NFL 2019: Diamond Creek hoping to sign contracted Macleod midfielder Hamish Paynter

A transfer tussle is brewing over the services of contracted Macleod midfielder Hamish Paynter, who is seeking to join Diamond Creek as a playing assistant coach.

Macleod star Hamish Paynter is hoping to join Diamond Creek. Picture: David Crosling

A transfer tussle is brewing over the services of contracted Macleod midfielder Hamish Paynter, who is seeking to join Diamond Creek as a playing assistant coach.

The Roos swiftly knocked back Paynter’s clearance request on Thursday, but the Creekers remain hopeful he will join them for the 2019 Northern Football League campaign.

However, Macleod has warned it could hold the on-baller to his contract for next season and conceded there was “a bit of a stalemate at the moment”.

NFL 2019: FIVE ANZAC DAY GAMES IN FIXTURE

FITZROY STARS SIGN EX-BOMBER FOR 2019

MACLEOD COACH SET TO DEPART AT END OF SEASON

THREE QUALITY SIGNINGS INK DEALS AT DIAMOND CREEK

“We are hoping to get that done,” Diamond Creek coach Craig Hayes said.

“Basically, we’ve put in a (clearance) and it has been knocked back by Macleod.

“That’s based around a contractual issue. Hamish is in discussions with Macleod about that.”

Ex-Macleod skipper Hamish Paynter seeking a move to @northernfnl Div 2 club @diamondcreekfc. The clearance request has so far been knocked back.

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) November 30, 2018

Paynter, who was co-captain of Macleod last year with Justin White, has played more than 150 senior games for the Roos since 2010 and featured in their 2015 premiership.

“The reason we knocked it back was because we’re still in discussions with Hamish because he is a contracted player,” Macleod president Steve Doherty said.

“It’s as simple as that. Until we’ve sorted through some detail, we weren’t in a position to clear him.

“He knows the stance we’ve taken and we understand his side of things but there is still some discussions to be had regarding next season.”

Hamish Paynter celebrates a goal with Josh Grabowski during an NFL representative fixture. Picture: Mark Wilson

Hayes said Paynter’s potential arrival at Coventry Oval would represent the biggest signing of the Division 2 off-season.

“I think he would be the most significant signing for any of the Division 2 clubs,” he said.

“He’s been a very good player for a long period of time. He’s a very good leader, very professional.

“He would just bring those extra percentages you need to go the next step.

“He’d have an assistant coaches role and be able to mentor a number of our younger players, which has always been our aim, to fast track our young group by giving them the best people around them to learn and develop from.

“He fits that down to a tee.”

Doherty revealed Paynter first floated a move to Diamond Creek with Macleod “sometime ago”.

“To be honest I don’t know where it’s going to go from here because it’s a bit of a stalemate at the moment,” he said.

MONTMORENCY SKIPPER PRIMED IN PRE-SEASON

BLAIR HARVEY MAKING HIS MARK AT WHITTLESEA

FINALS DEFEAT FUELS THOMASTOWN’S DESIRE

Paynter, a regular member of the NFL representative squad, kicked 11 goals in 22 games this year.

“He’s in that bracket where you are still at the peak of your powers in a lot of regards,” Hayes said.

“You have just got that benefit of years of experience that in a lot of ways carries you a lot further as your career goes on.

“He’d be fantastic for us, if it can happen.”

Paynter would join Benalla pair James Marchbank and Tom Bennett and Oliver Stapleton (Heidelberg) as new arrivals at Coventry Oval.

It is shaping as an off-season of change for Macleod, which has appointed Christian Stagliano as coach after premiership mentor Garry Ramsay’s switch to Montmorency.

MORE LOCAL FOOTY NEWS

OFF-SEASON HQ: THE LATEST COACHING AND PLAYER MOVES

NORTH MELBOURNE DRAFTEE EYES CLASH WITH BEST MATE

AFL DRAFT’S HARD-LUCK STORY READY TO PROVE DOUBTERS WRONG