Welcome to Off-Season Central.
Below you can track every move by every club leading into and across the 2023 off-season.
Here’s everything you need to know about what your team is doing to prepare for 2024.
OCTOBER 31 – DOGS/DEES ROLL THE DICE WITH BIG LIST CALLS
Both Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs have joined other clubs in the perhaps risky move of delisting three players but pledging to re-sign them in the Rookie Draft.
For the Demons, Jake Melksham has been cut from their list as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear suffered late in the season.
Melksham, who famously missed Melbourne’s 2021 premiership win when named as an emergency, has played 221 AFL games for both the Dees and Bombers.
For the Dogs, Taylor Duryea and Lachie McNeil have also been cut from their list with the promise to re-join the club come late November.
Duryea is a two-time premiership player who featured 20 times at senior level this season.
McNeil has played 42 games during his three seasons at the Dogs.
The delistings are a gamble by clubs given the outcome of the Gold Coast Suns’ call on Hugh Greenwood at the end of 2021.
Instead of the Suns getting the chance to pick Greenwood back up, North Melbourne pounced. Melksham, Duryea and McNeil could be signed by any club before the rookie draft.
The AFL Rookie Draft will be held on Wednesday 22 November, following two days of National Draft activity.
OCTOBER 31 – ‘NEVER NICE’ CALL MADE ON SAINT
St Kilda has delisted key defender Tom Highmore ahead of 2024.
Highmore joined the Saints with pick No.45 in the 2020 draft and played a total of 16 senior games.
“It’s never nice leaving a player in an uncertain situation and it has been a very difficult decision to come to,” football boss David Misson said.
“Tom has been a popular member of our playing group throughout his time with the Saints.
“His positive attitude and willingness to remain adaptable and play wherever needed is a credit to his character.
“We wish Tom all the best for this next chapter.”
OCTOBER 31 – DOGS DELIST DUO
The Western Bulldogs have delisted Hayden Crozier and Roarke Smith.
Crozier arrived at the Dogs from Fremantle in the 2017 trade period and played 73 senior games across six seasons under Luke Beveridge.
Smith was taken in the 2015 rookie draft and played 47 games in nine seasons.
“Both Hayden and Roarke have made a significant contribution to our playing group, both on and off the field,” list manager Sam Power said.
“The pair always had a team-first attitude and would play any role required for the team and we thank them for their dedication to the Western Bulldogs.
“We wish Hayden and Roarke, as well as their families, all the best for the future. They’re always welcome back at VU Whitten Oval.”
The Dogs have now delisted seven players ahead of 2024.
OCTOBER 30 – FOUR MORE GONE FROM PORT
Port Adelaide have made four more list changes, including the retirement of Scott Lycett and free agency move of Orazio Fantasia.
While Lycett has not publicly confirmed his intentions, the Power said the premiership ruckman “has indicated to the club he will retire”.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reported Lycett has not yet made up his mind, with St Kilda in the box seat to sign him “if he reconsiders”.
Meanwhile Fantasia is set to join Carlton having declined Port’s offer of a new contract.
Sam Hayes has been delisted, continuing the club’s ruck cleanout, and Jake Pasini has been delisted despite being contracted for another year.
“Scott has been an outstanding contributor for two clubs across his 146 games, including as a premiership player at West Coast,” coach Ken Hinkley said of Lycett’s apparent retirement.
“He was an incredible workhorse for our club during the last five seasons and was totally focussed on putting his teammates first. As a former Port Adelaide junior, Scott was Port Adelaide through and through and we thank him for his passion and commitment to our club.
“We congratulate Scott on a great career and we will look for an opportunity next year to acknowledge and celebrate his career more formally.”
OCTOBER 30 – LATEST ON ROOKIE MOVES
AFL clubs are making calls on their rookie-listed players ahead of October 31’s first list lodgement deadline.
They are required to inform the league who they wish to upgrade as part of their draft plans.
Adelaide revealed it will elevate third-year rookie Nick Murray to the primary list while fellow defender James Borlase will be delisted, with a commitment to re-select him in the rookie draft.
Borlase may be an important player in the Crows’ back six in 2024, with Murray still sidelined after a mid-season ACL injury.
Players who are delisted with a commitment to be re-selected are not certainties to return to their club, because they can be signed by any club.
Somewhat famously Gold Coast tried to keep Hugh Greenwood using that method in 2021, but North Melbourne made him a larger contract offer and he joined the Kangaroos.
OCTOBER 27 – PIES’ BRUTAL FATHER-SON CALL, BUT HOPE NOT LOST
Collingwood has confirmed father-son Will Kelly won’t be offered a new deal for 2024 – but not all hope is lost for the 23-year-old.
The Magpies have pledged to “explore” the option of putting Kelly back on the list after the AFL draft.
That means Kelly would train with the squad over summer ahead of the 2024 Supplementary Selection Period (SSP).
“Unfortunately for Will, he has faced injury challenges that have kept him out of the AFL side, but his strong willpower and ability to develop through our VFL program should be commended,” Pies’ footy boss Graham Wright said.
“We have informed Will we will consider adding him as a train-on player over the pre-season if we have SSP spots available following the completion of the draft process in November.”
Kelly has managed just five AFL games since being snapped up in the 2018 Draft.
The Kelly call comes after the club re-signed trio Aiden Begg, Nathan Kreuger, and Josh Carmichael on one-year deals.
