WITH JUST three rounds left in 2018, our writers look at every club list and which players might be close to the end, or in need of a new home.

Midfielder Sam Gibson announced on Tuesday he will retire at the end of this season. The 32-year-old has played five games for the Crows this year to go with 130 at North Melbourne. Swingman Andy Otten is likely to be delisted. The 29-year-old has played six senior games this year, for a total of 104 in 11 seasons, having fought his way back after a serious knee injury. Otten's lack of pace hurts him at the elite level. Defender Kyle Cheney, who turns 29 later this month, has looked solid in his six senior games this season and could earn another one-year deal. Winger David Mackay is unsigned for next year, but the 30-year-old, who plays his 200th game against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night, remains in the Crows' best 22 and should earn a 13th season at the club. - Lee Gaskin

Don't expect any retirements this year. Luke Hodge and Stefan Martin are the oldest on the list, but both are still in contract and going strongly. The big decisions come a little further down, with Mitch Robinson (29), Rohan Bewick (28) and Tom Bell (27) all out of contract and waiting on news on their future. Robinson has played 16 games this season and will surely get another deal. Bewick and Bell have spent the majority of the year in the NEAFL and look to have played their last senior games for the club. The Lions like to keep some list flexibility during trade period and this might keep the duo in limbo, but in all likelihood they'll be delisted. Injury cruelled the season for Matt Eagles (28), but the dreadlocked defender showed enough in his four senior games and should get a new deal. - Michael Whiting

Tom Bell has played just one senior game for the Lions this season. Picture: AFL Photos





Carlton will begin the process of assessing the future of its uncontracted senior players over the next fortnight. Kade Simpson will be 35 next year, but given his form it's likely a decision on whether he plays on next season will be entirely up to him. The same goes for Dale Thomas, who has enjoyed one of his better seasons at Carlton this year. The future of Sam Rowe is a little less clear, especially after he spent a week in the VFL in round 18. The key defender will be 31 in November. Matthew Wright remains uncontracted for 2019, but has never signed for more than a year at a time since arriving at the Blues. He's endured quiet patches this year, but has still averaged a goal per game. Expect him to remain at the club. - Riley Beveridge

Premiership little man Jarryd Blair, 28, might be best advised to seek greater opportunity elsewhere, given the success of the Magpies' 'Swoop Squad' of small/medium-sized forwards and the fact that youngsters such as Josh Daicos and Callum Brown are being selected ahead of him. Decisions will also have to be made on full-back Lynden Dunn and swingman Tyson Goldsack, both 31-year-olds who have been ACL victims this season. Dunn will miss a decent chunk of next season but Goldsack might still get the chance to remind the Pies of his on-field value before this season is out. Classy runner Travis Varcoe, 30, should get another contract after reinforcing his quality by kicking four of the Pies' 10 goals in the narrow loss to Sydney on Saturday night, while the club's oldest player, the injury-prone Daniel Wells, 33, plans to fulfil the final year of his contract. - Ben Collins

Others have gone past Jarryd Blair in the Pies' pecking order. Picture: AFL Photos





Brendon Goddard is out of contract and no decision has been made on the veteran playing on next year. He's had an illustrious career and is playing well enough to go on in 2019, but it appears a call will be made at the end of the season. Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger has managed just one game at senior level this year and his three-year deal expires so his place on the list could be in jeopardy, but Mark Baguley, also out of contract, seems better placed for an extended stay after showing some good signs as a pressure forward in the second half of the season. Jackson Merrett has played two games in the senior side since the end of 2016 and appears likely to be cut at the end of the season. - Callum Twomey

Ross Lyon has clearly shied away from discussing the future of veteran Dockers since confirming the obvious that Michael Johnson and Danyle Pearce would depart at season's end, so there is conjecture whether Aaron Sandilands and Hayden Ballantyne will go around again in 2019. If Sandilands makes it back from a calf strain, there would no Freo player more deserving of a farewell game at Optus Stadium in round 23 against Collingwood. Unfortunately, Lee Spurr has been unable to get on the park at all this season, with the 31-year-old announcing his retirement on Wednesday. Evergreen veteran David Mundy could win the Doig Medal after a stellar season as a 'Mr. Fix It' in midfield and attack, and deservedly will play on next year. - Travis King

