COLLINGWOOD shapes as the team with the most to lose from free agency in 2016.
The Magpies have five players set to become free agents at the end of next season, including captain Scott Pendlebury and two of their four vice-captains, Steele Sidebottom and Nathan Brown.
Highly valued defender Alan Toovey and club great Dane Swan are the other Pies in the 2016 free agency pool.
AFL.com.au has compiled a preliminary list of 2016's free agents, which reveals that West Coast, North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans are among the other teams significantly exposed.
The Eagles have the most prospective free agents with six, with star spearhead Josh Kennedy among them, while the Roos and Swans each have five.
Like the Pies, the Roos' group includes several stars (Todd Goldstein, Lindsay Thomas and Jack Ziebell) as does the Swans' (co-captain Kieren Jack, Dan Hannebery and Nick Smith).
Other prospective 2016 free agents include Brisbane Lions midfielders Daniel Rich and Jack Redden, Essendon's All Australian defender Cale Hooker, Port Adelaide's Hamish Hartlett, Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt and St Kilda's David Armitage.
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Some of these players' names will be missing when the AFL releases its official free agency list ahead of next season, with their clubs sure to work overtime to re-sign them this year.
But Adelaide, Geelong and the Western Bulldogs face relatively stress-free years, with each having just one prospective 2016 free agent at this stage.
However, the Cats' list will expand to include veterans Jimmy Bartel and Steve Johnson if they sign one-year deals to play on in 2016, as will the Bulldogs' if Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris do the same later this year.
2016 FREE AGENTS: PRELIMINARY LIST
Nathan van Berlo
AFL.com.au says: The former skipper won't be going anywhere. He will be 30 at the end of next season and form and fitness will determine whether he plays on.
Daniel Merrett
Jack Redden
Daniel Rich
AFL.com.au says: West Australian Rich and South Australian Redden will be enticing targets for rival clubs given they will still be just 25 next year, so the Lions will probably move early to re-sign the two midfielders. Key defender Merrett briefly toyed with a move in last year's trade period, so will he consider a move to a premiership contender if his form holds up over the next two years? Merrett will turn 32 before the 2017 season but 2014 free agent Jarrad Waite turned 32 before embarking on his first season with North Melbourne this year.
Kade Simpson
Chris Yarran
AFL.com.au says: We posed the question on Tuesday of whether the Blues should consider trading Yarran this year before he enters free agency. Yarran would have significant currency in the open market, along with captain Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and out-of-contract spearhead Lachie Henderson. At 24, Yarran's best football should be ahead of him, but if the Blues are offered an early draft pick they could be prepared to let him go. Simpson will be 32 at the end of next season and will play on with the Blues or retire.
Nathan Brown
Scott Pendlebury
Steele Sidebottom
Dane Swan
Alan Toovey
AFL.com.au says: The Pies are more exposed than any other team at this early stage. They plan for skipper Pendlebury and Sidebottom to remain key members of their midfield for years to come, so will likely start contract talks for both ahead of next year. Key defender Brown's importance to the Magpies' defence continues to grow given Ben Reid's horror run of soft-tissue injuries, while Toovey is also a highly valued backman. Club great Swan will turn 33 before the 2017 season and will most likely call it a day.
Key defender Nathan Brown has become increasingly valuable for Collingwood. Picture: AFL Media
Heath Hocking
Cale Hooker
David Myers
AFL.com.au says: All Australian defender Hooker is perhaps the most important player in the Bombers' spine and the West Australian could attract huge offers from teams such as perennial key-position-player hunter Fremantle. However, Hooker resisted a proposed trade to West Coast in 2012 and is now in the leadership group at Tullamarine, so seems little chance to leave. The injury-prone Myers is unlikely to look elsewhere either given the faith the Bombers have shown in him, while Hocking, who will turn 29 before the 2017 season, will probably play on with the Dons.
Chris Mayne
Clancee Pearce
AFL.com.au says: The Dockers have yet to lose a player to free agency and 2016 shapes as another carefree year. Mayne has returned to his best this season and Pearce has been in career-best form in the midfield. With Fremantle's premiership window still firmly open, it's hard to see either leaving.
