Following on from a busy 2020 trade and free agency period, 2021 could see some massive names hit the open market.
It begs the question - who are the most gettable stars from next year's free agent class?
Perhaps the biggest two names that could enter restricted free agency are superstar duo Marcus Bontempelli and Patrick Cripps.
Other potential big-name 2021 free agents include Matt Crouch, Rory Laird, Zach Merrett, Josh Kelly, Jack Billings and Luke Parker.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Jack Heverin and David King discussed the upcoming free agents and who might be gettable.
“I think next year will be important for Essendon. If they look like they’re having an upward trajectory, you’d think he (Merrett) would want to stick around,” Heverin said.
“I’d be very, very, very surprised if Patrick Cripps goes anywhere. He seems so committed to the cause.
“Bontempelli the same and it feels like every two years we talk about Luke Parker and coming back to Melbourne. He hasn’t come back yet and he isn’t coming back.
“Maybe it’s Josh Kelly or possibly Zach Merrett at this stage.”
King added that the Cripps and Merrett situations will be a discussion all season, and related it back to what happened with Tom Lynch.
“I think Cripps will be the discussion all year,” he said.
“It’s a little bit similar to Tom Lynch with the Gold Coast, they’ve given so much, they’ve been so good for your football club.
“You need to show, and I think Carlton will, the player that they are trending the right way towards that premiership opportunity.
“I think they’ll have a very good year next year.
“I’m a bit with you with Merrett. It’s the same discussion – can Essendon show Zach Merrett that Essendon’s on the right trajectory?”
