AFL free agency 2021: Follow every deal and the latest updates
More details have emerged about free agent George Hewett’s deal to join Carlton, including how he can pick up an extra year via a games based trigger.
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Carlton’s healthy free agency offer for Sydney midfielder George Hewett includes a fifth-year trigger clause that could keep him at the Blues until he is 30.
Sydney never considered retaining Hewett or matching the free agency bid, which is understood to have averaged out at about $450,000 per season.
That figure is not significantly higher than the average player wage and given his second-placing in the Sydney best-and-fairest in 2019 it represents a fair salary for a player of his calibre.
But it is understood he can also secure a fifth season if he hits a games-based clause, which he is every chance to do given his durability.
Hewett played 20 or more games in five of his six seasons at the Swans as a defensive midfielder tagger and running half back.
Hewett turns 26 in December so should be able to play his peak years as the Blues are entering a finals window.
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The Swans were able to secure an end-of-second-round compensation pick for Hewett.
The salary cap room created by the departures of Hewett and Jordan Dawson will allow the Swans to consider whether to bring in a ruckman like Port Adelaide’s Peter Ladhams.
Blues list boss Nick Austin said on Friday the Blues were thrilled to secure Hewett given his character and style of play.
“It’s so important in the modern game to be able to have depth in numbers in the midfield. George is smart, he’s tough and he’ll do whatever job the team requires.
“He’s got over 100 games of experience, he’s featured in finals and performed well in them. He gives us a different look in our midfield group and we think he’s someone our fans will really resonate with given his manic attack on the football.”
HEWETT REVEALS WHY HE CHOSE BLUES
Marc McGowan
Carlton recruit George Hewett says incoming coach Michael Voss still has an “aura” from his days as Brisbane’s triple premiership captain.
The restricted free agent officially became a Blue on Saturday and reunites with fellow former Swan Nic Newman, a day after accepting a four-year offer from Carlton.
Sydney had the option of matching what it described as a “lucrative, long-term” deal but chose not to, clearing the way for him to add to Voss’ midfield.
The Swans will receive an end-of-second-round compensation pick, the same as what Richmond scored for Mabior Chol signing with Gold Coast.
Those selections are currently slated to be No .38 and 39 in next month’s draft.
“They’ve obviously got a very good list and that was the main (reason),” Hewett said of joining the Blues.
“I’m excited to come here and the players have been very welcoming … I’m just really stoked to start a new journey at Carlton.
“A lot of the (Sydney) players are some of my really close mates, so in that regard it was tough, but everyone knows in the AFL you just have to move on.”
Hewett played 120 games across eight seasons at the Swans, including the 2016 grand final.
The 25-year-old is best known as an inside midfielder who specialises in winning contested ball and is capable of locking down the best opposition on-baller.
That is the role Hewett is set to fill at the Blues, but he started this past season down back, so he has some positional versatility.
He averaged 18 disposals this year and laid a season-high 13 tackles in Sydney’s elimination final defeat to the Giants in a trademark effort.
Hewett joins a midfield brigade that includes Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Matthew Kennedy and Paddy Dow, with Carlton not giving up on ex-Giant Zac Williams being used in there again.
Homesick Docker Adam Cerra has also nominated the Blues after requesting a trade back to Victoria.
As for Voss, Hewett can’t wait to prove himself under the new coach as Carlton takes aim at making the finals.
“He’s done what he’s done as a player – captained three premierships – so I think he just has that aura that he has your respect, because he’s been there and done that, times three,” he said.
“We’re just pumped and looking forward to next year and the challenge of what he’s going to bring to the group.”
Swans executive general manager of football Charlie Gardiner thanked Hewett for his contribution.
“George is a terrific person and … a great competitor and has been a really consistent player for us over his 120-game career,” Gardiner said.
“We regard him highly as both a player and person. He has been a very popular and respected player within the four walls of our club.
“While we are disappointed to see him depart; we wish him, Alice and Henry all the very best.”
The Sydney Swans have elected to not match the offer and George Hewett is now able to join Carlton immediately. The Sydney Swans are to receive an end of Round Two compensation selection.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) October 2, 2021
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— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) October 2, 2021
We’re delighted to officially welcome George Hewett to IKON Park.
New Don gearing up for brotherly blockbuster
Former Adelaide defender Jake Kelly expects an interesting Anzac Day next season after returning to Melbourne to join Essendon.
