narkle is already rumoured to be landing at Freo as an SSP signee.
Sam Day ➡️ Brisbane – Set to join the reigning premiers in a week or so, Sam Day will try to fill the shoes of the now-retired Joe Daniher.
Jack Martin ➡️ Geelong – Delisted by Carlton once their year came to a close, the Cats are poised to snare Jack Martin for free.
Josh Rotham
Numbers that matter: 26 years old, 6 seasons, 72 games
Suitors: Bombers
During the trade period, the now discarded Eagle was linked with a move to Essendon and we may see that come to fruition after West Coast opted to move on from Rotham. In 72 career games, it’s fair to say that the defender hasn’t reached great heights – gathering 15+ disposals just twice in the last three years. That doesn’t mean he should be left on the scrap heap with the Bombers just one suitor who could bolster their defensive depth by adding Rotham.
Gary Rohan
Numbers that matter: 33 years old, 15 seasons, 204 games (98 Cats, 106 Swans)
Suitors: Rebuilding teams in a mentor role
Set to turn 34 years old next season, we’ve probably seen the last of Gary Rohan in the AFL. His age and injury woes last year would have played a factor in Geelong’s decision to axe the premiership winning forward. However, a rebuilding side such as North Melbourne or Richmond could land Rohan for cheap as a mentor for their budding list, splitting his team between the senior and VFL teams before he hangs ’em up.
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Matt Taberner
Numbers that matter: 31 years old, 12 seasons, 125 games, 173 goals
Suitors: Demons, Hawks or Lions
Matt Taberner may be content to stay local and play for Peel Thunder in the WAFL to end his footy career after Fremantle delisted him. Should he decide he wants to continue his AFL career though, Melbourne, Hawthorn or Brisbane are teams that instantly stand out as potential new homes for the key forward. Taberner is one of just nine Dockers in the club’s history to kick 7 or more goals in a match, and while his best days are behind him, he could still be a serviceable player capable of kicking 20-25 goals in a season.
Denver Grainger-Barras
Numbers that matter: 22 years old, 4 seasons, 28 games
Suitors: Blues or Eagles
After 28 games in four seasons (including 0 this calendar year), it’s fair to say Hawthorn didn’t nail pick No. 6 in the 2020 draft. At just 22 years old, there’s still a future in this league for Denver Grainger-Barras if he can find his groove at a new team. The WA native has naturally drawn interest from the Eagles with Carlton also vying for DGB’s signature this offseason. The intercepting defender has time on his side and I expect to see him snapped up before the draft commences.
Brandan Parfitt
Numbers that matter: 26 years old, 8 seasons, 130 games
Suitors: Clubs chasing midfield depth
The writing was on the wall for Brandan Parfitt as he fell out of favour in the Cats’ midfield rotation this season. He recorded 20+ disposals and 10 tackles in his first two games in 2024, only to see Jack Bowes and Tanner Bruhn move ahead of him in the depth chart. After Geelong landed Bailey Smith in the trade period, it became clear that Parfitt would become a list casualty and their loss could be another team’s gain. Arguably the best MID available in delisted free agency, I’d strongly consider adding Parfitt if I were a list manager looking for another piece in the engine room.
Ned McHenry
Numbers that matter: 24 years old, 5 seasons, 70 games
Suitors: Bulldogs, Blues or Suns
I was somewhat surprised to see Adelaide move on from the high-energy small FWD in Ned McHenry. He hasn’t thrived in the pros, failing to have a significant impact in front of goal with an uninspiring 32.19 to his name from 70 career games. If he was deployed solely as a pressure forward and given a second chance to wreak havoc inside 50, there are a few clubs who could benefit from his services.
Adam Tomlinson
Numbers that matter: 31 years old, 13 seasons, 185 games (45 Demons, 140 Giants)
Suitors: Magpies or Suns
Even before Melbourne cut him, Adam Tomlinson was generating interest as a target for rival teams. The tall utility is hoping to continue his AFL tenure at a third club – with Gold Coast emerging as a potential landing spot after they lost a bunch of tall timber in the offseason. Collingwood expressed interest as well, although their pursuit of Tim Membrey means that the Suns are Tomlinson’s most realistic destination.
