Moneyball column: Stay up to date with the latest trade news around the AFL
One of the Pies’ finest could soon sign a new deal which will have him on track for a historic milestone. Get all the latest trade and contract news across the AFL here.
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The ball is in Scott Pendlebury’s court on the pace of contract negotiations on a deal that will set him up for a tilt at 400 AFL games.
The Pies couldn’t be more thrilled with his early start to the season as the evergreen AFL superstar marched through his mid-30s in outstanding form.
When Pendlebury last came out of contract he had to haggle for a two-year deal that saw him having to clarify claims he might sign on else if a club offered him a coaching component in a deal.
But at 35 he is at an age where he would sign on for a series of one-year deals like so many stars of his age.
Collingwood is happy to engage in talks early if Pendlebury wants the security of a new deal given his extraordinary durability and consistency.
Signing a one-year deal midway through the season would give him some certainty as he sets himself up for the next phase of his life with some coaching at Haileybury College.
But with Pendlebury having played 361 AFL games he could conceivably play his 400th AFL game at the end of next year if he stays injury-free.
CATS REMAIN KEEN ON PAIRING TWO YOUNG GUN BROTHERS
Geelong’s interest in ruckman Tom De Koning is real, though the Cats will likely need contingency plans if Carlton manages to keep hold of their man.
Two of the club’s recognised ruckmen, premiership big man Rhys Stanley and former Hawk Jon Ceglar, are not yet locked into deals beyond this season.
The club has big plans for long-term future ruck hope Toby Conway, who was last year awarded with a deal that will run through until the end of 2025.
Conway is yet to play a senior game due to injury, and he suffered a stress fracture in his foot earlier this year.
Rival clubs believe the Cats could look to potentially bring in another ruckman next year to bolster their contingent.
Dockers ruckman Sean Darcy has one more year to run on his deal with the club, but it is understood the Cats have not made an approach at this stage to the former Geelong Falcons player.
NORTH TALL TO HOLD OFF CONTRACT TALKS TO MAXIMISE VALUE
North Melbourne’s emerging second tall Charlie Comben will put off contract talks until the back end of the season as he maximises his worth at Arden Street.
Comben’s body has finally started to hold together to allow him to showcase his ferocious attack on the ball and man.
His second efforts were highlighted against West Coast in a six-tackle display as the Roos held on for a valuable victory.
The Roos are keen to re-sign him but while he wants to stay at the club if he can put together his best season holding off on talks is just smart business.
His emergence has allowed the Roos to play Cam Zurhaar as a centre square midfielder at times and while he’s only kicked two goals in three weeks the second-round pick in the 2019 draft is coming of age.
The Roos have already signed up Harry Sheezel to an initial two-year extension.
EXTENSION LOOMS FOR NEW SAINTS HERO
St Kilda cult forward Anthony Caminiti has delivered one of the best bang-for-buck performances to start the season as he tracks towards a certain contract extension.
The man who was picked up in the supplemental selection period is on a standard $85,000 rookie contract including $4000 per senior match.
There is also a maximum $12,000 bonus applicable if he plays more 11 or more senior matches in a season which is extraordinary value for the man being used as Max King’s replacement.
Caminiti has averaged one goal, 10 disposals and four marks over his first three games after St Kilda picked up the forward who was otherwise planning to study and wait tables at a restaurant this year.
Coach Ross Lyon said after Saturday night’s win: “What Caminiti is doing is incredible, so all credit to him and our recruiters and our coaches.”
“We have got some young players who stood up.”
TLA management boss Tom Petroro helped secure Caminiti’s passage to St Kilda after talks with new St Kilda list boss Stephen Silvagni about his excellent pre-season training form at Carlton.
Caminiti was on clubs’ radars last year but an ankle injury saw him overlooked for the draft.
While the club has not held any meaningful talks on a contract extension for Caminiti yet, an improved deal is a formality after his encouraging start to the season.
RIVAL CLUBS SWARM PROMISING YOUNG SWAN
Sydney is desperate to keep promising key forward Joel Amartey but a host of rival clubs have also shown interest in the 23-year-old after his solid start to the 2023 season.
The athletic Amartey has played only 15 games since his 2020 debut, having been down the pecking order behind Lance Franklin, Sam Reid and Logan McDonald.
But his four-game haul against Hawthorn in round 2 – when he came into the team after Franklin’s one-game suspension – highlighted what he can do when he is on his game.
He failed to kick a goal last week against the Demons, but had a career-best 16 disposals – a sure sign he is growing in confidence.
Amartey was a rookie selection from the 2018 draft crop and has been highly-rated internally from the Swans after being chosen by recruiting guru Kinnear Beatson.
He is in the final year of his current deal, with a number of clubs already signalling their intentions, though Sydney sees him as a big part of their post-Franklin future and wants to keep him well beyond this season.
Franklin is 36 and is likely in his final season, while Reid is 31 and has yet to play this season with an adductor injury.
