Moneyball: Follow all the latest trade, contract and draft news across the AFL
Carlton has big decisions to make on Sam Walsh and Sam Petrevski-Seton at the end of this year. Get the latest trade gossip from around the league.
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Carlton has made strong progress on a bumper contract extension of up to five years for superstar midfielder Sam Walsh.
Having locked away skipper Patrick Cripps and Coleman Medal favourite Harry McKay in recent months, the Blues have now fixed their attention on securing Walsh’s signature long before he comes out of contract at the end of next season.
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Some have suggested 21-year-old Walsh could be the AFL’s next million-dollar man off the back of his extraordinarily good 2021 season.
The 2018 No. 1 pick is one of the Brownlow Medal favourites and a short-priced favourite to win the Blues’ best and fairest award ahead of McKay.
A four-year extension would take him through to free agency, but the Blues are understood to be willing to lock him away for five extra years, tying him to the club until the end of 2027.
While a deal is not imminent, the Blues are confident Walsh won’t head into 2022 without a new deal in place, as talks between the club and his management are “moving nicely”.
A Walsh deal could cost the club between $4 million and $5 million, but the club is confident it has enough space in the coming years to keep the man considered the next captain.
Leading football analyst Matthew Lloyd said earlier this year that Walsh was as important a signing as Cripps for the Blues, saying he expected a five-year deal of around $800,000 per season was a suitable return.
But Walsh’s recent form might mean he could receive even more.
HOME STATE CALLING FOR PETREVSKI-SETON
CARLTON’S Sam Petrevski-Seton has a big decision to make as he weighs up interest from Fremantle.
The No. 6 draft pick is out of contract at season’s end and will consider his future midfield prospects with the Blues against the opportunity to make a fresh start for the Dockers in 2022.
It means Petrevski-Seton, 23, could be involved in a swap for Fremantle midfielder Adam Cerra if he departs the Dockers to return home to Victoria.
The Blues held a scheduled list management meeting late this week with Cerra and out-of-contract Bulldog Patrick Lipinski was believed to have been part of the discussions.
But there remain some recruiters who are unconvinced Petrevski-Seton can elevate his game at the top level.
He has been thrown around in the Blues’ senior team this season and was dumped to the VFL from Rounds 9-14.
Back in the senior side over the past month Petrevski-Seton has played 55 per cent forward and 45 per cent in the midfield after spending 72 per cent game time in defence in the first two months of the season, according to Champion Data.
In the past four rounds he has averaged 15 disposals and two clearances a game.
While the season may have dented his confidence, the Blues were hoping he would perform solidly in his fifth season in the AFL this year, as he prepares for his 93rd career game against North Melbourne on Saturday.
Good judges suggest his best position is in the midfield but it is unclear whether Carlton coach David Teague agrees.
Cerra has had an attractive deal on the table from Fremantle for the bulk of the season but has held off signing as he considers a move to Carlton or Richmond.
Hawthorn could also enter the frame but in any case Fremantle will demand a top-four pick for Cerra if he wants to return home.
DEMONS SWEAT ON TALL ORDER ANDREW
Melbourne is facing a nervous wait in the lead-up to the draft to see whether it will land one of the most promising underage ruckmen in the country.
Mac Andrew is an exciting and athletic 200cm tall who has shone in the early part of the NAB League season for Dandenong Stingrays.
The Demons have automatic access to him through the Next Generation program but only if he isn’t one of the first 20 players picked on draft night.
The AFL has decided to phase out the NGA program after next season and changed the rules this year so that all clubs can access an NGA talent if they selected them in the top-20.
While Western Bulldogs hit the jackpot with No. 1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan last year, the Demons will get the rough end of the pineapple if another club picks Andrew with a selection in the late teens.
The brilliant tall was born in Egypt to South Sudanese parents and moved to Australia as a young child, making him eligible for the NGA program in its second-last season.
Recruiters contacted by the Herald Sun on Friday said Andrew was a likely a top-20 talent, but it was a close call for some.
It means the Demons and national recruiting manager Jason Taylor face a long wait over the coming months to see where Andrew is likely to land in the draft order.
Melbourne is already well-stocked in the ruck department with No. 3 pick Luke Jackson supporting Max Gawn as a gun young ruck-forward.
GEELONG GIVES MIERS MORE TIME AT THE CATTERY
Geelong small forward Gryan Miers is the latest Cat to recommit as the club looks expectantly towards another finals campaign.
The 22-year-old has agreed to a two-year extension in the wake of recent deals for Esava Ratulgola, Jack Henry and Jed Bews.
Miers has been a mainstay of the Cats side since making his debut in 2019, playing 53 consecutive games before suffering a hairline fracture of a fibula against Sydney in Round 7.
He has been back for three matches, and is now looking forward to his third successive finals series.
NEW MODEL RIOLI KEEN TO STAY AT TIGERLAND
Daniel Rioli still wants to remain at Richmond despite putting contract talks on hold until season’s end, with an unlikely inspiration for his move to half back.
Rioli has impressed in his two weeks at half back, winning 15 and 19 possessions after being reprogrammed as a half back by Damien Hardwick.
The unlikely mentor has been Bachar Houli, who himself does not yet have a 2022 deal.
He has helped school Rioli on the tactics needed to be a two-way half back who defends and then uses his offensive power.
There is now a way clear for Rioli to remain at Tigerland while also creating space for his cousin Maurice to emerge in coming seasons.
Rioli is only scratching the surface of his talents but will start his career in the half forward spot his cousin made his own in three flags.
Houli is yet to be offered a contract with the Tigers keeping quiet contract extensions for stars including Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards for some time given the sensitivity over Houli’s position.
He was fumbly early in the season returning from injury but has churned out another quality year averaging 94 ranking points, 22.9 possessions and 394 metres gained.
Given the club’s injuries again this year surely there is at least space as a rookie for Houli given his durability and brilliant finals record.
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