Bone: Adelaide Crows need to stay focused on flag as clubs circle Jake Lever and Mitch McGovern
The salary-cap squeeze is on, and Advertiser AFL expert Chris McDermott believes the Crows can’t keep both Lever and McGovern. Who would you choose?
JAKE Lever or Mitch McGovern?
It is looking more and more like the Crows can’t have both.
Pick one.
The clock is ticking, speculation is mounting and opposition clubs are closing in, Western Bulldogs the latest to throw their hat in the ring for young defender Lever on Tuesday.
That is the reality for the much-wanted duo at the Adelaide Football Club..
Perhaps there needs to be a month set aside each year, officially dubbed the silly season, where approaches can be made and contracts can be signed. Then it’s hands off and mouths shut until the season is over.
There must be a way to limit the damage.
Speculation on GWS and the Crows at the moment is unfair.
Both clubs have important games to play, finals to make and a premiership to be won, let alone players to sign.
This is the toughest part of any football season.
Distractions are many, but a club must remember to make the most of every opportunity and take nothing for granted in the chase for premiership glory or you might have to wait another 20 years, or longer!
McGovern and Lever will not want to be a distraction to their team but such is life in the modern era. It is only going to get worse before it gets better.
Very soon a club is going to part company with a gun player midway through a season when they declare their loyalty to another.
It happens in the NRL. The AFL will follow suit soon.
The beauty for the Crows is they have some extra dollars in their kitty following the recent signing of the AFL collective bargaining agreement. Problem is, so do 17 other clubs.
The new salary cap is $12.45 million per season.
The average wage has risen to $371,000 per season.
Clubs have an extra $2 million a season to spend, but among 40-odd players it doesn’t go far.
FOOTY THE SOLE FOCUS FOR LEVER
The Crows don’t appear to be flushed with funds.
Taylor Walker has just re-signed and there will be little change out of $1 million a year.
Betts, Jenkins, Talia, Sloane, Jacobs will all be in excess of $600,000 each.
That’s six players signed and $4 million spent.
That leaves 34 players to go with $8.45 million left, leaving about $248,000 a player.
Do the maths.
The salary cap squeeze is on so bring in the creative accountants.
Then there’s recruiting to factor in.
Is Tom Rockliff still in the Crows’ sights? He will not come cheaply.
The numbers suggest one of Lever or McGovern will be in different colours in 2018.
Rumours are rife but do not be fooled.
Believe nothing until a contract is signed.
Everything else is just a negotiation.
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