AFTER a player exchange period in which just six free agents found new homes – two via trades – next year's free agency pool is already starting to look shallower than the plot of an Elvis movie.
Of the 67 players who appeared on March's official AFL free agency list, Scott Selwood (Geelong), Matthew Suckling (Western Bulldogs), Matthew Leuenberger (Essendon) and Dawson Simpson (Greater Western Sydney) were the only ones to exercise free agency rights in 2015.
This year's biggest free agency fish, Patrick Dangerfield, joined Geelong in a trade after Adelaide indicated it was prepared to match any offer from the Cats, while three-time Geelong premiership star Steve Johnson moved to the Giants in a goodwill trade involving a late pick.
Next year's free agency period promises to be just as quiet if the past fortnight is any guide.
In the week this year's player exchange period kicked off, three of next year's most-enticing free agency targets re-signed on long-term deals that all but ensured they would finish their careers as one-club players.
First, Port Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett turned his back on a lucrative long-term offer from North Melbourne and keen interest from Richmond to sign a new five-year deal that tied him to Alberton Oval until the end of 2021.
Two days later, Collingwood Scott Pendlebury re-signed to the end of 2020 and North vice-captain Jack Ziebell recommitted until the end of 2021.
The trio were not the only stars to turn their back on 2016 free agency this year, with Sydney Swans star Dan Hannebery and Richmond's two-time Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt re-signing in June until the end of 2021 and 2019 respectively.
Two months later, St Kilda midfielder David Armitage was rewarded for his career-best season with a contract extension until the end of 2019.
In this trade period four players switched clubs a year before qualifying for free agency, with Carlton's Chris Yarran moving to Richmond, Brisbane Lion Jack Redden to West Coast, Eagle Matt Rosa to Gold Coast and Sydney Swan Craig Bird to Essendon.
As of Friday, 51 players were left on AFL.com.au's preliminary 2016 free agency list, although that number will swell if uncontracted players such as Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich re-sign for one year.
North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein, Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom, Essendon defender Cale Hooker, Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack and Lions on-baller Daniel Rich are among the biggest names on the list.
The Swans will be keen to secure Kieren Jack before 2016 starts. Picture: AFL Media
AFL.com.au's preliminary 2016 free agency list
Adelaide
Scott Thompson
Nathan van Berlo
Brisbane Lions
Daniel Merrett
Daniel Rich
Carlton
Kade Simpson
Collingwood
Nathan Brown
Brent Macaffer
Steele Sidebottom
Dane Swan
Alan Toovey
There's bound to be enquiries made on Steele Sidebottom. Picture: AFL Media
Essendon
Heath Hocking
Cale Hooker
David Myers
Brent Stanton
Fremantle
Zac Clarke
Chris Mayne
Clancee Pearce
Aaron Sandilands
Geelong
Jimmy Bartel
Corey Enright
Tom Lonergan
Hawthorn
Luke Hodge
Sam Mitchell
He's well into the veteran class but Sam Mitchell just keeps on going. Picture: AFL Media
Melbourne
Jack Grimes
Neville Jetta
Jake Spencer
Jack Watts
North Melbourne
Todd Goldstein
Brent Harvey
Drew Petrie
Lindsay Thomas
Daniel Wells
Port Adelaide
Paul Stewart
Richmond
Shane Edwards
Ty Vickery
If both continue to improve then Shane Edwards and Ty Vickery's phones will be ringing. Picture: AFL Media
St Kilda
Sean Dempster
Sam Fisher
Jarryn Geary
Nick Riewoldt
Sydney Swans
Kieren Jack
Ted Richards
Nick Smith
West Coast
Mitch Brown
Sam Butler
Chris Masten
Matt Priddis
Will Schofield
It would be hard to see Matt Priddis in a different jumper ... but who knows? Picture: AFL Media
Western Bulldogs
Matthew Boyd
Will Minson
Dale Morris
Robert Murphy
