The AFL has confirmed list sizes for the next season, as part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the AFL Players’ Association 2021.
It will see clubs permitted to have a minimum of 37 players and a maximum of 44 players on their books.
Primary lists must have between 36 and 38 players. Category A rookies are capped at 4-6, up to a total of 42 players on a list including primary-listed players. Each club can also have two Category B rookies.
Salary cap changes were also confirmed, with the Total Player Payment cap for each club $12.1 million and the Additional Services Agreement limit $1.09 million.
A new CBA will be developed for 2022-24.
These list numbers will mean the Bulldogs have flexibility heading into the delisted free agency period and drafts.
The Bulldogs had 45 players on their list in 2020, including rookies.
Eight players have departed since the end of the season.
Premiership forward Tory Dickson has retired and Lachie Young was traded to North Melbourne. Matthew Suckling, Jackson Trengove, Billy Gowers, Callum Porter, Fergus Greene and Brad Lynch have been advised they won’t receive contracts for 2021.
The Bulldogs welcomed three new players in the trade period – midfielder Adam Treloar, ruckman Stefan Martin and forward Mitch Hannan.
Taylor Duryea and Lin Jong have both re-signed since the end of the season, with Ryan Gardner and Jordon Sweet earning rookie extensions.
At this stage, four players remain uncontracted for 2021 – Roarke Smith, Ben Cavarra, Will Hayes and Buku Khamis.
Key dates for the 2020 off-season:
Wednesday 25 November
• List Lodgement 1
• Nomination of Draft Eligible Father/Son Players Lodged
• Nomination of Draft Eligible Northern & NGA Academy Players Lodged
Thursday 26 November
• AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences
Sunday 29 November
• AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Closes
Monday 30 November
• List Lodgement 2
• Out of Contract Listed AFL Primary List Players Draft Nomination Form and Player Request for Removal from List Form Lodged with AFL
• Final date for Primary List delistings
Tuesday 1 December
• AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences
Wednesday 2 December
• AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes
Thursday 3 December
• AFL Trade Period Closes – Selections Only
• Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Form Lodgement
• Non–Retained Rookie Players Draft Nomination Form Lodgement
• Final Draft Nomination Form Lodgement
• AFL Father-Son Bidding Nominations lodged with AFL
Wednesday December 9 at 7pm AEDT
• NAB AFL Draft
Thursday December 10 at 12pm AEDT
• NAB AFL Pre-Season & Rookie Draft
