Power and Bulldogs Delist Players Plus Lycett Retires

The past week provided yet more delistings and retirements. The Western Bulldogs delisted Hayden Crozier and Roarke Smith. Port Adelaide delisted Orazio Fantasia, Sam Hayes, and Jake Pasini while Scott Lycett has retired. Sam Naismith has found his way back into the AFL at Richmond.

Lycett, a former Port Adelaide SANFL player, was drafted by West Coast in 2010 and played 75 games for the Eagles, including the 2018 premiership. At the end of 2018, he moved to Port as a free agent and played a further 71 games. Port Coach Ken Hinkley said, "Scott has been an outstanding contributor for two clubs ... He was an incredible workhorse for our club during the last five seasons and was totally focused on putting his teammates first. As a former Port Adelaide junior, Scott was Port Adelaide through and through.

Crozier, 29, was dratted by Fremantle and played games for the Dockers before being traded to the Bulldogs at the end of 2017, He played a further 73 games for the Bulldogs. Smith, 27, managed just 47 games in nine years at the club and didn't play a senior game this season due to a foot injury. The club has committed to redrafting delisted pair Taylor Duryea and Lachie McNeil, Duryea,32, has so far played 192 games across both Hawthorn and the Bulldogs, winning two premierships in that period. McNeil was drafted as a rookie in 2020 and played 42 games.

Fantasia was drafted by Essendon in 2013 and played 90 games for the Bombers. He was traded to Port at the end 0f 2020 and played 19 games. He is set to join Carlton. Hayes was drafted in 2017 but managed just 12 games. Pasini was drafted in 2019 but never played any senior games.

Sam Naismith has been offered an AFL lifeline by Richmond. He joins the Tigers as a delisted free agent after an impressive VFL season with Port Melbourne. Naismith, 31, was a rookie selection by Sydney in 2013 but his career has been hampered by knee injuries which restricted him to just 30 senior games until he was delisted at the end of 2022. His last senior games was in 2020 but he believes he still has plenty to offer, “I’m super excited. It was an opportunity that I didn't think was going to happen, and I think my last five years of working really hard to get back to this position is paying off now ... ". The Tigers see him as a handy replacement for Ivan Soldo who was traded to Port Adelaide.

Naismith is excited to team up with Tigers co-captain and former Swans teammate Toby Nankervis (12 games for Sydney 2014-2016), "I can't wait to play with Toby. I think we played some of our best footy together when we were in Sydney ... With Ivan going to Port Adelaide, there was an opportunity there. If there's a position to help the young guys develop... and to work with Toby again... to push each other and also the developing guys. I love tackling, I love hitting bodies, and protecting my teammates... Whatever the team needs, I want to do it.".

Source: sen.com.au, afl.com.au, Eliot Raiter, Western Bulldogs Media Release, AFL Record Season Guide