Golden age of free agency looms for 2018

[Bulldog4life]

NOW 2017's trade period is over, club recruiters will quickly shift their focus to next year's talent pool and no players will be more closely monitored than prospective 2018 free agents Tom Lynch, Andrew Gaff and Rory Sloane.

Gold Coast spearhead Lynch, who turns 25 on October 31, is unmistakeably the jewel of the 2018 free agency group and clubs, particularly in his home state Victoria, are already circling.

There was speculation before this year's trade period that clubs were preparing to lure the 199cm forward home ahead of next season, but the Suns quickly nipped such talk in the bud.

Sloane and, in particular, Gaff were more strongly linked with moves home to Victoria over the past month, but such talk also amounted to nothing.

But with clubs such as St Kilda, North Melbourne and Carlton falling short in their bids to land an elite midfielder this year, Sloane and Gaff will continue to be pursued for as long as they remain unsigned.

Other 2018 free agents also made news this trade period.

West Coast inquired about Collingwood forward Alex Fasolo but their interest was shut down, Suns ruckman Tom Nicholls was put up for trade without any serious rival nibbles, and it emerged Andrew Swallow and Lindsay Thomas faced uncertain futures at North Melbourne.

Adelaide
Richard Douglas
David Mackay
Andy Otten
Rory Sloane
Brodie Smith

Brisbane Lions
Rohan Bewick
Ryan Lester

Carlton
Marc Murphy
Kade Simpson

Collingwood
Jarryd Blair
Alex Fasolo
Tyson Goldsack
Ben Reid
Josh Thomas

Essendon
Tom Bellchambers

Fremantle
Hayden Ballantyne
Michael Johnson
David Mundy
Aaron Sandilands

Geelong
Cameron Guthrie
George Horlin-Smith
Harry Taylor

Gold Coast
Jarrod Harbrow
Tom Lynch
Tom Nicholls

Hawthorn
Shaun Burgoyne
Taylor Duryea
Paul Puopolo
Ryan Schoenmakers
Brendan Whitecross

Melbourne
Max Gawn
Neville Jetta
Tom McDonald

North Melbourne
Shaun Atley
Andrew Swallow
Lindsay Thomas
Scott Thompson
Sam Wright

Port Adelaide
Justin Westhoff

Richmond
Reece Conca
Ben Griffiths
Shaun Grigg
Dylan Grimes
Bachar Houli

St Kilda
Sam Gilbert

Swans
Heath Grundy
Jarrad McVeigh
Nick Smith

West Coast
Andrew Gaff
Shannon Hurn
Mark LeCras
Scott Lycett
Eric Mackenzie
Jeremy McGovern

Western Bulldogs
Luke Dahlhaus
Tom Liberatore
Dale Morris
Jordan Roughead
Mitch Wallis

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-10-2...oming-for-2018

[westdog54]

We've got some work to do this year.

2019 is when GWS players start qualifying for free agency. That ought to make life interesting.

[ledge]

Not sure we have much to worry about, one will retire the others are pretty much bulldogs for life.

[Twodogs]

Not sure we have much to worry about, one will retire the others are pretty much bulldogs for life.

Two of them are like us and were bulldogs before they were even born. They got no say in who they barracked for and have about as much chance of escaping the clutches of the footy club as any other hostage.

[Mantis]

Two of them are like us and were bulldogs before they were even born. They got no say in who they barracked for and have about as much chance of escaping the clutches of the footy club as any other hostage.

One of them finished the year in the reserves as he couldn't get a kick and the other spent part of the year in the reseves cause he couldn't get a kick.

Both need big years if they want to stay on, regardless of their allegiances to the colours & the club.

[ledge]

One of them finished the year in the reserves as he couldn't get a kick and the other spent part of the year in the reseves cause he couldn't get a kick.

Both need big years if they want to stay on, regardless of their allegiances to the colours & the club.

I can only see them leaving if the club doesn't want them to be honest.

[azabob]

Two of them are like us and were bulldogs before they were even born. They got no say in who they barracked for and have about as much chance of escaping the clutches of the footy club as any other hostage.

Three of them.

As Mantis alluded to, for a variety of reasons all of the players on our FA list are at interesting stages of their careers.

Dahlhaus and Liberatore at stages looked to be just going and could look elsewhere if 2018 output and off field attitude doesn’t improve.
Roughead and Wallis appear solid citizens with good attitudes but maybe squeezed out due to on field abilities and competition for spots.

Highly unlikely all four will go but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the four leave.

[bulldogtragic]

We seem to well stocked for talls. With the cash we've got, Gaff & Sloane would be big targets. But if it's like most years, the big names will stay and a handful of mid range players will be up.

[Twodogs]

We should pick one name and then stay on constant contact through the year. Sloane, Gaff, Houli has a bit of what we need if he continues his ascent in form his ear might be worth whispering sweet numbers into.

[westdog54]

Two of them are like us and were bulldogs before they were even born. They got no say in who they barracked for and have about as much chance of escaping the clutches of the footy club as any other hostage.

One of them finished the year in the reserves as he couldn't get a kick and the other spent part of the year in the reseves cause he couldn't get a kick.

Both need big years if they want to stay on, regardless of their allegiances to the colours & the club.

I'm inclined to agree with Mantis.

Josh Kennedy was a 3rd generation hawk, look how that one turned out for all involved.

If Mitch and Tom are required players then we absolutely cannot be in any way complacent. We have just as much work to do to retain them as we do Jordan and Luke.

We should pick one name and then stay on constant contact through the year. Sloane, Gaff, Houli has a bit of what we need if he continues his ascent in form his ear might be worth whispering sweet numbers into.

Of that entire list, (and I read it twice to make sure), they're literally the only three I'd even consider speaking to.

[Doc26]

Aside from our talls, many pretty average, I'd take McGovern in a heartbeat if said he wanted to be a Bulldog.

[Twodogs]

I'm inclined to agree with Mantis.

Josh Kennedy was a 3rd generation hawk, look how that one turned out for all involved.

If Mitch and Tom are required players then we absolutely cannot be in any way complacent. We have just as much work to do to retain them as we do Jordan and Luke.



Of that entire list, (and I read it twice to make sure), they're literally the only three I'd even consider speaking to.

Maybe Jazz Harbrow? Is he a tall?