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Will your club's over 30s stay or go (Part 3)

Roar Pro
19th August, 2016
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Roar Pro
19th August, 2016
3

North Melbourne

Daniel Wells (31) Staying

The line breaking midfielder is one of the Kangaroos most important players but questions marks remain over his lingering injury concerns. Will be at the club in 2017.

Michael Firrito (33) Going – Has been a loyal servant of the Kangaroos with over 270 games but I’d suggest 2016 would be the defenders last season at AFL level.

Nick Dal Santo (32) Going – The champion midfielder has been one of AFL’s most durable players for over 15 years but he is starting to decline after 300 plus games at the highest level. Dal will hang up the boots at the end of the season after a brilliant career for two clubs.

Scott Thompson (30) Staying – Still the Roos best defender, Thompson will remain with the club in 2017 as the cornerstone of the North Melbourne defensive set up.

Drew Petrie (33) Going – You can never questions Drew’s loyalty and endeavor, but the game is starting to pass by the 300 game stalwart and will most likely hang up the boots at the end of the season on recommendation of the club.

Brent Harvey (38) Staying – The legend continues on in 2017 and is still playing some fantastic football. 450 games beckons and you’d suggest that will be it for Boomer in what will officially end the 90’s era.

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Jarrad Waite (33) Staying – A line ball call but Waite should still have one more season at AFL level. At his best he is a tough forward to match up on, but his body has continually let him down.

Sam Gibson (30) Staying – The outside midfielder and role player is a big chance of winning the Best and Fairest and will continue to be part of North Melbourne’s side for the future.

Farren Ray (30) Going – Brought in as valuable depth after 200 games at St Kilda and Western Bulldogs, Ray will depart the Roos at the end of the season having given it his all for over a decade.

Port Adelaide

Jay Schultz (31) Going – Been a wonderful contributor for the Power for many years but is going to struggle to break into the side in the future. A player that an opposition club will consider as he may still have another year or two left.

Richmond

Ivan Maric (30) Going – The cult hero with the mullet has been a loyal servant for the last five years but has struggled in 2016 and is starting to slow down. Been a bit of talk of a trade to a club in the flag window but that is unlikely to happen at this stage.

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Troy Chaplin (30) Gone – The key defender retired mid season after a solid career spanning across a decade at both Port and Richmond. At his best was a solid and reliable defender who gave it his all.

St Kilda

Leigh Montagna (33) Staying – The running champ continues to play consistently for the Saints and will play on in 2017, but beyond that is doubtful. Still has no issue finding the football in what has been a solid season.

Nick Riewoldt (33) Staying – The skipper just keeps on keeping on and his stellar career will be extending into 2017. Most likely will be relinquished of his captaincy duties, which will free the big Saint up to enjoy the twilight of his illustrious career.

Sam Gilbert (30) Staying – The Saints will most likely retain the utility but don’t be surprised if the Saints look at moving him on. The most likely scenario is that he plays one more year at the club.

Sean Dempster (32) Staying – Has always been underrated and has carved out a brilliant career as a lock down defender. 2017 will be his last but he is still so vital to the Saints side.

Sam Fisher (34) Going – The champion defender’s body is letting him down and will announce his retirement soon. Has been brilliant for a long time playing over 200 games at the highest level.

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Sydney Swans

Jarrad McVeigh (31) Staying – The co-captain is still one of Sydney’s most consistent player and will continue on for another couple of years, and maybe another couple of premierships.

Ben McGlynn (31) Going – The crafty small forward can not break into a strong side and will most likely be at another club or retire at the end of the season. A few clubs would be really interested, including their cross town rivals.

Ted Richards (33) Gone – The loveable defender announced his retirement two weeks ago and will try and break into a Swans side chasing a flag. Over 250 games, premierships and All-Australians, Teddy has enjoyed a wonderful career.

Heath Grundy (30) Staying – The big defender is having a brilliant 2016 and will continue on in 2017 with no signs of slowing down. Another of these underrated Sydney players.

West Coast

Mark LeCras (30) Staying – The small forward continues to kick goals but has slowly lost some of the magic that has been customary with Le Cras. 2017 looms as his final season at AFL level.

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Matt Priddis (31) Staying – The Brownlow Medalist is still one of the AFL’s biggest ball magnets. Has slowed down in 2016 and his kicking has been a little bit shaky but still remains an important player.

Sam Butler (30) Staying – The only player remaining from the 2006 Premiership side, Butler has had a solid year in defence and on the wing and will still be at the club in 2017.

Western Bulldogs

Robert Murphy (34) Staying – The inspirational skipper will give himself one last chance of an elusive flag in 2017 after rupturing his ACL in the early parts of this season. Amazing that a 34-year-old can still have so much hunger after injury threatened to ruin his career.

Matthew Boyd (33) Staying – Quite a remarkable player who is still one of the Bulldogs best ball winners, Boyd will play on in 2017 and is what is a certainty to be his last season.

Will Minson (31) Going – The big ruckman simply cannot get into the Bulldogs side and will most likely be delisted. Another club will almost certainty give Minson a lifeline as a delisted free agent.

Dale Morris (33) Staying – An underrated and brilliant lock down defender, Morris will continue on in 2017 as the Dogs continue to push for a flag.

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Liam Picken (30) Staying – The Dogs most valued role player, Picken has been a solid contributor for a long period of time and you expect he will be around for at least another two or three years.

Jed Adcock (31) Going – The former Brisbane captain was recruited as a depth player who provides leadership and he has done exactly that. However, the younger brigade will have overtaken him by next season and is most likely to hang up the boots in an honest and solid career.

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