Moneyball: Harrison Jones closing in on new deal, secret clause which could unlock new Reid deal
A resurgent young forward at Essendon is closing in on a new contract at the Bombers after a bright start to 2024 following some tough years. See the full details in Moneyball.
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Resurgent Essendon forward Harry Jones is closing in on a trigger for another year as he hits the best form of his career.
The Bombers stuck fat with the talented tall last year despite a back stress fracture and ankle surgery keeping him off the field in 2023 after round five.
He was signed up to a one-year deal with a trigger for a second if he hits a games threshold, which is now well within reach.
Jones was dropped by Brad Scott after he had just one kick in round 1 against Hawthorn but was recalled after one game and has since enjoyed possibly the best month-long stretch of his 36-game career.
He has booted seven goals while reeling in seven marks a game, playing as the only true tall forward while Peter Wright sat out due to suspension, with a ruck usually resting forward.
The Dons should finally get a chance to see an extended run of a forward line featuring each of Jones, Wright and Kyle Langford, after injury kept the trio apart for much of last year.
Jones played 16 games in 2021 but played just 15 times across the next two seasons due to injury, yet Essendon always backed in the ability of the 23-year-old.
Helping his cause this year, Jones has taken his chances, booting seven goals from nine shots at goal.
Essendon is expected to sign up Archie Perkins and Andy McGrath, while the likes of Jye Caldwell, Nik Cox and Matt Guelfi are in need of new contracts.
Forward Jake Stringer is also out of contract, as are Dylan Shiel and Dyson Heppell.
CLAUSE WHICH COULD HAND HARLEY MONSTER CONTRACT
It is the little-known AFL clause that could deliver Harley Reid the million-dollar second or third season he so richly deserves.
And a move that in the process could win West Coast the loyalty of a first-year player who is setting the competition by storm.
As part of the AFL’s labyrinthine new collective bargaining agreement extending to 195 pages there is one paragraph that screams off the page.
That one clause inserted in the previous CBA negotiation allows a player manager – or club – to ask an independent arbiter to set a new wage based on a player’s exceptional output.
Reid can only ever hope to earn a base of $310,000 in his second season as part of the AFL’s move to mandatory three-year deals for first-round picks.
As a third-year player he could dream of a $500,000 year.
And even then only by winning the Brownlow Medal, best-and-fairest and All Australian to add rolling bonuses to his 2025 and 2026 base wage.
That CBA clause states that where a player believes AFL rules “unreasonably restrain their trade as a professional footballer” and limit the amount the AFL player should be paid, they can contest that wage.
It can be applied for a first, second or third season and is there to prevent against a restraint of trade lawsuit given those mandated three-year deals.
The AFLPA confirmed on Monday that the rule had never been used before, but in theory would see a party apply for arbitration within 15 days of that year’s November national draft, with notice then given to the AFL’s legal counsel and club.
An arbiter appointed by AFL legal boss Stephen Meade would have 21 days to make a determination and consider the player’s skill, ability and contribution to the club,
That arbiter could then set a potential wage for the player for the next season.
The club could either accept that wage and enter into a new standard contract or decline it, allowing the player to leave and nominate for the next national draft.
The rule was set up to allow a player manager to contest a set wage, but in West Coast’s case why wouldn’t the club themselves apply to reward Reid entering his second or third season?
What better show of faith in Reid’s potential than to pay him what he deserves.
One leading player manager said those mandatory third seasons – set to cost Reid upwards of $500,000 in 2026 – were a “joke” which will only see some non-Victorian players returning to Melbourne after three seasons instead of four.
Most of those first-round picks customarily signed a fresh two-year extension in their first year for four years in total, but will now wait until the third year to assess their options.
The Reid camp has always been adamant they wouldn’t sign an extension within the first 12 months.
But it is understood if the price is right they would now consider a single year extension to 2028 given the financial security it would provide.
