Moneyball trade news: Stay up to date with the latest contract and free agency buzz
It might be mid-season but the trade news is overflowing. Get the latest on a Port free agent, Bomber, Magpie and plenty more in this week’s Moneyball column.
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Collingwood has kicked off negotiations on a new deal for in-form ruckman Darcy Cameron that is expected to extend at least three seasons.
The ex-Swan is playing career-best football since taking on more responsibility when Brodie Grundy suffered a serious knee injury in the Pies’ Anzac Day clash with Essendon in round 6.
Cameron’s played all bar one game this year — after starting the season out of the side — but his output has increased significantly in Grundy’s absence, establishing himself as clearly the club’s second-best big man.
His averages in those five games include 15 disposals, five marks, seven hit-outs to advantage, six tackles and five score involvements.
They are all well above Cameron’s career numbers, but what makes him so appealing is his ability to play as a key forward means he can also be valuable once Grundy returns.
Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was always confident Cameron could capably cover for Grundy in the ruck.
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“When ‘Brodes’ (Grundy) comes back, I think Collingwood are improved, because their prospects in the front half of the ground are improved,” Buckley told SEN in May.
“I think Darcy Cameron is actually a really good ruckman and will continue to be strong in that role, given that he’s actually their next-best aerial target in the front half.
“I think (new coach) Craig McRae is trying to keep that ruck role filled, so that Darcy Cameron can go forward, but I think his best position is actually in the ruck.”
Cameron, who turns 27 in mid-July, is becoming a bigger priority by the week as he continues to improve, given he still has only 39 games to his name.
Grundy still has five seasons to run on his $7m, seven-year deal, but it’s in the Pies’ best interests to have an insurance policy.
The dual All-Australian is still as many as six weeks away, so Cameron has a big role to play to help keep the Magpies in the finals race.
BOMBERS HAPPY TO WAIT ON FRANCIS DEAL
Essendon swingman Aaron Francis faces an uncertain future at Tullamarine after being dumped from the struggling side.
The man taken pick six ahead of GWS Giants’ onballer Jacob Hopper (pick seven), Carlton superstar duo Harry McKay (pick 10) and Charlie Curnow (pick 12) was omitted after gathering only four possessions in each of the Bombers’ losses to Richmond and Sydney Swans.
He has averaged one goal and seven disposals a game over his four matches this season and is out of contract at season’s end after last signing a three-year agreement in 2019.
Essendon is prepared to wait on a new deal for Francis as it zeros in on new contracts for No. 1 pick Andrew McGrath and gun youngsters Zach Reid and Nik Cox.
McGrath was this week linked to rising interest from Richmond and St Kilda but the Bombers have no desire to trade the speedster at this stage.
It means Francis, 24, could attract the attention of rival clubs from South Australia where he is from, but any interest is likely to have cooled based on his recent form.
Trade sources said he would likely only command a late draft pick in a trade at season’s end and a modest salary for 2023.
Essendon has maintained strong faith in Francis over his career but he has struggled to have a consistent impact at the top level, playing 54 games over seven seasons.
He was drafted as a star intercepting defender in 2015 but has moved forward this season and can play at both ends.
Francis was taken after Essendon landed pick five as part of the Jake Carlisle trade to St Kilda, allowing the Bombers to take Darcy Parish and Francis in a one-two hit.
Seven years on Bombers’ officials face a tough decision at season’s end whether to maintain the faith in Francis or seriously entertain a move if the compensation suits. He is a free agent at the end of next season when he can walk to the club of his choice.
Essendon is about to launch into a mid-season review after a poor start to the season has dialled up the pressure on the red and black, despite being the second-youngest team on average each week.
The Bombers have a bye this weekend after being thrilled to land rebounding half back Massimo D’Ambrosio and small forward Jye Menzie at the mid-season draft pick.
Veteran Devon Smith could also attract some trade interest at Essendon after continuing to battle an ongoing knee issue.
The best and fairest winner is contracted for next year but there are concerns over his durability.
CATS SET TO SEAL DEALS FOR OUT-OF-CONTRACT TRIO
Geelong is set to lock in its trio of out-of-contract midfielders in coming weeks as talks on its veteran stars wait until the back-end of the season.
The Cats are confident they will close contract negotiations with Brandan Parfitt, Max Holmes and Mark O’Connor after strong progress in those deals in recent weeks.
