Quartet headline 2026 out-of-contract stars as every AFL club’s list of free agents revealed

The trade and free agency period has come and gone as lists begin to take shape for 2026.

So which players are eligible for free agency next year?

It’s another star-studded crop headlined by the likes of Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters, Brisbane’s Zac Bailey, Carlton’s Sam Walsh and Gold Coast’s Ben King.

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Butters would have to be the most in-demand 2026 free agent. The star midfielder’s future has already been a talking point throughout this season amid links to his home state of Victoria.

Given the Power have the ability to match any offer he receives and the huge price Charlie Curnow commanded in a trade, you wonder what sort of haul it’d require to get Butters.

It might’ve ruled out a club like Geelong had it gone chips-in on Curnow and surrendered future assets.

There’s perhaps no player that’s increased his value more in recent months than two-time premiership Lion and first-time All-Australian Bailey.

One of Brisbane’s best players in the grand final win over Geelong to finish third in Norm Smith Medal voting, the South Australian is set to draw massive offers.

Bailey has previously signed contract extensions in the off-season, so Brisbane will hope to lock away the 26-year old over the summer.

Fellow Lion, Lachie Neale, will also be eligible for free agency for the first time in his career after being traded from Fremantle.

Walsh might be the Blues’ captain in 2026, but clubs are already eyeing the gun on-baller and former Geelong Falcon.

It comes after a busy trade period at Carlton including Charlie Curnow getting dealt to Sydney, with the new-look Blues shaping as one of the most fascinating teams in 2026.

Gold Coast spearhead King is another intriguing name to watch as Victorian clubs will look to lure the goalkicker home.

King, who signed a two-year extension with the Suns early in 2024, has already been linked to Collingwood.

But it comes during the most exciting period in Gold Coast’s history, coming off its first finals campaign and securing Christian Petracca during the trade period.

Other key forwards set to hit the market include Hawthorn’s Mitch Lewis, Fremantle’s Patrick Voss and Sydney’s Joel Amartey.

Giants skipper Toby Greene, Richmond captain Toby Nankervis and triple premiership Tiger Nick Vlastuin can also become free agents.

Melbourne is set to have the most free agents of any club with nine including Christian Salem, Steven May and Bayley Fritsch.

Check out every club’s current list of 2026 free agents below.

ADELAIDE

Jordon Butts

James Borlase

Mitch Hinge

Chayce Jones

Rory Laird

Lachie Sholl

Taylor Walker

BRISBANE

Noah Answerth

Zac Bailey

Darcy Gardiner

Ryan Lester

Oscar McInerney

Lachie Neale

Dayne Zorko

CARLTON

Nick Haynes

Nic Newman

Sam Walsh

Zac Williams

COLLINGWOOD

Jack Crisp

Jeremy Howe

Tim Membrey

Scott Pendlebury

Steele Sidebottom

ESSENDON

Jade Gresham

Matt Guelfi

Liam McMahon

Jaxon Prior

FREMANTLE

Bailey Banfield

Oscar McDonald

Sam Sturt

Sam Switkowski

Patrick Voss

Corey Wagner

GEELONG

Mark Blicavs

Patrick Dangerfield

Jake Kolodjashnij

Jack Martin

Mark O’Connor

Rhys Stanley

GOLD COAST

Oscar Adams

Caleb Graham

Ben King

Lachie Weller

Jarrod Witts

GWS

Kieren Briggs

Stephen Coniglio

Toby Greene

HAWTHORN

Jack Gunston

Jarman Impey

Mitch Lewis

Harry Morrison

Ned Reeves

MELBOURNE

Tom Campbell

Kade Chandler

Jai Culley

Bayley Fritsch

Steven May

Tom McDonald

Jake Melksham

Christian Salem

Tom Sparrow

NORTH MELBOURNE

Aidan Corr

Luke McDonald

Toby Pink

Bailey Scott

PORT ADELAIDE

Zak Butters

Darcy Byrne-Jones

Ollie Wines

RICHMOND

Nathan Broad

Tom Lynch

Ben Miller

Toby Nankervis

Dion Prestia

Jack Ross

Nick Vlastuin

ST KILDA

Jack Carroll

Liam Stocker

SYDNEY

Joel Amartey

Harry Cunningham

Joel Hamling

Justin McInerney

WEST COAST

Tom Cole

Matt Flynn

Bailey Williams

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Lachie Bramble

Ryan Gardner

Buku Khamis

Tom Liberatore

Lachie McNeil

Rhylee West