Errol effect: Which young guns could be handed decade-long contracts to stow them away
Errol Gulden revealed he turned down a 10-year offer from a rival club to stay at the Swans. MATT FORREST names eight other players who could command similar offers.
AFL
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Errol Gulden warded off extra years, and extra money, from rivals to remain loyal to the Swans when he signed a four-year extension on Wednesday.
The 21 year old, who is already a superstar of the competition, revealed on AFL 360 that he had been offered a 10-year extension from an opposing team, while he also admitted on Thursday he took less money to stay in the harbour city.
With Gulden now off the market, rival teams will focus their energy and attention elsewhere in a bid to land a big fish.
But who else across the AFL is worthy of such a deal that Gulden was offered?
NICK DAICOS (COLLINGWOOD)
The most obvious one in the league. There are already suggestions the father-son player is the best in the competition, and he will remain firmly in the Brownlow Medal conversation for the best part of the next decade. Daicos is just 21 years old, so there would be a genuine chance he is still performing at an elite level come the end of the 2035 season. He is currently contracted until the end of the 2029 season and it would be near-impossible to pry him out of Collingwood colours, however the Magpies could just keep extending him.
Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
JAMARRA UGLE-HAGAN (WESTERN BULLDOGS)
There’s already been talks of rival clubs coming hard for the key forward from the Kennell. It’s expected Ugle-Hagan will instead sign a two-year deal to remain in the red, white and blue, however Hawthorn and Sydney are among the clubs reportedly interested in the top pick from the 2020 draft. The 22 year old would command upwards of $15 million across a 10-year contract if he chose to leave the Bulldogs.
HARRY SHEEZEL (NORTH MELBOURNE)
He’s already signed on until the end of the 2030 season, and he will be just 25 years old at the end of that contract, right as he is hitting his peak. To think there’s room for improvement is scary for the young Roo. Sheezel is a huge part of North Melbourne’s future and has been touted as a future captain.
JASON HORNE-FRANCIS (PORT ADELAIDE)
The number one draft pick over Nick Daicos, Horne-Francis is a blossoming star in his own right. He lasted just one season at North Melbourne but he’s fast-becoming an important cog in Port Adelaide’s midfield. The club has its engine room sorted for the best part of the next decade, and Horne-Francis, at just 20 years old, is a huge part of that.
HARLEY REID (WEST COAST)
He is only four games into his AFL career, but already you can tell Reid is going to be around a long time. West Coast is desperate to keep him, and rivals will be desperate to pilfer the Eagles. Whether it’s a rival club or West Coast, someone will offer Reid a massive long-term deal to try to tie him down, and Reid is already proving to be worth the attention.
LOGAN MCDONALD (SYDNEY)
A key forward with the keys to the future after Buddy Franklin’s retirement? It doesn’t seem as though McDonald should want to leave the Swans, but being a Western Australian product means he will be forever linked to Fremantle and West Coast. Both WA clubs have their full forwards of the future in Jye Amiss (Fremantle) and Oscar Allen (West Coast), but a team crying out for a long-term answer could call.
JOSH WEDDLE (HAWTHORN)
The dashing half back has developed rapidly at the Hawks, and is one of the most exciting prospects in football. He looks, and plays, a lot like Nick Blakey at Sydney, and there is the expectation Weddle ends up rolling through the midfield in the near future. Hawthorn would be eager to lock him in for a long time.
JACOB VAN ROOYEN (MELBOURNE)
Harrison Petty is already receiving interest from Adelaide, and it will come again at the end of the season, but Van Rooyen is one Melbourne will be desperate to hang onto.
The Western Australian product starred in his first season playing AFL football, and at just 20 years old the young forward has a bright future.
His ability to pinch hit in the ruck, and play back if required, would be attractive for suitors.
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