Parfitt was keen to improve his contract value by putting off talks, while second-year mid Holmes has been impressive in his second year after 12 games on debut last season.
Irishman O’Connor can play as a running tall or tagging mid with equal effectiveness in a side that is rapidly transitioning from an ageing team that one with elite young talent.
Sam De Koning signed a two-year contract extension at the start of last year but the No. 19 pick will be worthy of a lucrative contract by the end of next year given his exceptional form.
Geelong has a long list of senior players who are out of contract, with no decisions yet on a group that will have 14 players 30 or older by August.
Star forward Tom Hawkins is keen to play on and Joel Selwood is expected to push on into 2023, with Isaac Smith and Zach Tuohy also in excellent form.
The quartet are in regular discussions with new list boss Andrew Mackie about their form and intentions but no decisions will be made until later this season.
Luke Dahlhaus and Shaun Higgins are out of contract along with Gary Rohan, with the former Swans forward finally back into the Cats team against the Western Bulldogs after persistent injury problems.
Hawkins turns 34 next month but has not shown a single sign of slowing down after 31.18 after 11 rounds leading into the Dogs clash.
While Joel Selwood has been pushed out of the midfield at times his round 11 clash against Adelaide with 24 possessions and 13 tackles shows he has lost little of his edge.
DO BLUES HAVE EDGE IN AMON RACE?
A handful of AFL clubs are still jostling for position in the race to secure Port Adelaide unrestricted free agent Karl Amon, but Carlton hopes a close personal connection might hold the key to their chances.
Amon has a strong relationship with Blues coach Michael Voss, which was fostered during Voss’ time as a senior assistant to Ken Hinkley at Alberton.
While the Blues are planning to go to the draft with intent this year, they are still keen to bring in a ready-made AFL wingman for 2023.
Amon is a big fan of Voss, having worked closely with him at Port Adelaide across seven seasons.
Hawthorn and St Kilda are also very interested in 26-year-old Amon, who was dropped by the Power in Round 5 before winning a last-minute reprieve due to a late withdrawal.
Amon’s mother, Katrina, was appointed as the Saints’ Indigenous development manager in February.
If Amon chooses to leave Port Adelaide, his new club won’t have to give anything up as he is an unrestricted free agent.
COX SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH DONS
Essendon has locked away one of its most important pieces of its list build, re-signing star youngster Nik Cox for two more years.
The club on Friday confirmed the ultra-versatile tall had inked a new two-year extension to keep him at the club until the end of 2024.
Cox, 20, enjoyed a brilliant debut season last year playing 22 of a possible 23 matches, but has been struck down this year by a worrying Lisfranc injury in his foot.
The 202cm playmaker shone with his running power, decision-making and aerial contest from a wing last year and could move into an onball role.
Essendon had plans to sign him to a three-year extension but was thrilled to add Cox to the list of recent signings including Archie Perkins, Zach Reid and Kyle Langford.
WALKER MOVE COULD RELY ON LION’S FUTURE
Adelaide will hold firm on the timing of their contract talks with Taylor Walker, who believes Brisbane have expressed some interest in him moving north on a two-year deal.
The Crows are likely to offer Walker a new deal during their round 13 bye, aware many veteran AFL stars like Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Joel Selwood and David Mundy are yet to be offered new deals.
The Lions would likely only be interested if Dan McStay moved south and knocked back their new offer of a five-year deal.
In the meantime former captain Walker seems to be orchestrating a media circus when he has been told talks will follow a similar time-frame to last year, when he was recontracted by July 1.
Meanwhile Adelaide is hopeful No. 6 Fischer McAsey’s new role as a forward might keep him at the club despite decision time looming on his future.
He is contracted to 2023 but could look at a move back to Melbourne if he can’t crack into the team, with the key tall kicking four goals in the last four games in the SANFL.
GIANTS OPTIMISTIC OVER HILL RETURN
Bobby Hill’s surgery for testicular cancer went well on Tuesday, with scan results in coming weeks to determine whether he will need more treatment including chemotherapy.
The Giants are optimistic he could still be back playing by the back-end of the season given the issue was caught so early Hill was even safe to play in a final match before surgery.
The expectation is that he will still request a trade to a Melbourne based club given his links with relatives in Melbourne.
