{"id":592645,"date":"2026-04-08T04:01:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T04:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/592645\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T04:01:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T04:01:10","slug":"every-clubs-depth-ranked-rated-list-analysis-tackle-the-headline-players-out-of-contract-latest-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/592645\/","title":{"rendered":"Every club\u2019s depth ranked, rated, list analysis, Tackle the Headline, players out of contract, latest news"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Which clubs have the best depth? And which players on the fringes could be gettable for rivals?<\/p>\n<p>In the latest edition of Midweek Tackle\u2019s digital-only show \u2018Tackle The Headline\u2019, the team identified the clubs with the most depth and fringe players whose futures are on watch.<\/p>\n<p>Each club\u2019s depth was rated using seven categories \u2014 defence, midfield, forward, ruck, injuries, youth and salary \u2014 to create a total rating out of 50.<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/poster-fallback.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? <a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au\/en-AU\/welcome\/afl?pg=default&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkafl-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-afl-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery player not in your team\u2019s best 23. All those other guys, where they fit and rating them on different categories,\u201d Herald Sun reporter Josh Barnes said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGold Coast came out pretty confidentially on top &#8230; Brisbane was second, then Fremantle and the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBottom placed was Port Adelaide &#8230; then West Coast and St Kilda.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you go by that, Gold Coast potentially has the best players that aren\u2019t playing every week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Voss brushes off questions about future | 02:40<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/sport\/afl\/the-afl-depth-chart-ladder-we-rate-and-rank-every-clubs-full-squad\/news-story\/f56990aee4f53ac030c1a7d546389178\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">HERALD SUN\u2019S FULL DEPTH LADDER<\/a> (team rankings out of 50)<\/p>\n<p>1. Gold Coast (35)<\/p>\n<p>2. Brisbane (32.5)<\/p>\n<p>3. Fremantle (32)<\/p>\n<p>4. Western Bulldogs (31.5)<\/p>\n<p>5. Hawthorn (31)<\/p>\n<p>6. Geelong (30.5)<\/p>\n<p>7. North Melbourne (30)<\/p>\n<p>8. Sydney (29.5)<\/p>\n<p>9. Melbourne (29)<\/p>\n<p>10. Adelaide (28.5)<\/p>\n<p>11. Richmond (28)<\/p>\n<p>12. Collingwood (25.5)<\/p>\n<p>13. GWS (25)<\/p>\n<p>14. Carlton (25)<\/p>\n<p>15. Essendon (24.5)<\/p>\n<p>16. St Kilda (24)<\/p>\n<p>17. West Coast (24)<\/p>\n<p>18. Port Adelaide (23)<\/p>\n<p>And a word on some players on the fringes &#8230;<\/p>\n<p>ADELAIDE<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201cReilly O\u2019Brien is the big name there. He signed a new deal last year. he knew Sam Draper was potentially coming. (Draper) didn\u2019t come, so (O\u2019Brien) thought: \u2018Great, I\u2019ve got a clean run\u2019. Then they changed the rules and everyone remembered he couldn\u2019t jump. That\u2019s 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\u2019s going to have to really battle his way back into some form and game time here.\/ Whether he has a future, I don\u2019t know, it depends on those ruck rules. It\u2019s hard to see him with the way things aren\u2019t at the moment. He\u2019s not a big possession winner, and if you can\u2019t jump in the ruck these days, you\u2019re in trouble. He might be glad he signed a three-year deal, because he\u2019s got two more years of potentially not playing!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>BRISBANE LIONS<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cBrisbane has \ufeffSam Marshall and Zane Zakostelsky. Zakostelsky is young, he\u2019s got great currency, he won\u2019 be going anywhere. Marshall is the one, the Academy kid who just can\u2019t get a run at it. A lot of clubs looking around for him, from Melbourne and otherwise. Very much watch this space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ESSENDON<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201cElijah Tsatas still can\u2019t get a game. Two weeks in a row, 34 disposals in the VFL. What\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cThey\u2019ve got Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Sam Durham, Jye Caldwell, they\u2019re all in a very similar position. So Tsatas would be frustrated. There wasn\u2019t really interest for