Collingwood will refuse to hand over two first-round draft picks for Gold Coast’s Steven May
COLLINGWOOD is keenly eyeing gun defender Steven May to bolster the club’s back six. However, they won’t be paying over the odds for the Gold Coast skipper. JAY CLARK has the latest on a potential deal.
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COLLINGWOOD will not hand over a pair of first-round draft picks to secure Gold Coast captain Steve May a year before he qualifies for free agency.
The Magpies are keenly eyeing the gun defender in next month’s trade period to help add the prime stopper their backline is missing.
The Herald Sun can reveal Collingwood is also closing in on a new one-year deal to keep knee reconstruction victim Lynden Dunn on the playing list for next season.
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Collingwood’s list manger Ned Guy is in the final stages of a deal for Dunn, who was having one of the best seasons of his career before he went down in Round 15.
The Suns want a long-term commitment from May and could pass on the captaincy to midfielder David Swallow if May doesn’t extend his contract over summer.
Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos said May would be an ideal addition to Collingwood’s back line to bolster its flag tilt next season.
Bur Roos suggested the 123-gamer would be worth in the vicinity of two first-round picks this year, roughly matching the price Melbourne paid for ace defender Jake Lever.
The difference is Lever was 21 when he was traded for Pick No. 10 and a future first-round pick, whereas May will be 27 by the start of next season.
Roos said May was an elite key defender who could anchor Collingwood’s back line and play on the opposition’s best forward every week.
“If you are Collingwood and you want Steven May this year you have to be expecting (to hand over) two first-round draft picks,” Roos said on Triple M.
But the Pies have ruled out forking over a pair of top picks for May, believing it would be an unfair asking price for a player entering his eighth season.
Collingwood can re-enter the race for May next year and jag him for nothing under free agency rules.
The Northern Territory product was ranked second for disposals and metres gained for a key defender this year and sixth for intercept marks.
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said the club would have a player vote on the club’s captaincy in about February, leading to a decision which would be ratified by the board.
“Obviously discussions will be had around if he isn’t committed beyond that year, how does it look?,” Dew said.
“But also May will be involved in those discussions as well and he is aware of that.”
Collingwood could end up with two first-round draft picks in the event unsigned tall utility Darcy Moore requests a trade.
Originally pick No. 9, Collingwood would likely want a first-round draft pick in any exchange for the athletic swingman, who has been hobbled by hamstring injuries this year.
But the Pies may have to use a top-20 selection to land next generation academy prospect and attacking half back Isaac Quaynor.
The running machine was named in the under 18 All-Australian team after starring in the national championships for Vic metro.
Sydney has been linked to Moore, while Hawthorn is also on the hunt for some key defensive reinforcement with James Frawley approaching the twilight of his career.
North Melbourne does not want Moore.
Goalkicker Jamie Elliott is also unsigned beyond this season after a horrible run with back and hamstring injuries.
Carlton is eyeing free agent Alex Fasolo.
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Originally published as Collingwood will refuse to hand over two first-round draft picks for Gold Coast’s Steven May