Another chance, please?: AFL players in limbo that deserve a footy lifeline in 2026

The trade period is done and dusted, however many AFL clubs still aren’t done yet with crafting their preferred playing lists ahead of next month’s draft

Career lifelines will be given to a number of players across the coming weeks at a new side, while others remain in limbo — unsure if they’ll be offered another one-year contract by their current team.

Foxfooty.com.au dissects the standout names who have either been delisted, or are still facing an uncertain future ahead of 2026.

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JAYDEN LAVERDE

Despite the surprise retention of Leek Aleer on a two-year deal and Clayton Oliver’s unexpected landing at the Giants, GWS are still fully expected to bring the veteran Bomber onboard this off-season. List spots have tightened up quickly under Adam Kingsley, so good is their retention rate. But the ready-made tall has long been linked to a move to western Sydney, in what will likely be even further defensive depth behind the likes of Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley and Connor Idun.

SAM FROST

It’s been a tough 12 months for the veteran defender, who turned down notable rival interest to stay loyal to Hawthorn in last year’s trade period. The 32-year-old peculiarly played as the Hawks’ sub in Opening Round and Round 1 this year, before spending the rest of the season in the VFL. Now, having been brutally delisted though, a fourth AFL club could well await the journeyman. Foxfooty.com.au understands the Western Bulldogs have held preliminary interest in Frost in recent times, while a Collingwood or even North Melbourne would be well within their rights to roll the dice on the 185-gamer.

DEVEN ROBERTSON

Much like Jayden Laverde, a move for the Lion out west to the Eagles has been in motion for a while now. In fact, the Western Australian turned down an offer to move home two years ago. Speculation earlier this year first linked Robertson to a trade, but Brisbane has since delisted the 24-year-old in a move that will make West Coast’s poaching as simple as they come. Robertson only appeared at AFL level six times across the last two seasons, and departs Springfield after 47 senior games.

LIAM JONES

Foxfooty.com.au understands a couple of non-Victorian clubs have shown interest in the 34-year old veteran defender after his departure from Whitten Oval. But those teams said they’re most likely to further their interest after the draft when they have a better idea of list spots. Tasmania — where Jones grew up — also made an approach for a spot in the Devils’ VFL team for 2026, but he’s not keen to return to his home state. Also holds hope to remain in the AFL system in a development role. Jones played 205 AFL games for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton.

HARRY SCHOENBERG

The fringe Crow had been squeezed out of Matthew Nicks’ side in recent years, and was actually delisted last season with a year to go on his contract before being re-listed. The 24-year-old did appear once at the back end of Adelaide’s campaign in 2025, but only featured four times the year before in a sign the Crows had turned their attention elsewhere. West Coast met earlier this month with Schoenberg, before he toured the Lathlain facilities in a sign Andrew McQualter could also poach him alongside Deven Robertson as a delisted free agent.

JED MCENTEE

The Port Adelaide pressure forward was culled after 51 games at the top level, one of many victims to Josh Carr’s lengthy clean-out. His selfless nature and role made him the ultimate teammate under Ken Hinkley, but prevented the 24-year-old from utilising his strength at the contest more often further up the field. Clubs believe that while GWS already has a plethora of ready-made talent, McEntee would be the “perfect” acquisition for Adam Kingsley to replace young speedster Darcy Jones, who is expected to miss the entire 2026 season with an ACL injury he sustained in their elimination final loss.

THOMAS BERRY

The former Lion and Suns player has been touted as a potential suitor at one of — you guessed it — West Coast or GWS! Initial links had the Eagles as the first club interested in him, however in more recent times the Giants have been flagged as a suitor. Berry failed to appear at AFL level this year, but does come ready with 43 matches under his belt since his debut back in 2020 at Brisbane.

JACOB BLIGHT

Richmond’s 2024 mid-season draftee was surprisingly cut from Punt Road at the beginning of this off-season, after failing to hold his spot in the senior side after 10 AFL appearances. The key defender’s ability to intercept and defend soundly has been one of his biggest strengths in the opinion of recruiters, and could prove a bargain pick-up for someone like Collingwood — who Nine’s Chief Football Reporter Tom Morris reported he met with this month. At just 23 years of age, the big-bodied defender is absolutely worth a punt on to deepen defensive stocks.

FINLAY MACRAE

The former Magpie is one of several players on West Coast’s list of potential targets. The Eagles have added flexibility of four extra rookie spots in 2026 as part of the assistance package given to the club by the AFL following four-straight bottom three finishes. The 23-year-old was let go by Collingwood last month after 21 games over five years, but had no senior appearances in 2025.

HARRY LEMMEY

After three years at Ikon Park, untried key forward Harry Lemmey was surprisingly delisted by the Blues in September. Now, with dual Coleman Medalist Charlie Curnow departing for Sydney, it looks an extra bitter pill to swallow for Carlton fans. The West Adelaide product shone throughout the 2025 VFL season, and improved his craft considerably. Very preliminary interest from Port Adelaide in the 21-year-old has been flagged behind closed doors, however a more likely move would be for Lemmey to train on with a club over the summer, opposed to being snapped up straight away as a delisted free agent.

PLAYERS IN LIMBO

There’s still several notable players around the competition waiting on new deals for 2026.

That includes Collingwood veteran premiership duo Mason Cox and Tom Mitchell, who both featured sparingly at AFL level this season, with Mitchell hampered by injury.

Carlton defender Mitch McGovern is in the same boat after just missing a contract trigger. Reports have stated there’s been rival interest in the 31-year old swingman. While fellow Blue Elijah Hollands is contracted for 2026, his future at Ikon Park is uncertain. Carlton could opt to pay out Hollands for the final year of his deal after he failed to find a new home during the trade period, with a decision on the midfielder and McGovern believed to be imminent.

At Essendon, on-ballers Ben Hobbs and Will Setterfield are still awaiting decisions on their fate as the club works through its list logjam. It comes with the Bombers set to have five top 30 picks in next month’s National Draft.

Premiership Cat and two-time best and fairest winner Cam Guthrie is also in a waiting game after several injury-affected seasons for the 33-year old. Fellow flag Cat Jed Bews is also in limbo. Two other promising young Geelong players, Ted Clohesy and George Stevens, are uncontracted and have been linked to rival interest.

Veteran Sydney pair Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd also currently don’t have deals for 2026, however the latter is considered more likely than not to go around again.

North Melbourne is still weighing up calls on the likes of Will Phillips, Darcy Tucker and Cooper Harvey.

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