Cornes names the three 2025 AFL free agents he is most intrigued by and the "walk away" price for Carlton star

Kane Cornes has named who he believes are the three most interesting free agents in 2025.

Next year’s list is particularly fascinating, with Marcus Bontempelli, Tom De Koning, Oscar Allen and James Worpel amongst the big names.

Cornes has named North Melbourne midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke, Brisbane forward Cam Rayner and Freo star Andrew Brayshaw as the trio to watch in 2025.

“It’s a terrific group of free agents next year, which one will we be speaking about the most? The three that I think are the most fascinating are Cam Rayner – and you look at a team like Essendon and the offers that could come for him – Andrew Brayshaw’s the one, Luke Davies-Uniacke and then there’s Marcus Bontempelli,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.

“You’d think there’s almost no chance Bont leaves the Bulldogs because of what’s at stake for him. If he’s not the greatest Bulldog already, he’s going to be in a few years. Something would have to go really wrong for the Bont to leave.

“I think it’s Brayshaw, Davies-Uniacke and Rayner are the three that are most fascinating.

“If one or two of them haven’t signed by Round 8 or 9, I think there would be alarm bells at their footy clubs.”

Essendon ruckman Sam Draper is also a free agent, but Cornes doesn’t expect enormous offers to come his way.

“He’s one to watch, but if you’re another club you’re not paying big money for a ruckman,” Cornes said.

“You’re just not. You need a competitive ruckman and people always say I’m critical of Geelong and then say ruckmen don’t matter as much, and I agree that they’re not influential in terms of winning a premiership, but they are if you don’t have a competitive ruckman and Geelong don’t have a competitive ruckman, so go and get one.”

Carlton finds itself in an interesting position with Tom De Koning, who is also a free agent and likely to command huge offers from other teams, as he did two years ago.

“There’s a walk away price,” Cornes said of Carlton’s negotiation position.

“Similar discussion to Tim English. The numbers that were being floated for English at the start of last year were extraordinary and then by the end of the year he ends up staying for what we are told is a lot less.

“There is a ceiling on what ruckmen can earn and I wouldn’t be going more than $800,000.

“I know a few years ago I said he would become a million-dollar player and he can do more and go forward which helps, but are you going to pay more than $800,000 for him?

“I’d be nervous to pay him more than $800,000.”

Josh Battle, Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming were the three free agents who moved in 2024, with the first two reportedly commanding over $800,000 per season.