Four Pies’ waiting game; deja vu for flag Tiger — AFL players left in limbo amid ‘super draft’

There’s a bigger crop of AFL players in limbo than usual ahead of a loaded 2024 draft.

Clubs are purposely keeping more list spots open to ensure they have a surplus of selections in November’s loaded National Draft and thus greater access to high-end talent.

But that means there’s several players still waiting for their fate to be determined.

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“Absolutely there are (more players in limbo than usual), it’s because we have a 2024 super draft — we love a super draft — we know there have only been a handful over the last 25 years,” Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“So why does that matter? Because clubs that would normally take two or three picks are looking at taking four and five, they love it — there’s probably 50 to 55 really good candidates in this draft.

“There’s just so many quality players — there’s talls, smalls, ruckmen and halfbacks.

“So players out there will be potentially pushed out. Clubs that would normally trade for them are saying to themselves: ‘We’ll get them as a delisted free agent’.

“These guys unfortunately are going to have to wait for another month before they work out if they’re on the list or the scrap heap.”

Below the Herald Sun team on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle digital-only segment ran through the AFL players currently in limbo.

CHARLIE DEAN (COLLINGWOOD)

“He’s a VFL success story than as soon as he came into Collingwood had foot surgery, eventually on both feet. He played an adequate role, I think they’d love to get another fullback in — Mark Keane stayed at Adelaide,” Ralph said.

“So I think they’ll look at players like Lewis Young or maybe Denver Grainger-Barrass … they’re scouring the market for another fullback to allow Jeremy Howe and Darcy Moore to play that intercept role. Haven’t found one yet.

“Charlie Dean will be hoping they don’t bring in another fullback, otherwise he will be out.”

LACHIE SULLIVAN (COLLINGWOOD)

“He had a good four or five weeks there in the middle to back-end of the season — another VFL success story,” Josh Barnes said.

“He was one of the few guys to actually hit from the summer period — they signed four guys and we thought they were going to rebuild their midfield and it just didn’t happen.

“The Sullivan camp thinks there’s a real chance here and are pretty positive about where things are headed, but they’re stuck in limbo. I think the arrow is pointing in the right direction.”

NATHAN KRUGER AND REEF MCINNES (COLLINGWOOD)

“Kreuger kicked multiple goals a couple of times then had a poorly timed concussion and then Dan McStay came into the side. McInnes kicked 13 goals and was often chosen over Ash Johnson. Both of them waiting,” Ralph said.

“Their coach Craig McRae said at the end of 2024 they were desperate for a key forward, but they don’t grow on trees. Wouldn’t imagine they’ve got the cap space for someone like Tom Lynch, who Richmond wouldn’t let go anyway.

“They’re looking for players like Houston and Perryman, it doesn’t seem like they’re going to find that key forward.

“So maybe one of those players survives. McInnes has kicked more goals but Kreuger can play ruck, so it’s a really tough decision for Collingwood.”

SAM DURDIN (CARLTON)

“Sam Durdin is one that’s really piqued my interest over the last few weeks. He strikes me as the ultimate limbo player in this scenario — because he’s depending on who comes in and who goes out,” Lauren Wood said.

“Nick Haynes is obviously in the Blues’ sights, it seems like for Durdin it’s going to depend on whether Lewis Young plays and what impact that has on him.

“He’s really that typical fringe player for the Blues, it’s unfortunate.”

NOAH CUMBERLAND (RICHMOND)

“I think he was young and impetuous and I think he’s grown up a lot. There was some real tough love from Damien Hardwick,” Ralph said.

“Speaking to those close to him, they say he’s a different person now. He was ready to play football, but he was in the position where Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton were in that spot.

“So now he gets his chance to shine as we imagine Shai will go as well as Dusty, but it’s whether he gets a chance of it. Players are coming back like Judson Clarke and Mykelti Lefau.

“I think he feels like: ‘Just give me the chance and I’ll be there’. But he’s waiting too.”

KAMDYN MCINTOSH (RICHMOND)

“Two-time flag winner, every week it seems for the past six or seven years his magnet has been on the wing, he’s running up and down that wing almost better than anyone else in the last decade,” Barnes said.

“He rarely loses that position yet he seems to always find himself in this position here at the end of the season, on the fringe waiting.

“I don’t think Richmond can afford to lose all the experience, if all these guys we’re talking about go out the door, they have to have somebody who knows how to play that wing role and can teach the young kids how to do that.

“I think he’d be a perfect candidate to stay. If he does get moved on, I think there’s a lot of clubs that need a specialised winger to run up and down the flanks.”

DENVER GRAINGER-BARRASS (HAWTHORN)

“They got him at Pick 6 in the 2020 draft, we know that was a Covid draft and there’s probably been a litany of failures across tat draft — players that haven’t been able to come on because they’ve never had the exposed form,” Ralph said.

“He’s not realty quick enough to play on those athletic forwards or tall or confident enough o play as an interceptor, so he’s little bit in between.

“They’ve tried him everywhere, then he had foot surgery that put him out for 12 weeks.

I’d imagine there’s some chance West Coast will be looking for talls with Tom Barras coming out. They don’t want him to be a central element of that deal, but I reckon they have some interest in him there.

“It’s just a tough 2020 draft, all those guys had great chances as first-round picks. But sometimes when you don’t see exposed form, you make mistakes. Other clubs are saying it’s just that draft, some have got multiple players already delisted.

“It’s tough but maybe Grainger-Barrass just isn’t going to make it at AFL level.”