Moneyball: Follow all the latest trade, contract, draft and coach news across the AFL
Jack Billings is set to sign a long-term deal to stay at the Saints, but a Bulldogs favourite is poised to leave the club. Plus the latest on Geelong’s out-of-favour youngsters.
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St Kilda can bank on Jack Billings helping drive the club’s mission to return to September next season.
Billings is close to signing a four-year contract extension that will take the playmaker to 30 and remove his name from this year’s free agency list.
The biggest names from the 2013 draft headlined this year’s crop of gettable superstars – but they have all spurned rival offers.
The list of marquee midfielders who were quick to void their free agency status included Marcus Bontempelli (re-signed for four years at Western Bulldogs), Patrick Cripps (six years at Carlton), Zach Merrett (seven years at Essendon) and Josh Kelly (eight years at GWS), with Billings not far behind them.
However, Bulldogs free agent Mitch Wallis appears likely to leave the club that his father captained in 1989 in pursuit of greater opportunities after playing just six games as vice-captain this season.
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Wallis, 28, has sat on a modest offer from Whitten Oval for much of the season and a fresh start is on the cards for the highly-respected clubman who took elimination final hero Cody Weightman under his wing last year.
The Saints and Billings are ironing out the finer details, such as bonus triggers, on a contract that will lock the silky half-forward in until 2025.
Billings burst out of the blocks in 2021 until a plantar fascia injury suffered in a pre-game warm-up curtailed that form.
The reliable matchwinner has played 144 games for the Saints, missing just six matches in the past five seasons.
Like many clubs, the Saints are waiting for the AFL to clarify rules governing the salary cap and list sizes before they advance their off-season plans.
The Saints currently hold picks No.9 and 46 in this year’s draft.
Coach Brett Ratten is adamant his team belongs in the top eight but underachieved this year, having won through to a semi-final in 2020.
Similarly, coach-less Carlton has already set itself a pass mark of leaping into the top eight next year.
Dual All-Australian Jack Steele, Rowan Marshall, Jade Gresham, Zak Jones and Billings are all in that sweet-spot age bracket of 24-26, while Brad Crouch and Tim Membrey are both 27.
But last year’s surge was powered by a stack of gimme goals kicked from 0-30m as Ratten’s eye-catching game plan encouraged players to target the hot spot with long and direct forward thrusts.
Rivals tried to force the Saints short this season and that tactic contributed to their potency fading, particularly in their inconsistent start to the year.
However, Ratten’s team finished the season 5-4, which included wins against finalists Sydney and the Brisbane Lions, and that improvement helped fortify confidence in what they had been working towards.
The off-season shopping list is likely to prioritise players who can gut run after some Saints found the return to 20-minute quarters challenging this year.
Some in club land also believe it would make sense for the Saints to consider recruiting Mason Cox (Collingwood), given Paddy Ryder will be 34 next season and Paul Hunter (out of contract) is every chance to join Shaun McKernan (retired) on the list of departures.
Former Magpies administrator Graeme Allan, who knows Cox, lobbed at St Kilda in 2008.
ROO REWARDED WITH NEW DEAL
Aaron Hall has signed a new one-year deal with North Melbourne off the back of his most consistent AFL season
Hall’s move to the backline proved a masterstroke for the 30-year and for the Kangaroos as he reeled off 558 disposals from his 20 games.
It was the most games in a season he had played since his second season at Gold Coast in 2013, and he could be rewarded with a multi-year deal.
“I love it, this group we’ve had this year has been my favourite group to play with in all of my 10 seasons,” Hall told North Media.
“I love the energy from the young boys, they really put a pep in your step when you get into the club.
“There are so many different personalities within our playing group and everyone is allowed to be themselves and come in and train hard and we’re all here for one thing.
“We’ve got a lot of talent in the group, and the boys apply themselves to the work as well so I think next year is going to be exciting. I can’t wait for it.”
The Kangaroos started preliminary discussions with Hall’s management mid-season but were keen to see how he performed in the second half of the season.
Hall was fifth overall in the AFL for metres gained this season, with almost 13,000.
