DARCY Parish, Jacob Hopper and Wayne Milera head an enticing list of top-20 picks from the 2015 NAB AFL Draft who remained unsigned as they begin the final year of their initial two-year contracts.
In-demand No.2 pick, Josh Schache from the Brisbane Lions, is among the ten players spread over six clubs from the draft yet to put pen to paper.
The list includes other key position players Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow from Carlton and small forwards Wayne Milera from Adelaide and Daniel Rioli from Richmond, yet to be locked in at the clubs that drafted them.
Greater Western Sydney midfielders Hopper (No.7) and Matthew Kennedy (No.13) have shown their exceptional talent but are yet to establish themselves in the strong Giants' midfield, while Harrison Himmelberg (No.16) played four home and away games late last season.
Adelaide's Tom Doedee is yet to play a senior game but developed well in 18 SANFL matches last season.
Essendon midfielder Parish (pick No.5) starred with the Bombers in his first season playing 20 games and is an automatic selection in 2017.
Although many of the 10 players are expected to remain at the clubs that selected them (with Rioli expected to sign a new deal soon), most are prepared to wait for the second season to be up and running before recommitting.
Some such as Schache are likely to have offers from other clubs to consider, while others want to put some runs on the board before re-signing.
The delay in CBA negotiations is also understood to be a factor in contract negotiations remaining incomplete.
Gold Coast has not only re-signed Callum Ah-Chee from the 2015 draft, it also extended the contracts last month of its four top 10 picks from last year's draft.
Other players picked in the top 20 in the 2015, who have extended their deals beyond the end of 2017, include Carlton's Jacob Weitering, Swan Callum Mills, Melbourne pair Clayton Oliver and Sam Weideman, Lion Eric Hipwood, St Kilda's Jade Gresham and Hawthorn's Ryan Burton.
Three top-10 players from the 2014 draft switched clubs during last season's trade period – Jarrod Pickett, Caleb Marchbank and Paul Ahern.
Another three top-10 picks from the 2013 draft (Tom Boyd, James Aish and Nathan Freeman) had moved clubs by the end of 2015.
Class of 2015 - who's signed and who hasn't
Draft pick | Player | Club | Signed beyond 2017 |
---|---|---|---|
No.1 | Jacob Weitering | Carlton | Yes |
No.2 | Josh Schache | Brisbane Lions | No |
No.3 | Callum Mills | Sydney | Yes |
No.4 | Clayton Oliver | Melbourne | Yes |
No.5 | Darcy Parish | Essendon | No |
No.6 | Aaron Francis | Essendon | Yes |
No.7 | Jacob Hopper | GWS | No |
No.8 | Callum Ah Chee | Gold Coast | Yes |
No.9 | Sam Weideman | Melbourne | Yes |
No.10 | Harry McKay | Carlton | No |
No.11 | Wayne Milera | Adelaide | No |
No.12 | Charlie Curnow | Carlton | No |
No.13 | Matthew Kennedy | GWS | No |
No.14 | Eric Hipwood | Brisbane Lions | Yes |
No.15 | Daniel Rioli | Richmond | No |
No.16 | Harrison Himmelberg | GWS | No |
No.17 | Tom Doedee | Adelaide | No |
No.18 | Jade Gresham | St Kilda | Yes |
No.19 | Ryan Burton | Hawthorn | Yes |
No.20 | Brayden Fiorini | Gold Coast | Yes |