Moneyball: Follow all the latest trade, draft and contract news across the AFL
Patrick Cripps was celebrated for his decision to take a pay cut to stay a Blue. And he isn’t fussed by reports attempting to make light of his sacrifice.
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Patrick Cripps has come under fire by those suggesting he has not actually taken a pay cut to retain his teammates and build talent.
Despite multiple reports he has signed for less money than in previous deals — and with Cripps twice confirming he took a pay cut — there are still sceptics about his six-year deal.
He has effectively been labelled a liar.
Cripps isn’t fussed by the varied reports but his camp is bemused by those attempting to make light of his sacrifice.
Cripps made clear he was keen to clear cap space after finishing a deal that was north of $900,000 and will now be significantly less.
“As captain, if I can set a precedent to the boys that ‘let’s stick together, let’s take a little bit less,’ hopefully that flows on to team success,” he said this month.
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ROOS’ PLAN FOR FATHER-SON DRAFT GUNS REVEALED
North Melbourne will have no hesitation in bidding on father-sons Sam Darcy and Nick Daicos if it believes they are at the top of the draft order by November.
Clubs often used to sidestep bids on those players with their top selections because they knew the offer would be matched.
But the landscape has changed.
Roos head of football Brady Rawlings is adamant his club will stick to its own order – of rating the best kids regardless of father-son links.
In the case of the Dogs (Darcy) and Collingwood (Daicos) it is expected both clubs would match any rival bid in a heartbeat.
In fact, the Dogs and Pies should prepare to set aside 2400 draft points to match a No. 1 bid, especially since the Crows set a precedent by bidding on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan last year — and then took Riley Thilthorpe at No.2.
It is not always a popular play.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge recently hit out at “vindictive” list managers who would deny their own No. 1 pick a $10,000 investment package by first bidding on a father-son selection and forcing a rival club to act.
Interestingly, the Roos win against West Coast means they might not even secure the No. 1 overall pick.
RIVALS CIRCLE DOGS BALL MAGNET
Patrick Lipinski continues to attract strong interest from rival clubs after another emphatic response to his latest demotion to the VFL.
The Western Bulldogs’ ball magnet was best-on-ground in the VFL team’s win over the Sydney Swans on Sunday, racking up 35 possessions, six clearances and the matchwinning goal which clinched a stirring comeback win.
He would be an outstanding addition to Carlton and North Melbourne, two clubs which are intent on building their midfields, while the Swans have also been linked to a move on the out-of-contract ball winner.
He is also an interesting proposition for Essendon which has a strong midfield, but could adjust their sights from contracted hard nut Josh Dunkley last year to Lipinski this year.
A move to another club appears on the cards due to the incredible midfield depth on show at the Dogs including Adam Treloar, who is making progress from his ankle injury, and Dunkley who will push to make his comeback against Gold Coast on Saturday.
Former Bulldogs’ recruiter Simon Dalrymple, who heads up the Swans’ recruiting division, is a big fan of Lipinski after taking him with pick No. 28 in the 2016 national draft.
Dogs’ speedster Ed Richards is also on rivals’ radars but has forced his way back into the Dogs’ senior side after some early-season ankle injury trouble.
UNSIGNED ROO MAKES CASE FOR ANOTHER SEASON
North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell is yet to be offered a new contract but surely put a solid brick in the wall on his way to a 2022 deal with a brilliant showing against West Coast on Monday night.
The Roos are holding off on deals for some of their older stalwarts as they assess the future, having cut into the list hard last year.
The Roos have promised to blend experience with youth in making list calls — Ziebell, Shaun Atley, Robbie Tarrant, Aaron Hall and Dom Tyson are among those out of contract.
Tarrant will secure another deal, with the Roos conscious of how they moved on Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie and determined not to butcher their list moves again.
Interestingly, before Monday night’s clash 100 of Ziebell’s 325 kicks this year were from taking the kick-in at fullback and playing on from the goalsquare.
With Aiden Bonar and Aidan Corr to return to the backline next year Ziebell might have been pushed out.
Tyson would seem likely to move on, with a decision ahead on Atley, but at worst the Roos could rookie-list Ziebell in the same manner as Melbourne with Nathan Jones.
EX-SAINT’S ON THE ROAD TO AFL LIFELINE
Paddy McCartin’s first game back at the weekend since his five-match suspension was the perfect start to his hopes of reigniting his AFL career.
In his first game since May he won 27 possessions at 78 per cent efficiency in a game with 11 marks, seven intercept possessions and two intercept marks.
It was a game to build on as the Swans list has now fully assembled in Melbourne for a stint likely to take in the entire season.
McCartin copped a five-week suspension for his strike on Geelong VFL captain Aaron Black.
But with his brother Tom making such an exceptional fist of his time as a rejigged defender at Sydney, McCartin might hope he can still reignite the AFL flame.
YOUNG TIGER’S GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Young Tiger Patrick Naish has a golden chance to try and secure his future for next season amid Richmond’s run of crippling injuries.
Naish, 22, has broken back into the side after a near two-month absence and went at 100 per cent efficiency with his 10 disposals across half back in the loss to Collingwood.
The father-son gem is out of contract for next season and is eager to remain at Punt Rd, having shown his versatility to play at both ends.
The playmaker has managed nine games across his first three seasons since he was taken with pick No. 34 in the 2017 national draft when the Tigers matched a bid from St Kilda.
