Moneyball: Latest AFL contract, signings news for the 2021 season
Melbourne has secured the signature of another big name as the club looks to lock in its top talent. Who will be next?
Essendon
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Christian Salem says his single focus is breaking Melbourne’s premiership drought after becoming the latest Demons star to re-sign.
As revealed by the Herald Sun on Friday, Salem has been locked away on a five-year deal that will secure him until 2026.
Since the end of last season Melbourne has secured vice-captain Jack Viney on a five-year deal, captain Max Gawn on a four-year extension and star mid Clayton Oliver on a two-year extension.
Young emerging stars like Luke Jackson, Kosaiah Pickett and Trent Rivers have also signed contract extensions past their initial two-year deals.
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Salem said on Friday he was thrilled to sign on and happy to have found some consistent form but would never lose sight of his ultimate goal.
“For me my number one focus is simple, it’s to win a premiership. Five years is a long time and ultimately I want to get wins, play finals and win finals. I will do whatever I have to do to do that.
“I always wanted to be a Melbourne person. When we got to the club, we were down the bottom and starting from day one. A lot of the boys are still here and I don’t want to miss out on success. We all started together from a young age and we built something over the last few years coming from the bottom. We all want to stick together.”
Salem will forever be linked to the Josh Kelly trade that saw the Demons secure Salem, Dom Tyson and the pick that secured Jayden Hunt for the No. 2 overall pick that saw the Giants secure the midfield star.
But while Kelly’s explosive early form saw accusation the Demons pulled the wrong lever, Salem’s strong form has seen the trade tilt back towards a win-win.
The Salem deal will leave young key forward Sam Weideman as the club’s biggest priority signing.
The Demons have such a wealth of forward options that Weideman could be a target for rival clubs but he will only be interested in establishing himself back in the senior side.
Oliver said recently he was thrilled to sign on given the club’s direction.
“I was always going to sign on – I love all the boys here, love the staff, so it was an easy decision.”
Star midfielder Christian Petracca looks certain to be one of the AFL’s new million-dollar-a-year players when he signs his next contract, coming out at the end of 2022.
He said this month discussion linking him to Collingwood was wide of the mark given his joy at playing with Melbourne.
“I did see it. I got a fair few text messages, few group chats from mates, but it’s all noise,” he said.
“I’m contracted for two years. All I really care about is just winning games of footy. I’ve been at the club six, seven years now, and I give so much back to the club. I’ve created so many friendships with them. It’s great.”
WHY RIVALS ARE EYEING FORGOTTEN SPEEDSTER
Jay Clark
Rival clubs are eyeing-off speedy Western Bulldogs defender Ed Richards.
The Bulldogs have an embarrassment of riches in the midfield and back half where Richards has showed plenty of promise playing 58 games in the past three seasons.
But rivals have identified Richards as a potential trade target and are set to zero in on the 21-year-old when he returns from a serious ankle injury next month.
The 188cm Richards, who broke his fibula in a VFL practice match and underwent surgery in mid-March, is on track to resume playing in three to five weeks.
The Dogs were arguably the biggest winner in last year’s exchange period, adding Collingwood star midfielder Adam Treloar and former Brisbane ruckman Stef Martin to bolster their premiership tilt.
But after a red-hot start to the season, rivals are looking at the unbeaten Dogs’ list in an attempt to pick off quality players looking for more senior opportunities.
The Dogs will shoot for their sixth-straight win of the season against Greater Western Sydney tomorrow night at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Richards is widely seen as a ready-made prime mover who could add some linebreaking speed and run-and-carry to the back half.
He is out of contract at the end of the year and could hold off on a decision on his next deal until later in the season when it becomes clearer where the forgotten man stands in the Dogs’ pecking order.
The Dogs are stacked with options in his position including Norm Smith Medalist Jason Johannisen, All-Australian Caleb Daniel, high-flyer Hayden Crozier, Bailey Dale, who would be high up in the best and fairest, as well as clutch of newcomers.
Since last season the Dogs have added Treloar as well as Lachlan McNeil and Anthony Scott to beef-up their running game.
The Dogs rate Richards, who is the great nephew of Collingwood legend Lou Richards, and have no plans to lose the man they drafted with pick No. 16 in the 2017 draft.
He made a big impact quickly playing 21 games in his first season, but he could have a big decision on his hands, if as expected, he is targeted by other clubs in the back half of the year.
Johannisen, who is contracted until the end of next season, could also attract some nibbles after he was dropped to the VFL for the season-opener against Collingwood.
Richmond is one club which could look for a Bachar Houli-replacement at season’s end, while Melbourne could assess the market for a player to take over from Michael Hibberd after last year missing out on Geelong’s Isaac Smith.
Essendon remains keen on star Western Bulldogs hard nut Josh Dunkley after a deal for the onballer fell over in last year’s trade period.
HEPPELL MAKES BOLD CALL ON MERRETT FUTURE
Essendon captain Dyson Heppell believes high-profile free agent Zach Merrett will stay loyal to the Bombers because he can see the club’s improved direction.
Merrett will have a wealth of options if he does exercise his free agency rights, with Port Adelaide, Carlton and Melbourne just some of the clubs who have expressed an interest.
Former St Kilda star Leigh Montagna believes he is an $800,000-a-season player under the current rules given his ability to track the ball and make smart decisions with his silky left foot.
Heppell is loving playing alongside the improving kids, with Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Zach Reid all making their Anzac Day debuts on the MCG on Sunday.
Ideally at 28 his team would be developing into a premiership force but Heppell will have to remain patient after a quartet of departures delayed the flag window.
He believes Merrett can see the improvement across the board as well as the fast-tracking of the youngsters.
“Whether or not it helps the situation (I don’t know) but he definitely can see the pathway that we are heading on and the direction the club is taking, and the culture we are building on, so the guys that have come in have added to that, no doubt. Zachy has been super, his leadership has gone to another level.
“He is an awesome teammate and obviously we would love for him to hang around. It will play out but I have no doubt he will be with us.”
Heppell says the trio of youngsters are improving rapidly, with Perkins winning 20 touches against Brisbane and Reid looking comfortable in defence.
Reid is already winning huge acclaim for his poise and ability to play multiple positions including wing and ruck.
“It’s been super impressive. Just their general demeanour and character and approach to their footy. It’s been something I have quite admired. They have been able to take it in their stride and to perform at the level they have has given me a lot of energy too.”
Perkins spent a large chunk of the third quarter on Lachie Neale in the loss to Brisbane on Saturday night and admitted it was an eye-opening experience.
“He is just super-relentless. He will attack the ball and you go with him and then you tread water and he’s going again. There is a lesson to be learned to switch on the entire time. Playing on the reigning Brownlow medallist, it’s a super valuable lesson and I took a lot out of it.”
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