The 10 big 2026 off-contract players and the rival AFL teams that could circle

With another trade period now in the books, attention for list managers and fans alike turns to a loaded class of talent due to come out of contract at the conclusion of the 2026 season. With a Brownlow Medal, two Gary Ayres Awards, AFLCA Champion Player of the Year honours and plenty of All-Australians and premiership players featuring in the off-contract crop for next year, clubs keen to add star power to their list will be salivating. Here we've listed 10 players set to come out of contract in 2026, and rival clubs that could be suitors. Lachie Neale The dual Brownlow medallist and two-time premiership captain will be 33 years old at the conclusion of the 2026 season. A blistering second half in the 2025 Grand Final, which came after a miraculous return from a calf injury, indicates age is yet to weary this champion, and should similar production populate his next campaign, Neale will likely be in a position to dictate terms at Dom Ambrosio's desk. Before Brisbane tasted premiership glory, rumours circled that Neale's partner was interested in a move home to Western Australia. The state's two clubs asked the question of Brisbane regarding Neale's availability this season, but were swiftly cut down to size. Given the legacy "Choccy" has built at the Den, it is hard to imagine a world where further throws at the stumps from rival clubs would not be treated with similar disdain. Potential Suitors: West Coast, Fremantle [caption id="attachment_169102" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Lachie Neale of the Lions runs onto the field during the AFL Grand Final match between Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] Zak Butters The Power talisman's name has made headlines for much of this year, with a return home to Victoria reportedly on his agenda. The explosive midfielder hails from Darley, west of Melbourne, with the Western Bulldogs and Geelong Cats rumoured to have significant interest because of this. Dogs list boss Sam Power said as much last week. The three-time best and fairest winner was famously close with recently departed head coach Ken Hinkley - furthering speculation that the firebrand wants away from Alberton. Port Adelaide are understandably keen to keep their vice-captain, evidenced by their offer earlier this year, that, at the time, would've been the biggest deal in AFL history. Rumours promise to dog the 2018 first-round pick until pen hits paper, wherever that may be. Potential Suitors: Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs, Geelong [caption id="attachment_142752" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Port Adelaide's Zak Butters with the 2023 AFLCA Champion of the Year Award (image via Port Adelaide Twitter)[/caption] Sam Walsh The first pick of the 2018 National Draft, and 2023 Gary Ayres Award winner, Sam Walsh has been courted by Victorian powerhouses Geelong and Hawthorn as his current deal nears expiration. Walsh is a bull at his best, but has consistently battled injury over the course of his tenure at IKON Park. A fresh start at a club on a flag-winning trajectory, such as the two mentioned above understandably appeals to the man many believed would replace Patrick Cripps as Blues skipper. Family ties in the greater Geelong region earmark the Cattery as a likely destination for the 2021 John Nicholls medallist, but Carlton are steadfast in their desire to re-contract the sought-after ball-winner. New General Manager of Football Chris Davies labelled Walsh a 'massive player for us into the future' at the commencement of the recent trade period. Walsh, for his part, has publicly stated his own desire to steer the Blues back to premiership contention after two seasons in the relative wilderness. Potential Suitors: Geelong, Hawthorn [caption id="attachment_149524" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Sam Walsh of the Blues kicks the ball during the 2024 AFL Round 05 match between the Carlton Blues and the Adelaide Crows at Marvel Stadium on April 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Darcy Wilson The Murray Bushrangers product emerged as an endurance beast in his debut season. Rewarded with the Saints' Best Emerging Player award and fourth in Rising Star voting at the conclusion of the 2024 season, hopes were high that Wilson would continue to develop, but his sophomore season was underwhelming. Ross Lyon twice dropped Wilson to the VFL and subbed him out of AFL matches on two occasions. Suggestion that Wilson directly asked for time to hone his craft in the VFL reportedly drew a 'mixed' response from the second-year man and those around him, instigating trade chatter. Wilson will look to re-cement a starting role at Moorabbin in his contract year. The balance of an exciting young core, and significant investment in established talent, designates the Saints as a rising commodity next year. Whether or not their young runner will be a part of this rise may well dictate whether or not he's wearing black, white and red beyond 2026. Potential Suitors: North Melbourne, Essendon [caption id="attachment_162414" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Darcy Wilson of the Saints high fives fans after winning the round 19 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium, on July 20, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)[/caption] Ryley Sanders Even before the Western Bulldogs used their sixth overall pick on Sanders in the 2023 National Draft, speculation was rife that the midfielder would one day be the poster boy for the incoming Tasmanian AFL team as one of the Apple Isle's most promising prospects. Having played 35 games for Luke Beveridge, his potential is obvious, but the emergence of Joel Freijah, whose contract also expires next season, means Sam Power will have his hands full trying to secure the long-term futures of both prospects. The intriguing game of cat and mouse that is to play out between the Dogs and Sanders presents as must-watch byplay in the coming years. Does Sanders just ask for one year at 2026's conclusion to join the Devils for their first season? Will the Dogs honour that, or force Sanders to find another club for that bridging