Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern will have to stay for far less money at West Coast
THEY’RE both free agents and the subject of massive offers from rival clubs. And if they want to stay at West Coast, Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern face a big question. Plus, a speedy Demon may want out.
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JEREMY McGovern would have to sacrifice well over $2 million to stay at West Coast given their salary cap squeeze.
The Eagles interceptor has officially put contract talks on hold as his manager Colin Young admits rivals are circling.
Melbourne-born midfielder Andrew Gaff is in a similar position, keen to stay at the club but aware it would take an extreme financial sacrifice.
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The cash-strapped Eagles face the potential prospect of losing both free agents to cashed up rivals desperate to improve their lists.
West Coast’s initial offer for McGovern of four years at $800,000 a season would be blown out of the water by rivals.
McGovern has only just turned 26, with Melbourne clubs and Fremantle prepared to offer five-year deals at well over $1 million a year.
The capacity to secure one of the game’s best intercept players without having to hand over a draft pick has massive appeal.
Fremantle is at the front of the queue, and while North Melbourne has denied it is interested he would be prepared to move to a Victorian club.
McGovern could end up being paid as much as Richmond’s Dustin Martin, who himself had to sacrifice $2.8 million over the life of a seven-year deal at Richmond.
Despite reports this week, Sydney has made only a single inquiry about McGovern’s availability in January and not made contact since.
Young told Perth radio this weekend Fremantle were in the market for McGovern.
“There’s a few clubs looking for intercept players like Jeremy, and you’d imagine that two or three would be in that market,” Young said.
“It would be ridiculous of me to say that Fremantle wouldn’t have picked up the phone once Jeremy made the decision he made to just leave discussions with contracts until the end of the season.
“I’m fairly sure that fans of Fremantle wouldn’t be too happy if they hadn’t picked up the phone just to find out where he was at.”
West Coast has well-paid stars Josh Kennedy and Nic Naitanui coming off contract next year and significant commitments to Luke Shuey, Elliott Yeo, Jack Darling and captain Shannon Hurn.
Gaff has signed several contracts at West Coast but as a free agent is hugely in demand after adding an inside edge to his game.
His manager Paul Connors this week said Gaff was in no hurry to commit to a new deal, having always signed his contracts later in the year.
Suitors including North Melbourne, St Kilda, Carlton and Melbourne all have ample salary room to attempt to lure him home.
He said recently he wanted to stay at West Coast to chase premierships but would be offered well short of $1 million a season there.
West Coast could not begrudge him if he left given those close to him suggest there is a sizeable difference between the price to stay and go.
He turns 26 this Saturday and since Round 17, 2011 has missed just a single game after being concussed in Round 10, 2016.
West Coast has traditionally been reluctant to commit to long-term deals that expire when players are in their 30s.
MEANWHILE, Dean Kent could leave Melbourne in search of greater opportunity.
Kent remains sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in the Round 5 loss to Richmond, but is understood to want more midfield responsibility.
He made a bright start to the season, with 20 disposals and three goals against North Melbourne in Round 3 and 17 touches and three goals against Hawthorn in Round 4 before injury struck.
But the Demons’ improved depth and rise to legitimate contender status has made it difficult for Kent to break into the engine room.
He finished in the top 10 of Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2016, but has played only 61 games in five-and-a-half seasons, partly because of injury.
At 24, he has a mix of speed and power, and an appetite for defensive pressure, that would appeal to potential suitors willing to take a punt on his soft tissue issues.
It’s understood Kent would prefer to stay at Melbourne, but is unlikely to get a deal to his liking at the Demons and is assessing his options.
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Originally published as Andrew Gaff and Jeremy McGovern will have to stay for far less money at West Coast
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