Who are the big free agency targets in 2014?Nick Bowen
afl.com.au
December 11, 2013RICHMOND
Shane Edwards, Jake King, Chris NewmanAFL.com.au says: The Tigers are sitting pretty. Veterans Newman and King resisted free agency this year, both happy to re-sign for 2014. Edwards, 25, also seems unlikely to leave when the club appears on the verge of sustained success for the first time in decades.
ADELAIDE
Jason Porplyzia, Ben RuttenAFL.com.au says: No major worries for the Crows. Porplyzia and Rutten were free agents this year and re-signed for 2014. Again, at the end of next season, both are likely to either re-sign or retire.
BRISBANE LIONS
Jonathan Brown, Ash McGrathAFL.com.au says: A stress-free year ahead for the Lions. Brown will almost certainly call time on his stellar career at the end of next season, while McGrath could follow him into retirement, but if he plays on in 2015 should do so at the Lions.
CARLTON
Bryce Gibbs, Michael Jamison, Marc Murphy, Heath Scotland, Kade Simpson, Jarrad Waite, Andrew WalkerAFL.com.au says: Opposition teams will already be eyeing the Blues' smorgasbord of free agents, with Gibbs and Walker, in particular, likely to be heavily targeted. Skipper Murphy is going nowhere, while veterans Scotland, Simpson and Waite are extremely unlikely to leave at this late stage of their careers.
COLLINGWOOD
Tyson Goldsack, Nick Maxwell, Heritier Lumumba (formerly known as Harry O'Brien), Ben Reid, Dane SwanAFL.com.au says: Swan and Reid are obvious opposition targets but the Pies have reportedly begun contract talks with both. Skipper Maxwell bleeds black and white, but Goldsack might appeal to clubs looking for a tall utility and Lumumba could decided he needs a fresh start after his reported issues with coach Nathan Buckley in 2013.
ESSENDON
Dustin Fletcher, Heath Hocking, Leroy Jetta, Jason WinderlichAFL.com.au says: Given his importance to the Bombers' midfield, Hocking, 26 next month, looms as a priority re-signing for Essendon. Jetta fell out of favour in 2013 playing just eight senior games and if he continues to struggle for senior opportunities next year could look to move on. Fletcher will probably retire, while Winderlich resisted free agency in 2013 and is unlikely to be tempted in 2014.
FREMANTLE
Paul Duffield, Garrick Ibbotson, David Mundy, Luke McPharlin, Matthew Pavlich, Aaron SandilandsAFL.com.au says: The Dockers re-signed Ryan Crowley on Tuesday and will be aware Victorian clubs are likely to make aggressive plays for Mundy after his key role in Fremantle's stellar 2013 season. But the Dockers will take heart that the former Murray Bushranger has resisted the temptation to return home in the past. Ibbotson, 25, is a classy player and also likely to attract interest, but elder statesmen Pavlich, Sandilands and McPharlin will only leave Fremantle if they retire.
GEELONG
Corey Enright, Steve Johnson, James KellyAFL.com.au says: Geelong signalled a changing of the guard with the delistings of veterans Paul Chapman, Josh Hunt and James Podsiadly at the end of this season, but Johnson and Kelly remain important players and should play on at the Cattery beyond 2014. Enright will turn 33 at the end of next season, but is such a class act he could easily continue in 2015.
GOLD COAST
NilGREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
NilHAWTHORN
Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell AFL.com.au says: After battling in vain to hang on to Lance Franklin throughout 2013, the Hawks look set for a far less stressful year with free agency in 2014. Former skipper Mitchell's body and form will dictate whether he plays on in 2015. The Hawks reportedly put Sewell up for trade in October, but the midfielder, who turns 30 in February, will earn a contract extension for 2015 if he satisfies a trigger clause next season.
MELBOURNE
James Frawley, Lynden Dunn AFL.com.au says: Melbourne's track record of hanging on to its free agents is not good, with Brent Moloney (Brisbane Lions), Jared Rivers (Geelong) and Colin Sylvia (Fremantle) leaving in the past two years. Key defender Frawley will be heavily courted by opposition teams and his decision at the end of next year could come down to whether the Dees' on-field fortunes improve under new coach Paul Roos.
NORTH MELBOURNE
Leigh Adams, Michael Firrito, Todd Goldstein, Lachie Hansen, Brent HarveyAFL.com.au says: North's priority re-signings will be Goldstein and Hansen. The Roos are already in talks with Goldstein, who told AFL.com.au recently he was confident of re-signing soon. Hansen's ability to play as a key defender or key forward will appeal to rival clubs, but he established himself as a key player in the Roos' backline in 2013.
PORT ADELAIDE
Travis Boak, Dominic Cassisi, Kane Cornes, Tom Logan, Paul Stewart, Justin WesthoffAFL.com.au says: With skipper Travis Boak close to re-signing, key forward Justin Westhoff will attract the most free agency interest. But the Power will back themselves to hang onto Westhoff, who has become one of their most valuable players.
ST KILDA
Sam Fisher, Jarryn Geary, James Gwilt, Lenny Hayes, Clint JonesAFL.com.au says: The Saints took skipper Nick Riewoldt and star midfielder Leigh Montagna out of next year's free agency pool, re-signing them last week. Fisher, 32 next July, was linked with Greater Western Sydney in October's trade period but his appeal could be limited by his age.
SYDNEY SWANS
Adam Goodes, Nick Malceski, Ryan O'Keefe, Ted Richards, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Nick SmithAFL.com.au says: The Swans look well placed to continue their record of not losing a player to free agency. Four of the Swans' five free agents are premiership stalwarts who bleed red and white. Victorian Nick Smith will appeal to rival clubs in the market for a hard-nosed small defender.
WEST COAST
Sam Butler, Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Shannon Hurn, Matt RosaAFL.com.au says: Hurn, 25, looms as the prime target for opposition clubs, with Adelaide and Port Adelaide almost certain to try and tempt him back to his home state. However, the defensive playmaker has been a member of the club's leadership group since late 2009 and will be hard to shift from Perth. Victorian Rosa, 27, could also appeal to clubs looking for a running midfielder. The Eagles re-signed prospective 2014 free agent Matt Priddis for an undisclosed term last week.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Matthew Boyd, Daniel Giansiracusa, Shaun Higgins, Will Minson, Dale Morris, Robert Murphy, Tom WilliamsAFL.com.au says: The Bulldogs faced a big decision with Adam Cooney this year and must make an equally tough call on Higgins next year. Cooney overcame a debilitating knee injury to earn a two-year contract extension this year after an outstanding 2013 season. You suspect Higgins, 25, will also have to put his injury problems behind him to play on at the Bulldogs beyond next season. Last year's All Australian ruckman Will Minson will be a priority re-signing for the Bulldogs.
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