AFL Media’s Cal Twomey has offered an update on the six remaining unsigned restricted free agents.
At this stage, Essendon pair Darcy Parish and Mason Redman, Adelaide’s Tom Doedee, GWS’ Harry Himmelberg, North Melbourne’s Ben McKay and St Kilda’s Jade Gresham remain unsigned, coinciding with speculation regarding their respective futures since Round 1.
Twomey believes their indecision is holding up several other calls that clubs are weighing up ahead of this off-season.
“The big free agents are having a ripple effect with their indecision,” Twomey said on SEN Breakfast.
“The group I speak about are Darcy Parish, Mason Redman, Tom Doedee, Ben McKay, Harry Himmelberg and Jade Gresham, they’re all restricted free agents who have chosen to wait.
“I called them the ‘Sit it out six’ in Round 1 and now we’re four months down the track and still none have signed.
“That’s meaning that clubs are working on plan Bs and Cs but still want to keep irons in the fire of the big guns as they would.
“It just means that you’re not absolutely able to make a big call on those plans because you don’t know what plan A is doing.”
Twomey also gave an insight into where each individual is at with their contract calls with rival clubs linked to some of the unrestricted free agents.
“Just a little bit of a round up on those free agents,” Twomey said.
“North haven’t offered a deal to McKay yet who continues to get linked to the clubs looking at the key back market, Sydney and Port Adelaide are among them.
“We said a while ago that Carlton looms as a suitor for Gresham who will look around.
“Himmelberg has been offered a five-year deal to stay at the Giants, there’s some confidence that that happens.
“Doedee’s knee has held up decision making for him, which is fair enough.
“Parish and Redman, as you guys know, are both in negotiations at Essendon.
“Essendon has tabled a contract offer to Redman as well, I expect that to be around the five-year mark.
“So that’s where things stand, and it is having a ripple effect on the rest of the rest of the pool.”
Twomey was asked specifically about Redman by Essendon great Tim Watson as he weighs up whether to sign on or potentially head home to South Australia.
“I think clubs are looking at him, but clubs are expecting that if he was going to move, it’d be back to South Australia,” Twomey said.
“When I say back to South Australia, it’s not like he lived in Adelaide.
“He boarded at school in Adelaide for some of his years towards the end of his draft.
“But he’s from Millicent, so it’s sort of midway between Melbourne and Adelaide anyway, so that is a pull for him.
“But I still think the offer is going to be pretty competitive for him to be able to hang around.”
The free agency and unrestricted free agency period will open up on October 6 ahead of the trade period opening on October 9.