McDonald was overlooked for the grand final last year, in preference to Hayden McLean, but is seen as the Swans’ key forward hope into the future.
PAYOUT IN STORE FOR CONCUSSION-STRICKEN ADAMS
Brisbane defender Marcus Adams is continuing to receive treatment for the concussion battle that will end his career and will leave negotiations on a career-ending payout until the post-season.
Adams’ contract expires this year and coach Chris Fagan has said he believes Adams has played his last game given his symptoms after concussions in late 2021.
The strong-bodied Lions defender suffered a delayed concussion after a round 21 clash against Carlton last year.
The latest theory is that he suffered a pair of heavy hits within a minute in that clash which might have combined to leave him in his current state.
Players can access payouts for career-ending injuries but under the new CBA a hardship fund will be established so no one is in any rush to work through the ramifications of his eventual retirement.
WORK TO DO FOR TIGERS TO KEEP KEY DEFENSIVE PILLARS
Richmond has work to do to lock away key members of its backline with Nathan Broad and Noah Balta both out of contract.
The Tigers are hopeful their new-look backline including talls Josh Gibcus, Balta and 24-year-old Tylar Young can play together for many years.
Young played soccer and cricket until he started playing footy seriously with North Albury in 2019, and has made an immediate impact in his two games since making his debut.
He held Darcy Fogarty to one goal in 39 minutes head-to-head and kept Taylor Walker and Riley Thilthorpe goalless, and then last week kept Brody Mihocek goalless in 104 minutes as a head-to-head match-up.
Balta was exceptional with nine intercept marks against Adelaide.
Balta’s talks haven’t ramped up but as a 23-year-old athletic freak the Tigers will have to pay up for his services.
They also have Kamdyn McIntosh as a free agent so there is a bit to do for list boss Blair Hartley.
GIANTS DEFENDER TO CASH IN ON HOT START TO 2023
Lachie Ash will ramp up talks with GWS after the first month of the season following the timeline of his first contract extension with the Giants.
Ash has started the season back in his old position as a running defender and is averaging 24 possessions and 498 metres gained.
He has happy at the club and expected to be locked in soon, but No. 1 overall pick Aaron Cadman is no hurry yet to sign the usual two-year contract extension.
Country boy Cadman couldn’t have fitted in better at the Giants but is yet to debut, so isn’t rushing the two-year extension that usually sees first-round picks handed a salary of between $400,000 and $500,000 in their third and fourth years.
TOUGH CALL FOR BOMBERS ON FORMER SKIPPER’S FUTURE
Essendon could be faced with a tough selection call on veteran Dyson Heppell as the club weighs up his on and off field impact.
Heppell, 30, stayed with the Bombers in the face of some interest from Gold Coast but has been in underwhelming form to start the season.
He was subbed out of the win over Gold Coast in Round 2 but coach Brad Scott kept the faith in him for the Round 3 loss to St Kilda when the 12-year veteran had 16 touches.
The Bombers host GWS Giants at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, followed by the Demons off a six-day break in Round 5, into the ANZAC Day blockbuster against Collingwood in Round 7.
The ANZAC Day blockbuster will draw a capacity crowd and Heppell’s experience as former captain would be important as Scott plots a massive upset at the MCG.
GIANTS SWINGMAN IN HIGH DEMAND
GWS Giants’ utility Harry Himmelberg is in no hurry to re-sign at the club as rivals circle the Riverina product.
Himmelberg, 26, is one of the leading targets in this year’s free agency pool which is light-on for top-end talent other than Essendon’s Darcy Parish and St Kilda midfielder Jade Gresham.
The Giants want to keep Himmelberg and have been buoyed by recent talks.
But the key forward won’t rush the decision as the Giants kickstart a new era under new coach Adam Kingsley.
Himmelberg has kicked two goals from his first three games of the season alongside Jesse Hogan and Jake Riccardi.
But the Giants could change up the key forward mix soon in a bid to unleash No. 1 pick Aaron Cadman.
PLAYERS PUSH BACK ON MID-SEASON TRADING
The AFL player union would want significant protection for financially vulnerable players if the league introduced a mid-season trade period.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae was the latest AFL figure to strongly push for the introduction of greater player movement this week.
But the AFL’s players are hesitant about a mid-season trade period given many are on relatively modest salaries and could be moved interstate with only a few days’ notice.
Last year’s pay bands showed that 125 players were paid between $100,000-$200,000 and another 126 paid between $200,000-$300,000.
That is more than a quarter of the AFL men’s workforce, and while NBA millionaires are often traded mid-season the AFL players would be financially disadvantaged having to uproot families interstate with little notice.
Some clubs would also like the power to trade players without their approval.
The AFLPA is always open to considering ideas like extra trade periods given it could give players increased opportunities.
But there has been no real movement early in this year’s CBA talks on a mid-season trade so it will likely remain an annual discussion topic rather than a short-term reality.
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