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2024 AFL Free Agency: State of play, every free agent, linked teams, whispers, rumours

A busy window awaits for this year’s free agency period, which opens on Friday.

Published by

Mitch Keating

The week-long window for the 2024 AFL Free Agency period is almost upon us, with 28 players still eligible to exercise their options on the open market.

Free agency will commence from Friday morning and will run until COB next Friday, with a number of signings to come across the seven-day stretch.

GWS will be a major piece in this year's signing period, with trio Harry Perryman, Nick Haynes and Isaac Cumming all confirmed to leave the club and sign with a rival.

Cumming's switch to Adelaide has been confirmed, while Perryman and Haynes are expected to land at Collingwood and Carlton respectively.

The Giants could secure end-of-first-round compensation for Perryman, given the bidding war that broke out for this signature, while Cumming's loss could pocket the New South Wales club compensation at the end of the second round. Haynes's Blues move is unlikely to trigger a draft pick any earlier for the Giants.

St Kilda will be hoping Josh Battle's move to Hawthorn garners band one compensation, which would see the Saints add Pick 8 to their draft hand - following their opening selection of Pick 7.

Josh Battle during the 2022 AFL Round 1 match between St Kilda and Collingwood (Photo by Cameron Grimes / Zero Digital Media)

After tossing up whether to re-sign at Moorabbin or join the club he grew up supporting, Battle will become a Hawk as one half of the club's list plans to bolster their backline, with West Coast's Tom Barrass seeking a trade to Hawthorn.

The Saints are home to two free agents, with key forward Tim Membrey another who could find a new home over the next week. Several clubs would be in the market for experienced tall forward options who can slot straight into a role at senior level, but no standout landing spot has emerged for the 30-year-old.

Adelaide tall Elliott Himmelberg is another key forward to hit free agency, with the Crows utility anticipated to land with the Gold Coast Suns early into the signing window. A product of Redland, his return to Queensland comes as the Suns prepare to lose Jack Lukosius in the trade period, while inaugural forward Sam Day has also left the club this off-season.

Himmelberg's exit at West Lakes would likely see any compensation diluted, given the Crows will sign Cumming from GWS.

It's a factor that will be in the minds of St Kilda, should they be seeking to acquire talent, with any free agency move impacting their compensation for Battle's move to the Hawks.

With Melbourne tall Adam Tomlinson, who is an unrestricted free agent, a player who could help fill the Battle void at the Saints, any move to the red, white and black would likely come via delisted free agency if Tomlinson can't strike a deal at the Demons or elsewhere.

Tomlinson joins Battle, Himmelberg and Haynes as key defensive options potentially on the move, while West Coast's Josh Rotham is another backman who might find a new home.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 02: Josh Rotham of the Eagles marks the ball during the 2021 AFL Round 07 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on May 02, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Eagles free agent has garnered reported interest from Essendon as he is made to wait on his future, with West Coast looking to get through the trade period before making a call on the 26-year-old.

With Barrass heading for the exit and Port Adelaide's Tom Clurey a potential target for West Coast, Rotham may earn a new deal in Perth, while the Bombers could make a move for the medium-sized stopper to add to their ranks or potentially help fill a hole in Brad Scott's rearguard, with fullback Jayden Laverde a potential asset on the move.

The Eagles are keen to sign Richmond midfielder Jack Graham through free agency, with the premiership Tiger weighing up whether to remain at Punt Road or potentially join teammate Liam Baker in swapping the yellow and black for royal blue and gold.

Geelong have the most free agents still yet to secure new deals for 2025, with Patrick Dangerfield, Jed Bews, Rhys Stanley, Jake Kolodjashnij and Mitch Duncan to have their futures confirmed by the Cats.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats during the 2024 AFL Round 2 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on March 22, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

All five are expected to play next season, with Dangerfield perhaps the most intriguing as he is left as the last remaining restricted free agent from the class of 2024. While the Geelong skipper will be at Kardinia Park next year, the length of his next contract is less certain as both parties seek to agree on a deal spanning one or two seasons.

Port Adelaide all-time games record holder Travis Boak is also yet to decide on his future at Alberton Oval, while 2016 Norm Smith Medal winner Jason Johannisen remains without a for 2025 at the Western Bulldogs and is eligible for free agency.