AFTER a player exchange period in which just six free agents found new homes – two via trades – next year's free agency pool is already starting to look shallower than the plot of an Elvis movie.

Of the 67 players who appeared on March's official AFL free agency list, Scott Selwood (Geelong), Matthew Suckling (Western Bulldogs), Matthew Leuenberger (Essendon) and Dawson Simpson (Greater Western Sydney) were the only ones to exercise free agency rights in 2015.

This year's biggest free agency fish, Patrick Dangerfield, joined Geelong in a trade after Adelaide indicated it was prepared to match any offer from the Cats, while three-time Geelong premiership star Steve Johnson moved to the Giants in a goodwill trade involving a late pick.

Next year's free agency period promises to be just as quiet if the past fortnight is any guide.

In the week this year's player exchange period kicked off, three of next year's most-enticing free agency targets re-signed on long-term deals that all but ensured they would finish their careers as one-club players.

First, Port Adelaide star Hamish Hartlett turned his back on a lucrative long-term offer from North Melbourne and keen interest from Richmond to sign a new five-year deal that tied him to Alberton Oval until the end of 2021.

Two days later, Collingwood Scott Pendlebury re-signed to the end of 2020 and North vice-captain Jack Ziebell recommitted until the end of 2021.

The trio were not the only stars to turn their back on 2016 free agency this year, with Sydney Swans star Dan Hannebery and Richmond's two-time Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt re-signing in June until the end of 2021 and 2019 respectively.

Two months later, St Kilda midfielder David Armitage was rewarded for his career-best season with a contract extension until the end of 2019.

In this trade period four players switched clubs a year before qualifying for free agency, with Carlton's Chris Yarran moving to Richmond, Brisbane Lion Jack Redden to West Coast, Eagle Matt Rosa to Gold Coast and Sydney Swan Craig Bird to Essendon.

As of Friday, 51 players were left on AFL.com.au's preliminary 2016 free agency list, although that number will swell if uncontracted players such as Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich re-sign for one year.

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein, Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom, Essendon defender Cale Hooker, Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack and Lions on-baller Daniel Rich are among the biggest names on the list.



The Swans will be keen to secure Kieren Jack before 2016 starts. Picture: AFL Media



AFL.com.au's preliminary 2016 free agency list

Adelaide

Scott Thompson

Nathan van Berlo

Brisbane Lions

Daniel Merrett

Daniel Rich

Carlton

Kade Simpson

Collingwood

Nathan Brown

Brent Macaffer

Steele Sidebottom

Dane Swan

Alan Toovey



There's bound to be enquiries made on Steele Sidebottom. Picture: AFL Media



Essendon

Heath Hocking

Cale Hooker

David Myers

Brent Stanton

Fremantle

Zac Clarke

Chris Mayne

Clancee Pearce

Aaron Sandilands

Geelong

Jimmy Bartel

Corey Enright

Tom Lonergan

Hawthorn

Luke Hodge

Sam Mitchell



He's well into the veteran class but Sam Mitchell just keeps on going. Picture: AFL Media



Melbourne

Jack Grimes

Neville Jetta

Jake Spencer

Jack Watts

North Melbourne

Todd Goldstein

Brent Harvey

Drew Petrie

Lindsay Thomas

Daniel Wells

Port Adelaide

Paul Stewart

Richmond

Shane Edwards

Ty Vickery



If both continue to improve then Shane Edwards and Ty Vickery's phones will be ringing. Picture: AFL Media



St Kilda

Sean Dempster

Sam Fisher

Jarryn Geary

Nick Riewoldt

Sydney Swans

Kieren Jack

Ted Richards

Nick Smith

West Coast

Mitch Brown

Sam Butler

Chris Masten

Matt Priddis

Will Schofield



It would be hard to see Matt Priddis in a different jumper ... but who knows? Picture: AFL Media



Western Bulldogs

Matthew Boyd

Will Minson

Dale Morris

Robert Murphy