The AFL free agency period always garners plenty of interest among the football world.
Hot off an exhilarating finals series, football fans need something to sink their teeth into as the weather heats up for the off season.
Last year’s free agency period saw eight players find themselves new homes for the 2016 season, via the free agency method.
Some recruits gathered more spotlight than others, but after a full pre-season and 12 rounds at their new clubs, let’s take a look at how they have travelled so far this season and just how significant their roles have been for these players as they embark on the next phases of their respective careers,
Matt Suckling
Lack of opportunities at Hawthorn last season encouraged Sucking to find a new home for 2016.
Suckling signed at the Bulldogs as an unrestricted free agent and has had a promising start at his new club.
The running defender has played eight games with some impressive numbers to go with it.
The 27-year-old had a season high 28 disposals in the Bulldogs thrilling win over the Eagles and has clocked up over 20 disposals on six occasions this season.
The former Hawk’s is also striking at 81 per cent disposal efficiency and is ranked 12th for average bounces per game.
An injury to his knee in Round 5 saw him miss a month of football, however Suckling has returned and reclaimed his early season form, as he looks to play a pivotal role across half back in the absence of Captain Bob Murphy and Jason Johannisen.
Matthew Wright
Wright has been a surprise package for the blues, after a solid 94 games at the Adelaide Crows, Carlton snatched him up as another one of many fresh faces down at Visy Park this season.
Wright has been a solid contributor with some impressive numbers, playing all 12 games so far this season.
The 26-year-old has averaged 21 disposals and is coming off a fantastic game in defeat against the Saints last week, Wright racked up 27 touches, 7 marks and 2 goals, going at 85 per cent disposal efficiency.
Wright has surely been one of the most underrated pick up’s of last seasons free agency period and one of the shining lights in a fresh and rejuvenated Carlton outfit.
Scott Selwood
Former Eagle Scott Selwood joined his brother Joel down at the Cattery as a restricted free agent.
Selwood has yet to debut for his new club as he battles to recover from reconstructive surgery on his ankle.
The 26-year-old will continue his rehab with the hope of playing VFL football within the next month and the ultimate goal of slotting into Geelong’s midfield for the business end of the season.
Matthew Leuenberger
After a horror run of injuries and playing second fiddle to Stefan Martin, Leuenberger fled the Lions and arrivied at Essendon as a restricted free agent.
Leuenberger suffered an injury plagued pre season but has managed to play 11 out of 12 games and is slowly finding his feet as the number one Ruck at the Bombers.
The 28 year old is ranked 10th in the competition in total hitouts, averaging 26.7 per game and his enjoying the new found opportunities this season despite the difficult circumstances.
Dawson Simpson
The 208cm-giant Dawson Simpson joined Greater Western Sydney as an unrestricted free agent after playing just 28 games in eight seasons for Geelong.
Simpson has been hammered with several injuries throughout his career as he struggles to break into the Giants side.
The ruck-man has played plenty of NEAFL football this season but still has plenty of work to do before making a return to senior football for the Giants.
Andrew Moore
Moore was delisted by the Power after just 55 games in six seasons.
The 25-year-old found himself a new home with a move to Tiger-land as a delisted free agent.
The 189cm midfielder played senior football in Richmond’s Round 4 clash with West Coast, but just nine disposals saw him dropped back to the VFL.
This is where Moore has displayed plenty of promise, including a 34 disposal and 19 contested possessions this past week, which may earn him a call up for a potential role in the Tigers midfield across the second half of the season.
Jarrad Grant
The former pick five was delisted from the Bulldogs before being scraped up by Gold Coast as a delisted free agent.
The 26 year old has played five games for the Suns this season after being involved in a “freak cycling accident” that broke his wrist, delaying his 2016 campaign.
Grant’s contributions have been last cluster to say the least struggling to make an impact in the Suns outfit and has not been seen at AFL level since Round 9.
Daniel Gorringe
After just 22 games for the Suns, Gorringe was awarded a second chance with Carlton as a delisted free agent.
After battling in the reserves for the first eight games, an injury Matthew Krezuer gave Gorringe his first fresh opportunity for his new club debuting for Carlton in Round 9 against the number one ruck in the game, Todd Goldstein.
Gorringe has played the past four games playing second fiddle to Krezuer who returned earlier than expected, Gorringe is still yet to find his feet at his new home.
Which free agent has shown the most promise at their new club? Who needs to improve across the second half of the season?
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