AFL 2023: Latest trade, contract news and moves across the AFL
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will hit the jackpot on his next contract but how will the Dogs get it done when a number of other young stars are up for new deals? Get all the latest trade, contract moves.
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The $1.1 million per season handed to Nick Daicos from 2026 onwards could set the market for massive new deals for Port Adelaide’s Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Sydney’s Errol Gulden.
All three players have set the competition alight this season as the league’s brilliant new midfielders alongside Daicos, who just signed a new deal.
The strong expectation is those players will sign fresh deals over summer so they are locked away before they come out of contract.
All of Rozee, Butters and Gulden have huge marketing appeal as fresh-faced young stars for teams rebuilding their midfields.
Daicos’s deal could hit $5 million over the four years from 2026-2029 if it increases in line with the collective bargaining agreements.
Many contracts factor in AFL pay deals, with one popular method being that the club retains the first 3-5 per cent of any pay rise across every year, with the rest going to a player.
So, if the AFL pay deal goes up 10 per cent a year in its first two years players would reap 5-7 per cent pay rises per season.
Gulden could end up replacing Lance Franklin as Sydney’s new million dollar man, with the Swans not likely to chase a big key forward as they have so many times before.
Sydney coach John Longmire lauded Gulden’s work rate after he won the Brett Kirk Medal last week.
“He’s not a bad young fella, Errol, he goes all right,” Longmire said.
“He’s just got a great mix, always has. He works really hard at his game.”
Sydney drafted Logan McDonald then fellow NGA graduate Braeden Campbell (at pick 5) and if a rival had bid for Gulden in the teens they might have let him go.
Instead, he fell to pick 32 and the rest is history.
BORO TO MAKE ONE-OFF BID FOR BUDDY
A suburban football club is about to make an audacious bid to lure goalkicking superstar Buddy Franklin out of retirement next season to play a special one-off game – by tugging on his family heartstrings.
Greensborough, one of the leading clubs in the Northern Football Leagues, has made contact with former Swans star Michael O’Loughlin, who is one of Franklin’s close mates.
O’Loughlin played a game with ‘Boro’ a decade ago and has joked that he might even make a comeback himself if it meant he could coax Franklin into playing a one-off match.
Franklin retired from AFL football last week after 354 games and 1066 goals in a career that will almost certainly lead to legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the future.
While Greensborough knows its bid to put Franklin into one of its green jumpers is an absolute longshot, it hopes to use his family’s close connections to the club dating back to the 1920s as one of its selling points.
Franklin’s grandfather Ken, great grandfather Roy and great uncles Arthur and Don all played for Greensborough, while his father Lance Sr is still a regular visitor to the club’s War Memorial Park whenever he is back in Melbourne.
Buddy made a video acceptance on behalf of his great uncle Arthur’s induction into the Greensborough Football Club Hall of Fame in 2016, signing a ‘Boro’ No.23 jumper which the club now hopes he can wear in a one-off appearance in 2024.
DOGS’ SALARY CAP SQUEEZE COMING
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will hit the jackpot on his next contract as the Western Bulldogs attempt a difficult balancing act next season.
The brilliant forward’s star is on the rise in his third season with the No.1 draft pick booting 31 goals and 33 behinds from 20 matches so far this season.
He has had only three fewer scoring shots than spearhead Aaron Naughton, who has been more accurate in front of goal, snaring 40.27 in 2023.
The breakout third season is certain to land Ugle-Hagan a significant pay rise when talks ramp up on a new deal next year.
His current contract expires next season, when Ugle-Hagan could be eyeing a deal worth in excess of $700,000 a year including the CBA increase to clubs’ salary caps.
But it may not be straightforward task for the Dogs, who are facing a massive year juggling a salary cap squeeze and new deals for Naughton, Tim English, Bailey Smith and Ugle-Hagan.
The four stars are all out of contract at the end of 2024, meaning there is strong incentive for the Bulldogs to start locking away some of them early rather than waiting on all of their signatures late next year.
A late rush for their signatures would put pressure on the club’s list management team to close the deals after losing star ballwinner and best-and-fairest winner Josh Dunkley last year.
The Bulldogs will ideally have more clarity on the out-of-contract quartet’s intentions over summer.
It is expected there will be league-wide interest in Naughton (who won’t be a free agent next year) and English (who will be a free agent next year).
Clubs with cash to spend next year include West Coast, Essendon, Hawthorn and North Melbourne, while Sydney has history of making a big splash on big names.
Collingwood and GWS Giants also have their salary caps in order after shedding big name players last year.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli is on $1 million a season as the new favourite for the Brownlow Medal. Bontempelli’s deal expires at the end of 2025 season.
The skipper is in the mix to be considered the club’s greatest-ever players as he continues his sizzling form through 2023.
DUSTY OPEN TO A NEW DEAL
Dustin Martin is open to starting talks on a new contract which could lock him away as a Tiger for life.
