In mid-November, the AFL announced that club lists will be the following: 36 to 38 senior players, 4-6 Category A rookies and two Category B rookies. Rookie listed players will be allowed to play senior football without having to be elevated to the senior list. So many clubs have had to make hard calls on players, with some clubs even demoting senior players to rookie lists. Although there have already been some trades and free agent signings, the free agency period ran November 25 through November 29 with the first list lodgment due November 25 ahead of the free agency period. Clubs can also nominate their father/son requests and Academy players. List lodgment is the process whereby all AFL clubs must submit their current playing lists to the AFL. The second list lodgment is submitted on November 30. At the same time, out of contract players can nominate for the draft and clubs can still delist senior players. There is then another free agency period December 2-3 for delisted free agents and delisted rookies. The father/son bids are also submitted to the league.
Essendon delisted Jacob Townsend and Henry Crauford. They also delisted Martin Gleeson and Dylan Clarke, but advised them they would be re-selected in the rookie draft if they were still available. Townsend was originally drafted by GWS in 2011 and played 28 games for the Giants before being traded to Richmond at the end of 2015. He played 20 games for the Tigers including the 2017 premiership. He also won the Liston Trophy that year (VFL Brownlow equivalent). The Tigers delisted him at the end of 2019 and he was added to Essendon's rookie list during the SSP. Primarily a forward, Essendon put him in the midfield for most of his 12 games in 2020. Crauford was also picked up during the preseason SSP but never played a senior game. He won the SANFL reserves best and fairest in 2019.
Geelong midfielder Jack Steven, 30, announced his retirement. Drafted by the Saints in 2007, the veteran played 183 games before requesting a trade to Geelong at the end of 2019. In May, Steven was hospitalized for a stab wound to the chest in an undisclosed incident. It restricted him to just nine games for the Cats. While with the Saints, he won four best and fairest awards in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
West Coast delisted veteran defender Lewis Jetta. Jetta was originally drafted by Sydney in 2009 and played 127 games for the Swans before being traded to the Eagles at the end of 2015. He played 75 games for the Eagles. He was a member of Sydney's 2012 premiership team and West Coast's 2018 premiership team, making him just the 30th player in league history to win premierships at two different clubs. In 2018, he won the Chris Mainwaring Medal as best clubman.
St Kilda swingman Jonathon Marsh was delisted. He was originally drafted by Collingwood in 2013 and played 20 games before retiring at the end of 2016 and returning to West Australia. After a two year break, the Saints added him as a rookie during the preseason SSP. He played 11 games for the Saints.
The Saints also delisted defender Shane Savage. Savage, 29, was originally drafted by Hawthorn and played 56 games before being traded to the Saints where he played a further 165 games. A cool and composed defender, he provided plenty of run from defense and was a mentor to young defenders Hunter Clark, Nick Coffield and Ben Paton.
North Melbourne delisted defender Ed Vickers-Willis. Vickers-WIllis, 24, was drafted in 2014 and played 21 games in an injury-riddled career.
Sources: Alexandra Stewart, Essendon Media Release, Clair White, St Kila Media Release, Karla Zanardo, North Melbourne Media Release, afl.com.au, AFL Record Season Guide
Article last changed on Wednesday, January 06, 2021 - 6:00 PM EST
