Which clubs have the best depth? And which players on the fringes could be gettable for rivals?

In the latest edition of Midweek Tackle’s digital-only show ‘Tackle The Headline’, the team identified the clubs with the most depth and fringe players whose futures are on watch.

Each club’s depth was rated using seven categories — defence, midfield, forward, ruck, injuries, youth and salary — to create a total rating out of 50.

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“Every player not in your team’s best 23. All those other guys, where they fit and rating them on different categories,” Herald Sun reporter Josh Barnes said.

“Gold Coast came out pretty confidentially on top … Brisbane was second, then Fremantle and the Bulldogs.

“Bottom placed was Port Adelaide … then West Coast and St Kilda.

“If you go by that, Gold Coast potentially has the best players that aren’t playing every week.”

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HERALD SUN’S FULL DEPTH LADDER (team rankings out of 50)

1. Gold Coast (35)

2. Brisbane (32.5)

3. Fremantle (32)

4. Western Bulldogs (31.5)

5. Hawthorn (31)

6. Geelong (30.5)

7. North Melbourne (30)

8. Sydney (29.5)

9. Melbourne (29)

10. Adelaide (28.5)

11. Richmond (28)

12. Collingwood (25.5)

13. GWS (25)

14. Carlton (25)

15. Essendon (24.5)

16. St Kilda (24)

17. West Coast (24)

18. Port Adelaide (23)

And a word on some players on the fringes …

ADELAIDE

Josh Barnes says: “Reilly O’Brien is the big name there. He signed a new deal last year. he knew Sam Draper was potentially coming. (Draper) didn’t come, so (O’Brien) thought: ‘Great, I’ve got a clean run’. Then they changed the rules and everyone remembered he couldn’t jump. That’s a struggle for him. He played his first game last week and got 35 per cent game time. Had a clunker to kick it straight into the man on the mark to cost them the game. He’s going to have to really battle his way back into some form and game time here./ Whether he has a future, I don’t know, it depends on those ruck rules. It’s hard to see him with the way things aren’t at the moment. He’s not a big possession winner, and if you can’t jump in the ruck these days, you’re in trouble. He might be glad he signed a three-year deal, because he’s got two more years of potentially not playing!”

BRISBANE LIONS

Jon Ralph says: “Brisbane has Sam Marshall and Zane Zakostelsky. Zakostelsky is young, he’s got great currency, he won’ be going anywhere. Marshall is the one, the Academy kid who just can’t get a run at it. A lot of clubs looking around for him, from Melbourne and otherwise. Very much watch this space.”

ESSENDON

Josh Barnes says: “Elijah Tsatas still can’t get a game. Two weeks in a row, 34 disposals in the VFL. What’s going on? Because Essendon is no good, but this kid taken at Pick 5 racks up the footy and is still running abound in the magoos.”

Jon Ralph says: “They’ve got Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Sam Durham, Jye Caldwell, they’re all in a very similar position. So Tsatas would be frustrated. There wasn’t really interest for him last year. Maybe the fact he’s out of contract this year, someone will take him as a delisted free agent. He needs to get a crack at it. Nik Cox is the other one, he’s been playing half forward. You’d imagine, with the concussion situation, no one’s going to be looking for him. But he’s not too far away from an Essendon game this year, he was in the expanded squad on the weekend.”

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FREMANTLE

Josh Barnes says: “(Mason Cox) knew going over there he was probably behind a couple. Sean Darcy hasn’t been injured, so that’s why he can’t get a game. He’s clearly in the reserves at the moment. He’s got the two-year deal, so that was a bit of security to make that effort to go over there. Darcy has been given the chance to play himself into fitness and form and that seems to be working for Freo. So he’s going to be a depth player for the rest of this year.”

GEELONG

Josh Barnes says: “(Mitch Knevitt) is one who’s been waiting quite a long time. He was a late first-round pick quite some time ago. Played a lot of early season games, then fallen out. He played half forward in a pre-season match against Hawthorn but didn’t do a whole lot. I think he’s one that might find himself off the list at the end of this year. Geelong’s midfield hasn’t been great and he hasn’t been able to break in there, he can’t get a game on the wing or half forward. He’s a good size and good type but can’t get crack at it. You can’t keep those players on your list forever.”

