DECISION time is fast approaching for clubs on their out-of-contract talent. 

The frenzy of the NAB AFL Trade Period is over and now clubs must make hard calls on their fringe options.

The well-known names yet to ink a deal for next year include Tom Liberatore, Daniel Menzel, Mark Baguley, Billy Longer, Ricky Henderson, Jack Trengove and Jacob Townsend. 

AFL.com.au has taken an in-depth look at your club's out-of-contract players.

Unsigned: Kyle Cheney, Paul Hunter

The waiting game continues for these Crows, but Hunter is likely to be safe. Cheney, who was pick No.53 in 2007, is one of the AFL's great survivors and has scattered 85 games across 11 seasons for Melbourne, Hawthorn and now Adelaide. Will have his fingers crossed for a 12th year in the League.

Unsigned: None

The Lions re-signed their final out-of-contract player, Ryan Lester, in early October then enjoyed a largely impressive NAB AFL Trade Period, where they scored Lachie Neale, Marcus Adams and Lincoln McCarthy and lost Dayne Beams – gaining two first-round picks for him – and Sam Mayes.

Unsigned: None

Kym LeBois, nephew to the Davey brothers – Aaron and Alwyn – and 1993 Brownlow medallist Gavin Wanganeen, has committed to a third year on the rookie list. The Blues made their final delistings on Thursday, cutting Sam Rowe, Nick Graham, Sam Kerridge and Jed Lamb.

Jed Lamb was one of four Blues delisted after Trade Period. Picture: AFL Photos

Unsigned: Jarryd Blair, Josh Daicos, Tyson Goldsack, Levi Greenwood, Kayle Kirby, Jack Madgen, Sam McLarty, Brody Mihocek, Adam Oxley, Josh Smith

The Magpies announced seven re-signings last Tuesday – some already known and others fresh – with Josh Thomas (three more years), Tom Langdon (three), Darcy Moore (two), Flynn Appleby (two), Lynden Dunn (one), Jamie Elliott (one) and Tim Broomhead (one) locked away. Broomhead will be delisted but re-drafted as a rookie. Josh Daicos, Tyson Goldsack, Levi Greenwood and Brody Mihocek will all receive new deals, while Travis Varcoe quietly signed on the dotted line during the year. The others will be nervous.

Unsigned: Mark Baguley, Matt Dea, Matthew Leuenberger, Jake Long, Ben McNiece, Trent Mynott

Key defender Michael Hartley has scored a new deal for 2019. Leuenberger has an offer for next year in front of him and talks are ongoing. The 202cm ruckman looks set to spend a 13th season in the AFL backing up Tom Bellchambers as Sam Draper's development continues. Baguley, who kicked 20 goals in his rebirth as a forward in 2018, will get delisted and redrafted as a rookie. There are more delistings to come, so a few of these guys will be waiting by the phone.

TRADE TRACKER Find every completed deal

Unsigned: None

Dual Doig medallist Lachie Neale's departure to Brisbane and the retirements of Michael Johnson, Danyle Pearce and Lee Spurr are the Dockers' only outgoings so far. Tommy Sheridan had a solid end to the season, but won't have the chance to add to his 81 matches after being delisted. 

Unsigned: Daniel Menzel (unrestricted free agent), Jordan Murdoch

The Cats are almost done, with George Horlin-Smith traded to Gold Coast and Jackson Thurlow joining Sydney the same way as both look for greater senior opportunities. Rookies Sam Simpson (two years) and Jamaine Jones (one) have re-signed, leaving Menzel and Murdoch as the only ones yet to lock in their futures. Geelong has already delisted six players and traded three others. Stefan Okunbor is also set to be the third Irishman on the Cats' list.

Daniel Menzel remains without a deal. Picture: AFL Photos

Unsigned: Jacob Dawson, Jacob Heron, Jack Leslie, Jesse Lonergan

This list shortened when the Suns shipped Aaron Hall to North Melbourne then paired Kade Kolodjashnij with former co-captain Steven May for the Demons' pick No.6. They also offloaded Jack Scrimshaw, who had two years left on his contract, to the Hawks. Rookies Dawson and Heron will be retained, but Leslie and Lonergan might be in trouble given the huge influx of new players.

Unsigned: Lachie Keeffe, Lachie Tiziani, Dylan Buckley, Sam Reid

Dawson Simpson has agreed to a one-year deal and all that awaits now is whether he will have fellow ruckman and previously retired Shane Mumford alongside him on the playing list. Buckley is also set for a second season at the Giants, while Reid played a career-high 21 games in 2018, so should be back next year. Spare-parts big man Keeffe and Tiziani, who is recovering from an ACL rupture in April, are yet to re-sign.

