Uncontracted Sun Jeremy Sharp could earn an unimpeded walk home to Western Australia 12 months after a deal that would have made him a Docker broke down.
While Sharp wanted out of Carrara and in at Cockburn during the 2022 trade period, with David Walls' list management team predisposed with bringing Luke Jackson home across the Nullarbor, the 22-year-old remained a Sun for the 2023 season.
2023 was not fruitful for Sharp, however, with the East Fremantle product failing to feature under Stuart Dew or Steven King at any stage.
Yet, with noted dash off half-back, and Fremantle defender Hayden Young mooted to spend more minutes in the midfield next season, the Dockers are sure to be interested in Sharp, especially if his services come without a pricetag.
While the Suns and Dockers were unable to strike a trade last October, given Sharp is without a deal to stay on it red and yellow for 2024, former Fremantle midfielder Paul Hasleby claimed his old club could sign the rebounder as a delisted free-agent.
“He is out of contract, so he could be a delisted player Jeremy Sharp,” Hasleby said on SEN radio waves.
“He hasn't been in contention for a game this year.
“So, he could just be delisted and then Fremantle can pick him up as a delisted free agent.
“They may not have to give something up for him. But I do understand that Jeremy Sharp will be at the Fremantle Dockers next season.
“He hasn't been playing (at the Suns) … Whether that was because he tried to leave last year and they weren't too happy with it. That's if they didn't want to give him another chance because they thought that he was going to be a flight risk again.
“But he's got work to do, they've all got work to do down there in Fremantle and there's a number of positions particularly on the wings that are available for whoever has the best pre-season.”
Should Walls and company be forced to the trade table, the Dockers are currently armed with picks 21, 40, 52, 58 and 79 in order to get a deal done.