The first of three delisted free agency windows will open next Wednesday following the first list lodgement of the off-season for AFL clubs.
The signing window will give players who have recently been discarded an opportunity to prove their value at the elite level, with the likes of Tyson Stengle, Mitch Robinson, Dylan Roberton and Joel Hamling among those who have found success at new clubs after being delisted.
The opening window will commence on November 1 and will run for one week, with the period open again from 9:00am-5:00pm (AEDT) two days later. The period will again recommence at the completion of the National Draft on November 21.
While players who did not have a contract for the 2023 season are able to be recruited via delisted free agency, there are a number of recently culled candidates that could earn a reprieve at a new club this off-season.
We've looked at some of the players who might be worth a look as a cheaper acquisition for clubs to consider.
The ex-Giant and now former Crows midfielder was among a quartet of Adelaide players shown the door shortly after their heart-breaking conclusion to 2023.
Hately managed just the one appearance for the Crows this year - which came as the tactical sub in a Round 19 loss to Melbourne. He was left to compete at the SANFL level as spots in Matthew Nicks' midfield were hard to come by, but the former first-round draft selection would put his best foot forward in the state league.
Hately would earn a spot in the SANFL Team of the Year and would finish in the top 10 for the Magarey Medal thanks to a strong season for the Crows' reserves, where he averaged 24.4 disposals at an efficiency of 85% to go with 4.6 marks, 6,8 tackles, 5.3 inside 50s and 4.5 clearances per game.
Able to play both inside and outside midfield, Hately could be an enticing addition for a club needing to add to their engine room for 2024.
Mathieson's past 18 months at VFL level were exceptional, with the hard-nosed midfielder putting selection pressure on the star-studded group that were ahead of him in the pecking order under Chris Fagan.
With the likes of Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluaggage and new young gun Will Ashcroft earning favouritism, Mathieson was left to ply his trade at the lower level but would still be a class above.
In 2022 he would close to 33 disposals per game before eventually earning a recall to the AFL side, where he'd play out the last 10 games of Brisbane's campaign - including their trio of finals matches.
Despite just the 13 games at VFL level that year, Mathieson would finish top five in the J.J. Liston Trophy and Coaches Award voting as arguably the competition's premier ball winner.
In 2023 he averaged 29.4 disposals, 7.5 clearances and 3.9 tackles per game to continue to dominate in the VFL, but injuries would prevent him from a full season and potentially further chances at the top level.
The departed Magpie managed 18 games over four seasons in the black and white - a spell that included roles at either end of the field for Collingwood.
Ruscoe burst onto the scene in 2020 with four scoring shots on debut in a win over Sydney before booting multiple majors in two of his next three games in what would be a short maiden campaign under then-coach Nathan Buckley.
Ruscoe would show some further signs the following year as the Magpies struggled to contend, with a move to defence eventually on the cards for the Western Australian.
The switch was fruitful, with the 21-year-old recording at least 20 disposals in three straight games before the end of the season. Under new coach Craig McRae, Ruscoe would appear in just five matches across a two-year period, with the best game of his career arguably coming in his sole appearance of 2023 - Anzac Day.
Ruscoe would put forward some pivotal pieces of play in the thrilling comeback win to potentially retain his spot on the senior side, only for the back flanker to again fall out of selection.
With upside and versatility on his side, Ruscoe could be one player who gains interest from other clubs this off-season.
One of two players on this list that never managed to make their AFL debut, having only been on Essendon's list for 12 months.
Montgomerie was a mature-aged recruit out of the SANFL via last year's Rookie Draft as the Bombers looked to add depth to their backline, adding the impressive interceptor out of Central District.
He would play 16 games in the red and black and amass an average of 8.7 marks per game at VFL level - good for second most in the competition among players with more than five appearances for the year - as Montgomerie showed off his aerial prowess.
Montgomerie would also come away with a mean 18.4 disposals, managing to find plenty of the ball but unable to come ahead of Kaine Baldwin, Sam Weideman or Jake Kelly as a defensive option for Brad Scott.
With a number of sides keen to add some height to their backline, Montgomerie could be their man.
A hard luck story at Geelong, with Simpson left to spend over 600 days between AFL appearances prior to Round 6 this year due to an ongoing battle with concussion.
The father-son recruit would boot two goals from his 14 touches in his return game but would manage just five more games for the Cats before being culled.