As this masthead reported on Sunday, Reid’s third-year deal could be topped up by an additional services agreement that could be several hundred thousands of the Eagles’ $1.267 million allowance.
But on base wages Reid would have to win the Brownlow Medal, Rising Star and club best-and-fairest as an All Australian to increase his second-year base wage by $180,000 to $310,000.
Fellow Connors Sports stablemate Nick Daicos was able to cash in after his first two years of AFL with an incentive-laden contract for 2024-2025, with a new contract for 2026 onwards kicking in for at least $1.1 million a season.
Reid will have to sweat on the Eagles’ largesse through their marketing budget for his third season.
Unless a club that has desperately lacked innovation and smarts in recent years requests an arbitrator set a fairer wage for the best thing to happen to them since Chris Judd.
BLUES LOOK TO LOCK IN RECRUIT
Carlton is open to talks on recruit Elijah Hollands as he settles in at his second club.
The former Sun has played all four games for the Blues since seeing through his league-enforced two-game suspension after pleading guilty to cocaine possession late last year.
The court appearance didn’t quell Carlton’s interest in trading for Hollands but it did reduce the contract he came to Victoria on, thinning a three-year deal down to one.
Given how well Hollands has fit as a high half-forward capable of running through the midfield, the Blues have kept an open dialogue on an extension with Hollands’ management.
Hollands, who turns 22 on Thursday, kicked two important goals in Saturday’s win over GWS Giants, including in the third quarter as the Giants threatened to run away with the game.
He played just 13 games with Gold Coast in three seasons after being drafted with the seventh pick in the 2020 draft.
He jumped on the chance to join Carlton, where his wingman brother Ollie is also thriving.
With Lachie Fogarty (wrist), Jack Martin (hamstring), David Cuningham (calf), Jesse Motlop (hamstring) out, Hollands has been handed a run at locking down a spot in Carlton’s best side.
Carlton has few players of note out of contract this season, with Jack Martin, Matt Owies and Jordan Boyd of most note.
This masthead reported earlier this month that defender Jacob Weitering could be in line for an early extension before his deal runs out next year.
MID-SEASON DRAFT BOLTER IMPRESSES
Collingwood VFL coach Josh Fraser has given a ringing endorsement of midfielder Ned Long’s mid-season draft aspirations after a blinding start to his season at the Pies.
Long was on Hawthorn’s list and has now moved to the Pies VFL squad, who might end up looking elsewhere in the mid-season draft given they need key talls and took inside mid Lachie Sullivan as a summer rookie.
Long played five games across two seasons at the Hawks and has averaged an astonishing 8.5 tackles, five clearances and 25 touches in four VFL games for the Pies.
“I have been really impressed with Ned. He came into the program at VFL level, he’s made us better straight away with how he plays,” Fraser said.
“He is just so combative around stoppage and contest and has a great ability to get the ball to others. He can play multiple roles, we have used him 90 per cent as a mid but he can play different parts of the ground.
“I would be (surprised if he wasn’t taken), but I look at it through a very narrow lens because I watch him every week. I don’t know what else is out there but everything he has done so far has impressed. He is a guy I think would add a lot of interest from others from a mid-season perspective.”
CATS BACK DOWN FROM THOMAS LINKS
Geelong has backed away from its links to Tarryn Thomas after list boss Andrew Mackie said he was open-minded about bringing in players across the competition.
Clubs across the competition have interest in Thomas, but they would want to see much more from him from a personal development point of view.
Adelaide is one club desperately chasing talented free agents but has a young leadership group so is not likely to be a taker for the troubled Thomas.
Cats chief executive Steve Hocking told K rock Mackie’s comments had been spun out of control.
“Certain outlets got a bit excited about it. The reality is what Chris (Scott) and Andrew have both said and I welcome this from them is that they are open to all elements. You have to be from a list management point of view but I will say this. His name hasn’t been mentioned in a list management meeting to this point of time.”
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