him last year. Maybe the fact he\u2019s 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\u2019s been playing half forward. You\u2019d imagine, with the concussion situation, no one\u2019s going to be looking for him. But he\u2019s not too far away from an Essendon game this year, he was in the expanded squad on the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Will Hayward ban upheld by tribunal | 00:41<\/p>\n<p>FREMANTLE <\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201c(Mason Cox) knew going over there he was probably behind a couple. Sean Darcy hasn\u2019t been injured, so that\u2019s why he can\u2019t get a game. He\u2019s clearly in the reserves at the moment. He\u2019s 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\u2019s going to be a depth player for the rest of this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>GEELONG<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201c(Mitch Knevitt) is one who\u2019s 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\u2019t do a whole lot. I think he\u2019s one that might find himself off the list at the end of this year. Geelong\u2019s midfield hasn\u2019t been great and he hasn\u2019t been able to break in there, he can\u2019t get a game on the wing or half forward. He\u2019s a good size and good type but can\u2019t get crack at it. You can\u2019t keep those players on your list forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>GOLD COAST SUNS<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cNed 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\u2019ve just got to say, it\u2019s time for New Moyle to get out. He\u2019s tall and physical, (but) they\u2019ve already shown their hand \u2014 if they\u2019re going to play two ruckmen, it\u2019s going to be Jed Walter. Moyle has 30 games over two years, mostly as a forward. Is he a pure ruckman? I\u2019d say no, but maybe Ethan Read will turn into that player. If I\u2019m Moyle, I\u2019m getting pincered all the way along. He\u2019s had so many clubs that have been interested in him, he\u2019s been especially loyal. But it\u2019s time to pull the ejector seat and get out of that football club. I can\u2019t see any world way in which they\u2019ll allow Jed Walter to go, of course he\u2019s now playing senior football club. I think they feel like\u2019s a Pick 3 they\u2019ve invested two and a half years in. They think he\u2019s, 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\u2019s got some challenges ahead, potentially. Hopefully not. So if I\u2019m Gold Coast, I\u2019m saying no, a bit like Bailey Humphrey. They\u2019re going to have to move some players on potentially to keep their list together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What the AFL will make from the Wildcard | 03:21<\/p>\n<p>GWS GIANTS<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cLeek Aleer, well he\u2019s probably going to stay now, a multiple-year deal. He\u2019s just got himself fit. Let\u2019s hope that\u2019s the case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201cHe\u2019s not going to St Kilda, I can tell you that much!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>HAWTHORN<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cYou (Barnes) reported there were clubs interested in (Calsher Dear). He did what players do when that comes out and he denied it. What\u2019s the real story?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201cIt\u2019s curious case Calsher. He hasn\u2019t started the season in any season he\u2019s played &#8230; but usually finishes the season. It\u2019s 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\u2019ll have to consider it. Other teams are interested. If he comes back in and plays finals, then he sticks around, I think it\u2019s probably that simple. He\u2019s not a big possession winner, so his VFL numbers aren\u2019t that exciting. Aiden Schubert kicked five goals for Box Hill on the weekend, Calsher didn\u2019t do a whole lot. But when he plays he seems to kick goals in the seniors. I think it\u2019s a wait and see. Henry Hustwaite is the other one at Hawthorn, he\u2019s been waiting a long time (for senior opportunities). Was potential steaknives in a Zach Merrett deal, that didn\u2019t happen, Essendon wasn\u2019t that interested. He\u2019s going to have to look elsewhere at the end of the year, he\u2019ll be going somewhere. If it\u2019s off the list completely or at another club, I think he won\u2019t be at Hawthorn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>MELBOURNE<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cMatt Jefferson was Pick 15, he\u2019s been pushed out and he\u2019s been injured as well. I\u2019d imagine he\u2019s just going to have to serve his time, I don\u2019t think there would be massive suitors. Max Heath has just come in and played some really food VFL footy. but when you\u2019ve got Max Gawn there you struggle to get a game. So you\u2019d imagine he\u2019d hope by 2030 Max has potentially retired.