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Sport Nation
How to tune into Sport NationTop 10: Brad Johnson ranks the 2026 free agency class
SEN • October 1st, 2025 10:20 pm
Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson has named his top 10 AFL ‘pre-agents’.
All of these players enter either restricted or unrestricted free agency in the 2026 off-season unless they commit to deals at their current club before then.
Johnson thinks that number one is the player that he rates as the best get if they’re available next year.
Check out his top 10 below!
10 – Rhylee West (Western Bulldogs)
“At number 10, I've got Rhylee West from the Doggies.
I think he sits nicely there with where he's at, being 25 years of age and where his football's going.
“He’s really improved as a player and in the next 12 months, I think he’ll be probably better again.
9 – Toby Greene (GWS)
“At number 9, I've got Toby Greene.
“It's more out of respect for what he's done in the game, I think.
“He's 32 at the moment, and this all depends on where GWS end up going and whether he thinks he's got a couple of years left to go and chase something at the top end, potentially.
“He doesn't come across to me as that type of player or person that would actually now depart GWS at all.
“It's just the name that's there, and you've got to pay him some respect as to the decisions he might make in the future.”
8 – Jarman Impey (Hawthorn)
“At number 8, I've got Jarman Impey from the Hawks at age 30.
“His last couple of years have been excellent.
“For me, he could be a Dayne Zorko type, where he just keeps rolling. Week in, week out, he plays.
“He's got the flexibility to go forward, which we've seen this year.”
7 – Sam Switkowski (Fremantle)
“At 7, I've got Sam Switkowski from Fremantle, who I really rate as a hard-working high half-forward.
“He's a big chance to be offered some potential serious dollars to move.”
6 – Joel Amartey (Sydney)
“At 6, I’ve got Joel Amartey from the Swans.
“He’s just a big key forward.
“He’s obviously coming off an injury-interrupted year where he missed games and all that sort of stuff.
“So, it's a big 12 months for him, but I think if he has a big season and depending on what the Swans do with recruiting, there could be an opportunity for a club to maybe push for a Joe Amartey next year.”
5 – Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
“At 5, I've got Lachie Neale, and he’ll be 33 by the end of next year.
“It's whether he wants to go back to WA and whether one of those clubs can say, ‘Come home, be a leader for us for a couple of years, teach some of our youngsters and get a good whack to do it’.”
4 – Sam Walsh (Carlton)
“At number 4, I've got Sam Walsh, who we all rate.
“He’s got a big 12 months ahead, but he's a quality person, a leader, and getting his body right would be significant in 2026.”
3 – Zac Bailey (Brisbane)
“Zac Bailey at number 3.
“There’s a lot of talk around Zac at the moment, which speaks for itself with what he was able to do in the Grand Final.”
2 – Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
“At 2, I've got Zak Butters.
“He’s at a perfect age, and if he wants to make the move, then now’s the time to do that.”
1 – Ben King (Gold Coast)
“At number 1, I've got Ben King.
“I've rated him the highest ahead of Zach Butters because you've got a guy who kicks 71 goals this year.
“He'll demand massive coin … imagine if he basically has 50 goals by halfway through the year, then look at what offers will start coming Ben King's way.
“They'll come internally as well at Gold Coast, but we know what other teams will start to throw at his management to see what his interest is and to lure him out.
“You can bring in a 60-plus goalkicker guaranteed into your team.”
