Five Victorian clubs chasing West Coast’s former Victorian Andrew Gaff as a free agent target

AS a couple of free agents star for the high-flying Eagles, rival clubs are watching. And five Victorian clubs are taking a particular interest in hard-running midfielder Andrew Gaff.

West Coast's Andrew Gaff is in demand. Picture. Phil Hillyard

FIVE Victorian clubs are trying to tempt star West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff to come back home to Melbourne.

The Herald Sun can reveal Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton, Essendon and North Melbourne all have an interest in the restricted free agent.

Gaff, 25, is one of the competition’s top ball-winners, averaging the third-most possessions across the past three seasons.

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And his outside run would help add a missing midfield ingredient for each of the clubs chasing the prized Eagle’s signature, in particular, Melbourne, St Kilda and North Melbourne.

There is a belief Melbourne could be best-placed to land Gaff given the strength of its young list, upwards trajectory this season and salary cap space.

Clubs are queuing up for West Coast's Andrew Gaff. Picture. Phil Hillyard

The best and fairest winner is expected to give his future more thought when he meets his manager Paul Connors in the back half of the season.

As a free agent, clubs don’t have to trade anything to land the ball magnet, although West Coast has the capacity to match the offer for the first time in AFL history.

Hawthorn, Richmond and Collingwood are all chasing a star spearhead and have zeroed in on Gold Coast free agent Tom Lynch.

The Hawks and Tigers are in the box seat to secure the ace goal kicker, while Collingwood continue to sweat the futures of out-of-contract swingman Darcy Moore and midfield bull Jordan De Goey.

The Eagles have made an attractive long-term offer to keep Gaff, believed to be upwards of $750,000 a year for the No. 4 draft pick of 2010.

But West Coast faces a salary cap squeeze of sorts.

The Eagles are also trying to re-sign Jeremy McGovern. Pic: Getty Images

Superstar ruckman Nic Naitanui and dual Coleman Medallist and six-time All-Australian Josh Kennedy are also believed to be earning around the $1 million-a-year mark.

The club must also find upwards of $800,000 a year to keep fellow in-demand free agent Jeremy McGovern.

Gaff has previously said he is happily settled in Perth.

Rival clubs’ interest in the Oakleigh and Carey Grammar product will spike considerably in the back half of the year if the wingman’s dealings with West Coast are put off until the end of the season.

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said last month the club would again seek to be active in this year’s exchange period.

Will Gaff return to his home state? Pic: Getty Images

The Dees are clearly keen to add some outside midfield class and polish to their considerable onball grunt.

“We went after Jake Lever last year ... and certainly we are in the market for another one come the end of this year,” Mahoney said.

However, the Saints and Kangaroos are also desperately chasing some top-end midfield talent after last year missing out on Greater Western Sydney jet Josh Kelly and Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin.

North Melbourne has exceeded all expectations this season and last year sought board approval to make million-dollar bids for Kelly and Martin, but narrowly missed out on both.

Carlton is another club with considerable salary cap space to land more star midfield talent.

The Blues lost Bryce Gibbs to Adelaide last year and are trying to tie-up star captain and free agent Marc Murphy to a lucrative contract extension.

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Originally published as Five Victorian clubs chasing West Coast’s former Victorian Andrew Gaff as a free agent target