It might be 17 months until the 2017 free agency period officially opens, but clubs are already circling the players set to be up for grabs.

Veterans such as Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell and St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt will join this list if, as expected, they sign new one-year deals later this year.

Clubs will also be scrambling to take their players off the list. Already this year, North Melbourne has re-signed prospective 2017 free agents Ben Cunnington and Jamie Macmillan, West Coast has re-signed Shannon Hurn and Essendon has locked Travis Colyer away.

After just four players changed clubs as free agents last season – Matthew Leuenberger, Scott Selwood, Dawson Simpson and Matthew Suckling – the 2016 free agency period already looks like being another fizzer.

But the 2017 crop – at this early stage – is chock full of stars and handy role players. And that, for the moment, should be enough to get clubs excited.

Andy Otten
Sam Shaw 

AFL Media says: A stress-free year for the Crows' list management staff looms. Otten has not played a senior game since rupturing his ACL in late 2014 but has made a solid start in the SANFL this year. The defender turns 27 on Sunday and faces a tough task to break back into a Crows' backline that boasts rebound options such as Brodie Smith, Rory Laird and Paul Seedsman. Shaw has played just 24 games in seven seasons at Adelaide and faces a make-or-break 18 months.

Claye Beams
Ryan Harwood
Tom Rockliff 

AFL Media says: The Lions have already had preliminary discussions with Rockliff about extending his tenure at the Gabba beyond 2017. Although both parties are in no rush to ink a new deal, we expect the Lions captain will be taken out of the 2017 free agency pool later this year. Beams and Harwood have both had their injury troubles at the Lions and have never played more than 13 and 16 senior games a year respectively. Both are yet to miss a game this season and will be focused on establishing themselves as senior regulars over the next two seasons.

Michael Jamison
Matthew Kreuzer
Andrew Walker
Simon White 

AFL Media says: Kreuzer will re-sign with the Blues, while the future of Walker, who will be 31 by the end of next season, will largely depend on how well his troublesome knees hold up. Jamison and White have both been dropped this year and have work to do to ensure they don't find themselves on the outer as the Blues continue to remould their team next year.

Tyson Goldsack
Lachlan Keeffe
Ben Sinclair
Josh Thomas

AFL Media says: Keeffe will appeal to opposition clubs as a versatile key-position player, but he and Thomas are keen to repay the support the Magpies have given them through their WADA suspensions this season. Goldsack, who turns 29 later this month, resisted the lure of free agency in 2014 and is unlikely to go anywhere. After injury-plagued 2014 and 2015 seasons, Sinclair will be focused on establishing himself in the Pies' best 22 over the next 18 months.

Tom Bellchambers
Heath Hocking
Michael Hurley
Jobe Watson
David Zaharakis 

AFL Media says: All bar Zaharakis are among the 12 Essendon players serving WADA suspensions this season. Hocking, who had been set to come out of contract at the end of this season, re-signed for 2017 last month, but Bellchambers, Hurley and Watson remain in on-going compensation and contract talks with Essendon. All three could turn their backs on the 2017 free agency pool by signing contract extensions later this year, but Watson has yet to commit to resuming his career and there remains some chance – we understand it is remote – that Hurley and Bellchambers, along with the six other suspended Bombers yet to re-sign, could seek a fresh start at another club at the end of this season. Zaharakis, 26, is a key member of the Bombers' midfield and will be a high-priority re-signing.

Michael Hurley and Jobe Watson on the training track. Picture: AFL Media

Hayden Ballantyne
Garrick Ibbotson
Michael Johnson
David Mundy
Aaron Sandilands
Nick Suban 

AFL Media says: Suban, 26, was dropped after round four following a slow start to the 2016 season and clubs in his home state of Victoria will monitor his situation this year, especially given Freo's declared intention of rejuvenating its list. Ibbotson, 28, has also been dropped this season but the West Australian is a good intercept defender and unlikely to go anywhere. Ballantyne, 28, has also had a slow start to 2016 but the Dockers will likely want to hold on to the feisty goalsneak. Sandilands, 33, will probably retire at the end of next season, while fellow veterans Johnson, 31, and Mundy, 30, will either join him or play on at Freo.

Andrew Mackie
Steven Motlop  

AFL Media says: Motlop's previous contract negotiations with the club dragged on last season until September, when he re-signed for two years despite reported interest from Richmond and Adelaide. The Cats will be keen to cut a speedier deal with the 25-year-old speedster this time around. Mackie will be 33 by the end of next season and will likely hang up the boots.