season? Would another club be interested in hiring Sanders as a one-season mercenary, and would such a decision affect their culture? One thing is certain - Sanders' ceiling is still very high, and wherever it is he plies his trade after next season, he'll be a reason to turn on the goggle box. Potential Suitors: Adelaide [caption id="attachment_149431" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 12: Ryley Sanders of the Bulldogs in action during the 2024 AFL Round 05 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Essendon Bombers at Marvel Stadium on April 12, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Bayley Fritsch Suggestion that Fritsch may be on the move emerged this year, with the Demons open to moving on from a suite of premiership stalwarts that included the likes of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. Steven King will look to leave immediate and unmistakable fingerprints on this team and this club from day one. Whether or not the streaky, slight Fritsch is a part of his plans, only he knows, but the returns King's club are likely to receive for the former Casey VFL standout diminish with each passing year. Potential Suitors: North Melbourne, GWS [caption id="attachment_115578" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Bailey Fritsch during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)[/caption] Tom Lynch A two-time premiership winner with the Tigers, Lynch signed a one-year extension to tie him to Punt Road until the end of 2026 in August. The extension comes after two seasons where his wage, allegedly, outweighed his production significantly. The deal that saw Lynch leave the Suns in a high-profile defection at the end of 2017 was heavily back-ended, and conventional wisdom would suggest, given his age and the physical challenges that come with it, his 2026 earnings will be modest, comparatively. Does Lynch have the desire to guide these Tiger cubs through a few more seasons of a rebuild, or is he looking to maximise his earnings elsewhere? Will Yze and co. have Lynch as a key pillar in their attacking plans beyond 2026? Potential Suitors: Gold Coast, Collingwood [caption id="attachment_125814" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Tom Lynch during the round 22 AFL match between Richmond and Hawthorn on August 14, 2022 (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Richmond Media)[/caption] Ed Allan Allan is a name Collingwood fans pin their future aspirations to whenever the inevitable criticism of their ageing list emerges. The 21-year-old has shown plenty when rewarded with scarce opportunities at the top level - a motor that allows him to be a link between the lines, a hunger for the contested ball, and clean skills. Rival clubs will understandably circle if the 2022 first-round draft pick continues to be starved of opportunity in his contract year. 2026 is not only important in the context of Allan's career, but it's also a critical junction for this iteration of Craig McRae's playing list. The Pies may find themselves in a pit like the ones the Eagles and Tigers have found themselves in recently if they do not start prioritising experience for their next generation of players. Expect Fremantle, his father's club, and the one he grew up supporting, as well as the Eagles, to come hard for the West Australian next year. Potential Suitors: West Coast, Fremantle [caption id="attachment_150987" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 17: Edward Allan of the Magpies in action during the Collingwood Magpies Intra-Club match at Olympic Park Oval on February 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Ben King The Suns spearhead has been linked to a move home to Victoria for some time, although chatter has cooled with Gold Coast's pitch to Charlie Curnow falling short. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's AFL lifeline may expedite King's decision-making however. Damien Hardwick will surely want the big bodies to work in tandem, but big money offers from his home state are sure to land at the feet of King, given his impending free agency status. The Saints have held interest in uniting the King brothers at the club they grew up supporting essentially since their drafting, while the Pies came hard this year. Throw in King's upbringing on the bay, and his ties to Haileybury, and his rumoured desire to make his way to Moorabbin comes into sharper focus. Do the Saints have room in their war chest after their acquisitions this off-season? Does King want to see out what he started at the Gold Coast, where his squad is seemingly on the precipice of history? Potential Suitors: Collingwood, St Kilda [caption id="attachment_163910" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 29: Ben King of the Suns is congratulated by Matt Rowell of the Suns after kicking a goal during the round three AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Gold Coast Suns at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on March 29, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption] Zac Bailey The Lions gun is already said to be in the sights of rival clubs, with Essendon and Adelaide among those keeping tabs on his future. Bailey is also expected to commence contract talks with the Lions prior to the new year, making him a watch early into 2025 if nothing is signed. The midfield-forward hybrid's price has soared over the past two years, with 2025 a career-best campaign that netted the Northern Territory product an All-Australian blazer. A player in Bailey's mould is also hard to come by, while he has shown himself to be a standout performer on the biggest of stages. Potential Suitors: Adelaide, Essendon [caption id="attachment_169123" align="alignnone" width="2560"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Josh Dunkley, Zac Bailey and Cam Rayner of the Lions celebrate during the AFL Grand Final match between the Geelong Cats and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

The 10 big 2026 off-contract players and the rival AFL teams that could circle

Needle movers aplenty populate the list of players due to sign contracts at the end of next season.

6Bayley Fritsch

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