The midfield-forward featured in Geelong's 2020 Grand Final side but would unfortunately face setbacks to miss out on a chance of competing at AFL level during the club's premiership-winning 2022 campaign.
Simpson showed off his ball-winning traits and promise with a 27-disposal outing against Brisbane just a few years ago to start his 2020 campaign and had plenty of signs as a reliable forward this year - booting seven goals in his first four games of the season.
Stunningly, the Suns decided to part ways with tied Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medal winner after just one season, with McLaughlin departing Carrara after a successful move north from Frankston.
The mature-aged recruit kicked 55 goals this year for Gold Coast's reserves to help lead them to their first piece of silverware, tying with teammate Chris Burgess to sit atop the competition's goalkicking tally.
At 193cm tall, McLaughlin is a threatening medium-sized attacker that can do as much damage in the air as he can at ground level with his burst of speed and a keen eye for goal.
The likes of St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs have been tied to the impressive ex-Sun, who somehow couldn't break into the Queensland club's senior team in his on season on their list.
A name perhaps not familiar to many, but Fleeton would be a standout for the GWS Giants' reserves this year to earn an AFL debut and manage two appearances under Adam Kingsley.
The medium-sized backman featured in the mid-season defeats to Collingwood and St Kilda and while he couldn't have a significant impact across his pair of appearances, Fleeton would show glimpses as a developing 21-year-old defender.
The youngster would be good for 22.3 disposals and 8.1 marks at VFL level to earn a spot in the 2023 VFL Team of the Year in just his third year at the elite level.
A good kick out of defence, there could be some interest in the Geelong Falcons product.
Bramble's departure might've come as some surprise to those who support the brown and gold, with the 25-year-old's contract not extended at the conclusion of his third season at Waverley.
The defence-midfield hybrid managed 11 appearances for the Hawks this year after starting the season in Sam Mitchell's best 23 before falling in and out of favour until the end of the year.
Bramble would be good for 16.55 disposals this year as a half-back who could float up the ground and work on the outside of stoppages.
He would record 20 or more disposals in 10 of his 13 matches at the state league level for Box Hill in 2023 as a half-back or wing option that could find the ball and look to offer an attacking edge out of defence.
Another half-back AFL clubs might consider given his youth and potential, Perez's time at Arden Street was up and down over his four years with the Roos.
Perez joined North Melbourne after an injury-riddled draft journey but would join the club via the 2019 National Draft and would make his debut the following year - ending his maiden season with three matches to his name.
A serious knee injury would sideline him for the entirety of 2021, with Perez soon working his way back from the injury to play in 16 games last year.
Perez would manage five games in 2023 before being delisted, but would put forward some memorable pieces of play to catch the eye of onlookers.
The ruck merry-go-round was in full spin once again this off-season and could continue through delisted free agency - potentially including discarded Port Adelaide tall Brynn Teakle.
The East Fremantle product departed Alberton after one-and-a-half seasons with the Power after he was recruited out of the WAFL through the 2022 Mid-Season Draft as a promising ruck-forward hybrid.
Teakle was also trialled as a defender this year in the SANFL and would show some promise in the role, emerging as a versatile key position talent for clubs to potentially consider.
Several clubs have already been linked to the 24-year-old, who could gain further interest as the market for ruckman remains active.
Joining Teakle in having not been offered an extension at Port Adelaide this off-season is Bonner, who is among the most experienced names on this list.
The 93-gamer was often on the fringes of selection but had a number of strong outings under Ken Hinkley that saw his value come to light.
A 32-disposal preliminary final performance in 2021 was among Bonner's highlights, while he also collected a career-high 37 touches against the reigning premiers last year.
A well-rated half-back that boasts experience and know-how, Bonner could be a good option to consider given he'd come on the cheap.
The 2016 premiership Bulldog was another hard luck story, having battled through two ACL injuries during a three-year span to limit his experience at the elite level.
McLean would end his time with the Dogs at 102 games, featuring in six matches this year that would more than double his games tally since the start of 2021.
The midfield-forward hybrid enjoyed a career-best year in 2018, averaging 23.86 disposals and 5.73 tackles as part of a strong midfield pack under Luke Beveridge.
McLean managed a near-full season this year across the AFL and VFL to hopefully have his injury woes behind him.