Aaron Sandilands' future will be a big talking point. Picture: AFL Photos





George Horlin-Smith's name goes hand in hand with professionalism, which could interest several clubs looking for leaders. A free agent at season's end, the South Australian will be 26 by round one, 2019 and has managed just four games this year. Aaron Black showed enough potential in his three games as a re-born defender before rupturing his ACL in round 12. Still awaiting a contract offer for next season, the 27-year-old could be of interest to Fremantle after Michael Johnson's retirement and missing out on Jeremy McGovern. Harry Taylor recently re-confirmed his desire to finish at the Cats and see out his deal for 2019 despite playing just 12 games this year with three separate foot injuries. Unless Stewart Crameri's body continues to fail him and he is moved on post-season, the Cats aren't expected to have any retirees. - Mitch Cleary

Veteran utility Matt Rosa has already got the ball rolling by announcing his retirement after 207 games. The Suns have some difficult decisions ahead with other elder statesmen. If Michael Rischitelli (32) is up to it, he might be kept on for another year in a mentoring capacity, even if he doesn't play a whole lot. Gold Coast desperately needs leadership, and he provides just that, but if the former Lion has had enough, he'll add to the retirement list. Michael Barlow (30) is clearly out of favour and seems unlikely to be kept on, but he still has the hunger and might look to go elsewhere if the Suns cut him. Jarrod Harbrow (30) is an absolute must to re-contract. Along with Rischitelli, he is the heart and soul of the Suns. Pearce Hanley (29) has another year on his deal and would hope for a better 2019 after a horror run of injuries since moving south from Brisbane. - Michael Whiting

Might Michael Barlow's career continue at a third AFL club? Picture: AFL Photos





Ex-Magpie Lachie Keeffe has filled a hole in the ruck and down back at times in his four games, but he could struggle to stay on the list given the amount of key position talent at the Giants. Key defender Tim Mohr is a restricted free agent, so could go searching for opportunities elsewhere. Two of the Giants' veterans in Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen have again had issues with injury this season, but both are set to be at the club next year. Deledio is contracted, and while Griffen doesn't have a new deal yet, he will likely get a one-year contract after playing some solid footy as a forward. – Adam Curley

Perhaps befitting a team in transition from what it hopes will be one golden era to the next, the Hawks have up to 12 players out of contract heading into next season, and most of them were running around for Box Hill on the weekend. Expect a flurry of re-signings in the next little while – it started with Shaun Burgoyne on Monday – but those who might be playing their last few games in the brown and gold, at either VFL or AFL level include Jonathon O'Rourke, Taylor Duryea, Kurt Heatherley and Dallas Willsmore. Line-ball calls at this stage are Brendan Whitecross, Ricky Henderson and Kieran Lovell. - Ashley Browne

Taylor Duryea has played 16 senior games for the Hawks this season. Picture: AFL Photos





Bernie Vince is the oldest player on Melbourne's list and 2018 is likely to be his last season. Vince has found his way back into the team after a two-week stint in the VFL in rounds 15 and 16. The 32-year-old is back playing reasonable football, averaging 16.1 disposals from 17 matches. Vince will be an important contributor for the Demons leading into finals, but with Michael Hibberd and Jayden Hunt returning from injury, spots in the backline will be tight. Tomas Bugg, Cameron Pedersen and Dean Kent are all out of contract and no certainty to be retained, while Jordan Lewis is contracted for next season and is keen to go around again. Harley Balic announced his retirement last week. - Ben Guthrie

The Kangaroos performed a significant cleanout in the past two off-seasons and are significantly younger, but have decisions to make on Jarrad Waite and Scott Thompson. Only West Coast's Josh Kennedy (nine) has a longer streak of games with multiple goals than Waite's eight. But at age 35 and having just returned from another calf injury, Waite seems likely to retire. Thompson, 32, has also excelled down back, although his form has slipped in the past month. He should be at Arden St or another AFL club in 2019. Sam Wright is out of contract, but has put foot injuries behind him to regain his backline place, and probably his spot for next year. Mitch Hibberd and Dan Nielson, who were drafted in 2015 and 2014 respectively, are both out of contract and destined to be delisted. Nielson has fallen down the key defender pecking order after playing seven games last year, but his VFL form is good, and he could attract rival interest. - Marc McGowan

