Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Kelly among stars coming out of contract in 2019, writes Jay Clark
Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio ... the list goes on. As cashed-up rival clubs prepare to come knocking in 2019, JAY CLARK looks at the in-demand stars coming off contract next year.
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Greater Western Sydney faces a $3 million juggling act as it attempts to safeguard some of its biggest names from cashed-up Victorian rivals.
The Giants are set for another nervous year as superstar midfielders Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio, and gun defenders Nick Haynes and Adam Tomlinson, weigh-up hometown interest.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE JAY CLARK’S 13 KEY SIGNATURES
Free agent Coniglio is set for a major payday in the vicinity of $900,000 a year, while Kelly’s next contract is certain to make him one of the game’s highest-paid players.
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Brilliant Western Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli is also set to sign a fresh seven-figure deal as the No. 4 draft pick prepares to enter his sixth AFL season.
And Geelong’s Tim Kelly will receive a hefty pay rise at the end of the year when he again attempts to move back home to Western Australia after his failed trade move last month.
Clubs including St Kilda and Hawthorn are also expected to come hard for Gold Coast tall Peter Wright as the Suns vow to end the overspending on contracts which remarkably left the struggling club with a salary cap squeeze this year.
Together, West Australian Coniglio, Sandringham product Kelly, Dandenong’s Haynes and Oakleigh graduate Tomlinson will cost the Giants about $3 million to keep beyond next season, or roughly one quarter of the Giants’ salary cap.
Kelly, 23, has already been installed sixth favourite ($15) to win the 2019 Brownlow Medal with TAB.
North Melbourne is again preparing a godfather $1.5 million a year offer to Kelly after missing out on his and Dustin Martin’s signature a year ago as well as West Coast ball magnet Andrew Gaff.
Martin and Gaff both turned down mega seven-year offers from the Kangaroos.
The Giants believe they are in a strong position to keep their two out-of-contract ball winners in 12 months time after clearing more than $2m million in their salary cap in last month’s trade period.
GWS let go Dylan Shiel (Essendon) and Tom Scully (Hawthorn) but have prioritised Kelly and Coniglio, and will try to get the jump on a new deal for Lachie Whitfield beyond 2020.
List manager Jason McCartney will ramp up talks with the quartet’s management in coming months after locking away matchwinner Toby Greene on a lucrative six-year deal in March.
Kelly, whose father Phil played 61 games for the Roos between 1981-85, will put off a decision on his future later next season as the Giants feel pressure to make their first grand final in 2019.
If Kelly seeks a trade next year, GWS would certainly ask for two first-round draft picks or equitable players as part of a deal which could rival Chris Judd’s move from West Coast to Carlton in 2007.
The Suns took David Swallow off the free agency hit list last week signing its captain-in-waiting to a massive five-year contract extension.
Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains said last week the club was confident of locking away Bontempelli by the end of the year.
“Those conversations have been ongoing between (Dogs’ list manager) Sam Power and Marcus’ manager Tom Petroro for a number of weeks,” Bains said.
“I think we are getting very close to getting something done.
“Marcus is an incredibly important player for the footy club, one of the best players in the competition, so it’s critical we get him locked away.
“We would be hopeful of getting that one done in the coming weeks.”
MONEY MEN: NEXT YEAR’S BIGGEST SIGNATURES
(Player, envisaged price to stay at current club)
1. Josh Kelly — $1.2 million a year
GWS Giants
23, 183cm
Like Dylan Shiel, Josh Kelly will put everything into winning a flag next year, then make a call on whether to come home. North Melbourne has backed the truck up, again, hoping his smooth-moving midfield brilliance can add some sparkle in the engine room. It will be a Lance Franklin-sized deal.
2. Marcus Bontempelli — $1.1 million
Western Bulldogs
22, 193cm
The Bulldogs will try and tie-up their most important player to a long-term deal over the summer. Looked ready to become one of the league’s best players after an outstanding 2016 Grand Final performance, but his football has plateaued a bit. Only22, this star onballer is worth every bit of a seven-figure contract.
3. Stephen Coniglio — $900,000
GWS Giants
24, 183cm
Free agent
Clubs are watching this situation closely. Coniglio is probably the Giants’ next captain, and the heartbeat of the team. But with so much midfield talent at GWS he probably doesn’t get the credit and recognition he deserves. Extraordinary workrate and courage in the clinches.
4. Jack Martin — $700,000
Gold Coast
23, 186cm
Can Martin get the best out of himself at Gold Coast? We all know how talented this guy is, but the Suns have been a shambles and you wonder whether it has slowed his development as a footballer. It would be a massive show of faith if he commits to another long-term contract.
5. Tim Kelly — $650,000
Geelong
24, 183cm
What a turnaround for a man who was overlooked at the draft for years. Probably not as polished as some of the other midfield guns on this list but was a whisker off winning Geelong’s best a fairest in his first AFL season. Already said he will seek a move back to Western Australia, again, at season’s end after the Eagles failed to do a deal with Geelong last month.
6. Lachie Hunter — $650,000
Western Bulldogs
23, 183cm
Workhorse wingman is more than just a linkman. He beat Bontempelli and Jack Macrae to win the Dogs’ best-and-fairest this year, averaging 30 possessions. Hard to see him ever leaving the Dogs but he will deserve a decent pay rise for his consistency in the middle.
7. Jack Billings — $650,000
St Kilda
23, 184cm
Can make a huge difference to St Kilda if things click for the goal kicking midfielder. Super-talented, but dropped to the VFL mid-season after a slow start to the year. Needs to re-establish his credentials before entertaining talks on a new deal at Moorabbin.
8. Peter Wright — $600,000
Gold Coast
23, 202cm
Breakout season looms for the sky scraping 22-year-old after missing the bulk of last season with an injury. Has the tools to be a dominant forward and capable back-up ruckman. Will be surprised if St Kilda and Hawthorn don’t throw the kitchen sink at him over the next few months because the Suns will try not to overpay him just based on potential.
9. Zak Jones — $600,000
Sydney Swans
23, 181cm
Every year Victorian clubs try to sway the hard nut to come home and he has resisted the advances, so far. But are the Swans finally ready for a downturn, after nine-straight years in the eight? Jones is a key player in the club’s plans to remain a premiership force.
10. Nick Haynes — $550,000
GWS
26, 193cm
Elite interceptor is likely to hold off on signing, adding to the contract intrigue at GWS. Haynes has an electric game which will attract more attention across the league next season but he won’t get the same money as the top midfielders.
11. Adam Tomlinson — $500,000
GWS Giants
25, 194cm
Tall running machine who tried to get to the Saints in 2017, but was held to his contract. Versatile enough to play key position at either end of the ground and even on the wing where he had 26 disposals in the preliminary final loss to Richmond one year ago.
12. David Astbury — $450,000
Richmond
27, 195cm
We all rave about Alex Rance, but this guy remains so important to the Richmond set up. He was sick in the lead-up to their surprise preliminary final loss to Collingwood and got shifted forward. Longshot to leave Punt Rd right now, but rivals will dangle a carrot.
13. Todd Goldstein — $450,000
North Melbourne
30, 201cm
Now that Braydon Preuss is gone, Goldstein becomes even more important to the Kangaroos, and we know how much clubs like trying to prise out established ruckmen. Was back near his best this year after two down seasons.
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