Andrew Gaff to become a free agent next year despite six-year deal

Andrew Gaff became an Eagle for life after signing a lucrative six year deal last - or so we thought. A clause in contract has the Eagles facing a nervous wait as the door is left ajar.

West Coast star Andrew Gaff will again be a free agent next year because of a little-known exit clause in his contract at the end of next season.

Gaff, 27, was largely considered to be an Eagle for life after signing a six-year deal worth about $1 million a season at the end of last season.

But the Herald Sun has confirmed Gaff has a significant release clause allowing him to leave at the end of next year, similar to Greater Western Sydney midfield jet Josh Kelly.

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These types of deals are favourable for the competition’s superstars as they give them long-term guaranteed money as well as the full flexibility to depart, if required, after only two seasons.

It means West Coast may again face a nervous wait if Gaff decides to consider his eligibility as an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season.

North Melbourne made a whopping offer to poach the Oakleigh product last year and has since secured former Eagles’ list manager Brady Rawlings to become North’s new footy boss.

The Eagles are confident Gaff will again line-up in blue and yellow next season, as the club looks to poach Tim Kelly, 25, from Geelong next month and shoot for another premiership.

Kelly’s arrival would give the Eagles arguably the best midfield in the league, including Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey, best-and-fairest winner Elliott Yeo, Gaff and star ruckman Nic Naitanui.

Andrew Gaff could become a free agent in 2020.

Geelong is yet to make any moves on Gaff as part of a straight-swap for Kelly in this year’s trade period, believing he is committed to West Coast for at least one more year.

But Gaff revealed this year how close he came to joining North 12 months ago as his father battled ill-health.

“You wake up during the night at times and find it hard to get back to sleep because you are thinking about it,” Gaff said.

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“When you are from Melbourne, you got a lot of mates you don’t see too often and obviously a (it was a) very good deal.

“It’s something you think about a lot.

“It was a tough one, I was pretty close (to leaving).”

Kelly would appear to have shot past Gaff as the more highly-rated player of the pair, given he is two years younger and coming off a career-best season.

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Tim Kelly is set to leave the Cats this off-season.

Kelly this week finished fifth in the Brownlow Medal on 24 votes, averaging 25 possessions a game, well ahead of Gaff, who averaged 32 touches per match, on 11 votes.

Geelong wants to keep Kelly for next season, but is equally prepared for the gun midfielder to request a trade to the Eagles or Dockers in coming weeks.

Geelong will want at least two first-round draft picks from West Coast for Kelly, and has not yet ruled out Fremantle as a potential trade partner either.

The Eagles have picks No. 13, 22 and 31 in this year’s draft, and could also involve next year’s first round draft pick to help satisfy the Cats.

Geelong wants two first-round selections for Kelly.

Last year, West Coast offered picks No. 20 and 22 and a future second-round pick. But the Cats wanted a future first round pick included, and subsequently knocked back the Eagles.

Originally published as Andrew Gaff to become a free agent next year despite six-year deal