DUMPED CROW A ‘PERFECT FIT’ FOR TIGERS
Daniel Talia’s hopes of receiving an AFL lifeline have received a boost with a handful of clubs — including Richmond — considering offering the former Adelaide defender a chance in 2022.
Talia, who turns 30 in October, was told by the Crows earlier this month that he wouldn’t get a new deal after knee and foot injuries kept him out for the entire season.
The one-time AFL Rising Star would still need to prove that his body was right to keep playing at the highest level.
But he is confident he has “more years left” and is getting on top of his issues, with his management fielding some early interest from clubs.
The surprise retirement of triple premiership defender David Astbury could potentially open the door for Talia at Richmond, with Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis saying recently that the Tigers would be a perfect fit.
The Tigers will get Noah Balta back next season, but Talia could provide some extra insurance if he can overcome the injury doubts.
“From a Daniel Talia point of view, with the Astbury retirement, it seems to be a perfect fit if they wanted someone to strengthen their backine,” Lewis said on SEN recently. “To be a ready-made player and a lot of experience to give them another shot at the flag next year.”
Essendon could be another club looking for defensive cover after spending part of 2021 experimenting with its backline set-up.
Michael Hurley will return next season — potentially as a forward — after a debilitating hip infection left him on the sidelines for the entire season. Cake Hooker has retired.
St Kilda might also be in the market for an experienced defender following the retirement of James Frawley after his comeback was cut short by injury issues.
Talia would come cheap for a club prepared to take a chance on a footballer who was one of the game’s best defenders at his peak.
PREMIERSHIP TIGER COULD WALK OUT
Richmond dual-premiership player Josh Caddy is weighing up whether to explore a move to a fourth club in this year’s trade period.
The versatile half forward-wing was in and out of the Tigers’ team this season and has no guarantees he will be a regular in the best 22 next year.
He averaged 13 possessions across nine matches this season and booted two goals for the year.
Caddy has one more year remaining on his contract at Punt Rd, but the former Gold Coast and Geelong forward is aware Richmond would facilitate a trade if it suited both parties.
Richmond, which has a suite of first and second-round draft picks (No.s 7, 16, 26 and 28), wants to inject more youth into the squad in the off-season as part of a post-premiership dynasty refresh.
Sources believe Caddy still has plenty of good footy left in him but while he may be best suited to a position in the forward line the Tigers are well-stocked with Tom lynch, Jack Riewoldt and electric goal kicker Shai Bolton in attack.
Caddy, who turns 29 next month, has been a key player at times for Richmond throughout its premiership run, earning selection in the All-Australian squad of 40 in 2018.
He finished 10th in the Tigers’ best-and-fairest that season as Collingwood upset the Tigers in the preliminary final.
But it remains unclear which club would be his best fit for next year as list manages balance tight salary caps.
At least one interstate club has been raised as a genuine option for Caddy but any deal would most likely involve a late pick.
His move from Geelong to Richmond has been highly successful for the Tigers as Caddy was a key plank in Richmond’s transformation and journey to a stunning premiership in 2017.
The man who was taken No. 7 in the 2010 national draft has played 174 games.
YOUNG CATS WEIGH UP NEXT MOVE
Geelong forward Nathan Kreuger is trapped behind senior key-position talls and aware he might again be starved of chances next season as he contemplates a move elsewhere.
Ideally Kreuger, who knocked back a three-year offer from Collingwood last season to stay loyal, would like to remain on a longer-term Geelong deal.
But Lachie Henderson is likely to play on next year and with four key forwards ahead of him staying loyal would not guarantee him more game time next year.
His position is exactly the same as midfielder Jordan Clark, who decided to remain at the Cats this year despite solid rival interest but for various reasons couldn’t get a strong run in the seniors.
So, does Kreuger leave for a rival club, with several keen and the Pies again asking, or does he stick fat aware he might be playing VFL again?
An offer of a one-year deal would make that decision easy but if the Cats come up with a two or three-year contract he has a big decision to make.
Geelong isn’t in a position to bring in young talls for the sake of it despite the promise of Kreuger and Sam de Koning, given the premiership window is so wide open.
