Sign 'em up: Your club's most important off-contract player AFL.com.au
Nick Bowen and Mitch Cleary
Dec 22, 2018 WHO IS the out-of-contract player your club most needs to re-sign?
AFL.com.au has scoured each club's 2019 uncontracted list, including free agents, and has settled on the player who shapes as their team's most important re-signing.
That person might not necessarily be the best player at his club set to come off contract at the end of next season, but has made our list on the basis of other key factors, such as his importance to his club's on-field structure, or potential to develop into a long-term star.
Either way, securing each of these players beyond 2019 would be a coup for their clubs.
David Astbury (free agent)While Alex Rance gets the headlines in defence, Astbury is the glue that keeps the backline together. Without the unsung backman, Rance and Dylan Grimes would be asked to tackle the competition's best key forwards and lose their attacking drive. Rance, Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt have all re-shaped their contracts to fit Tom Lynch in the cap this year, leaving Astbury as one of only a handful of premiership players without a deal beyond 2019. While key tall Ryan Garthwaite is rising through the ranks, Astbury's commitment will be important to keep the Tigers in the flag hunt. - MC
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-12-22/sign-em-up-your-clubs-most-important-offcontract-player