Tom Lonergan
AFL.com.au says: The key defender flirted with joining the Western Bulldogs in last year's trade period but when he re-committed to the Cats he all but guaranteed he would retire a one-club player. Lonergan will be 32 at the end of next season, when his decision to play on will be influenced by his own fitness and form and the development of Jake Kolodjashnij.
Luke Hodge
Sam Mitchell
AFL.com.au says: Nothing to see here, move on. Hodge and Mitchell will either re-sign with the Hawks or retire.
Jack Grimes
Neville Jetta
Jake Spencer
Jack Watts
AFL.com.au says: The two Jacks have stagnated in recent seasons so Melbourne might consider dealing them out this year if it gets the right trade offers. With Watts, the Demons have to ask themselves whether this year represents their last opportunity to get a decent return at the trade table for 2008's No.1 draft pick.
Leigh Adams
Todd Goldstein
Lindsay Thomas
Daniel Wells
Jack Ziebell
AFL.com.au says: Goldstein has stamped himself as the Roos' most valuable player this season and it won't be long before they seek to open talks with his manager. Thomas and vice-captain Ziebell are key re-signings too, but it is unclear whether Wells and Adams will play on beyond 2016. Wells will be 31 at the end of next season and if his recent injury struggles continue he could decide to retire. Adams could even hang up the boots this year depending on his recovery from a string of recent concussions.
Todd Goldstein has emerged as one of North's most valuable player. Picture: AFL Media
Hamish Hartlett
Paul Stewart
AFL.com.au says: It's all about Hartlett for the Power. The 2008 draft's No.4 pick is an emerging star and Port will be keen to lock him away early. The midfielder is a South Australian and will almost certainly recommit to Port given how well placed the club is for on-field success over the next few seasons. Stewart will be playing for his career over the next 18 months, having managed just four senior games since the end of 2013.
Shane Edwards
Jack Riewoldt
Tyrone Vickery
AFL.com.au says: Richmond is already striving to keep its best key defender, Alex Rance, from leaving via free agency at the end of this season, so will be anxious to avoid a similar year of speculation about the future of its best key forward, Riewoldt, in 2016. Look for the Tigers to move on a new deal for Riewoldt well ahead of next year's free agency period. Edwards has been one of few positives to come out of Richmond's poor start to 2015 and his speed and class will make him attractive to rival clubs. Vickery was once Riewoldt's sidekick in attack but has fallen out of favour since his suspension for striking former Eagle Dean Cox late last year. Nonetheless, tall forwards remain a rare commodity and an opposition team might convince Richmond to let him go in this year's trade period.
David Armitage
Jarryn Geary
Nick Riewoldt
AFL.com.au says: Armitage and Geary's experience makes them important re-signings for the young Saints, while the leadership group members will presumably be just as keen to stay given the exciting signs shown by the club's raft of youngsters this season. Captain Riewoldt will turn 34 next October, when his battle-scarred body will presumably have had enough.
Craig Bird
Dan Hannebery
Kieren Jack
Mike Pyke
Nick Smith
AFL.com.au says: Will another Swan be squeezed out by the salary cap pressure created by the mega contracts of star forwards Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett? All Australian defender Nick Malceski joined Gold Coast as a free agent at the end of last season, will Hannebery, for instance, do the same next year? Rumours persist that the Victorian midfielder is considering a move home, so the Swans could face a nervous year. Co-captain Jack won't be going anywhere but Victorian Smith would appeal to teams looking for a hard-nosed small defender. Pyke will turn 33 around the start of the 2017 season but in the absence of an obvious ruck successor could play on.
Dan Hannebery will be highly sought by rivals if he is allowed to become a free agent. Picture: AFL Media
Mitch Brown
Chris Masten
Matt Priddis
Matt Rosa
Will Schofield
AFL.com.au says: Key defenders Mitch Brown and Will Schofield might be the two players most closely monitored by rival teams. When Brown and Eric Mackenzie return from knee reconstructions next season, the competition for spots in the Eagles' backline will be fierce. If Brown or Schofield struggle for senior opportunities they could consider a move.
Will Minson
AFL.com.au says: The Bulldogs' young list means free agency poses little threat next season. Minson will be 31 by the end of next season and will likely play on with the Dogs or retire.