Gold Coast players are not eligible for free agency next season, given the club will then be in its seventh year in the competition. The minimum qualification period to become a free agent is eight years at the one club.

Greater Western Sydney players are not eligible for free agency next season, given the club will then be in its sixth years in the competition. The minimum qualification period to become a free agent is eight years at the one club.

Grant Birchall
Luke Breust
Taylor Duryea
Jordan Lewis
Ryan Schoenmakers 

AFL Media says: Birchall, 28, and Breust, 25, shape as the highest re-signing priorities for the Hawks given their on-field importance and relative youth. Despite a slow start to 2016, Lewis, 30, should have enough petrol in the tank to continue with the Hawks in 2018. Schoenmakers had the chance to leave Hawthorn via a trade at the end of 2014, but declined and we don't expect free agency will prove any greater temptation for the South Australian. Duryea, 25, has established himself in the Hawthorn's best 22 over the past two and a bit seasons and should stay too.

Grant Birchall shapes as one of the biggest free agents on offer. Picture: AFL Media

Lynden Dunn

AFL Media says: Dunn has been a great Melbourne servant in a bleak era, but he seems to be falling out of favour after being overlooked for this year's opening two rounds and dropped following the round six loss to St Kilda. The defenderturns 30 in May next year and needs to prove over the next 18 months that he still has a place with the emerging Dees, post 2017.

Aaron Black
Lachlan Hansen
Scott Thompson 

AFL Media says: Black and Hansen are both interesting cases. Black has been out-of-favour since Jarrad Waite's arrival at Arden Street ahead of the 2015 season, while Hansen has played just one game in the first seven rounds this year as North has gone with a shorter backline. Black unsuccessfully requested a trade last season, but rival clubs will have noticed the 192cm forward's improved VFL form this year and could make serious bids for him in October's trade period if he remains starved of opportunities. Hansen's ability to play in defence and attack could also appeal to rival clubs. Thompson's recent good form suggests he should play on at North in 2018, although he will turn 32 in May that season so the Roos could look to re-sign him on a one-year deal.

Lachie Hansen's versatility will appeal to a number of clubs. Picture: AFL Media

Alipate Carlile
Jasper Pittard
Jackson Trengove
Justin Westhoff

AFL Media says: Victorian clubs will explore whether versatile tall Trengove and running half-back Pittard have any interest in coming home, but Port regards the 25-year-olds as key planks of its team and will likely move to lock them away early. At 30, Westhoff remains extremely durable for a big man and should play on with the Power in 2018, but Carlile, who turns 30 next April, will have to overcome his recent injury struggles to prove he can play on beyond 2017.

Brett Deledio
Dustin Martin 

AFL Media says: Commentators have suggested Richmond should consider trading a big fish such as Deledio or Martin to regenerate a list that has looked light-on for class and depth in the Tigers' disappointing 1-6 start to 2016. However, the Tigers remain committed to building around the likes of Deledio and Martin – and fellow stars Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance – so won't entertain trading either player this October before they become free agents, nor will they be tempted to cash one or the other in for a juicy compensation pick next October.

Sam Gilbert
Leigh Montagna 

AFL Media says: No intrigue here whatsoever. Both veterans will either play on with the Saints or retire.

Heath Grundy
Josh Kennedy
Jarrad McVeigh
Sam Reid
Gary Rohan 

AFL Media says: Co-captain McVeigh and midfield star Kennedy won't be going anywhere, Grundy will stay or retire, so the main interest will centre on Victorians Reid and Rohan. The ability of Reid, 196cm, to play in attack and defence will appeal greatly to rival clubs, as will Rohan's blistering speed. Both players have been injury prone but both will be just 26 when they enter the 2018 season, so any suitors will come bearing tempting long-term deals.

Sam Reid is injury-prone but an appealing talent. Picture: AFL Media

Josh Kennedy
Mark LeCras
Eric Mackenzie
Matt Priddis

AFL Media says: All of the above quartet are West Australians and dyed-in-the-wool Eagles who are almost no chance of moving to other clubs. The only real query is over Priddis, who will turn 33 on the eve of the 2018 season. But the 2014 Brownlow medallist's form remains strong and his game has never relied on speed, so he's more likely to go again in 2018 than not.

Liam Picken

AFL Media says: A quiet year looms for the Bulldogs' list management team at this stage. Picken will be 31 at the end of next season but he should play on with the Bulldogs beyond that if his recent good form continues.