Just four restricted free agents remain in 2024 following a busy mid-season signing spree involving several clubs, with the minimised crop of unsigned stars leading to increased intrigue in those still yet to make a call on their future.
The group of players eligible for free agency under the restricted band this year has more than halved in recent months, with Sydney retaining in-demand forward Will Hayward and Brisbane locking midfield pair Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry to long-term extensions as Bomber Andrew McGrath and Hawthorn hard-nut Blake Hardwick also recommitted to their respective sides.
Berry's recent signing has left a quartet of players who fall under the restricted tag and are yet to sign on beyond this year, with North Melbourne's Cameron Zurhaar perhaps the most intriguing of the lot.
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield, Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English and Gold Coast's Ben Ainsworth are the other three names who fit the category.
Players who are among the top 25 per cent earners at their club qualify as restricted free agency, meaning their clubs have the right to match rival offers and force a trade deal instead of losing them with no resistance. An unmatched offer would still lead to draft compensation.
Most players are often in line for bumper deals once they reach restricted free agency, but in Dangerfield's case it's like the Brownlow Medal winner takes a cut to his pay should he opt to enter his 18th season in the top flight.
His departure from Adelaide in 2015 was his first window as a free agent, with players required to serve at least eight years at the one club before being able to utilise the open market - unless they've previously been delisted.
Despite Adelaide's reported push for the 34-year-old, it's hard to see Dangerfield depart Kardinia Park for another club, with a new contract or retirement the likely two scenarios for the star Cat to choose from.
Geelong have a plethora of senior players who are still off-contract and listed as free agents in 2024, with premiership contingent Mitch Duncan, Jack Henry, Tom Hawkins, Jed Bews, Rhys Stanley, Jake Kolodjashnij, Zach Tuohy and Brandan Parfitt joining Dangerfield as free agent Cats, however under the unrestricted band.
The Cats have managed to secure their three biggest retention targets for the year, with Max Holmes (2028), Tom Stewart (2027) and Tyson Stengle (2029) over the past seven months, the latter turning his back on free agency.
For Dangerfield, it's likely any decision will come after the cessation of the current season, with all parties expected to come to the table and assess an agreement for 2025 and potentially beyond.
There's even less uncertainty it seems for the aforementioned Tim English, who was once viewed as a top target for clubs from his home state of Western Australia. But with the Eagles needing to place their money elsewhere and hold onto their top draft selections, any move for the All-Australian looks like a long shot.
Similar can be said of Fremantle, who have the draft capital but not the desire to add to their rucks stocks given the long-term deals of star duo Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy.
It's hard to see English depart for any club that isn't one of those two clubs during his career, with all signs pointing to a new deal with the Bulldogs. English's re-signing would continue the Dogs' stellar retention run, having already locked in forward pair Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton before their deals ended this year.
Zurhaar could join Dangerfield in making an 11th-hour decision, likely waiting to get a look at the whole picture of what North Melbourne can potentially promise in the years ahead.
The Western Australian has played in just 25 wins across his 113-game career as a Kangaroo, with the energetic forward wanting to compete for a premiership in his next contract.
That could come with the Roos, who have shown glimpses this season despite having just the one win on the board, but impatience from Zurhaar's end could spell for an off-season departure.
There's been little reported on sides looking at Zurhaar's services, but his management has flagged there's been no lack of interest across the course of the year.
Any rival offer will be carefully considered by the Kangaroos too, with their place high on this year's draft board meaning any draft compensation will be a pick of good value. While unlikely to earn band one compensation and hold successive top five picks for the second straight year, band two compensation could see them land another first-round selection at the tail of the order on the opening night of the draft.
Zurhaar's decision could very well hinge on how many wins the Kangaroos can conjure in the second half of the season, with the competition this year seeing more than a dozen sides contending for a September chance and potentially giving the 26-year-old plenty to consider beyond this year.
Lastly, Suns half-forward Ben Ainsworth could see interest in his name rise even further in the coming weeks after the recent recommitment from Stengle at Geelong.
Clubs keen to add some small forward flare to their squad without having to give up draft capital could see Ainsworth as the best name on the open market given Stengle and Hayward both decided against free agency ventures.
He further proved his pedigree over the weekend with a 28-disposal and two-goal outing in the win over Collingwood - arguably his best game yet in 132 matches for the Suns.
St Kilda and Essendon could both be in the market given their ties to Stengle, while Port Adelaide can't be discounted either.
The Suns are sure to be keen on retaining the Morwell product, but with a preference to acquire draft picks for Academy bids in 2024 and 2025, it may come down to how high the bids for Ainsworth are set.
A strong enough offer could force the Suns' hand and see them add a fourth first-round pick to their draft hand and allow the interested buyer to secure his services without a trade, but the Suns could still pocket multiple draft selections and the needed points boost if they were to match the contract demands.
