Collingwood’s James Aish ponders Fremantle move as Dockers offer midfielder greater security
James Aish is weighing up a move to join Fremantle as Collingwood’s salary cap squeeze rears its head - an issue which means the Pies will “have to find a fair bit of money”.
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Midfielder James Aish might be the first victim of Collingwood’s salary cap squeeze as the Pies brace for their toughest list management challenge.
Aish is weighing up a move to Fremantle — today jetting west for a medical screening — which is not only offering a longer, more-lucrative deal but is being coached by one of Aish’s biggest fans — former Pies assistant Justin Longmuir.
While Aish has been a role player since joining Collingwood from the Lions, the Pies’ biggest names could burst the club’s coffers next year.
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The highly-publicised contracts of marquee trio Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore are all up for negotiation over the next 12 months as Collingwood hopes to lock away the club’s long-term future.
Skipper Scott Pendlebury, who at 31 shows no sign of slowing down, is also contracted until the end of 2020.
Securing that premium talent looms as Pies list manager Ned Guy’s biggest task, with rival clubs eager to swoop on the stars.
Moore’s manager, Liam Pickering, revealed he had taken “a lot of calls” about his star client.
“We know the situation Collingwood are in,” Pickering said.
“They’re in the situation where their three most important young players if you like, in Darcy Moore, Brodie Grundy and Jordan De Goey — plus they’ve got their captain (Scott Pendlebury) — all coming out (of contract) next year.
“So they’re going to have to find a fair bit of money.”
Pickering, who also manages Aish, said the midfielder’s preference was to stay a Pie but the Dockers’ offer might prove too good to refuse.
“He’s been approached by Fremantle to go and play there for three years,” Pickering said.
“Justin Longmuir, who’s come from Collingwood, is desperately keen to get him there.”
Speaking on SEN, Pickering said Collingwood wouldn’t stand in his client’s way if he decides to leave.
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“We’ve been trying to extend him, and Collingwood have been pretty up-front about it and said ‘look, we wouldn’t be able to do anything until potentially this time next year’,” he said.
“(They said) ‘If there’s somewhere else that you’re going to be guaranteed to play and is going to be a good opportunity for you, we won’t stand in your way’. And we know Longmuir loves him, yeah.
“It’s up to him what he wants to do. He can stay at Collingwood and run the gauntlet (or leave).
“He’s had a few chats with Fremantle now. It’s only happened over the weekend ... it’s his decision.”