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Your AFL team’s free agency priority for 2023

Which big name does your club need to lock away before they hit the market next year?

Published by
Mitch Keating

Over 100 players are set to enter 2023 eligible for free agency, with several stars of the competition able to hit the market with some freedom next year.

Each club has at least three free agents next year, with at least one name sure to be atop their list of retention signings for the future.

FULL LIST OF 2023 FREE AGENTS

Here we list each club's top re-signing priority heading into 2023.

Adelaide

Tom Doedee

Perhaps 12 months ago we would've listed Matt Crouch as the Crows' priority free agency re-signing, but the past year has shown us that the 2017 All-Australian has fallen far in Matthew Nicks' pecking order.

One man who firms as a key pillar in Adelaide's plans for a premiership in the near future is Doedee, who may even be named as captain of the club this off-season.

The medium-sized backman is an integral piece in the Crows' structure and will be the club's top free-agency retention target in 2023.

Other Free Agents: Matt Crouch^, Andrew McPherson*, Paul Seedsman*, Rory Sloane^, Taylor Walker^

Brisbane

Conor McKenna

The Lions' list of free agents is a peculiar one. Their best talent listed as FAs come in the form of veteran pair Dayne Zorko and Daniel Rich, who will be no threat of departing Brisbane at the end of next year unless it's through retirement.

Should new recruit Conor McKenna prove to be a fruitful acquisition for Chris Fagan, the Irishman could again be a top target for clubs like Geelong and Port Adelaide, who missed out on his services ahead of the 2023 season.

McKenna could have an immediate impact in his first year back in the AFL and may face another big call on his future should a contract remain unsigned come the season's end.

Other Free Agents: Nakia Cockatoo*, Ryan Lester*, Rhys Mathieson*, Daniel Rich^, Dayne Zorko^

Carlton

Sam Docherty

An obvious option for the Blues is defensive general Sam Docherty, who is seen to have a minuscule chance of not being in the navy blue beyond 2023.

The senior half-back headlines a list of six free agents at Princes Park for 2023, with the likes of Jack Silvagni and Lachie Plowman also on the list.

Developing tall Tom De Koning will be Carlton's priority re-signing target, however, the ruck-forward hybrid is not eligible for free agency.

Other Free Agents: David CuninghamEd Curnow*, Sam Durdin*, Lachie PlowmanJack Silvagni

Collingwood

Jack Crisp

The Pies have a number of key names eligible for free agency in 2023, but none bigger than Crisp.

It has been revealed that Collingwood is already keen to get contract talks underway with their two-time Copeland Trophy winner early into next year, hoping to continue their strong re-signing form.

After locking away Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore to new deals this year, the Pies will be hoping for the same when they meet with Crisp at the negotiations table.

Other Free Agents: Mason Cox^, Jeremy Howe^, Cooper Murley*,Scott Pendlebury^

Essendon

Darcy Parish

Along with skipper Dyson Heppell, the Bombers are needing to secure Darcy Parish and Mason Redman in 2023, with the trio all eligible for free agency.

Parish, arguably the club's best player, is sure to be of interest to rival clubs should his contract status remain open closer to the back end of next season.

Redman also firms as a key re-signing for the Bombers, while Will Snelling is also well placed within Essendon's system.

Other Free Agents: Dyson Heppell^, Mason Redman, Will Snelling*

Fremantle

Nat Fyfe

The Fremantle skipper may be the latest senior star to relinquish his captaincy and place a focus on football in 2023.

The dual Brownlow winner will enter his 14th season in purple, but at the age of 31 is seen as their biggest fish eligible for free agency.

Small forward Lachie Schultz is sure to gain rival interest levels similar to last year, while Michael Walters will join Fyfe in having a call to make on his future at the end of 2023.

Other Free Agents: Lachlan Schultz*, Michael Walters^

Geelong

Mark Blicavs

Arguably the most important player for the reigning premiers, Blicavs enters the 2023 season as an All-Australian and key cog for Chris Scott.

The versatile tall is among a list of Cats veterans off-contract and eligible for free agency in 2023, with Blicavs sure to be at the top of Geelong's re-signing list next season.

Tom Hawkins, Isaac Smith, Jon Ceglar, Rhys Stanley and Sam Menegola are all off-contract and eligible for free agency, with most likely weighing up retirement.

Menegola could be of interest to rival clubs, with WA sides West Coast and Fremantle potentially interested.

Other Free Agents: Jonathon Ceglar*, Tom Hawkins^, Sam Menegola*, Isaac Smith^, Rhys Stanley

Gold Coast

Levi Casboult

The Suns are perhaps the hardest to decipher who their free agent priority would be.

All of Jed Anderson, Connor Blakely, Charlie Constable and Jake Stein join Levi Casboult in landing with the Suns after not being offered deals as their prior clubs.

While Sam Day is an outlier on the list, Casboult is perhaps their most important free agent given his career-best campaign on the Gold Coast this year.

Although Anderson, Blakely and Stein all have plenty to prove in their first seasons with the Suns, one of the recent recruits could quickly become a priority re-signing for Stuart Dew.

Other Free Agents: Jed Anderson*, Connor Blakely*, Charlie Constable*, Sam Day^, Jake Stein*

GWS Giants

Harry Himmelberg

Himmelberg turned into a swingman for the Giants this season, playing some of the best football in his career as a defender midway through the season.

