Moneyball: Shaun Burgoyne set to shun interest from Gold Coast as Vic clubs circle key Crow

Shaun Burgoyne is set to shun interest from Gold Coast about a player-coach role to play on with Hawthorn for another season with talks underway over a new deal.

Defender Alex Keath has attracted plenty of interest from Victorian clubs. Picture: Mark Stewart.

Essendon is moving to lock away two in-form players in Dylan Clarke and Mitch Brown as the club’s form surge continues.

New-found tagger Clarke signed only a one-year extension after his initial two-year deal but after taking down some of the games’ best midfielders is in talks on another deal.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ‘SACKED’ PODCAST

He has knocked over Ben Cunnington, Patrick Cripps, Rory Sloane and Jaeger O’Meara but would one day like to be an attacking midfielder.

Brown helped the Dons win against Adelaide after four goals last week and also kicked three goals in earlier wins over North Melbourne.

Talks are not as well progressed but the 28-year-old will likely sign another one-year deal.

Dylan Clarke puts the clamps on Sydney star Josh Kennedy. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett.

OUT-OF-CONTRACT BLUES LIFTING

Carlton’s form surge is coming at the perfect time for a list of out-of-contract players keen to secure their futures.

Levi Casboult is doing something similar, a chance to tick off a games-based clause if he remains in the side all year.

Michael Gibbons picked up a coaches vote himself last week and will surely do enough to win his own contract after being a summer rookie.

Encouragingly for Jack Silvagni, his strong run of form in the last month will almost certainly see him handed a new deal after trade speculation mid-year.

Defender Alex Keath has attracted plenty of interest from Victorian clubs. Picture: Mark Stewart.

VIC CLUBS EYEING GUN CROW

Adelaide’s Alex Keath has multiple Victorian suitors including the Western Bulldogs but, in an ideal world, will remain a Crow if the price is right.

The 27-year-old is in an unusual situation of having played just 29 games but needing to make this his fat contract because of his long path to footy via cricket.

Melbourne isn’t one of those clubs interested despite reports, but only if he was lowballed would he consider a move after his brilliant intercepting form.

His manager Neil McMullin is brokering a deal, with Adelaide trying to find a deal to satisfy him.

The Crows have the draft arsenal to rejuvenate their list but Sam Jacobs wants to stay on a one-year deal and there would be few takers for Bryce Gibbs given his form and desire to stay in South Australia.

Shaun Burgoyne is set to re-sign with Hawthorn despite Gold Coast’s interest. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

BURGOYNE SET TO SHUN SUNS

Shaun Burgoyne is almost certain to play on at Hawthorn next year despite the inviting prospect of an extended player-coach deal at the Suns.

Burgoyne this week ties the indigenous games record of Adam Goodes, with the Hawks now keen to re-sign him.

That wasn’t the case a month ago, which led to the Suns throwing open the prospect of a potential four-year deal that led into coaching.

But with talks under way with the Hawks, it would take a significant contract to lure him, wife Amy and four kids Nixie, Leni, Ky and Percy north.

The Suns won’t want to break the bank on experienced players after only just getting their cap issues in order.

RUN HOME: WHERE WILL YOUR TEAM FINISH?

SLUMP: HOW COLLINGWOOD PLANS TO GET ITS MOJO BACK

KELLY CAMP AWAITING CATS OFFER

Tim Kelly’s camp is waiting on an official offer from the Cats that would at least give them food for thought about staying in Geelong.

That deal will be ticked off by the league and have an initial one-year deal and further seasons he could activate with guaranteed money if he remained happy at the club.

The good mail is he is still heading home but the Cats couldn’t have done anything more to keep him happy.

Nakia Cockatoo is nearing his return, so although he will likely stay look for clubs to come hard at the pressuring forward if he can fire in September given his exciting skill set.