Port Adelaide’s Sam Gray’s future clouded as clubs leave him hanging in trade period
Out-of-contract Port Adelaide small forward Sam Gray will meet with club in the next few days to weigh up his options after he was unwanted during the trade period.
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Port Adelaide will meet with unsettled small forward Sam Gray’s manager “in the next few days’’ after he failed to secure a trade in the exchange period.
The 27-year-old’s future was left in limbo after his main suitors, St Kilda and Carlton, failed to make a bid for him.
The Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne also are understood to have shown some interest in Gray, who kicked 20 goals from 20 games this season.
The out-of-contract Gray, who has played 96 games and kicked 83 goals for the Power since debuting in 2014, tested the market after being offered only a one-year deal (on less money than he received this year) by Port.
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“We’ll sit down with Sam’s management over the next few days and have a look at where Sam wants to end up and give him our view on 2020 as well,’’ said Power football general manager Chris Davies.
“Unfortunately for Sam, who was the one who said that he wanted to look at what his options were, there wasn't any interest in him throughout the trade period at all.
“It wasn’t the fact that we were holding out for a better deal or anything like that, it was just that unfortunately there wasn’t a home for him.
“He is going to have to have a think about that now and from a club perspective we
will meet with his manager over the next little bit and contemplate what the future holds.’’
Gray's manager Peter Rohde said he had a couple of options, including accepting Port’s reduced one-year offer or delisting himself as an uncontracted player and entering the pre-season draft.
There is also the possibility that the Power delists him which would make him a free agent.
It is understood Gray, who has kicked an impressive 69 goals in the past three seasons despite pinch-hitting in the midfield, dropped off the radar of the Saints and Blues as they chased other, more high-profile options.
Davies, meanwhile, reiterated that Port was happy with its trade lot despite copping heavy criticism from club legends Kane Cornes and Tim Ginever for trading key utility Dougal Howard to St Kilda, effectively for a late first-round draft pick (No. 18).
While Howard, 23, has plenty of talent as an athletic big man, Davies made the point that he wasn’t a first-choice player this year and that the club is comfortable with its back six.
It also wanted to secure a second first-round draft selection after hitting the jackpot last year with its three first-round picks, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma.
“We have had a clear plan since the end of 2018 to add young, high-end talent to our list through the draft and in adding another first round pick this year we have continued that strategy,’’ Davies said.
“The short term development, as well as long-term potential of Rozee, Butters and Duursma, are examples of what can be achieved when you get it right.
“The trade involving Howard and (ruckman) Paddy Ryder allowed us to secure an extra pick in the first round.
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“We were comfortable moving back slightly from pick 10 to 12 as we believe it’s a very even draft around that range.
“We’ve got a really strong group of players under the age of 23 and while we understand trade period can be a difficult time for players and supporters alike but we stress that we don’t make any decisions lightly without due consideration of what positions us in the best position to win our next premiership.
“That is ultimately our responsibility and we won’t shy away from that.”
Davies said Port would likely target a midfielder and forward with its first two picks at the draft while it also wants to take father-son prospect, on-baller Jackson Mead.
The Power is armed with selections 12, 18, 29, 66, 67, 68, 71 and 86.