His newfound versatility will go a long way for the Giants in the coming years, with the Wagga Wagga product a necessity for GWS to lock away.

Veteran Callan Ward will have a call to make on his future next year, while youngster Jacob Wehr is available to exercise his rights as a free agent after being delisted in 2021.

Other Free Agents: Phil Davis*, Matthew FlynnLachlan Keeffe*, Daniel Lloyd*, Callan WardJacob Wehr*

Hawthorn

Dylan Moore

The breakout Hawk is eligible as a free agent after the Hawks opted against offering him a senior list spot at the end of the 2020 season, instead re-selecting Moore through the Rookie Draft.

That move may come back to haunt Hawthorn, who could see a spike in rival interest for Moore following a stellar 2022 campaign in the brown and gold.

The Hawks are likely to have the cap space to contend with rival offers however, with Moore unlikely to depart Waverley.

Other Free Agents: Fergus Greene*, Seamus Mitchell*

Melbourne

James Jordon

While Alex Neal-Bullen might be the better player between the two, the retention of James Jordon is sure to be critical for the Demons' long-term plans.

Both are worthy options to be seen as the Demons' priority free agency targets, but what Jordon has shown in his short time has the young midfielder's value on the rise.

Neal-Bullen holds a similar role with Melbourne as a key chain between their midfield and forward line, while fringe onballer Luke Dunstan will be hoping to break into the senior side in 2023 to land another contract.

Other Free Agents: Luke Dunstan*, Alex Neal-Bullen

North Melbourne

Ben McKay

One of the biggest fish eligible for free agency, McKay will likely enter the new year unsigned beyond 2023 and is sure to gain external interest throughout the course of his next campaign.

The Roos will move heaven and earth to retain their gun backman, whose brother, Harry, recommitted at Carlton on a stunning seven-year deal earlier this year.

Veteran trio Jack Ziebell, Todd Goldstein and Liam Shiels will all be weighing up their futures come the cessation of next season.

Port Adelaide

Riley Bonner

Going down a different path with this selection, with Bonner perhaps the third or fourth best name among Port Adelaide's list of nine free agents for 2023.

With the likes of Travis Boak, Charlie Dixon and Tom Jonas seen as having almost no chance of walking away from Alberton in 12 months' time, Bonner firms as the player most susceptible to rival interest.

The Power defender received rumoured interest from rival clubs this year and is likely to again gain keen suitors in 2023 should he hold off on an extension.

Other Free Agents: Travis Boak^, Charlie DixonTrent Dumont*, Francis Evans*, Tom JonasScott Lycett^, Trent McKenzie*, Dylan Williams*

Richmond

Nathan Broad

Like Bonner, Broad perhaps isn't the headlining name on the list below, but the Tigers' reliance on the key backman has him at No.1 among their free agents.

Veteran pair Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt are likely to retire at the end of 2023, while Dylan Grimes looks more than settled at Punt Road as he moves through the twilight of his career.

A Western Australian, Broad is another name on our list that may gain interest from elsewhere.

Other Free Agents: Jason CastagnaTrent Cotchin^, Dylan Grimes^, Kamdyn McIntosh^, Bigoa Nyuon*, Jack Riewoldt^, Robbie Tarrant^

St Kilda

Jade Gresham

A clear option for the Saints, who are sure to be looking to secure Gresham before the new year even begins.

The midfield-forward hybrid has been a bright spark for St Kilda since his rookie campaign, however, injuries have hindered his chances of playing multiple full seasons in the red, white and black.

Another eligible free agent that is sure to gain external interest, but looms unlikely to leave his current club.

Other Free Agents: Tom Campbell*, Daniel McKenzie^, Jimmy Webster^, Mason Wood*

Sydney Swans

Dane Rampe

The Swans have a trio of veterans and fringe defender Lewis Melican to form their list of free agents in 2023, with Rampe perhaps their key retention option.

Lance Franklin looks more likely to call time on his career than move elsewhere or extend with the Swans, while Sam Reid, who will turn 31 later this month, will likely have his future known come next off-season.

Rampe, a leader at the club, will be a pivotal piece in mentoring the club's emerging ranks in the final few years of his tenure with the Bloods.

Other Free Agents: Lance Franklin^, Lewis MelicanSam Reid^

West Coast

Jeremy McGovern

Several veterans remain off-contract and eligible to exercise their rights as free agents in 2023, with premiership quartet Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern and Jamie Cripps all seeing their deals expire next year.

Hurn is likely to hang up the boots after 2023, while Shuey is seen as having little-to-no chance of leaving the Eagles given his reign as skipper.

McGovern, the youngest of the trio, would be their key re-signing given the key role he still holds in the Eagles' last line.

Other Free Agents: Jamie CrippsShannon Hurn^, Jamaine Jones*, Luke Shuey^, Zane Trew*, Isiah Winder*

Western Bulldogs

Tom Liberatore

The standout for the Dogs, with the hard-nosed onballer in Liberatore a vital part of Luke Beveridge's system.

The Bulldogs will be keen to retain the likes of Toby McLean, Ryan Gardner and Bailey Williams beyond next year, but Liberatore will be atop their free agency retention list.

Fair to say it'd take a significant shift to see Liberatore leave the Kennel.

Other Free Agents: Taylor Duryea^, Ryan Gardner*, Toby McLean^, Tim O'Brien^, Roarke Smith*, Bailey Williams

* Previously delisted

^ Previously a free agent

Published by
Mitch Keating