Every AFL club's most intriguing crop of off-contract players: Part 3

The finale of our three-part series has arrived, as we assess the Power, Tigers, Saints, Swans, Eagles, and Bulldogs.

SUBSCRIBER | August 15, 2023 - 3:30pm

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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 – and everything else of the like – 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 year, 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.

READ: PART 1 and PART 2

So, without further ado, let's explore the final six teams and their interesting off-contract assets.

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4. Sydney Swans

Most of the off-season intrigue surrounding the Swans this year regards the reported notion that they're pursuing a key-position pillar. Things probably haven't gone to plan for Sydney in the player movement department thus far, with Tom De Koning recommitting at Carlton, Harry Himmelberg pledging his future to GWS, and star Eagle Tom Barrass reportedly keen on seeing out his West Coast contract.

Clearly, Swans higher-ups Tom Harley, Kinnear Beatson and Co are future-planning for the post-Buddy era, with multiple pre-existing Swans under cloudy contract situations.

Hayden McLean
Burgeoning key forward Joel Amartey recently put pen to paper on a three-year deal to cement his footballing future in the Harbour City, leaving McLean as one of the remaining key contract dominos yet to fall for the Swans.

With Lance Franklin confirming assumptions he's hanging up the boots this year, it would seem more likely than not that McLean is part of Sydney's long-term future, even with emerging key forward Logan McDonald also locked down in Sydney through to the end of next year.

Was Amartey's recommitment prioritised over McLean's? Or is McLean – a Sandringham product – holding out in hopes of capitalising on serious Victorian interest?

St Kilda and Collingwood make a lot of sense as potential destination clubs. The Saints enjoy the location factor McLean may desire, and they should be in the market for a secondary bonafide key forward to partner with marksman Max King.

The Magpies, however, boast the "powerhouse club" status, firmly entrenched in the premiership conversation, and are potentially in the market for a long-term prospect at the key-forward position considering questions over Brody Mihocek's ability to own a forward line, as well as Dan McStay's lingering injury issues.

Albeit, that duo may have inspired enough confidence in Collingwood's list committee to this point in the year. Plus, the retention of Ash Johnson has been secured.

Further, with reports continuing to emerge regarding Sydney's apparent desire to attract a key-position swingman to the Harbour City this year, maybe McLean's services aren't as valued in red and white as initially presumed.

Will Gould
After being made to wait a seemingly-endless amount of time before he was afforded an AFL debut, Gould once again finds himself on the outs with coach John Longmire and Sydney's match committee.

A second-round draft selection in 2019, the hard-nosed defender didn't manage a single game in any of his first three AFL campaigns, finally debuting in Round 5 this season against Richmond.

Since his maiden appearance, though, Gould played just three additional games before he was omitted for Sydney's Round 11 bout with Carlton.

He hasn't appeared at AFL level since, with his current Swans contract set to expire at the conclusion of this season.

Would the Glenelg product be a target for either Port Adelaide or Adelaide? Still just 22 years of age, Gould fits the Crows' youthful age demographic and would bring a physical edge to Nicks' defence; at the very least providing valuable depth.

At Alberton Oval, Tom Jonas, Trent McKenzie, Tom Clurey, and Aliir Aliir will all be 29-plus years old at the start of next season, with Gould possibly presenting as an attractive injection of youth.

Questions will linger as long as Gould remains locked out of Sydney's senior side.

Lachlan McAndrew
McAndrew's situation is another intriguing case to ponder, particularly as veteran ruckman Tom Hickey's career draws nearer to a close, and ex-Power ruck-forward Peter Ladhams' position in Longmire's squad remains uncertain.

The 23-year-old McAndrew has participated in just a pair of senior Swans games, appearing in Rounds 10 and 11 in the absence of injured pair Hickey and McDonald, before being relegated back to the VFL ahead of the Swans' Round 13 clash with St Kilda.

Still with plenty of youth on his side, and considering the prolonged development timeline of most AFL big men, the Swans are likely preaching patience with the off-contract McAndrew.

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