While Martin and Richmond are yet to start official talks about extending a deal beyond 2024, the Herald Sun understands the 32-year-old is keen to play on in yellow and black well beyond the end of next season, when his seven-year $9-million contract expires.
Those close to Martin have dismissed speculation that he could join his former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick – who is almost certain to take over the Suns – at Gold Coast next season.
But the good news for Richmond is that the powerful midfielder-forward can see himself playing on for several more seasons to come.
Martin is arguably enjoying his most consistent season since the Tigers’ last premiership year in 2020. Richmond insiders say he has bought into the club’s restructure that has taken place since Hardwick’s mid-season departure and is enjoying more time in the midfield.
While he missed last week’s clash against the Bulldogs, there is a growing confidence that his body is well placed to play on well beyond the end of his current deal.
If he plays the last three games he would register 20 matches this year for the first time since 2020, putting him on track to become the seventh Tiger to reach 300 games next year.
BLUES’ LUCK OF THE IRISH
Carlton’s recruiting team has returned from a trip to Ireland having interviewed a dozen potential recruits, keen to steal the march on rivals as it boosts its investment in left-field pathways.
The Blues held multiple training sessions for 16 players, and with only four Irish talents set to be invited to an AFL draft combine they are in good shape to add at least one player to their list as a Category B rookie.
Blues CEO Brian Cook said this week the Blues’ top-heavy salary cap had the club keen to invest in the draft and Irish pathways. Scott Camporeale’s sons are draft-eligible next year.
Geelong secured Ireland’s best young prospect in Oisin Mullin over the summer and he has already debuted as a running defender.
Zach Tuohy became a Carlton star in 2009 after being signed up after a four-week trial while Setanta Ó hAilpín played 80 games for the Blues (and eight for GWS) after moving to AFL from an Irish hurling background.
Scott Camporeale’s sons are highly regarded – Lucas as a left-footed wingman who captained the SA under-16 team this year and Ben as a tough, inside midfielder.
The Blues haven’t had a father-son since Jack Silvagni – who hits free agency this year – so they are desperate to find ways to bring in more elite talent despite their tight cap.
IN LIKE FINN
Finn Maginness has started early talks with Hawthorn on a new deal as he prepares for a potential battle against Brownlow Medal favourite Marcus Bontempelli.
Maginness has transformed himself into footy’s premier tagger as one of the few players, alongside Port Adelaide’s Willem Drew, who can perform a genuine lockdown role.
Those talks are only in the early stages but as the Hawks wait on discussions with James Worpel, Maginness will be on the Hawthorn list next year.
When the Tigers put some work into Bontempelli last week, he pushed forward and added three goals in a 31-possession performance.
So Maginness’s challenge would be to play one-out in defence alongside Bontempelli, but at 189cm he gives away only 3cm to the 192cm Dogs superstar.
BROWN WILL BE BACK IN 2024
Ben Brown will remain on Melbourne’s list as key forward insurance next season as the Demons attempt to find a solution for the Brodie Grundy dilemma.
Brown, 31, will be in the mix to play Carlton on Saturday night along with Grundy to replace injured key forward Harrison Petty.
Brown went goalless in the VFL at the weekend and was tipped out of the senior team a fortnight ago in search of a more dynamic and mobile forward setup.
Coach Simon Goodwin has rewarded strong VFL form as part of a consistent selection policy in recent years, meaning Brown could remain on the outer.
The veteran has one more year to go on his contract for next season but looms as more of a back-up option than a frontline strike weapon in 2025 after a string of knee issues.
The former North Melbourne spearhead, who helped lead the Demons to the 2021 premiership, is not on big money for next season.
CHOL TO STAY A SUN
Out-of-favour Gold Coast forward Mabior Chol is almost certain to remain with the club next season, despite being squeezed out of the AFL side for all but six matches this year.
Chol has two more years remaining on a deal with the Suns and is understood to be keen to fight for his position in the side next season.
He has played a large portion of the season with the Suns’ VFL side this season, averaging two goals per match in his 12 games.
Ben King, Jack Lukosius and Levi Casboult have kicked almost 100 goals between them this season, with the Suns’ forward combination keeping Chol out of the equation.
They will also acquire highly-rated Academy key forward prospect Jed Walker next season.
But Chol is happy on the Gold Coast, where his family lives, and has backed himself to win a spot back in the side, with his former Tigers coach Damien Hardwick almost certain to be in charge of the Suns in 2024.
MULTI-YEAR DEAL COMING FOR CONOR
Brisbane is set to ramp up talks on a new deal for Conor McKenna after a strong first season back in the AFL.
McKenna, 27, signed a one-year deal after coming back to Australia from Ireland, but has settled well in Queensland.
He was a big loss for the Bombers, continuing the key player exits at the club in recent years including Joe Daniher, Adam Saad, Orazio Fantasia, Jake Melksham, Michael Hibberd and Paddy Ryder.
The Lions are expected to strike a new multi-year deal with McKenna, who has played all 20 games so far this season.
McKenna, who has averaged 17 touches a game, will play his 100th game when Brisbane host Adelaide on Saturday.
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