LISTEN: 'Not AFL standard' - Lloyd rips into Saints for turnovers 'you'd expect to see in the suburbs'
"If you can't hit targets, you're in trouble."
St Kilda will be the AFL club with potentially the most to lose when the AFL’s free agency system begins at the end of this season. The Saints have 10 of the 81 players listed by the league on Friday as either restricted or unrestricted free agents, the most of any club.
An unrestricted free agent is free to move to the club of their choice, while in the case of a restricted free agent, their current club can keep them by matching a rival’s best offer.
In either case, a club that loses players is compensated through the national draft.
The Saints’ three restricted free agents include star Brendon Goddard, although he has indicated he wants to stay at St Kilda.
Their list of seven players due for unrestricted free agency status include Leigh Montagna and Justin Koschitzke.
The next most vulnerable club is Essendon, who have nine players due to become free agents.
Their unrestricted free agents’ list includes the likes of veteran Dustin Fletcher and lesser lights such as Ricky Dyson and Henry Slattery.
Players qualify for unrestricted free agency by either serving for 10 years at one club, or by being at a club for eight years without their salary being among the top 25 per cent at that club.
If they have served eight years and are among the club’s top-paid players, they qualify only for restricted free agency.
That means the unrestricted free agents’ list includes the likes of champions players such as Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell and Luke Hodge, West Coast’s Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley and Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett and Corey Enright.
But it also includes lower profile players, such as Sydney’s Jarred Moore, West Coast’s Matt Rosa and Hawthorn’s Tom Murphy.
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"If you can't hit targets, you're in trouble."
There's never a bad time for a torp!
Jimmy Webster ironed him out!
It’s simple for the Saints – if you have the money, spend it. Rumours of the club putting forward a $12 million, eight-year deal…
Absolutely unnecessary from Dunstall!
'Mangers' Montagna!