AFL trades 2022: All the latest news surrounding club signings
The Giants and coach Leon Cameron have agreed to put off contract talks. CEO David Matthews opens up on the decision and goes into bat for Stephen Coniglio.
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Greater Western Sydney chief executive David Matthews says there is no win-loss target for Leon Cameron to keep his job, adamant the club will factor in the early-season loss of Toby Greene and potential Covid issues through a long campaign.
And Matthews has hit out at the continued media campaign against co-captain Stephen Coniglio, labelling criticism of his contract “naive rubbish” and “dramatic drivel”.
Cameron revealed on Saturday the club and he had agreed to put off contract talks until the end of the year despite a successful campaign with a finals win last season.
It will immediately kick-start speculation that the Giants could be in the running for an alternative, like four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson or even part-time leadership consultant James Hird.
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But Matthews said the decision was mutual and pointed to considerable uncertainty over the club’s on-field fortunes as the reason for the halted talks.
“I thought Leon’s press conference was outstanding,” Matthews told the Herald Sun.
“It shows you he is a thoroughly decent person and in our discussions we said there is a lot on our plate we are working through so we will kick it down the road to assess it later on.
“It’s not really a pass or fail. We don’t know the outcome of Covid and what it will do to our player availability and we aren’t sure of the effect of missing five rounds with Toby Greene so it’s just a range of variables better assessed later on.
“He has been a very successful coach of this club and he’s enjoying working with a younger group but it takes the pressure off everyone. It’s not an assessment on a pass or fail.
“It was driven by both parties, we will just see how it unfolds. Last year was a second year on the road and to get into finals and beat Sydney, if injuries hadn’t curtailed us we could have competed very well against Geelong, so we think we can compete very well but we have got ambitious views about what we want to achieve.”
On Hird’s presence at the club, Matthews said: “I think everyone in football should feel pleased James Hird is back in the industry. And a lot of that credit goes to Leon Cameron. He is the person who wanted him in discussions with Mark McVeigh and James. All that other speculation is just not something we concern ourselves with.”
Matthews hit back hard at accusations Coniglio’s $7 million, seven-year deal had ruined the club’s salary cap.
“I think the comment was that it has financially ruined the club. That is naive rubbish, it really is. I think he deserves more respect than he is being given in some quarters. He has had injury issues and he doesn’t complain. He is a decent person and we know what kind of player he is. We are really pleased for him.
“His form is excellent, we manage our salary cap, we met offers made by other clubs and there is just no need to diminish a person or a club with such dramatic drivel.”
Why coach has put off contract talks
- Daniel Garb
GWS coach Leon Cameron says he and the club have decided to hold off on discussions over a new contract for him at the club until the end of the season.
Speaking after a much needed 26-point win over Gold Coast for his first victory of the year, the Giants coach – who is out of contract at the end of the campaign - says he and the club have decided to make a ‘mature’ decision and wait to make a call on his future when the season is done.
“We had a really good meeting with the club just before the season started and we’ll assess that and park it until the end of the year,” Cameron said.
“I don’t want us to have any regrets. I’m loving my coaching at the moment and I can’t wait for next week to play Fremantle but I think it’s a good decision by the club to wait.”
“I’m a ninth-year coach and in my tenth year at the footy club and sometimes trying to work out a contract in the hurly burly of the footy season is pretty full on.”
“If you’re under the pump or out of contract people are always going to ask the question so I think it’s a really smart decision by the footy club it’s an honest decision and both parties are on the same page,” Cameron continued.
The Giants coach is coming off an impressive season where he led the club to a top eight spot and elimination final victory following several important wins with an undermanned team.
Speculation over his future is likely to rumble on all campaign now in light of the decision to hold off on a new deal.
His early season standing has improved however following two defeats in the first two games, with a dominant display in the triumph over the Suns that was inspired by a move to tag Gold Coast superstar Touk Miller with youngster Lachie Ash.
