Carlton, St Kilda, Essendon among clubs in running for Jaeger O’Meara

CARLTON, St Kilda and Essendon are among the clubs set to make a case to be Jaeger O’Meara’s next home. And then there’s Hawthorn.

Jaeger O'Meara lands a tackle during a rare NEAFL appearance this year. Picture: Adam Head

WE’VE complained that free agency strongly favours the top clubs.

That all the big-name stars only ever want to go to the powerhouses in their premiership prime.

Well, non-finalists, here’s your chance.

If you can sell your vision well enough, Jaeger O’Meara might just make or break your rebuild.

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As easy as it would be to follow the procession of star players to Hawthorn (and we know Clarko’s men are keen on him), there is a belief at club land that O’Meara would strongly consider looking down the ladder to find his new home.

Think Chris Judd when he left West Coast to join Carlton back in late 2007.

Like Judd, O’Meara shows all the classy hallmarks of a future captain, but instead of Juddy’s (previously) dodgy groin, O’Meara has problematic knees, after rupturing a patella tendon.

He’s hardly played footy in two years and, according to Dr Rohan White on Thursday night: “For a sport that requires agility, speed and jumping, your patella tendon is one of your most vital parts”. Hmmmmn.

Yes, this is a risky play, and it’s understood O’Meara wants a long-term mega-deal worth about $700,000 a season.

Carlton has already staked its keen interest in the Rising Star winner.

We know this because chief executive Stephen Trigg told us midyear.

“Yes, we have met (O’Meara’s manager),” Trigg said.

“A lot of the competition will be looking at Jaeger and seeing whether he can get up and play for the rest of the year to see how that knee is going.”

The medical assessment will be critical.

Jaeger O'Meara is taken off on a stretcher after injuring his knee during a pre-season game last year. Picture: Jono Searle

O’Meara would have to be encouraged by the Blues’ progress this season and a potential partnership with clearance king Patrick Cripps.

Imagine going to watch those two blokes play every week. It’s power and polish, combined.

The Saints are desperate for an established midfielder, too, after circling Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff. The move up to Moorabbin will surely help.

And Essendon is potentially better placed than everyone to land O’Meara, with the No. 1 pick in the national and preseason drafts. But does he want to rejoin forces with ex-Suns coach Guy McKenna? Maybe not.

Jaeger O’Meara and David Swallow train at Metricon Stadium.

The Suns have threatened to send O’Meara into the draft if they don’t get the premium package of top picks or star players in return for the 22-year-old, but the reality is it won’t get to that. It never does. And in Gold Coast’s case, it can’t.

The AFL simply would not allow the struggling Suns to lose one of their best players for nothing.

Otherwise, the league would have to board up the joint.

Then there is the Hawks, who have also had a strong interest in Swan Tom Mitchell and Crow Brad Crouch. Former Hawks’ list chief Chris Pelchen told the Herald Sun in March “the timing is right for Hawthorn” because they will be losing key midfielders at the same time “O’Meara will be coming into his prime”

We doubt the AFL will want the Hawks to get another gun player, as much as they do this recruiting thing better than everyone.

For equalisation sake, the bottom clubs have to get busy.

Football needs it.