Kelly was preparing to move in with his family, including dad Craig, who won a premiership for Collingwood against the Bombers in 1990, and brother Will, a Magpies forward.
His mum cried when she learnt he would be signing a three-year deal with Essendon and heading back to Victoria after 110 games with the Crows.
The 26-year-old’s club switch was made official early on Friday, the first day of free agency.
Our newest Bomber checking in 👋 pic.twitter.com/FALMjrH7z4
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) October 1, 2021
“I’m moving back into mum and dad’s house with two other brothers so I can’t imagine they’re too thrilled about that,” Kelly said.
“One of them is playing for Collingwood, so it will be quite interesting Anzac Day morning, waking up and hopefully playing against him.
“I’m thrilled to get back and finally see my mum again.
“She was in tears when I told her I was coming home.
“Moments like that make it very special.”
Adelaide will receive pick 42 in November’s national draft as compensation for losing Kelly, an unrestricted free agent.
The Oakleigh Chargers product said he had loved his eight years at the Crows and they wanted to keep him, but the timing felt right to return home.
He said Adelaide, coming off a 15th-placed finish this season, was probably a few years off elimination finalist Essendon.
Kelly was also looking forward to playing in big games at the MCG, as well as linking up with new Bombers development coach and ex-Richmond star Alex Rance.
“The pull of Melbourne has always been strong for me,” he said.
“I felt like at this point in my career Essendon was a fantastic fit for me.”
According to Champion Data, Kelly lost only 16.9 per cent (11/65) of the one-on-one contests he defended this season, ranking him sixth in the AFL.
Kelly, a member of the Crows’ 2017 losing grand final side, hoped to win more of the football to become more of an attacking weapon.
He will reunite at the Bombers with a former Crows backline teammate, coach Ben Rutten.
They played together in 2014 – Kelly’s debut season and Rutten’s last.
“You could tell at that stage he was going to be a coach,” Kelly said.
“We didn’t keep in great touch but when I spoke to him again, we hit it off like we did in my first year.
“It’s fantastic to finally be able to play under him.”
Crows list manager Justin Reid said the club respected Kelly’s decision.
“Jake’s work ethic and attitude ensures he gets the best out of himself and we wish him well for the next phase of his career,” Reid.
Free agency: Blues strike, AFL reveals Tigers, Crows compo
Carlton’s 2021 midfield stocks look set to be boosted even further next year with the Blues lodging paperwork for restricted free agent George Hewett just days after Fremantle young gun Adam Cerra nominated them as his preferred home.
It comes as Gold Coast finalised a deal for unrestricted free agent Mabior Chol on Friday. The former Tiger will join the Suns on a four-year deal.
And Jake Kelly has left Adelaide to join Essendon as a free agent.
As News Corp revealed last week, Hewett will sign a four-year deal with the Blues, worth around $450,000 per season.
The Swans have until Monday to decide whether to match the offer, but Hewett appears certain to join new coach Michael Voss and the Blues.
Hewett has been a mainstay for the Swans in recent seasons, playing 120 games for the club, and will be a strong inclusion for the Blues.
He could play in several different roles, potentially joining the club’s midfield alongside skipper Patrick Cripps, young gun Sam Walsh and Cerra, pending his trade, while he could also play a lockdown role.
Chol’s move to the Suns, which was finalised on the opening day of free agency, has provided another draft bonus for the Tigers.
They will receive a late second round pick as compensation (which is currently pick 38), adding to their strong draft arsenal this year.
Chol said he was pleased to be headed back to Queensland to be closer to his family.
“Gold Coast was the club that I wanted to go to and to be able to go there now and be a Suns player is exciting,” Chol said.
“The Suns have a really young list and I think that is the most exciting thing and a lot of good players too.
“I’m just really grateful that the club has shown a lot of interest in me and I’m the player for them, hopefully I can pay them back for all the respect and trust they’ve shown me to go after me.”
The 24-year-old will give some relief to the Suns’ big man stocks as he will likely play forward alongside Ben King and Sam Day, while acting as a back-up ruckman to Jarrod Witts.
Chol’s manager Ralph Carr was quick off the mark as soon as the AFL’s free agency window, revealing the details and a photo of his client in a Suns polo in an early morning tweet, hours before it became official.
Carr posted on Twitter: “Good luck Mabior Chol @GoldCOastSUNS @AFL” with an image of the 24-year-old showing a thumbs up.
Chol played 31 games for the Tigers with limited opportunities since his 2016 debut, playing a total of 21 games in the past two seasons.
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