AFL player agent Robbie D’Orazio has been busy at work since the AFL season wrapped up.
With the AFL trade period now also behind us, two of D’Orazio’s clients will be hoping to receive a career lifeline after being cut by their clubs when the delisted player free agency period takes place in early November.
While former Fremantle midfielder Connor Blakely didn’t break through for a senior game last season, D’Orazio expects him to “get a home somewhere” in 2023.
“They’re two of our boys that I think will end up on lists somewhere,” D’Orazio said on SEN Breakfast.
“Connor Blakely is obviously the Fremantle (midfielder) – he signed a three-year deal a few years ago and didn’t really get an opportunity after he did that which was quite astonishing.
“I think he’ll get a home somewhere, we’ll work through that in the next little bit.”
Along with Blakely, D’Orazio is hopeful that former GWS defender Jake Stein gets another opportunity.
After 20 career games including nine in 2022, D’Orazio believes the key defender has more to give at the top level, describing his delisting as surprising.
“And Steiny is a GWS backman who came as a Cat B (rookie),” D’Orazio said.
“He was one that I was surprised got delisted, he played some good footy in the back end under Mark McVeigh and then Jason McCartney gave him sort of the chop, which is fine, we’ll move on from that.
“Hopefully we get him on a list somewhere which I’m working on at the moment, fingers crossed that all works out for both boys.”
Players that were cut will hope to land on AFL lists when the delisted player free agency period takes place between November 3 and 9.