GOLD COAST SUNS

Jon Ralph says: “Ned Moyle signed that long-term deal, he knew Jarrod Witts would be staying for a while. But he thought he would be a successor. I’ve just got to say, it’s time for New Moyle to get out. He’s tall and physical, (but) they’ve already shown their hand — if they’re going to play two ruckmen, it’s going to be Jed Walter. Moyle has 30 games over two years, mostly as a forward. Is he a pure ruckman? I’d say no, but maybe Ethan Read will turn into that player. If I’m Moyle, I’m getting pincered all the way along. He’s had so many clubs that have been interested in him, he’s been especially loyal. But it’s time to pull the ejector seat and get out of that football club. I can’t see any world way in which they’ll allow Jed Walter to go, of course he’s now playing senior football club. I think they feel like’s a Pick 3 they’ve invested two and a half years in. They think he’s, not the next Josh Kennedy, but a player who has 12 years at their football club. I know everyone is excited about Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, but he’s got some challenges ahead, potentially. Hopefully not. So if I’m Gold Coast, I’m saying no, a bit like Bailey Humphrey. They’re going to have to move some players on potentially to keep their list together.”

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GWS GIANTS

Jon Ralph says: “Leek Aleer, well he’s probably going to stay now, a multiple-year deal. He’s just got himself fit. Let’s hope that’s the case.”

Josh Barnes says: “He’s not going to St Kilda, I can tell you that much!”

HAWTHORN

Jon Ralph says: “You (Barnes) reported there were clubs interested in (Calsher Dear). He did what players do when that comes out and he denied it. What’s the real story?”

Josh Barnes says: “It’s curious case Calsher. He hasn’t started the season in any season he’s played … but usually finishes the season. It’s about halfway through the year he starts getting a game. I think If he is frozen out for a whole year, he will have to look elsewhere, he’ll have to consider it. Other teams are interested. If he comes back in and plays finals, then he sticks around, I think it’s probably that simple. He’s not a big possession winner, so his VFL numbers aren’t that exciting. Aiden Schubert kicked five goals for Box Hill on the weekend, Calsher didn’t do a whole lot. But when he plays he seems to kick goals in the seniors. I think it’s a wait and see. Henry Hustwaite is the other one at Hawthorn, he’s been waiting a long time (for senior opportunities). Was potential steaknives in a Zach Merrett deal, that didn’t happen, Essendon wasn’t that interested. He’s going to have to look elsewhere at the end of the year, he’ll be going somewhere. If it’s off the list completely or at another club, I think he won’t be at Hawthorn.”

MELBOURNE

Jon Ralph says: “Matt Jefferson was Pick 15, he’s been pushed out and he’s been injured as well. I’d imagine he’s just going to have to serve his time, I don’t think there would be massive suitors. Max Heath has just come in and played some really food VFL footy. but when you’ve got Max Gawn there you struggle to get a game. So you’d imagine he’d hope by 2030 Max has potentially retired.”

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NORTH MELBOURNE

Jon Ralph says: “Zac Fisher, no, he’s on a $500,000 contract. Bailey Scott needs to get out, he’s played elite football as a wingman. Just keeps getting pushed back, so I’d imagine he will try and find a spot if he’s out of contract. Brayden George just kicked four goals in the VFL. The first time he’s showed signs of life, so he’ll want to stay there.”

ST KILDA

Josh Barnes says: “Hunter Clark had the most disposals on the ground for St Kilda’s VFL team on the weekend. He’s just sort of stuck, I think. St Kilda is looking to youth, I think that’s one where he plays out his contract and is told to explore his options elsewhere. Isaac Keeler played a bit of ruck on the weekend, he’s played back and forward. He’s probably stuck behind a couple … he’s one that will probably be worth looking around, particularly if Rowan Marshall stays, which I’m not sure we’re expecting to happen at the end of this year. Otherwise, (Keeler) would be a great second ruck.”

SYDNEY

Jon Ralph says: “Hayden McLean, you imagine he’s been pushed back in the pecking order. I think he’d looked around. I think he’s one of those blokes who can play forward and pinch hit in the ruck. He did it spectacularly well in a final, clubs will remember that. And Harry Cunningham is a free agent. He got back into the game I think with Mal Rosas injury, I don’t think there would be massive interest in Cunningham.”

WESTERN BULLDOGS

Josh Barnes says: “Adam Treloar and Laitham Vandermeer are the two ones there. We just want Treloar to get fit and play footy, out with soreness again with what is going to be a few weeks now by the looks of things. He just needs to get in and play some footy and see where that leaves him. Vandermeer is an interesting one, they’ve got a lot of half forwards and runners. He’s probably frozen out, I think a team would have a look at him … he’s usually a first 23 player if he’s fit, so hopefully he gets back on the park.”