Moneyball trade column: Darcy Moore provides update on new Colingwood deal

Darcy Moore says talks over a new deal with Collingwood have been positive and he hopes to re-sign with the Magpies soon. But is it that simple? Get the latest AFL trade and contract buzz.

Sam Lowson is looking to keep his AFL dream alive by playing in the SANFL

Uncontracted Collingwood defender Darcy Moore has declared he “absolutely” wants to stay a Magpie.

The star backman said contract negotiations between the club and his management had been “positive” when he addressed his future on Thursday.

Moore is one of two sought after Magpie signatures that are out of contract at the end of the year along with forward Jordan De Goey.

The 24-year-old said he “absolutely” wanted to stay in black and white.

“I am loving playing here,” Moore said.

“This season has given the group a chance to live together and live in each other’s pockets at times and definitely brought us closer together.

“So it’s a good place to be and I would love to stay.”

Darcy Moore says his future lies at Collingwood beyond this season.

Moore said talks so far had been “positive at this stage”, but admitted there were lots of unknowns for players in the current coronavirus climate.

“Obviously now the AFL has lifted the contract freeze that’s allowed the process to restart again which is a positive sign,” Moore said.

“But that’s for the club and my management to work through. It’s – from all reports – tracking positively.

“There are a lot of questions marks about where the league is at and what season 2021 and even beyond that looks like in the coronavirus world.

“There are obviously lots of questions, so it’s a lot for the club to work through, it’s a lot for players across the league to work through in terms of contracts.

“A part of me is trying not to look too far ahead and just try and get a deal done and whatever that means for the long-term future who knows? But at this stage just trying to focus on getting it done in the here and now.”

Darcy Moore has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his AFL career.

Having previously waged a battle with soft-tissue injuries, Moore thanked a change in his physical preparation for greater durability and consistency in his performances.

“There has been a huge shift for me in terms of my physical preparation,” Moore said.

“ I’ve got a new physiotherapist who I work with super closely and he has definitely taken my physical prep to the next level,” Moore said.

“My program in terms of my Monday to Friday to prepare for games and recover from games is completely different to the way it was a couple of years ago, so that’s a full credit to the medical team to fix those issues and really turn things around.

“The way I prepare from a soft-tissue point of view and a physical point of view is completely different to a couple of years ago and that’s why I’m getting the results now and stringing the games together. It’s a good position to be in.”

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SANFL CAMEO SET TO KEEP LOWSON’S DREAM ALIVE

Second-chance hero Sam Lowson will attempt to keep his AFL dream alive when he starts his SANFL cameo for Woodville West Torrens this weekend.

And his VFL coach Andrew Sturgess says he has no doubt he is AFL ready if a club takes a chance on him.

Coburg’s Lowson bravely revealed his turbulent past including an ice addiction this year, as a player whose ankle injury days before last year’s mid-season draft saw him fall from contention.

Now with the VFL season having been cancelled he has six weeks plus finals to thrust his name forward again in the SANFL.

The busy tackling forward had strong interest last year and a season on clubs are still desperate to find pressuring forwards.

Sturgess said Lowson also had offers from WAFL clubs but having served 14 days of quarantine in South Australia was ready to fire.

“I do think he is (AFL-ready). My scouting credentials might not stack up with Stephen Wells but I can pick attributes and if you look at guys like Dan Butler and Jason Castagna, they are super powerful and quick and Sammy has the same attributes,” he said.

“If you are in the AFL system those strengths shine through and it’s very much a role-playing industry.

“If someone just gives him a chance to shine in that environment you will see. From where he started to where he is now is phenomenal and it’s why I have so much faith that if he gets a chance, he will go up and up. In a full time environment with high-performance coaches, his upside is endless.”

HAWKINS IN TALKS

Geelong has all options on the table with its trio of first-round picks for the national draft as it starts discussions on a deal for Tom Hawkins.

The Cats and Hawkins’ manager have had some informal talks through the season but aren’t far away from more formal chats.

Neither party is in the least bit fussed about getting a deal done easily, although clearly he deserves a two-year deal or a one-year deal with a games-based trigger.

The Herald Sun rich list had Hawkins on a pre-COVID salary of $800,000-$850,000 but at 32 he would likely accept a little less for the security of a two-year deal.

Tom Hawkins of the Cats thanks fans after the win against Port Adelaide

The Cats have their own first-rounder, the West Coast first-rounder and the Gold Coast priority pick that sits at pick 11.

It means on current ladder position they have pick 11, pick 16 and pick 17.

The expectation is there are three father-son an Academy picks that will shuffle that pick 11 back down the order with Jamara Ugle Hagan and Braeden Campbell among them.