Port Adelaide is keen to secure a young small forward and is likely to miss on Izak Rankine, set to stay on the Gold Coast, but the chances of Hill moving to Adelaide are less likely.
UNCERTAINTY OVER DAVEY BROS’ DRAFT WORTH
Recruiters are genuinely unsure where the Davey brothers, Essendon’s pair of father-son prospects, will lob in the draft.
But Oakleigh Chargers talent manager Jy Bond says Alwyn Jr, son of the 100-game Essendon forward, could scarcely have been more impressive in his four NAB League games.
His brother Jayden tore his ACL over summer playing touch football for Xavier and had been seen as the brother who had displayed more of his talent before his second reconstruction.
“I am not sure how it will pan out but I would love to see them playing for the same club at some stage,” Bond said.
“They are both mid-forwards but they can play down back. Alwyn has played mid-forward for us this year and his pressure is super. He understands the game, he is tough and they are just awesome kids. They have such a good sense of humour and they are so good to talk to. They have been in our program for three or four years and when they play together they certainly know where each other is.”
HAWKS SPEARHEAD KEEPS ADDING VALUE
Every dominant game Mitch Lewis plays at Hawthorn helps his contract talks given the Hawks have been reluctant to pony up a significant offer for the 23-year-old.
He has kicked 23.9 this year and would be open to a long-term deal but so far the Hawks offer is solid but not especially generous given he has played only 44 games.
He is open to signing on for two years to get him to free agency or inking a long-term deal, with uncertainty over Jack Gunston’s future giving him added leverage.
He wants to stay so while rivals would be interested if his deal was delayed until late in the year there is a level of confidence it can be finalised in the next month or two.
DOCKERS SET TO REWARD WINGER’S FORM
Fremantle will make Blake Acres back up his spectacular form for more of the season before offering a new deal to the former St Kilda wingman.
His three-year deal with the club expires at the end of the season, with the ex-Saint one of footy’s most improved players averaging 21 touches and 91 ranking points as a surging wingman.
The Dockers are likely to lose Griffin Logue to a Victorian club and are about to crank up talks with full back Alex Pearce.
Logue was seen to be lowballed by the club over a deal that took seven months coming but given the Dockers don’t have a second or third-round pick they can secure more draft picks for the November national draft.
Pearce is a restricted free agent but has been injury prone with only 73 AFL games in his seven and a half seasons.
His clear preference is to stay but rivals desperate to secure a key position defender have ramped up their inquiries in recent weeks given no deal is yet done.
BLUES KEEN TO LOCK AWAY TOP DRAFT TALENT
Carlton will look to start talks with exciting young small forward Jesse Motlop on a new deal long before he comes out of contract at the end of next season.
Motlop has shown some promising signs, so far playing three games and kicking three goals in his debut season since being selected as pick 27 in last year’s draft.
He has formed a part of the Blues’ 2022 small forward brigade that includes Corey Durdin and Matthew Owies.
It is understood Carlton has already explored the option of kicking off contract talks early.
The Blues have 31 players coming out of contract across the next two off-seasons.
Carlton has tentatively started working on potential new deals with Liam Stocker, Lochie O’Brien and David Cuningham, who will be out of contract at the end of 2022.
But the Blues will have to be patient with some of their big-name stars set to come out of contract at the end of 2023.
Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay, Tom De Koning and Sam Docherty will be priority signings, but nothing is likely to happen in regard to those players until the off-season or early into next season.
NO CERTAINTY ABOUT RUNNING BLUE’S CONTRACT
Lochie O’Brien’s future at Carlton is not yet secure given no contract talks and the club’s interest in rival outside runners.
The former pick 10 has been one of the stories of Carlton’s season given the former 400m runner’s improved performances on the wing.
But given Carlton’s other signing priorities rivals will assess his back-end form and Carlton’s determination to sign him before considering whether he is gettable.
SAINT’S SECRET SIGNING
Opportunities are harder to come by for Ryan Byrnes at an improved St Kilda, but there is less pressure on him than it seems.
The Saints are yet to announce anything, but it’s understood the 21-year-old, who played 16 games in a breakout 2021 season, quietly inked a one-year extension many months ago.
Four of Byrnes’ six senior appearances this year were as an unused medical substitute, including in the past fortnight, but he’s racking up almost 29 disposals and 10 groundball-gets per game in the VFL.
He’s highly rated internally and it seems only a matter of time before he breaks back into the 22.
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