Darcy Moore hopes to stay at Collingwood but wants a bigger contract

COLLINGWOOD star Darcy Moore wants to stay at the Holden Centre but it could cost the Magpies big money with rivals circling the young key position swingman.

Darcy Moore Pic: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD star Darcy Moore wants to sign a long-term deal to stay at Collingwood at a fair price.

Moore’s manager Liam Pickering is in contract talks with the Pies strongly influenced by the club’s refusal to consider a contract extension two seasons ago.

It was confirmed the 22-year-old has had an official offer in front of him since January, but is not ready to sign a deal as he works on rehabbing his latest hamstring injury.

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Last week linked to the Swans, Moore would have no shortage of suitors if he declared himself as willing to be traded, with Pickering confirming rival clubs have inquired.

Instead he is keen to stay at Collingwood on a deal that would reflect his importance to the team’s structure.

Moore quickly added a two-year extension to his initial two-year contract when he arrived, effectively signing a four-year deal until 2018.

After a brilliant 2016 season where he kicked 24 goals as an exciting key forward, it was clear he was being underpaid for 2017 and 2018.

Darcy Moore was injured in the second term against the Cats. Pic: Michael Klein

The Herald Sun understands Collingwood was offered a deal that would see him sign a two-year extension for 2019 and 2020 if his salary for 2017-18 was revised.

The Pies baulked at that overture, which meant Moore was poorly paid for last year and this year compared to rival key position stars of his age.

But now new list manager Ned Guy is faced with the challenge of signing him when he has significant leverage.

Ideally Moore would have hoped to have been locked away by the Pies on a long-term deal before he entered the season.

Pickering said while there was outside interest the Magpies were keen on Moore and the player was happy to stay should a suitable deal be done.

“There are other clubs that have asked me about Darcy because he’s out of contract,” Pickering told SEN.

“I’m not disputing the fact the Swans have got interest in him. They have.

“He’s a Melbourne boy. His old man played for Collingwood.

“There’s certainly no issues at Collingwood.”

Collingwood has a long list of players out of contract including Ben Reid, Jordan De Goey, Alex Fasolo, Josh Thomas, Matt Scharenberg, Jamie Elliott, Callum Brown and Tim Broomhead.

Player manager Pickering is managing those talks, tasked with securing a strong contract given he has been underpaid in his past two years.

It is understood Moore had a contract clause that included the 20 per cent CBA pay rise last year, but not this year.

Will Darcy Moore stay at Collingwood? Picture: Getty

It means he effectively took a pay cut this year to play, another reason why Pickering will drive a hard bargain.

Pies president Eddie McGuire said last week Collingwood would be talking with Moore about his future soon.

“I’ll tell you what is going on. He (Moore) will be sitting down with our leaders at the club, the people in charge of that, Geoff Walsh and Ned Guy in the next couple of days and discussing his contract,” McGuire said

Sydney has downplayed their interest given they must re-sign Jake Lloyd, Sam Naismith, Heath Grundy, Aliir Aliir and Dean Towers, among others.

They would also have to go into points deficit given their first two picks will be used on academy candidate Nick Blakey.

But Sydney does have Collingwood’s second-round pick this year after the Sam Murray trade and could use future picks in a trade for a player of Moore’s calibre.

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