The Tigers face a raft of big decisions on their list to rejuvenate an ageing squad after falling further outside the eight with their fourth-straight loss on Sunday.
Naish is the son of Chris Naish who played 143 games for Richmond and 18 for Port Adelaide.
POWER RUCK DRAWING LEAGUE WIDE INTEREST
As many as five clubs are on the lookout for a ruck-forward including Essendon, Hawthorn and St Kilda as they kick the tyres of Port Adelaide’s Peter Ladhams to assess his suitability.
The lack of key position forwards on the market makes it hard for clubs looking for ruck cover.
But Essendon would like a forward-ruck to help out Sam Draper, Hawthorn will need a succession plan for Ben McEvoy and St Kilda has been caught short when Paddy Ryder is injured.
Gold Coast has been open about its desire to secure a ruck-forward, while Brisbane has now entered the market given Eric Hipwood’s ACL injury.
Hipwood likely won’t be back until the back-end of 2022.
And even North Melbourne is aware it needs a successor for Todd Goldstein with his back-up Tristan Xerri battling for impact in five games this year.
Ladhams has never averaged more than half a goal a game in any season but clubs are assessing whether he can start forward and then push into the ruck.
Essendon is desperate for a key tall in this year or next year’s trade period but isn’t interested in Sam Weideman and believes Rory Lobb, mentioned in trade dispatches, is too old for its needs as it seeks a 23-or-under project player.
GUN FORWARD SET TO RETURN TO ALBERTON
Robbie Gray won’t hit a games-based trigger for 2022 given his recent medial ligament injury but everything is on track for a new deal brokered by the Power and his manager Tom Petroro.
Port Adelaide star Gray appeared on track to get the automatic extension early in the year but given strong form the injury won’t impact his value.
The Power will also re-sign Steven Motlop but has a decision ahead on Hamish Hartlett.
If Tom Rockliff can recover from deep vein thrombosis the Power would be open to a Tyson Goldsack rookie-list deal which sees him working as a development coach and playing on.
He still needs to show he can be ready for the rigours of AFL football but is enjoying his time nurturing some of the young Power mids.
KELLY ANSWERS TOUGH QUESTIONS ON CONTRACT
Restricted free agent Josh Kelly says he is in ‘no rush’ to recommit to the GWS Giants and admits there are a number of factors that will influence the decision on his future.
The star midfielder, who has the option of signing a long-term extension with the Giants, has been strongly linked to North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos – the club Josh’s father Phil Kelly played 61 games for - is set to make another play for the in-demand 26-year-old after missing out in 2019.
Kelly said on Wednesday he would not be rushed into making a decision.
“At the moment it’s probably not something I’ve put too much thought into,” Kelly said.
“Obviously it’s been a pretty hectic few weeks getting out of Sydney pretty quickly, moving down here and setting up with the club down here.
“That’s probably been first and foremost and myself being able to impact out on the field but also continue to develop my leadership and play good football as a team.
“We’re chasing that consistency so I’m trying to help with that and develop my leadership but (the contract) is probably not something I’ve put too much thought into at this stage.”
Along with his Giants teammates, the Melbourne-raised Kelly has been based in Victoria for three weeks due to Sydney’s Covid outbreak.
He said being closer to home this year would have no bearing on his future.
“I don’t think being down here (in Melbourne) changes anything,” he said.
“There’s a number of factors that go into a decision around contracts.
“It’s not something I’m investing too much time into at the moment.
“The club and I are really happy with where things are at and we’ve always said there’ll be no rush so everything’s all good at the moment.”
Giants skipper Stephen Coniglio will on Saturday play his first AFL game since Round 3 after recovering from an ankle injury.
Ruckman Shane Mumford (back) will miss the clash with the Swans in Ballarat, while Lachie Whitfield (concussion) should be back next week.
PIE RUCK BEING MONITORED CLOSELY BY RIVALS
Collingwood’s Max Lynch has shown he is ready to step up to AFL level next season after enhancing his reputation as one of the best ruckmen not getting a senior game.
Lynch, who is being closely monitored by rivals, was dominant in the VFL win over Richmond on Sunday, notching 40 hit-outs, two goals, five clearances and 14 disposals.
Lynch, 22, is widely considered in recruiting circles as one of the best state league ruckmen in the country alongside Port Adelaide’s Peter Ladhams who has been dropped by the Power.
Lynch is yet to receive a contract offer from Collingwood and is stuck behind superstar big man Brodie Grundy at the Magpies.
SELWOOD EYES CATS RECORD WITH NEW DEAL
Geelong captain Joel Selwood is set to break even more records after signing on to play on for a 16th season in 2022.
Already on the brink of breaking Corey Enright’s 332-game club record, the 325-gamer has inked a one-year extension.
It means he is also set to break Carlton great Stephen Kernahan’s longstanding record for AFL/VFL games as captain next year.
Kernahan set the mark with 226 games as Blues skipper, with Selwood now just needing 12 more to break the longstanding record.
This year is Selwood’s 10th season as captain after being appointed to lead the club at the beginning of 2012.
“Joel is an icon of our club, and of the game, and we are excited to have reached an agreement for Joel to play in 2022,” Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said.
“While Joel’s record speaks for itself, what is most important to him and the team is that he continues to play at such a high level. He has been among our best players all season and has continued to show his durability and passion for the game.
“Joel has always epitomised team-first, and he continues to do all he can to make the team and the club successful.”
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