2020 free agents unveiled, surprise Giant 'restricted'

A GROUP of seven players will qualify as restricted free agents in 2020, including a surprise Giants defender.

The full list of free agents was circulated to clubs on the day round one started, and AFL.com.au can reveal there will also be a total of 89 unrestricted free agents across the competition.

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Clubs remain unclear how the doubt surrounding this year's season due to the coronavirus shutdown will impact the status of free agents, or the possible changes to the trade and free agency windows.

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The Giants have three restricted free agents under existing rules, including star forward Jeremy Cameron, who had started negotiations before the COVID-19 shutdown, and Zac Williams, who had put off talks until mid-season.

However the list also threw up a surprise for rival clubs, with key defender Aidan Corr also qualifying as a restricted free agent.

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This allows the Giants the first call to match an offer for the important defender, and means the 25-year-old is in the top 25 per cent paid players at the club.

It highlights the savvy manoeuvring of payments spread over long-term deals for the club's star players, and also sees him join the likes of Cameron, Stephen Coniglio, forward Toby Greene and midfield pair Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly as the Giants' top echelon of earners in 2020.

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Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch, who considered a move to Gold Coast last year, and Essendon spearhead Joe Daniher, who requested a trade to Sydney last off-season, will also qualify as restricted free agents. It would allow the Bombers, if Daniher again wants to take up an offer from the Swans, to match the offer and be forced to strike a trade deal.

Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney and veteran Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert are the other restricted free agents.

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Players who have been previously delisted, and those who have previously qualified as a free agent at another club, automatically become free agents under rules that were implemented at the end of last year.

Agents are forging ahead under these guidelines having received no contrary update during Tuesday's hook-up with the AFL Players' Association.

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Among the notable unrestricted free agents are Carlton pair Marc Murphy and Matthew Kreuzer, Geelong trio Gary Ablett, Tom Hawkins and Harry Taylor, and West Coast star pair Andrew Gaff and Josh Kennedy.

Gaff signed a two-year extension at the end of 2018 with the option to a four-year trigger taking it to a six-year deal. AFL.com.au reported last month that the star midfielder was expected to exercise the clause and stick with the Eagles long-term.

Carlton's Ed Curnow would have qualified for free agency at the end of the year but AFL.com.au has confirmed he quietly signed a one-year contract extension before the season started tying him to the Blues until the end of 2021.

Hawthorn captain Ben Stratton is also among the unrestricted free agents at the club. There continues to be debate about how contracted players' deals beyond 2020 will be structured.

The AFL has put a halt on any new deals being struck with players and clubs during the COVID-19 break.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

Brad Crouch (Adelaide)
Joe Daniher (Essendon)
Jeremy Cameron (GWS)
Zac Williams (GWS)
Aidan Corr (GWS)
Jack Viney (Melbourne)
Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide)