Yeah agree.
Both Sydney and Hawthorn are really good at bringing guys in to play a specific role and getting the maximum out of them. Just play your defined role really well. Play to that strength don’t worry about your weaknesses.
Both clubs have had a lot of success doing it.
I could be cynical and say there’s a bit to the small ground advantage with some blokes they’ve succeeded with.
Menzel won’t be exposed as much - if his opponents take a dozen paces they’ll be in the midfield.
You just know Menzel is going to get 5 against us.
Frang will jump on his head and bust both ACLs at once.
Edit- Menzels ACLs! (Ok I hope he doesn’t but you get the idea)
They didn’t get Rohan to star and they are similar players. Doubt he will star other than the usual cameo game. He is the last player they actually needed imo.
I hope you mean Menzel’s ACL’s you traitorous ■■■■■■■
Mitch Cleary and Marc McGowan
Nov 1, 2019 6:00AM
(L-R) Sam Gray, Josh Walker and Sam Murray are all looking for a new AFL home. All pictures: AFL Photos
THE DELISTED Player Free Agency Period officially kicks off on Friday and there are a stack of names hoping for an AFL lifeline.
Who will get another opportunity and which clubs are interested?
Check out the list of players below that could be picked up.
Free to explore his options as a delisted free agent after he was cut by the Cats with a year to run on his existing contract. The 28-year-old ruckman, who managed just one game this year, could fill the void at a club looking for big man depth. Has been promised a rookie spot at the Cats if he doesn’t find a new suitor.
There’s genuine interest in the ex-Docker and Sun, who will almost certainly join a third club for next season. Melbourne, Geelong and Sydney are among the six clubs to have enquired or met with 83-gamer Bennell, who struggled with repeat calf issues at Fremantle and has gone under the knife in recent times. The 27-year-old’s upside is huge and he is capable of being a difference-maker if his body behaves.
Brand will be signed by Sydney. He looked set to be part of the Hawks’ long-term future when he played 17 games in the 2017 season. However, the 25-year-old found senior opportunities harder to come by the past two years. At 198cm, Brand is genuine key defender height and he even swung forward to kick a couple of goals in a VFL match this year.
Starting to gauge interest in the hope of landing a third club after his surprise axing from Essendon on Wednesday. At 29 he won’t suit all clubs, but has proven he can play a role across half-forward. Kicked 21 goals from 16 games in 2019. One to keep an eye on later through the delisted free agency windows.
Poised to join Port Adelaide on a one-year deal as early as Friday. After the Power lost Billy Frampton and Paddy Ryder last month, Buzza will provide key forward depth. The 23-year-old kicked 32 goals from 17 games in the VFL this year. Last played AFL in round 17, 2018.
Played the last six AFL games for Carlton after the Blues revived his AFL career – he made four appearances for Fremantle in 2017 – in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. Starred in the WAFL as a midfielder but was utilised as a small forward at Ikon Park. Carlton cut him at year’s end, but he scored an invite to train there in the pre-season.
Available to any club after he was cut from the Pies following a second consecutive ACL injury. If he doesn’t find a home, the 32-year-old will train at the Holden Centre in the hope of winning a spot as a rookie either through the draft or pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).
Sydney will sign Gray after the delisting of Daniel Menzel on Wednesday. Gray knocked back a one-year deal at Port Adelaide through September and canvassed options only to be left on the shelf at the deadline before the Swans came calling. Played 20 games for 20 goals at the Power in 2019.
Can he find a fourth club? Preferred role is as a key defender but was thrown into attack for Geelong’s preliminary final against Richmond. Will start next year as a 30-year-old. Hard to see the former Lion, Blue and Cat leaving Victoria for a second time.
The 23-year-old was on clubs’ radars enough during the mid-season draft to earn a medical screening in the lead-up. The former Roo, who played four matches in 2017, had a strong end to the VFL season with Williamstown and was named in the League’s Team of the Year on a wing.
