The 2023 AFL season has well and truly ticked into the business end of proceedings, and with that, the on-field activity becomes increasingly captivating.
Discussion and debate about the state of umpiring, dangerous tackles and the MRO, 'wildcard' finals formats โ and everything else of the like โ has dominated the league's agenda to this point in the year.
However, as we edge excitedly closer to the flag-deciding matchups of this season, we also creep closer to the off-season; signalling free agency and trades!
As is the case every season, an array of appealing talent is potentially up for grabs.
In this three-part series, we're not necessarily analysing each club's biggest or most popular off-contract names. Rather, we've examined every squad's most intriguing crop of players whose contract situations provoke curiosity.
So, without further ado, let's explore the first six teams and their off-contract assets.
5. Essendon
The prolonged, complex contract standstills involving Darcy Parish and Mason Redman have been well-documented, with the duo understood to still be weighing up respective offers from the Bombers, as well as interest from rival suitors.
Therefore, not a lot of detail is needed regarding the star pair's situation.
Dyson Heppell
Heppell, meanwhile, hasn't had his contract circumstances discussed at much length, despite his status as an unrestricted free agent.
While Essendon's ex-skipper seems most likely to hang up the boots after this season, he's played in all but one of the Bombers' games in 2023, demonstrating late-career durability.
Heppell's play hasn't always been the most reliable among Brad Scott's burgeoning squad, sometimes prone to skill error or a lack of physicality at the contest, however, the overall leadership presence he provides to the young Dons is one of his more invaluable traits.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
Zerk-Thatcher, while a promising long-term key-position prospect at the Hangar, has been prone to defensive lapses this season, particularly in one-on-one contests with powerful opposition forwards. The 24-year-old has logged 21 contested defensive losses (CDL) from 57 contested defensive one-on-ones (CDOOO), with his loss tally currently ranking worst in the AFL among those who have been involved in at least 27 CDOOOs.
Intercepting on instinct, though, has been more of a consistent strength for Zerk-Thatcher, averaging 2.1 intercept marks per game, having demonstrated enough prowess to earn the trust of Essendon's coaching staff on a week-to-week basis.
Adrian Dodoro and the Bombers' list management circle will ponder Zerk-Thatcher's lapses from a one-on-one standpoint, undoubtedly making a note of the potential long-term concerns they could raise for the Bombers.
However, with rival clubs understood to be circling Zerk-Thatcher if an Essendon agreement can't be arranged, the imminent offering of an extension at Tullamarine seems overwhelmingly likely, as we haven't yet witnessed the youngster's finished product.