If Adelaide and Essendon get first-round compo picks for Brad Crouch and Joe Daniher it could push those picks back again.

But the Cats under Stephen Wells are open to taking the picks, to trading them for a higher selection or for any curve ball that comes.

It means a club right now that pushing hard for a premiership has cap space for free agents like Brad Crouch or Jeremy Cameron and the picks to build for the future.

DIXON TO CASH IN

Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon’s timing is perfect as he prepares to cash in on a career-best season.

The gun spearhead is out of contract at season’s end and has indicated to Power officials he is keen to extend beyond this season.

But the 29-year-old is yet to formalise an agreement and will start to seriously attract rival interest if he holds out much longer.

Dixon signed a bumper five-year deal to come to Port on about $575,000 a year when he departed Gold Coast at the end of 2015.

His excellent form this season means he is unlikely to take much of a pay cut on that figure as he leads the league in contested marks in 2020.

Dixon has taken nine more grabs than second-placed Docker Matt Taberner and is equal fifth in the Coleman Medal race with 21 majors.

He is happy in Adelaide and has separate business commitments there outside his AFL career, but could be looking for another long-term deal.

The former Gold Coast Sun would be a dream get for Essendon as a potential Joe Daniher replacement, while Collingwood would love to have someone of Dixon’s calibre in the goalsquare to help solve the Magpies’ connection problems.

Mason Cox faces an uncertain future at Olympic Park, while Darcy Cameron has proven to be a savvy pick-up, but can he be the main man?

Geelong is also on the lookout for an heir to Tom Hawkins’ throne even though the 32-year-old is also having one of his best years after slotting six goals against Port.

Hawkins will re-sign to play on at Geelong next year on a reduced deal worth more than $500,000 a season.

All indications suggest GWS Giants’ full forward Jeremy Cameron will sign a bumper long-term contract extension to stay in Sydney.

Gold Coast key forward Peter Wright is expected to pursue a move home to Victoria next year after having his spot taken by sensational youngster Ben King.

DEMONS ON THE PROWL

Melbourne is one club cheering Hawthorn’s slide down the ladder this season.

The Demons have Hawthorn’s second-round pick up their sleeve as part of the Sam Frost deal.

Last year Melbourne off-loaded Frost, pick No. 42 and No. 61 and a future-fourth-rounder in exchange for pick No. 50 and a future second-round selection from Hawthorn.

On current ladder positions, that future-second round pick from Hawthorn is No. 21 excluding any compensation selections.

But Hawthorn won’t complain either as Frost has arguably been one of the club’s top-five players so far this season and is expected to be high up in the best and fairest with six games to go.

Frost, 26, becomes even more important in the absence of James Sicily who will miss the next 12 months with a knee reconstruction.

Veterans Ben Stratton and James Frawley will also make decisions on their futures at season’s end.

Melbourne parted with Frost as it was content in its key defensive options led by Steve May, Jake Lever and Oscar McDonald without him.

The Demons do not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft as they swapped it to North Melbourne to guarantee the club could nab Kysaiah Pickett in last year’s draft.

Brad Crouch of the Crows competes for the ball

WHAT TO DO WITH CROUCH

Adelaide is in a pickle with best and fairest winner Brad Crouch.

The gun midfielder has told the club he wants to sign a new deal to stay at the Crows, according to his senior coach Matthew Nicks.

But it is arguably in the club’s best interest that he departs if the club can secure pick No. 2 as free agency compensation as per the AFL rules.

Picks No. 1 and No. 2 in this year’s draft would be a brilliant way to accelerate Adelaide’s rebuild.

But to clinch the top two picks, the club has to boot Crouch to a new home against his wishes it seems.

Moneyball revealed last month Geelong had an interest in Crouch to help keep the Cats’ premiership window open in 2021.

But where this gets even trickier is where it comes to Brad’s brother, Matt, who also plays for Adelaide.

If Brad Crouch gets forced out, will his brother want to follow him out the door?

He can make his own decision but there’s a strong chance Matt won’t like what is happening to Brad if there is a forced exit.

Some clubs are thinking that the Crows could lose both brothers in this year’s exchange period as part of a total overhaul of the midfield.

Their departures would leave the Crows horribly exposed in the midfield for next season but Matt Crouch would also command a first-round pick in any trade deal.

Ultimately, Adelaide wants to know now if there is strong interest in Brad, which helps make clear whether they will get pick No. 2 for him.

He needs to be given a deal worth in excess of $650,000 a year or thereabouts to clinch a first-round free agency pick.

Rivals are keeping their cards close to their chest, but North Melbourne is one club which definitely said no.

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Originally published as Moneyball trade column: Darcy Moore provides update on new Colingwood deal