Back on several clubs’ radar after Sydney’s surprise decision to delist the Eastern Ranges product, who was recruited in this year’s mid-season draft. Hirst’s best chance will come in the rookie draft or pre-season supplemental selection period rather than as a delisted free agent. Crushed Stephen Hill’s agility record at the 2018 Rookie Me Combine, has speed to burn and now tips the scales above 70kg – still light – after his brief time at the Swans.
Has enough tricks as a half-forward to find a second home. Played five games in each of his first two seasons in 2017-2018 but was limited to one this season.
The No.24 pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft was never able to establish himself as a senior regular at Brisbane after playing 16 of his 30 games in his debut season. Midfielder-forward Keays won the Andrew Ireland Medal as the best player afield in the 2017 NEAFL Grand Final but made only four more AFL appearances after that.
Played in West Coast’s 2018 premiership and became a selfless role player in more recent seasons. The 215-game veteran may be 30 but he is still a pre-season standard-bearer and is capable of slotting in immediately wherever he goes. Masten’s had snippets of interest and appears best suited to a team in need of a hard-runner.
Had early interest from Fremantle which has dissipated after the Dockers landed James Aish and Blake Acres in the Telstra AFL Trade Period. His best-on-ground VFL preliminary final with 27 disposals and three goals impressed a few clubs. The dashing wingman played 39 games across five seasons at Richmond, including six games in 2019.
Has been training on his own for four weeks and feels in his best physical shape in over seven years. Will attempt to meet with clubs in coming weeks after he was cut by the Swans on Wednesday.
Ex-Saint Minchington was nearing senior selection at his second club Hawthorn late in the year before his latest hamstring setback sidelined him and eventually saw him delisted. The small forward is set to take up an offer to continue training with the Hawks in the pre-season, assuming another club doesn’t swoop beforehand.
Cut by Richmond after an injury-interrupted year, the 23-year-old has gauged early interest from Essendon and could fill a role after Mitch Brown’s delisting. Stands at 193cm and some clubs see him as a forward, where he played early in his time at Punt Road, or as a defender, where he was used in parts this year. Played the last of eight AFL games in 2018.
The former Magpie and Swan can start training with an AFL club from December 17, following his 18-month ban after cocaine was detected in his system in a match-day test. Melbourne, Richmond, Greater Western Sydney and North Melbourne are believed to be among the parties to have shown interest in Murray. Expect the dashing defender to be on an AFL list in 2020.
Knocked back a two-year deal at St Kilda and could be the first delisted free agent to land at a new club when he joins Carlton. The wingman proven his durability with a stretch of 123 straight games up to round 14 this year when he was dumped by then-coach Alan Richardson.
Received early interest from Greater Western Sydney which has cooled in recent times. The 23-year-old played five matches for Fremantle this season and has shown he’s up to a number of different roles. Don’t rule out a move to Carlton or Gold Coast with their new-found links to the Northern Territory – where Nyhuis was raised.
Looks a different player from the inside midfielder who departed West Coast with six games to his name at the end of 2018. Has added run and carry to his game and recorded a sub-three second 20m sprint at the SA Combine. Averaged 29 disposals, winning a SANFL premiership and the Magarey Medal this year.
Roberts has never been a big possession-winner but he was a key defensive staple in the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 flag run. The 26-year-old played only 14 more games in the next three seasons despite the Dogs not being flush for tall backline options. Could appeal to a club looking to bolster its defensive depth.
Played in Brisbane’s semi-final loss to Greater Western Sydney before he was cut. Clubs will remember his 2017 and 2018 seasons where he played a combined 42 games. Fremantle is circling, while Adelaide has also registered some interest.
Interestingly cut from the Lions’ senior list on Thursday with two years to run on his contract. Had a few nibbles late in the Trade Period and is open to walk. The Hawks lost Marc Pittonet, could they be in need of some extra ruck depth?