Miller was held to just 17 disposals and was largely ineffective which will only bring to light the conversation around taggers more with many coaches opting not to go with the clamp down role early in the season.
“I really like that young kids learn to play on really good players. What (Ash) is learning is two way footy. I was absolutely stoked with his role tonight,” Cameron said.
“Lachie has elite running ability and is one of our better tackles and that’s what he displayed tonight.”
Stewart Dew was downcast with his team’s performance and while he conceded his co-captain in Miller was soundly beaten, he’s not concerned about his ability to work through tags moving forward.
“He’s been tagged before and got through it, he didn’t today,” the Suns coach said.
“We have to understand the level this guy has been playing at, that’s why it stands out so much. We’re not concerned that it’ll be a pattern of behaviour.”
Trade watch: Big three clubs in rush for signatures
— Jon Ralph
Collingwood has already locked away exciting young pressure forward Beau McCreery as it works on recontracting its new breed of kids.
McCreery’s two-year extension on his initial two-season deal was done over summer but is yet to be announced.
The second-year forward had kicked three goals in his two games this year but impressed teammates with 11 tackles in that fortnight as a No.44 draft pick.
The Pies are still working on extensions for his fellow 2020 draftees including Ollie Henry, Fin Macrae and this week’s first-gamer Reef McInness.
Darcy Moore is closing in on a new long-term deal to give up his free agency while Jordan De Goey’s manager Ryan Vague told the Herald Sun last month he was keen to stay but the Pies might have to match rival deals of up to $900,000 given his brilliant start to the season.
Saints in move to keep key tall
Contract talks for St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall will heat up in the early part of the season with the 26-year-old keen to remain at Linton Street.
Marshall’s foot problems last year dulled his effectiveness so both parties have had preliminary talks but nothing meaningful so far.
The bullocking ruck-forward remains critical to the club’s fortunes given Paddy Ryder is likely in his final season but wants to remain as a one-club player.
Swans step up talks to stay in premiership window
Sydney’s Oliver Florent will ignore Melbourne offers and remain in the Harbour City if handed a fair contract after early talks in recent weeks.
Florent remains incredibly close to his Melbourne family after father Andrew passed away in 2016 but wants to build something special with the young Sydney midfield.
Exciting midfielder Justin McInerney isn’t far off securing a new two-season extension with the Swans, who have Jake Lloyd and Harry Cunningham out of contract.
Lance Franklin will play on barring a serious injury next year and is willing to take a pay cut, with Sydney having a raft of stars out of contract next year including Tom McCartin, Tom Hickey, Tom Papley, Chad Warner, Callum Mills, Dane Rampe.
Paddy McCartin is on a one-year rookie deal, with 2022 rookies paid $85,000 plus match payments.
Green content to stay put despite interest south
Greater Western Sydney emerging star Tom Green is happy at the Giants despite massive Victorian interest from clubs including Richmond, with the inside mid only just starting a two-season deal.
He signed a two-year extension to his mandatory initial two-season contract before he played his first game, with that deal kicking in this season and paying him up to $450,000 in his third and fourth years.
Grandfather Michael is a four-time Tigers premiership player and Richmond has the inclination to go after a ready-made mid at season’s end.
But while Green will be in no hurry to extend his deal past 2023 he is enjoying his time in Sydney after a brilliant start to his 2022 campaign.
Tigers to welcome back the biggest giant of all
Richmond will soon welcome 213cm ruckman Mate Colina back to the club after a stint playing basketball for the University of Hawaii.
The cousin of Noah Balta would be the tallest AFL player of all time if he made his debut, having been secured by the Tigers as a Category B rookie in late 2020.
He spent valuable time with the Tigers in their hub last year, priming him for the levels of fitness he will need at AFL level, before returning to finish his college basketball career.
The Tigers have Ivan Soldo and Toby Nankervis and in January tucked away 204cm ruckman Samson Ryan until 2024 given rival interest so Colina will have time to develop behind that trio.
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