Former AFL recruiter Matt Rendell has compiled a list of the young players he believes will earn the biggest contracts when they next sign new deals.
Most of these players are already under contract and set to remain with the club that drafted them for the foreseeable future.
Others, such as Luke Jackson and Jason Horne-Francis, are expected to be at different clubs in 2023.
Rendell forecast on AFL Trade Radio’s Macca’s Run that the next contracts for each of the players will be lucrative, listing them in order from 1 to 15.
1. Luke Jackson
Has departed Melbourne to return to WA. Will join either Fremantle or West Coast.
2. Jason Horne-Francis (North Melbourne)
Has requested a trade away from North Melbourne after just one season. Wants to join Port Adelaide.
3. Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
“He might trump them all.
“He’s got a year to go on his two-year contract. He will do another contract next year and it will be scary what his third and fourth year will look like.
“And I wouldn’t be doing third and fourth, I’d be doing three, four, five, six, seven, I’d be going as far as I could.
“That kid is going to be a superstar.”
4. Sam De Koning (Geelong) and Finn Callaghan (GWS)
“Won’t it be great to watch Sam De Koning play on Sam Darcy for the next 12 years.
“People wouldn’t know much about this bloke (Callaghan) because he didn’t play much this year, but he’s going to be a gun.
“This is the big-bodied mid/forward, real speed, lovely left-foot kick, he’s going to be a star.”
5. Nik Cox (Essendon)
“We didn’t see much of him this year through injury.
“Great first year playing on a wing. 200cm, can run like the wind, kicks it left or right foot, can play every position on the ground.
“His next contract will be a beauty, but he does need to get out on the park.”
6. Chad Warner (Sydney)
“We’ve already seen enough but he’s only 21.
“His next contract, he could be the highest paid player at the Swans.”
7. Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
“When he comes out of contract next year, watch a big contract come his way.”
8. Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
“This bloke is too low, but the reason I’ve got him low is because he signed a four-year deal when he came in.
“His years three and four will probably be way unders.
“How’s his contract going to look after year four? It will be a monster.”
9. Jye Amiss (Fremantle)
“I really like this kid.
“Rory Lobb going, Matt Taberner can’t get out there and he’s near 30.
“I like Amiss. Second year next year and I don’t think he’s done an extension, but it will be a beauty because they’re going to lose their key forwards and he’s going to be really important.”
10. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs)
“He started to be really good towards the end of the year.
“He’ll have another great year next year.”
11. Jacob van Rooyen (Melbourne)
Sam Hargreaves said: “The belief is that the reason why Melbourne aren’t out there frantically searching for a key forward is because they believe in this guy.”
12. Max Holmes (Geelong)
“He’s a star, he’s going to go in the midfield, he’s a beauty.”
13. Josh Gibcus (Richmond)
“He’s going to be great for them.”
14. Connor Stone (GWS) and Campbell Chesser (West Coast)
“Stone’s at the Giants. Has been injured.
“He is the big-bodied mid who can go forward.
“Chesser is at West Coast and went pick 14 in the draft.
“He is another big-bodied mid with pace and breakaway speed.”
15. Lachie Jones (Port Adelaide)
“I think he’s going to be a star for them next year playing in defence.”