But there is a cost in not playing those kids.
WILLIE TO REMAIN IN PERTH
Willie Rioli will remain in Perth to train and devote himself to his AFL career over most of summer after missing a Round 23 return to football because of a minor hamstring strain.
The Eagles had hoped to play Rioli after his lengthy ban for tampering with a urine sample but instead he pulled up sore during the week of his imminent AFL return.
They have handed him a one-year deal and he will have to prove himself again but he is the exactly the kind of dynamic pressuring forward they need in their side after missing finals this year.
He will return to Darwin to see his wife and kids over the break but is determined to show he is devoted to the club and his career.
Liam Duggan will re-sign at West Coast despite some Victorian interest.
But as with many players across the competition who might have hoped for major pay rises because of significant rival interest the money just isn’t there to launch raids at players of his stature.
DOGS CHASE TALL SIGNATURE
The Western Bulldogs are going all out to secure an established ruckman to help Tim English and are keen to sign the emerging ruck-forward as well.
English will hold off on talks until next year given his season hasn’t been anywhere near what it looked like when he and Stef Martin smacked up Brodie Grundy in Round 1.
But he loves Melbourne and is committed to staying at the Dogs long-term despite some speculation this week about whether rivals should make a play for him.
The Dogs contracted Stef Martin on a one-year deal and despite an excellent start to the year his groin issues have allowed him to play only seven games.
He played in a practice match on the weekend but pulled up badly so isn’t being considered this week.
So the Dogs will keep looking for ruck alternatives as well as key backs.
West Coast key defender Harry Edwards is one player clubs continue to ask about but is contracted and after playing 10 games this year as a 20-year-old the Eagles won’t let him go.
PIES MIGHT POACH ASSISTANT BACK
Highly-rated Brisbane assistant coach Dale Tapping could have a big decision to make in the coming weeks.
The Lions have offered Tapping a new deal after his outstanding work with the club’s midfield brigade.
But Collingwood has also made inquiries about adding Tapping to its assistant coaching ranks.
After announcing Craig McRae as their new coach, the Pies let go long-time assistant coaches Robert Harvey and Brenton Sanderson. Harvey had worked under Nathan Buckley since 2010 and Sanderson joined the club in 2017.
Tapping spent five seasons at Collingwood as VFL and development coach before being poached by Chris Fagan to Brisbane.
He worked closely with a number of Magpie young guns such as Darcy Moore and Jordan De Goey, and is still well regarded by many within the Holden Centre.
But he also has made a big difference at the Lions, having developed a close rapport with Lachie Neale, who praised him in his 2020 Brownlow Medal speech.
SUNS COULD POACH GUN SWAN
Gold Coast has considered a bid for Sydney free agent Luke Parker but will likely pass despite his ties to coach Stewart Dew, a former Sydney assistant coach.
Parker wants a four-year contract at $700,000 or more and despite his exceptional durability missing one game in six years turns 29 in October.
The Swans have offered him a deal as modest as two seasons at $500,000 as they attempt to arrest a salary cap issue that could see them losing multiple players.
Parker would provide brilliant leadership at the Suns but would likely force one of Noah Anderson or Matt Rowell out of a midfield that also has Touk Miller and the improving Brayden Fiorini.
The salary will be too rich for the Suns, who are keener to secure key position talent in the off-season period to help Ben King.
Parker might appeal to a club like St Kilda which is in the window and would love his strong contested work and ability to go forward to kick multiple goals.
The Swans have cap issues like all clubs but their crisis is acute given the cost of living in Sydney and high-priced contracts for the likes of Lance Franklin, Isaac Heeney, Parker, Dane Rampe, Cal Mills and Tom Papley.
Franklin is due $900,000 next season on a deal that cannot be altered under AFL rules, while Heeney becomes a free agent at the end of 2022.
The Suns are still totally in the dark about whether they will keep their No.19 draft pick handed to them as part of a suite of extra selections by the AFL in an assistance package.
The expectation is the AFL will not take the selection off the Suns after only seven wins this season with the draft period only a month away.
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