Zac Clarke, Mitch Brown and Ricky Henderson are among 14 free agents who remain unsigned after the end of the NAB AFL Free Agency Period.
Just four players found new homes this year via free agency – Ty Vickery (Hawthorn), Daniel Wells, Chris Mayne (both Collingwood) and Nathan Brown (St Kilda) – which is an equal low in free agency's five-season history.
Since 10 players found new homes in the inaugural free agency period in 2012, the number of players moving as restricted and unrestricted free agents – as opposed to delisted free agents – has fallen dramatically.
In 2013 seven players moved as free agents, in 2014 five and last year four.
Former Collingwood defender Nathan Brown was the only player to find a new home on the final day of the free agency period on Sunday, while his twin brother Mitch remains in limbo after informing West Coast this week he intended to move home to Victoria.
Brown's best chance of finding a new club would appear to be in the delisted free agency period, which opens on Tuesday, November 1.
Bomber Courtenay Dempsey and Adelaide defender Ricky Henderson appear to be in similar positions.
Ruckman Clarke is expected to re-sign with Fremantle in the coming days, while small forward Jarryd Blair and defender Sam Butler are also expected to play on with Collingwood and West Coast respectively.
Geelong is believed to be keen for Tom Lonergan to continue next season, but the veteran key defender is yet to make a decision on his future.
Former North Melbourne spearhead Drew Petrie is hoping to extend his career at West Coast but is behind several other ruck candidates the Eagles are considering, while St Kilda defender Sam Fisher appears unlikely to be offered a 2017 contract after Nathan Brown's signing.
Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Boyd and Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson recently signed one-year deals that took them off the free agency list, and Carlton forward Dennis Armfield last week agreed to terms to play on at Ikon Park in 2017.
Any remaining free agent can still be traded before Thursday's 2pm deadline.
UNSIGNED FREE AGENTS
Adelaide
Ricky Henderson
Collingwood
Jarryd Blair
Essendon
Courtenay Dempsey
Fremantle
Zac Clarke
Matt de Boer
Clancee Pearce
Geelong
Tom Lonergan
Melbourne
Jack Grimes
North Melbourne
Drew Petrie
Port Adelaide
Paul Stewart
St Kilda
Sam Fisher
West Coast
Mitch Brown
Sam Butler
Western Bulldogs
Will Minson
