Stay, go… or ‘play on somewhere else’? Bold 2026 verdict on futures of 13 AFL veterans

It feels like 35 is the new 25 in the AFL this season, with an array of experienced players rediscovering some of their best form.

So will that translate into a new contract? Or potentially a free agency move at season’s end?

In the latest episode of the Midweek Tackle digital-only show ‘Tackle The Headline’, Herald Sun reporters Lauren Wood, Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane assess 13 AFL veterans and whether they’re likely to play on next year.

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SCOTT PENDLEBURY (Collingwood)

Glenn McFarlane says: “I just think he’s got one record in his sights – and that’s ‘Boomer’ Harvey 432 (games), so that means he definitely plays on next year … and you wouldn’t put it past him to play on in 2027 as well … he could push right to 40 years of age.”

Jon Ralph says: “He’s got ambition. Yes, he wants to be a senior coach down the track, but I think when his football is as elite as it is right now, there is absolutely no retirement date set.”

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TODD GOLDSTEIN (Essendon)

Jon Ralph says: “Funnily enough, if it is that Sam Draper comes back and Nick Bryan – they want to contract both of those guys, despite a knee and an Achilles (injury) – I think Goldstein could play somewhere else … Great cultural driver, minimum of fuss, really good back-up and probably cheap as chips. It’s hard to make $150,000 these days – you may as well do it as a quasi-ruck coach while also being on an AFL list.”

TRAVIS BOAK (Port Adelaide)

Jon Ralph says: “It’s more challenging when you’re in a team that’s trying to win a premiership. I wonder what will happen there with the new coach coming in in Josh Carr. You don’t want to clear some out Malcolm Blight-style with the (Chris) McDermott’s of the world. It’s still a chance it’s his last year.”

DAYNE ZORKO (Brisbane Lions)

Jon Ralph says: “He’s flying. Keidean Coleman is coming back, I think through the VFL this week, so whether that effects his role off half-back … But I think all of us think Dayne Zorko is playing on in 2026.”

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PATRICK DANGERFIELD (Geelong Cats)

Lauren Wood says: “It feels like he’s in the form of his life, which is incredible considering he’s won a Brownlow Medal throughout the journey … It’s astounding to think that Dangerfield would hang them up with what he’s doing forward.”

Glenn McFarlane says: “He’s already got that contract for next year. He very smartly organised that last year.”

Jon Ralph says: “If he’s on the open market coming into next year – and we know Adelaide had a crack and it’s not happening – what would one club pay him who’s in the premiership window?”

Glenn McFarlane says: “Is it ridiculous to think you’d give a high-end second-rounder if he’s the player? Would you do something like that? I think you would. If he was the player that was going to win you a premiership, I think you do it … We like hypotheticals, but he’s staying.”

CALLAN WARD (GWS Giants)

Glenn McFarlane says: “It’ll be an interesting situation. If he doesn’t go on again next year (with the Giants), would someone else pick him up? I reckon they would.”

Lauren Wood says: “It’d have to be a Victorian club. We know he’s living away from his family. He’s basically said to them ‘it’s going to be this year apart, I’ll come back’. Would it be North Melbourne, someone like that?”

Jon Ralph says: “As a real inside midfielder, that’s the real challenge. North Melbourne needed that a couple of years back and now they’ve got enough of those players. Maybe a West Coast would want him, but clearly he’s not going to West Coast. He’d be an extraordinary assistant coach. You’d name your price as one of footy’s best blokes and best cultural exports.”

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LACHIE KEEFFE (GWS Giants)

Glenn McFarlane says: “You never say never with Lachie Keeffe. It feels like he’s been around forever, still a bit of a match-winner.”

TAYLOR WALKER (Adelaide Crows)

Glenn McFarlane says: “We all thought he would’ve retired this year. I reckon he’s had a book written for a number of years now just sitting there waiting to come out. I would think this would probably be his last year. But if he’s in the (premiership) window and they play high-end finals, why wouldn’t he try and play on for another year?”

LIAM JONES (Western Bulldogs)

Jon Ralph says: “He wanted a contract, his manager Shane Casley was keen to get that done. He had the high-end hamstring and now he probably won’t get back this weekend. Same thing: If (Jedd) Busslinger goes past him, someone would give him an extra year. Everyone always wants key-position defenders.”

RHYS STANLEY (Geelong Cats)

Jon Ralph says: “He will get another year … Good on Rhys Stanley, sitting down there on the farm basically being used to drag down Clayton Oliver (to the Cats) and all of a sudden he’s playing a leading role in the Geelong ruck department.”

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STEELE SIDEBOTTOM (Collingwood)

Glenn McFarlane says: “He plays on, he wants to play on … He’s right in the mix as being one of the great Collingwood players of all time now – and he’s been able to do it at both ends of his career.”

LUKE BREUST (Hawthorn)

Jon Ralph says: “I think he plays on, potentially as a rookie.”

MICHAEL WALTERS (Fremantle)

Jon Ralph says: “If his knee holds up, maybe he plays on.”

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