There are a number of top quality players who become restricted free agents in 2024.
Some are more likely to remain with their current clubs than others, but each case is different.
AFL Media’s Cal Twomey provided the latest on a trio of the nine unrestricted free agents, starting with North Melbourne’s Cam Zurhaar.
“Cam Zurhaar is one of those at North Melbourne,” Twomey said on SEN Breakfast.
“Essendon had interest in him a couple of years ago, the WA clubs (West Coast and Fremantle) have watched him as well.
“But the Roos have been on the front foot and have offered him a long-term deal for five years to stay at Arden Street.
“He’s weighing up that career call. He wants to see some progress and advancement at the Roos.
“He’s been open about that and I think it’s good that the Roos have put that one forward and now it’s up to him.”
Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage and Sydney’s Will Hayward also fall into the unrestricted free agency category this year.
It appears as though McCluggage will remain a Lion, while there is interest in Hayward.
“Hugh McCluggage is another restricted free agent. That one has been inching along,” Twomey added.
“Will Hayward is interesting for me. Clubs were unsure if he’d be restricted or not. He is restricted which means the Swans can match an offer for him.
“Rivals are very interested in him in SA and Victoria.”
Furthermore on the Swans, they have a number of key players they need to soon lock away, including James Rowbottom, Errol Gulden, Logan McDonald and Ollie Florent.
“The Swans have five big contract priorities and he (Rowbottom) is amongst those,” Twomey said of the Swans.
“He’s likely to be ticked off as the first one to get something done. In discussions over a new deal which could be up to four years which would take him through to the end of 2028 where he’d be an unrestricted free agent.
“He kind of goes under the radar but he’s been top three in their best and fairest over the last two years, and one of those years was a Grand Final year, so he’s obviously very highly rated internally.
“There’s Hayward and Ollie Florent as free agents. I think Florent is more likely to stay.
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“Errol Gulden and Logan McDonald in their fourth years are out of contract. Gulden has been taking his time with it, as has McDonald. Rivals are viewing Gulden as being worth $1.2-1.3 million on an open market in the new money.
“We know there’s a ‘stay’ and a ‘go’ price, there always is, but he’s one of the hottest out-of-contract players in the competition right now. With every week it’s better and better value.
“Because they’ve got some longer term deals with Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey, they’re able to shuffle around a bit of money.”
