Moneyball: All the latest player movement, contract and free agency news
Ben McKay and Jade Gresham? The Bombers are set to be big players in this year’s free agent market. But at what price will the Saints let their man go? Here’s the latest.
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St Kilda will be prepared to match a free agency bid from Essendon on Jade Gresham, depending on how much the Bombers are prepared to pay him and the compensation pick it triggers.
The Bombers are circling Gresham as well as North Melbourne stopper Ben McKay as part of a double free agency strike to help lift Essendon for next season.
The Saints are keeping their options open on Gresham to see whether a move to Essendon could deliver the Saints a second-round compensation pick.
Out-of-contract defender Nick Coffield, who finished fifth in the 2020 best and fairest but has not played a senior game over the past two seasons, has also attracted interest from Western Bulldogs.
If Coffield remains at St Kilda it would be on a considerable pay cut given his nightmare run of injuries in recent years.
Saints’ list manager Stephen Silvagni is keen to recalibrate the club’s salary cap following a series of big-money moves to attract mid-tier players and retain some high draft picks.
Gresham, 26, is one of the highest paid players at the Saints but was used in a mainly forward role this season, kicking 21 goals from 23 games.
While McKay is yet to make a decision on his future, the Saints are prepared to wait on Gresham’s future until the free agency window opens on Friday October 6.
The Bombers have about $2 million in salary cap room to spend on talent if they wish including a new key defender to bolster the defence and a ready-made livewire midfield-forward to hit the scoreboard.
Essendon coach Brad Scott is keen to explore the free agency market to add more talent at the Bombers without sacrificing their top draft pick (eight).
The Saints wanted to bank more early draft picks this year, but crashed through to the finals in the first year under Ross Lyon, meaning their first pick is further back than many expected at No. 12.
But that could fall past pick 15 due to the three stand-out academy players Gold Coast will take in the first round, shuffling clubs back in the draft order.
It means the Saints could be open to a Gresham move if it can land the club another top-25 draft choice.
The club is keen to add more top-end young talent to add to the wave of a-grade youngsters including Mattaes Phillipou, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mitch Owens and Marcus Windhager.
ROOS LOOK FOR RUCK BACK-UP
North Melbourne is on the hunt for a ready-made ruckman in the trade period, fearing it is likely to lose 300-game big man Todd Goldstein.
Goldstein, 35 is weighing up a number of options, including an offer to join his former coach Brad Scott at Essendon.
The prospect of any two-year offer would be tempting for Goldstein as the veteran ruckman believes he still has good footy left in him following another consistent season.
Tristan Xerri will go into 2024 as North Melbourne’s No.1 ruckman, but the 24-year-old has yet to play more than 12 games in a season.
Callum Coleman-Jones is a forward-ruck back up, but he missed the back end of the season as he dealt with a concussion issue which the club hopes has all been resolved.
Charlie Comben suffered a horrific leg injury earlier this season but is seen more as a forward rather a ruckman.
It means the Roos has already started scouring the competition in an effort to get ruck back-up relief if Goldstein chooses to depart Arden St.
A decision is expected to come soon.
NORTH OUT FOR YOUTH
Alastair Clarkson will look to youth as he builds his 2024 North Melbourne coaching panel in the wake of several high profile departures.
It is understood the Kangaroos are in the market for good, young assistant coaches with Clarkson and footy boss Todd Viney searching for the right mix.
This follows the departure of Brett Ratten, who took over as interim head coach when Clarkson took his break from the game, with John Blakey and Gavin Brown also leaving the club.
Ratten is looking for a new role in football.
Veteran Liam Shiels, who has an interest in list management once his playing days are over, will almost certainly play on next season.
The three-time Hawk premiership player turns 33 next season, but he was a valuable contributor in a difficult year in his first season at the club.
He played 16 games and finished ninth in the Syd Barker Medal.
DOW SET TO BE ON THE MOVE
Paddy Dow seems destined to find his way to St Kilda as the Blues’ late-season charge gives them trade collateral to get back into the national draft for the second straight year.
Carlton expects Dow to find his way to St Kilda and Zac Fisher to play at Arden Street next year, with both players out of the side but having benefited from recent surges in form.
The Blues have given away their second and third-round picks, having secured Ollie Hollands, Lachie Cowan, VFL Team of the Year member Jaxon Binns and Harry Lemmey in the draft last year as well as summer rookie Alex Cincotta.
Carlton will expect reasonable compensation from the Roos for Fisher given he has two years to run and could secure a five-year deal.
So the Blues could top up their draft hand, then give a future pick to Gold Coast if the Elijah Hollands deal goes through.
The Blues have been keen to hit the draft hard all year but didn’t have much to give up and yet Dow has climbed off the footy scrapheap and Fisher has found form at half back.
COULD CROW END UP WITH BROTHER?
The Giants’ interest in Adelaide key tall Elliott Himmelberg is borne out of a desire to ensure they have key tall cover should Lachie Keeffe retire.
Keeffe has provided stalwart service and could play on but the Giants are keen to ensure they have enough depth in their key position stocks.
The brother of re-signed GWS free agent Harry Himmelberg has dominated in the SANFL as a key forward averaging 6.5 score involvements as well as kicking 18 goals.
He has one more year on his deal and the Crows are looking for more talls and key defenders so he’s no certainty to move clubs.
CBA WIN FOR TOP PLAYERS
The AFL’s pay rise for players is expected to hit over 30 per cent over the five seasons to 2027 and could see the first $1.5 million players in coming seasons.
The prospect of a $2 million player is remote given even the highest paid players in the AFL like Dustin Martin have only hit $1.4 million.
But even the increase on deals for current million dollar players who have the pay rise factored into their deals will only hit $1.3 million.
The biggest stars with deals expiring next year include Aaron Naughton, Tim English, Hugh McCluggage, Sean Darcy, Ben King, Xavier Duursma, Connor Rozee, Errol Gulden.
English will be a free agent coming off an All Australian year so he could easily be worth $1.3 million a year if he was prepared to leave the Dogs.
Darcy has strong interest from Geelong but they would have to give up a king’s ransom to get him and have not yet made strong moves to attempt to drag him out of Fremantle.
Nick Daicos has already signed on to Collingwood through to 2029 and was told by his father Peter to leave some salary cap room for the rest of his teammates.
So player managers predict the first $2 million player might be only just drafted who will be signing a massive long-term deal or free agency contract in 2028 or 2029.
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