AFL Trade 2023: The age threshold set to guarantee North first-round compensation for Ben McKay

Essendon had been unsure its offer for Ben McKay would trigger first-round compensation and force North to give up the free agent without a fight. But there’s no need to worry anymore.

Ben McKay’s December birth date as the baby of his draft class will deliver North Melbourne a huge advantage in securing first-round compensation for the departing free agent.

Essendon on Monday had been uncertain whether their offer for Roos interceptor McKay would be big enough to secure that coveted first-round pick.

The Essendon offer of at least five years is less than $800,000 a season in guaranteed money, with the Dons uncertain about the threshold for first-round compensation.

If the compensation did not reach that first-round marker, the Roos had made public their determination to match the free agency offer and retain McKay.

But this masthead can reveal the age of a departing free agent is a critical element in deciding what compensation their club receives.

As a player born on December 24, 1997 (with twin Harry), McKay fits into the window as a 25-year-old departing free agent by less than two months on the league’s October 31 cut-off.

Essendon’s Ben McKay offer set to trigger first-round compensation. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Under the AFL’s formula, a 25-year-old free agent requires a lesser salary to tick off first-round compensation than a 26-year-old or even 27-year-old.

So, as a 25-year-old, a guaranteed contract of $775,000 might be enough to tick off first-round compensation, whereas for a 26-year-old that threshold might have been $800,000 and a 27-year-old $850,000.

St Kilda free agent Jade Gresham, still likely to find his way to Essendon, is 26, so the Dons would have to pay a bigger contract for him for the Saints to secure first-round compensation.

That formula exists to provide greater compensation to the clubs of players who depart at a younger age – a club losing a 25-year-old free agent might miss out on eight years of service, compared to five years for a 28-year-old.

Gresham finished outside the top 10 in St Kilda’s best-and-fairest result on Monday night and is destined to move to Essendon given St Kilda’s determination to get back into the draft.

He will consider his options in coming days after wanting to wait until after the best-and-fairest, won by rebounder Jack Sinclair.

Jade Gresham is still likely to find his way to Essendon. Picture: Michael Klein.

First-round compensation would secure St Kilda pick 13, while end-of-first-round compensation would secure it pick 20.

So, while the Saints would love another first-round pick for Gresham, a pick at 20 would still bolster their draft hand of 12, 32 and 51.

That move could still take place even if the second element of the deal – Dylan Shiel moving to St Kilda for a later pick – falls over.

Sources have clarified that this year’s free agency compensation will be based on lining up contracts with salaries based on 2023 wages before the 15 per cent pay rise for players for 2023 and 2024.

If the compensation was based on contracts for 2024, the Dons might have had to pay McKay an extra 15 per cent to hit the first-round trigger.

St Kilda is in contract talks with Nick Coffield and Hunter Clark, while Jack Billings would seek a new home if a suitor emerged, but has two years on a contract worth as much as $500,000 a season.