Jai Culley
Numbers that matter: 21 years old, 3 seasons, 12 games
Suitors: A team that misses out on their draft targets
Jai Culley’s delisting was a tad harsh with the mid-season draftee never getting a strong run at West Coast. He was never able to string regular games together with a lack of form and an ACL tear in 2023 robbing Culley of any chance to find a consistent home in the Eagles’ lineup. Used in the forward half for most of his AFL career thus far, Culley wasn’t able to crack significant midfield minutes under Adam Simpson and if he is offered a lifeline, there’s still a world where the talented youngster finds his footing at a new home once the draft concludes.
Curtis Taylor
Numbers that matter: 24 years old, 6 seasons, 76 games
Suitors: Saints
North Melbourne opting to move on from Curtis Taylor somewhat blindsided the 24 year old, forcing him to look elsewhere for an opportunity moving forward. Personally, I think Taylor is good enough to be on a list – even if the Roos think otherwise. St Kilda are a team that has expressed interest in the past and it’s highly possible that Taylor will find another club once teams have a better gauge of how many list spots are available. Either through the rookie draft or preseason supplemental selection period, expect to see Taylor get another lifeline.
Braydon Preuss
Numbers that matter: 29 years old, 9 seasons, 28 games (8 Kangaroos, 10 Demons, 10 Giants)
Suitors: Cats, Bombers or Crows
Unable to crack Greater Western Sydney’s senior side at any point in 2024, Braydon Preuss may be forced to ply his craft at the state level before another opportunity presents itself. His AFL journey so far has been eventful, to say the least – drafted by the Kangaroos as a rookie in 2015, traded to Melbourne for two seasons in 2018, before managing 10 appearances with the Giants across four seasons. Preuss’ body has failed him at times although when he has been fit and firing, his presence has certainly been felt by the opposition. Time will tell if an AFL teams opts to sign him for some ruck insurance.
Image from afl.com.au
Best of the rest
Tom Emmett, Dockers (22 y/o, 15 games) – Trading for Shai Bolton effectively squeezed Tom Emmett out at Freo. He’s good enough to get another chance and age is on his side.
Sam Weideman, Bombers (27 y/o, 76 games) – Having spent 9 seasons on an AFL list at Essendon and Melbourne, Weideman may be done at the top level. However, if a club needs to bolster their key forward stocks, he could be offered a lifeline.
Riley Bonner, Saints (27 y/o, 112 games) – Ball use has let Riley Bonner down in recent times, lasting just one season under Ross Lyon before he was axed.
Jack Hayes, Saints (28 y/o, 8 games) – Hayes underwent a medical with Collingwood during the trade period but no deal transpired and now he remains in footy limbo. He can still appeal to clubs as a handy depth piece – provided he can get his body right.
Jack Carroll, Blues (21 y/o, 21 games) – There were bright moments from Carroll throughout 2024, but ultimately, Carlton didn’t have room on their list to keep him around. Hailing from WA, both local teams have expressed a desire to chase Carroll.
Tom Clurey, Power (30 y/o, 124 games) – Another player linked to a West Australian club throughout the year, Tom Clurey was delisted by the Power despite owning a contract for 2025. Given the scarcity of key backs on West Coast’s list, Clurey makes sense as an SSP signing for the Eagles.
Reef McInnes, Tigers (21 y/o, 20 games) – Technically, Collingwood hasn’t delisted McInnes yet and there’s a chance he will stay with the Pies in 2025. If he hit the open market though, clubs would be lining up to secure the enticing youngster.
Caleb Marchbank, Blues (27 y/o, 63 games) – After falling out of favour in Michael Voss’ lineups, Caleb Marchbank still has plenty to offer an AFL team. A fresh start may help the oft-injured backman reignite his footy career.
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