Following on from a busy 2020 trade and free agency period, 2021 could see some massive names hit the open market.
It begs the question - who are the most gettable stars from next year's free agent class?
Perhaps the biggest two names that could enter restricted free agency are superstar duo Marcus Bontempelli and Patrick Cripps.
Other potential big-name 2021 free agents include Matt Crouch, Rory Laird, Zach Merrett, Josh Kelly, Jack Billings and Luke Parker.
Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Jack Heverin and David King discussed the upcoming free agents and who might be gettable.
โI think next year will be important for Essendon. If they look like theyโre having an upward trajectory, youโd think he (Merrett) would want to stick around,โ Heverin said.
โIโd be very, very, very surprised if Patrick Cripps goes anywhere. He seems so committed to the cause.
โBontempelli the same and it feels like every two years we talk about Luke Parker and coming back to Melbourne. He hasnโt come back yet and he isnโt coming back.
โMaybe itโs Josh Kelly or possibly Zach Merrett at this stage.โ
King added that the Cripps and Merrett situations will be a discussion all season, and related it back to what happened with Tom Lynch.
โI think Cripps will be the discussion all year,โ he said.
โItโs a little bit similar to Tom Lynch with the Gold Coast, theyโve given so much, theyโve been so good for your football club.
โYou need to show, and I think Carlton will, the player that they are trending the right way towards that premiership opportunity.
โI think theyโll have a very good year next year.
โIโm a bit with you with Merrett. Itโs the same discussion โ can Essendon show Zach Merrett that Essendonโs on the right trajectory?โ