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rozee reveals injury update | 01:43<\/p>\n<p>NORTH MELBOURNE <\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cZac Fisher, no, he\u2019s on a $500,000 contract. Bailey Scott needs to get out, he\u2019s played elite football as a wingman. Just keeps getting pushed back, so I\u2019d imagine he will try and find a spot if he\u2019s out of contract. Brayden George just kicked four goals in the VFL. The first time he\u2019s showed signs of life, so he\u2019ll want to stay there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>ST KILDA<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201cHunter Clark had the most disposals on the ground for St Kilda\u2019s VFL team on the weekend. He\u2019s just sort of stuck, I think. St Kilda is looking to youth, I think that\u2019s 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\u2019s played back and forward. He\u2019s probably stuck behind a couple &#8230; he\u2019s one that will probably be worth looking around, particularly if Rowan Marshall stays, which I\u2019m not sure we\u2019re expecting to happen at the end of this year. Otherwise, (Keeler) would be a great second ruck.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>SYDNEY<\/p>\n<p>Jon Ralph says: \u201cHayden McLean, you imagine he\u2019s been pushed back in the pecking order. I think he\u2019d looked around. I think he\u2019s 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\u2019t think there would be massive interest in Cunningham.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>WESTERN BULLDOGS<\/p>\n<p>Josh Barnes says: \u201cAdam 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\u2019ve got a lot of half forwards and runners. He\u2019s probably frozen out, I think a team would have a look at him &#8230; he\u2019s usually a first 23 player if he\u2019s fit, so hopefully he gets back on the park.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Which clubs have the best depth? And which players on the fringes could be gettable for rivals? In&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":592646,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[289347,36664,638,64,63,689,55,639,27716,248381,3237,12923,234183,289346,23515,51247,51243,289349,289344,1119,1127,12099,2485,9130,63365,49665,49806,25882,681,91125,87669,13126,242771,12097,36889,647,3257,233523,677,68843,6082,289343,668,701,289351,2528,26888,243729,11244,25862,11395,289348,1124,85,53072,1122,51029,660,29467,698,289350,289345,248383,25581],"class_list":{"0":"post-592645","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-afl","8":"tag-academy-kid","9":"tag-adam-treloar","10":"tag-afl","11":"tag-au","12":"tag-australia","13":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","14":"tag-australian-football-league","15":"tag-australianfootballleague","16":"tag-box-hill","17":"tag-brayden-george","18":"tag-brisbane-lions","19":"tag-chris-scott","20":"tag-clubs-looking","21":"tag-concussion-situation","22":"tag-connor-rozee","23":"tag-darcy-parish","24":"tag-depth-player","25":"tag-ejector-seat","26":"tag-elite-football","27":"tag-football-club","28":"tag-fox-footy","29":"tag-game-time","30":"tag-gold-coast","31":"tag-gold-coast-suns","32":"tag-harry-cunningham","33":"tag-hayden-mclean","34":"tag-isaac-keeler","35":"tag-jarrod-witts","36":"tag-jon-ralph","37":"tag-josh-barnes","38":"tag-josh-kennedy","39":"tag-mason-cox","40":"tag-matt-jefferson","41":"tag-max-gawn","42":"tag-max-heath","43":"tag-melbourne","44":"tag-michael-voss","45":"tag-nik-cox","46":"tag-oceania","47":"tag-plays-finals","48":"tag-port-adelaide","49":"tag-possession-winner","50":"tag-press-conference","51":"tag-queensland","52":"tag-real-story","53":"tag-rival-clubs","54":"tag-rowan-marshall","55":"tag-ruck-rules","56":"tag-sam-draper","57":"tag-sam-durham","58":"tag-season-games","59":"tag-senior-football-club","60":"tag-south-australia","61":"tag-sports","62":"tag-squad-depth","63":"tag-st-kilda","64":"tag-team-rankings","65":"tag-victoria","66":"tag-way-things","67":"tag-western-bulldogs","68":"tag-world-way","69":"tag-worth-looking","70":"tag-zac-fisher","71":"tag-zach-merrett"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/592645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=592645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/592645\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/592646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=592645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=592645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=592645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}