In the lead up to the delisted free agency period beginning on Friday, here are some players who could be of value to other clubs.
Hugh Beasley – Brisbane
Beasley showed talent in his six games in two years on the Lions’ list. At 190cm, he may be slightly undersized to play as a key position defender at the highest level, but he is athletic and has the traits to make it in the AFL.
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I remember watching him play for the Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup in 2014, and while his kicking needed work, he was excellent as a shut down defender, managing to nullify the opposition’s best forwards and relieving pressure on the rest of the Oakleigh defenders.
He might be worth a look for a club looking to bolster their list with a young defender with some experience. Possible clubs include St Kilda, Carlton, Gold Coast or Fremantle
Matthew Goodyear – Collingwood
Goodyear only played two AFL games in his three years at the club, but impressed at VFL level. He is an athletic midfielder with good game sense. The knock on him has probably been his kicking, but he has scope for improvement.
I was a bit surprised that he was delisted by the Magpies as he showed quite a bit of promise, and the Magpies aren’t exactly flush for pacy, athletic midfielders.
Tanner Smith – Fremantle
Smith had a horrendous run with injuries during his time at Fremantle, only playing four games in four years on the list. He showed enough to suggest that he’s versatile enough to play in defence or forward. When he was drafted at the end of 2012, I rated him highly and wondered why the Saints didn’t take him with one of their picks, choosing to take Spencer White and Nathan Wright instead.
Smith has talent, and if he could get his body right, could be an insurance policy for a club; however, it remains to be seen how bad his latest injuries are.
Jock Cornell – Geelong
Another who I was surprised was delisted after only one season on the Cats’ rookie list. He showed a lot of promise at Under 18 level, where he was a member of the Giants’ academy and showed excellent game nous playing as a medium forward. He played 17 games for Geelong’s VFL team, kicking ten goals. Has shown enough to deserve a spot on another rookie list.
Tom Keough – Gold Coast
Gold Coast went out and got Keough as a mature-aged recruit from South Australia at the end of last season with the intention of playing him in defence to provide support to Steven May and Rory Thompson, however, Keough didn’t play a game for the team. He showed promise for the club’s NEAFL team in 2016, and with a year in the AFL system under his belt could be a decent pick up for another team looking for some defensive support.
Luke Russell – Gold Coast
One of the foundation Suns, Russell looked like he stagnated in his last few seasons at the club. He seemed to be thrown around a bit under Eade, asked to play forward, on a wing and in defence, and seemed unable to settle. It also doesn’t bode well that, in a team that lost most of its first choice midfield through injury, he wasn’t able to cement a spot in the side.
However, he is a tough, experienced midfielder who would fit the age profile of several clubs, and a fresh start at a new club could reinvigorate him and see him get back to the promise he displayed in his first few years at the club.
Seb Tape – Gold Coast
Another player beset by injuries, Tape found it difficult to string any continuity together. His kicking is questionable, and he was unable to develop an offensive side to his game. However, he is a good lockdown defender, and could offer a club some insurance down back.
Jack Grimes – Melbourne
Grimes is an interesting proposition. He’s now 27, and seems like he’s been around for a long time. He displayed good VFL form this year, but was unable to break into Melbourne’s side, which says a bit about the depth the club now has, but also about his ability. He could bring experience and good kicking ability to a club in need of an experienced player, but would need to develop his decision-making.
Matt Jones – Melbourne
Brought to Melbourne as a mature-aged player, Jones was more than serviceable over his time at the club, winning plenty of contested ball in the midfield and providing great assistance to captain Nathan Jones. He is still a solid player, and his delisting probably came as a result of the club’s added depth over the past few years. He would still be a handy pickup for clubs needing to bolster their on-ball division.
Sam Colquhoun – Port Adelaide
Another who I was surprised to see delisted. He played 16 games in his four years at Port, and showed his talent as a pacy midfielder/half forward. The knock on him has probably been his decision-making in pressure situations, but I still think he has enough to offer another club.
Adam Marcon – Richmond
Richmond went out and got Marcon from the VFL at the end of 2015 to bolster their inside midfield stocks, but he was delisted without playing a game. He tore up the VFL in 2015, and was clearly too good for that level. He was probably a victim of Richmond having a number of similar players in their midfield, but I think he still has quite a bit to offer at the top level for a club looking for an inside midfielder.
Tom Curren – St Kilda
Curren was a fan favourite at the club, and looked to be developing well; however, in the past two years the development of Seb Ross and Luke Dunstan meant that he was relegated to the VFL. He’s a tough, talented player who can rack up disposals, and he’d be an asset for another club.
Brant Colledge – West Coast
Colledge has been a ball magnet at WAFL level but hasn’t been able to crack the senior side over the past few years. Like Marcon in the VFL, Colledge has often looked a cut above the state-league level, and looks like a player who would benefit from some continuity and the opportunity for consistent game time at AFL level. He’s shown his versatility in playing as a half forward and on a wing, so he has a bit to offer as a versatile, experienced player.
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