A decade ago, the AFL followed the lead of the American sporting codes by introducing a free agency program.
The policy has led to the biggest shift in the employee/employer relations since the induction of the eight-hour working day and the biggest in the code since the short-lived ten-year rule of the Seventies.
The past shackles of clearances, poor salaries and a powerless playing class were cast off, with million dollar deals over multiple years becoming the new norm.
No sooner had this new age been established did the term โpre-agency' become a side-effect and a part of the footballing vernacular.
The tag of pre-agent relates to those that are still on contract with their current clubs, but come the agreements conclusion, they will have served a tenure long enough to be granted either restricted or unrestricted free agency status.
Recently, clubs have begun shopping these players prior to their contracts completion in an effort to avoid leaving future negotiations empty handed. Players have also been known to openly flirt with other teams as a means of securing an extension from their current cheque cutters.
With the conclusion of the 2020 season imminent and the trade period around the following corner, we've compiled a list of the players that will enter free agency this time next year.
Below are all 18 club's most interesting 'pre-agent', with some added speculation about what their futures may hold.
Fremantle
Matt Taberner
Should you search the term ameliorated in the dictionary, you are unlikely to find a picture of Matt Taberner, however, the description would definitely befit the key forward's 2020 rise.
Despite the condensed season, Taberner recorded more games, goals, marks, contested marks and grabs inside fifty when compared with last season.
The streak lives on!
Matt Taberner has now kicked a goal in each of his 13 matches this season ๐ฏ#AFLFreoGiants pic.twitter.com/LJIkWseAEb
โ AFL (@AFL) August 29, 2020
Even though the 27-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent next season, you can bet your bottom dollar that he'll remain clad in purple.
With Jesse Hogan's future in the port of Perth appearing to be over, Taberner's stocks as the lynchpin in Fremantle's forward fifty have simultaneously strengthening.
Expect a lengthy, numerically reasonable deal to be placed before the former Murray Bushranger at the first time of asking.
Having spent the entirety of his career in Perth, veteran Stephen Hill is also set to come off contract at the end of next season, thus making him an unrestricted free agent.
Although his brother Brad shifted over the Nullarbor last season, expect Stephen to remain a Docker and to continue aiding the growth of the club's young midfield fleet.