Out-of-contract players whose value is soaring

Steele Sidebottom
Talk about turning back the clock. The Magpies’ super-veteran won the Anzac Day Medal last week with an incredible 35 disposals and 15 clearances to continue his outrageously good season. Sidebottom is averaging career-highs in contested possessions, inside 50s, clearances, centre clearances, score assists and tackles, while his per-game disposals and score involvements are his most since 2018. At age 34, the club great is showing he has plenty more to give, and it is just a matter of when he signs on for next season.

Essendon

Zach Reid
There’s been a lot of discussion about the Bombers’ top-10 picks from 2020: Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Reid, who’s endured a horror injury run. There were promising glimpses from Reid before now, but he has gone to a new level in his fifth season. The key defender, whose brother Archer is on West Coast’s list, has played every game this year, and been very good in the past month, including a strong display on Anzac Day. Reid is now represented by Mercury Talent Management’s Jim Jarvis (who has also secured Collingwood recruit Dan Houston). All parties are content to see how Reid’s season progresses before any serious negotiations, in large part because of his injury history.

Fremantle

Jeremy Sharp
Sharp could not earn a senior game in his last season at Gold Coast in 2023, but has played all 30 matches since returning to Western Australia to be a Docker on a two-year deal as a delisted free agent. His efforts in a hard-running wing role have caught rival clubs’ attention, but preliminary negotiations have started for him to stick around at Fremantle, likely on another multi-year contract. Don’t expect anything to get done before mid-season.

Geelong

Ollie Dempsey
Last year’s Rising Star winner has continued to make the wing position his own in 2025; his ability to push deep forward and kick goals is as evident as his willingness to work up and down the ground. Skilful and determined, the popular Cat, who is averaging 16 disposals and 1.6 goals a game this year, has been in ongoing discussions that could land him a four-year deal, with Geelong believing talks on the 22-year-old’s future are progressing well.

Gold Coast

Connor Budarick
The Suns are expected to put an offer to Budarick around mid-season as opposition clubs monitor the small backman, who played as a sub in the win over Sydney on Sunday. He is reigniting his career after two ACL injuries, having played 10 of Gold Coast’s past 14 matches. Budarick is an interesting watch, given tough running defenders are in demand, as the Suns showed last year when they recruited both Dan Rioli and John Noble. Where Budarick fits into their defensive mix will become clearer as the year progresses.

GWS

Jacob Wehr
Wehr was one of the main beneficiaries of Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming leaving the Giants last year to sign as free agents with Collingwood and Adelaide, respectively. Once a fringe option at GWS, Wehr has played every match in 2025 on a wing and in defence – and now there is interest in him from his home state in South Australia. At 26, he might be able to parlay his breakout season into a multi-year deal, whether he remains a Giant or explores his options. Wehr was previously delisted, so is an unrestricted free agent.

Hawthorn

Josh Ward
Ward was happy to let the season unfold before opening discussions about a new contract, however club and management will likely ramp up talks in the next month or so. Ward has been a slow burn after being taken at pick No.7 in the 2021 national draft, but the Hawks think he has a bright future with them. He started to find his feet in a strong midfield late last year and took the chance injuries to James Worpel and Will Day created to perform well since returning to the team in round two.

Melbourne

Judd McVee
McVee’s proven a brilliant rookie draft selection, playing every game in the past two years before a pre-season hamstring injury delayed the West Australian’s start to 2025. However, he slotted seamlessly back into the Demons’ defence against Richmond last week with a typically composed 22 disposals. Melbourne are keen to get the ball in his hands more and play him across half-back and maybe even the wing. Talks have kicked off between McVee’s management and the club, with the hope a deal will be struck by mid-year.

North Melbourne

Darcy Tucker
Tucker is fresh from being subbed out with zero disposals, one inside 50 and three tackles after being asked to perform a sacrificial role on Connor Rozee. However, the ex-Docker – who was part of the Griffin Logue trade three years ago – has played every match this season. He had a five-game stretch where he averaged 18 disposals in a defensive role. Tucker’s value certainly isn’t soaring, but he is giving himself a good shot at extending his career beyond this year on a rebuilding North Melbourne.

Port Adelaide

Jase Burgoyne
Burgoyne had a breakout season last year, and impressed in the finals. The winger, whose father Peter is a premiership player and hall of famer at Alberton, has kept his foot down in 2025, averaging a career-high 21 disposals, including a combined 59 in back-to-back matches against Richmond and Essendon. Negotiations are ongoing between his agent James Pitcher and Port Adelaide, and his trump card – on top of his performances – might be his friendship with out-of-contract Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who is in the club’s sights.

Richmond

Thomson Dow
The younger brother of St Kilda’s Paddy Dow and the No.21 pick in the 2019 draft played a career-high 17 games last season, but had to wait until October to find out if he had a contract for this year. At 23 years old, Dow is playing the best football of his life, averaging almost 21 disposals, four clearances and three tackles. The Tiger, who has survived on one-year deals recently, is positioning himself well for a two-year arrangement this time. Nothing is imminent, but Dow should know his future earlier than previous seasons.

St Kilda

Max Hall
Hall earned praise from coach Ross Lyon after the club’s tough win over Port Adelaide in round four, forcing his way into the senior team with a strong pre-season. He has not missed a game this year after joining the club as a mid-season draftee in 2024, the mature-aged player improving at Box Hill as a tough midfielder/forward. Discussions are yet to start on an extension for the role-playing forward, but he has impressed in 2025 as a player who adds to the Saints’ pool of young talent.

Sydney

Sam Wicks
The Swans had a few candidates, such as Aaron Francis and Tom Hanily, but Wicks’ switch into defence has been a great success. A tight calf sidelined him from Sydney’s loss to Gold Coast, but he averaged a career-most 16 disposals in the Swans’ first six matches, while bringing the speed, defensive qualities and attacking mindset he previously used up forward. Wicks, who is now in the Connors Sports stable, kept Hawk Nick Watson to four disposals in the opening round. Another multi-year contract should be on the way.

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West Coast

Tyrell Dewar
West Coast are deep in discussions to extend wingman Dewar’s contract for more than one year after he made a flying start to this season. The NGA graduate was rookie-listed in 2023, and played every week in the WAFL before making his debut midway through last season. After signing a one-year deal last year, he powered out of the blocks to be a shining light in the first month, and although he has had a quiet fortnight, he is developing into a longer-term prospect who should lock in a multi-year deal soon.

Western Bulldogs

Ed Richards
One of the game’s most consistent midfielders is deep in talks to sign a longish-term contract with the Bulldogs. The restricted free agent’s value only increases as the season goes on as he has continued his 2024 form with an outstanding start to the season in an injury-depleted midfield. He will be a Bulldog next season – the only question is the terms of his next deal.

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