Giant Dawson Simpson will lead the club's ruck division in 2019. Picture: AFL Photos

Unsigned: Ricky Henderson, Dan Howe, Harrison Jones, Kieran Lovell, Teia Miles, David Mirra, Marc Pittonet, Ryan Schoenmakers, Brendan Whitecross

There's still a little bit to do at the Hawks. They traded utility Taylor Duryea to the Bulldogs, while athletic rookie Changkuoth Jiath has re-signed for next year. AFL.com.au reported in late August that Howe was on the verge of a new two-year deal and both Schoenmakers and Mirra are close to fresh one-season agreements. Pittonet looms as Hawthorn's long-term ruckman at this stage and only the terms and length of his contract need to be thrashed out. But Lovell and Whitecross are in limbo, with Henderson, Miles and Jones others waiting to find out about their future.

WHO'S LEAVING YOUR CLUB? All the latest retirements and delistings

Unsigned: None

The Demons' focus now turns to the draft, with Dean Kent traded to St Kilda, where he secured a three-year deal, and rookie-listed Declan Keilty the last to sign on. Keilty developed well as an intercepting defender in the VFL in 2018 and will hope to earn his first AFL game next year in his third season on the list.

Unsigned: Alex Morgan

The Kangaroos' busy NAB AFL Trade Period brought in Jared Polec, Jasper Pittard, Dom Tyson and Aaron Hall, while Ryan Clarke and Braydon Preuss went the other way. Eleven players have already departed Arden St by delistings, retirements or trades, but Morgan is yet to find out either way. The former Bomber might be shuffled back to the rookie list if he plays on at North.

Unsigned: Cameron Hewett, Peter Ladhams, Trent McKenzie, Jack Trengove

McKenzie and Trengove are on their second AFL chance and hunting a second season at Alberton. Jake Neade was axed after 66 games in six seasons, including only 15 across the past two years, alongside Dom Barry and one-gamer Will Snelling. Hewett has spent three years on the rookie list, so either needs to be upgraded or delisted and re-drafted as a rookie. Ladhams faces stiff opposition at the Power, with Paddy Ryder, recruit Scott Lycett and Billy Frampton ahead of him in the ruck pecking order.

Will Jack Trengove get another chance? Picture: AFL Photos

Unsigned: Mabior Chol, Nathan Drummond, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith, Jacob Townsend

The Tigers lost or cleared out fringe talents Reece Conca (Fremantle), Sam Lloyd (Western Bulldogs), Anthony Miles and Corey Ellis (both Gold Coast) and Tyson Stengle (Adelaide) in the exchange period. That leaves them with four more decisions to make, including premiership player Townsend's future. Chol has served a maximum three years on the rookie list, so needs to be upgraded or delisted and re-rookied.

INDICATIVE DRAFT ORDER Your club's picks

Unsigned: Billy Longer, Lewis Pierce

Ruckmen Longer and Pierce are the last players without a new deal who haven't been delisted, but are both expected set to re-sign after Tom Hickey's defection to West Coast. Longer is mulling over an offer in front of him. Jack Lonie turned his good end to the year and strong rival interest into a fresh two-year deal after initially being offered only one. Rookies Darragh Joyce and Doulton Langlands scored another season each, but 121-gamer Maverick Weller is looking for a third club.

Unsigned: Harry Marsh, Jack Maibaum, Dan Robinson, James Rose, Robbie Fox, Toby Pink

Defender Nic Newman was close to agreeing to terms with North Melbourne before eventually being traded to Carlton. James Bell will be a Swan for another season, while Rose is close to a one-year extension. The wait goes on for Marsh, Maibaum, Robinson, Fox and Pink.

Unsigned: Brendon Ah Chee, Fraser McInnes

Mark LeCras drew the curtain on his grand career on Thursday after playing in his first AFL premiership in his 14th season. Untried tall Matthew Allen signed on for another season on Monday and a new one-year contract should be completed this week for former Power midfielder Ah Chee. McInnes survived the first announcement of delistings.

Premiership Eagle Mark LeCras has called it quits. Picture: AFL Photos

Unsigned: Tom Campbell, Mitch Honeychurch, Tom Liberatore

Jordan Roughead was initially linked with a free agency move to West Coast, but ultimately was traded to Collingwood. That leaves Liberatore as the biggest Bulldog yet to commit, but all signs point to him staying at the Kennel. Campbell didn't appear at AFL level this year and has never played double-digit games in his seven seasons, while Honeychurch is also hanging out for a new contract at the Bulldogs or somewhere else.