Sydney
WHEN Sydney named its team for both their finals this year, the name 'K.Tippett' was the notable omission.
And now that their season is over, his future becomes an issue the Swans need to address.
Sam Naismith and Callum Sinclair were preferred by the Swans against both Essendon and Geelong and indeed, after 46,000 watched the elimination final at the SCG last weekend, Tippett played afterwards, in what was called the 'curtain closer', the NEAFL Grand Final in front of maybe 1000 fans.
Tippett still has three years remaining in his contract and is one of a handful of Swans players who take a up a sizeable part of what is a pretty full salary cap and which precludes the club from being particularly active come the forthcoming trade period.
That's not to say the Swans won't consider moving him on. To do so they'll still need to pay a reasonable part of his contract, perhaps even half, but it is beginning to look like a move that might be best for player and club.
His career is slowly going nowhere in Sydney, but at age 30 maybe, just maybe there is a club that might offer him the opportunity to play more regular senior footy.
Chances are, the Swans will listen.
Kurt Tippett's career is slowly going nowhere at Sydney. Picture: AFL Photos
West Coast
Adam Simpson has worn his fair share of criticism this season but, even though ultimate glory has eluded West Coast, he deserves credit for leading the Eagles into three straight finals campaigns.
However, this squad – the AFL's oldest in 2017 - has reached its tipping point.
It is time to transition the list and the retirements of Matt Priddis, Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie and Sam Butler have already started that process.
The next order of business is for the Eagles to identify exactly where they are at.
Can they challenge next year with their most important player, star ruckman Nic Naitanui, returning from a knee reconstruction?
Or do they need to a mini-rebuild before climbing back towards the top of the mountain?
If so, where do out-of-contract quartet Mark LeCras, Eric Mackenzie, Sharrod Wellingham and Josh Hill fit into that picture?
LeCras, 31, battled hip issues this season and was below his best, but seems likely to be offered a one-year deal.
Mackenzie, 29, also looks like being retained after reviving his career in the second half of the season.
But the jury is out on Wellingham, who turns 30 next year, and Hill's career at West Coast looks in grave doubt after 173 games.
Chris Masten has two more years left on his contract, but could be on the trade table after spending most of the second half of the season in the WAFL.
The Eagles have to weigh-up how much experience they need to retain this off-season.
It will be a tricky balancing act.
Josh Hill's West Coast career appears to be in grave doubt. Picture: AFL Photos