Veteran small forward Lindsay Thomas has kicked just four goals in his seven senior games and lost his place in the team to youngster Kane Farrell. Thomas turns 31 before the start of next season, and it's unlikely he receives a new contract. Injured-ravaged midfielder Jack Trengove was the feelgood story when he debuted for the Power after so many ups and downs since he was the No.2 overall pick in the 2009 national draft. The former Melbourne co-captain has played three games for the Power and is no guarantee to remain on the list next year. Defender Trent McKenzie was another, like Trengove, who arrived on a one-year deal at the end of last season. The former Gold Coast superboot has played just one senior game and has had an injury-interrupted season. – Lee Gaskin

Lindsay Thomas' time with the Power might be short-lived. Picture: AFL Photos







The Tigers' list situation faces a predicament that won't face an easy resolution unless Tom Lynch confirms he's going elsewhere. There are a number of players whose futures are tied up with negotiations to secure the free agent, who is sure to come with a high price tag. There are no Tigers looking at hanging up the boots all together, with Shaun Grigg and Bachar Houli the only players over 30 following the mid-season retirement of Shaun Hampson. Grigg and Houli are out of contract though, and along with Jacob Townsend, aren't likely to sign deals until the club has more clarity on Lynch. Fringe players Anthony Miles, Corey Ellis and Sam Lloyd are sure to look at opportunities elsewhere should they present themselves, after impressive years in the VFL while the unsigned West Australian Shai Bolton could also look at another club after falling down the small forward pecking order. - Jennifer Phelan

A couple here that are every chance to be at the Saints next year, but David Armitage and Sam Gilbert could be on the way out. Armitage is contracted for 2019, but being dropped three times this season will probably have the 30-year-old talking to the Saints about where he sits in its plans. The tough nut has good football left in him, as evidenced by a 30-disposal, three-goal game against Port Adelaide last month. Similarly, Gilbert is still playing reasonably well, although he was dropped for last week's loss to the Western Bulldogs. His experience and versatility are important, but considering his 32nd birthday is later this month and St Kilda has had a poor season, the club may opt to move him on. - Dinny Navaratnam

David Armitage hasn't been able to command a regular role for the Saints. Picture: AFL Photos









The Swans have a decision to make on three club greats in Jarrad McVeigh, Heath Grundy and Kieren Jack. McVeigh and Grundy are out of contract but have declared they want to play on, and their form was good enough in the first half of the year to justify another season, although Grundy is currently taking time away from playing on mental health grounds. Jack has a year to run on his current deal but has again battled with injury this year and is no guarantee to play on, while Dean Towers is out of contract and unlikely to get another deal. - Adam Curley

The Eagles could have used 2014 club champion Eric Mackenzie's experience during the upcoming finals campaign and, unfortunately, he looks almost certain to retire stuck three games short of the 150-match life membership mark due to ongoing problems with his feet. West Coast farewelled plenty of veteran campaigners last year, and unless Mark LeCras or the club decides he shouldn't go around again next year – although he appears more than capable after snaring 27 goals in 17 games – there won't be much turnover at all amongst the club's longest current servants. - Travis King

Eric Mackenzie won't be reprising his 2017 finals heroics again this season. Picture: AFL Photos





With 35-year-old Dale Morris wanting to go on into a 16th AFL season and coach Luke Beveridge giving him the seal of approval, the Dogs are unlikely to have any retirees at season's end. Sharpshooter Tory Dickson has battled soft tissue injuries over the past 24 months, but Beveridge has backed the 30-year-old to go on next year. Of the older players who might have a new home in 2019, premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead is a strong chance to move through free agency after the 27-year-old's past two seasons have been hampered by form and injury woes. Flag teammate Shane Biggs remains uncontracted and his future is clouded after the 27-year-old was dropped four times this season. - Ryan Davidson