AFL free agency deadline day: Essendon's play for third target, Tiger's potential switch and the 19 others still eligible

It’s the final day of the 2023 free agency period. Here’s everything you need to know👇

EDITOR | October 13, 2023 - 8:09am

2843

The 2023 free agency deadline is near, with the signing window closing at 5:00pm (AEDT) today, and St Kilda's Jade Gresham is the biggest name yet to know where his future lies.

Essendon are expected to lodge the paperwork to acquire Gresham from Moorabbin, leaving the Saints to then decide whether to match the bid for the restricted free agent or receive compensation instead.

Band two compensation (end of first-round) could be on offer to St Kilda and would likely satisfy the club for the loss of the 26-year-old, while a matched offer could be tabled if the Sants believe their return will be anything lower.

The Bombers could threaten to not get involved in a forced trade if their offer to Gresham is levelled by the Saints, with the Pre-Season Draft an avenue that Essendon could go down and therefore see St Kilda walk away with nothing.

The Saints will have three days to decide whether to make the offer, and with Gresham's talent and value it's likely he'll join Crow-turned-Lion Tom Doedee in earning a deal valued at band two compensation.

A finalised move for the South Morang junior would then free up both clubs to place a focus on their trade plans ahead of next Wednesday's trade period deadline, with the Bombers needing to settle deals with several other clubs that will involve defensive pair Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Massimo D'Ambrosio, who are hoping to get to Port Adelaide and Hawthorn respectively.

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

A deal with the Power for Zerk-Thatcher could include Victorian wingman Xavier Duursma, who has requested a trade to Tullamarine.

The Saints are also set to see players coming in and out of Linton Street over the next few days, with Fremantle's Liam Henry looking to make the switch east while St Kilda defender Nick Coffield has requested a move to the Western Bulldogs.

And while those deals could also land as early as Friday, the free agency window's expiry is quickly closing in.

A total of 21 players are still eligible to exercise their rights as free agents before 5:00pm, with Gresham the only player under the restricted band still remaining unsigned.

As well as Gresham's expected move to Essendon, Richmond tall Bigoa Nyuon could land at Arden Street following strong links to North Melbourne over the past week.

Nyuon, 22, is eligible for free agency given he was previously delisted by the Tigers and then re-listed via the Rookie Draft two years ago.

Others who are also eligible after previously being removed from the senior list are Brisbane's Rhys Mathieson, Essendon's Will Snelling, Suns recruit Jake Stein, Hawks forward Fergus Greene, journeyman Tom Campbell, West Coast's Zane Trew and Bulldog Roarke Smith.

Former Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko is also still yet to cement his future, while premiership Geelong pair Tom Hawkins and Rhys Stanley are expected to recommit to the Cats for another year.

GWS veteran Lachie Keeffe is in a limbo state after being told to wait until after the trade period to know where his position with the Giants sits, as the New South Wales club plans to lure Elliott Himmelberg from Adelaide.

St Kilda's Dan McKenzie is another who faces an uncertain future, with the wingman heading overseas to undergo special medical treatment after a season sidelined by soft tissue injuries.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Jack Ross of the Tigers tackles Scott Lycett of the Power during the 2019 AFL round 04 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval on April 13, 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett is also treading water for the next week as the Power look to attain ruck pair Jordon Sweet and Ivan Soldo from the Bulldogs and Tigers respectively.

If Soldo, who is under contract, doesn't head to Alberton, then Lycett will be a strong chance to earn a new deal. If Soldo does move, then the aforementioned Nyuon may be a required player at Punt Road and could land an extension at Tigerland.

A total of six players have found new homes via free agency so far this off-season:

James Jordon (Melbourne to Sydney)
Matthew Flynn (GWS to West Coast)
Joel Hamling (Fremantle to Sydney)
Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne to Essendon)
Tom Dodee (Adelaide to Brisbane)
Ben McKay (North Melbourne to Essendon)

Players who aren't offered new deals prior to the end of this month can still find new homes via delisted free agency, which opens on November 1. They can also be re-listed via the Rookie Draft if they haven't already served the maximum three years on the rookie list.