The hard-running midfielder and son of ex-Demon Steven spent five seasons on Melbourne’s list, but played only 20 of his 47 senior games in the past three years. Often afforded only short stints in the AFL side, Stretch won 21 disposals in round 23 before being cut at season’s end. Will likely return to the SANFL to push his case if a lifeline doesn’t eventuate.
Townsend could follow Eddie Betts (Carlton) and Zac Smith (Gold Coast) in returning to where his career began, with the Giants interested in bringing the discarded Tiger back. He was an unlikely spark plug in attack in Richmond’s 2017 premiership and is a tackling machine but was sighted just once at AFL level this year.
There was some surprise when the Lions let former Cat Walker go after failing to find a trade suitor for him. The 26-year-old swingman played 52 of his 85 games in the past four years for Brisbane, largely in defence where his intercept marking proved a weapon. Should bob up somewhere in the 2020 season, with clubs already sniffing around.
The midfielder has endured a cursed injury run, most notably the fractured neck he sustained last year but including a broken fibula and syndesmosis damage to an ankle at training in 2019. That latest setback ended his season after his form for the Bulldogs’ VFL team had him on the verge of senior selection. Don’t be shocked if another club rolls the dice on the talented 23-year-old.
Won Sandringham’s (St Kilda VFL affiliate) best and fairest and has proven he can assume a role across half-back. Starts next year as a 23-year-old after his four seasons at the Saints netted 11 matches.
What’s the knock on Townsend at the moment? Did he simply just make way for Lynch? Has worked with Rutten and Caracella and is only 26 from memory
Would you bother with Townsend when we have Lav as back up for Stringer already?
I suspect he may be better at forward half pressure than LAV
Buzza signed at Port
Caracella and Rutten might be interested in one of Menadue, Townsend and Moore.
But I think Dodoro would rather another draft pick.
Swans with 12 list changes makes sense to pick up a couple of DFA’s
will sign Sam Gray and kaiden Brand
Newnes to Blues
Josh Walker might be better to have on the list over Hartley, can play forward and back.
Mitch Brown is better than Hartley and he just got the kyhber
I see them as equals, Brown wins for output but Hartley provides structure as he’s a proper KPP.
Either way the list won’t be defined by these depth guys, sure money is a factor as well.
Agree with this. Still surprised at the Brown news. Hartley is officially OOC as of today unless he’s signed a new deal on the sly.
Thursday 31 October 2pm - List Lodgement (1) ; Rookie Promotion to Primary List; Retained 2nd & 3rd Year Rookies; International Scholarship Player; Alternate Talent Player Nominations; Club Notification of Rookie Players Not Accepting a Contract of Offer; Nomination of Draft Eligible Father/Son; Northern Academy, Next Generation Academy Players Lodged; TPP Pre-Season Estimates (1).
Friday 1 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences
Monday 11 November- AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Closes, Out of Contract Listed AFLPrimary List Players Draft Nomination Form and Player Request for Removal from List Form Lodged with AFL
Tuesday 12 November 2pm - List Lodgement (2); TPP Pre-Season Estimates (2)
Wednesday 13 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences
Friday 22 November 2pm - NAB AFL Trade Period Closes (for exchange of selections only); Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Non–Retained Rookie Players Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Players Not Registered or Played for Three years Rookie List Form Lodgement; New or Expired (after 3 years) Draft Nomination Form Lodgement, AFL Father-Son Bidding Nominations, Final Draft Nomination Form Lodgement.
Friday 22 November 5pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes
Wednesday 27 November 7pm - 9.30pm - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Round One), Marvel Stadium.
Thursday 28 November 7pm - 9.30pm - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Round Two onwards to conclusion).
Thursday 28 November (post draft) - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (3)
Monday 2 December 2pm - Final AFL Club List Lodgement
Archie Smith would be handy for our ruckstocks, only 24.
Corey Lyons is the DFA I want most, perfect player for us
His kicking lets him down. Lyon rates 4th worst for kicking efficiency among mids in the NEAFL
