A decade ago, the AFL followed the lead of the American sporting codes by introducing a free agency program.
The policy has led to the biggest shift in the employee/employer relations since the induction of the eight-hour working day and the biggest in the code since the short-lived ten-year rule of the Seventies.
The past shackles of clearances, poor salaries and a powerless playing class were cast off, with million dollar deals over multiple years becoming the new norm.
No sooner had this new age been established did the term ‘pre-agency' become a side-effect and a part of the footballing vernacular.
The tag of pre-agent relates to those that are still on contract with their current clubs, but come the agreements conclusion, they will have served a tenure long enough to be granted either restricted or unrestricted free agency status.
Recently, clubs have begun shopping these players prior to their contracts completion in an effort to avoid leaving future negotiations empty handed. Players have also been known to openly flirt with other teams as a means of securing an extension from their current cheque cutters.
With the conclusion of the 2020 season imminent and the trade period around the following corner, we've compiled a list of the players that will enter free agency this time next year.
Below are all 18 club's most interesting 'pre-agent', with some added speculation about what their futures may hold.
Western Bulldogs
Marcus Bontempelli
Breathe easy, Dogs fans. He's not going anywhere.
Like Cripps at Carlton, Bontempelli's name has only been raised due to him befitting the broad boundaries of the term ‘interesting'.
At the first sign of asking, a new deal will undoubtedly be printed and posted in record time.
Bont & Libba have arrived at the #Brownlow on the Gold Coast 🔥#MightyWest
📸: @MichaelCWillson pic.twitter.com/PEGDO3kWwp
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) October 18, 2020
Rounding out the Bulldog's pre agency group are a pair of sons of guns – Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis.
Wallis' 2020 season that included a career high 25 goals was top shelf, so don't expect him to become another lost Dog.
As for Liberatore, the man is more Bulldog than anything that is walked on a leash. His Brownlow winning father called Footscray home for 17 seasons, so expect the same show of loyalty from his eccentric offspring.
You are more likely to see Bigfoot at full back and the Tooth Fairy on ball than to see this trio of names missing from Luke Beveridge's lineup.
