Griffin Logue to miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, what does it mean for Ben McKay’s future?
The Roos’ disastrous season has taken yet another hit, and it could have a trickle-down effect on one of the game’s most in-demand key position players.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
North Melbourne’s star recruit Griffin Logue has torn his ACL in another disastrous development for a club that already has significant issues attempting to revamp its besieged backline.
Scans on Monday confirmed Logue’s diagnosis, with the defender meeting with his surgeon Julian Feller to plan out his recovery.
The decision could have a trickle-down effect on the future of restricted free agent Ben McKay, who was likely to leave the club at the end of the season before his defensive partner went down.
It will also likely make the Roos’ request for a priority pick all the more compelling given their run of 14 losses, with the club using their extra second-round pick handed to them last year by the AFL to secure Fremantle’s Logue.
The Roos’ defence has been under siege all year as Logue, McKay, Aidan Corr, Luke McDonald and Jack Ziebell attempted to repel attacking thrusts.
Logue has mixed excellent moments with games which have frustrated the Roos faithful as he began his first season of a five-year deal worth $650,000 a season.
If the Roos could secure first-round compensation for McKay after another club offered him up to $800,000 a season over five years they would almost certainly allow him to leave.
It would see them handed a No. 3 overall draft pick as compensation on current ladder position.
But Logue’s absence for a large chunk of 2024 means coach Alastair Clarkson and his list team have decisions to make about whether they match a bid for McKay or offer him a competitive contract.
Essendon is still seen as an interested party but might be keener to offer $600,000 a season, which would only secure the Roos second-round compensation — with a pick around No. 21.
If the Roos are determined to go to the draft they could still allow McKay to leave for that early second-rounder given they also have Port Adelaide’s first-round pick and their own first-rounder.
Port Adelaide has some interest but is first working on retention of its stars and its priority target would be Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea, whose talks will also likely drift until the end of the year.
Sydney has been one of the strongest suitors for McKay but their interest in West Coast interceptor Tom Barrass is real.
Barrass is only in the first year of a five-year deal but turns 28 in October and is seen as one of the few players with real trade currency as the Eagles attempt to stockpile draft picks.
West Coast might ask for multiple first-round picks for the interceptor or just Sydney’s current pick which sits at No. 4 overall.
Barrass is likely to consider Sydney’s overtures at the end of the year and has family links to the city of Sydney.
GWS swingman Harry Himmelberg has interest from multiple clubs across the league but clubs on the Gold Coast for the Under-16 carnival last week believed he would remain in NSW and play for the Giants or Sydney next year.
Roos football boss Todd Viney confirmed the news on Logue on Monday.
“We understood Griff had suffered a significant knee injury and unfortunately, scans today confirmed an ACL rupture to his left knee,” he said.
“Despite knowing his injury was serious, Griff continued to support his teammates throughout the game yesterday. The way he went about it is a testament to the professional he is. Everyone at the club will be there to support him as he begins the first steps of his rehab.”
$1m Giant’s name to surface in trade talks
– Jay Clark
GWS Giants’ defender Nick Haynes is again expected to surface in trade talks at season’s end as he was suspended for one match for a dangerous tackle.
Haynes, 31, is one of the top-paid players at GWS and faces competition for spots in the Giants’ backline after being pushed up the ground in recent weeks.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley said the club is experimenting with Haynes on a wing, although he had to wait for his turn on the ground on Saturday after starting as the sub.
The Giants’ unheralded backline has been a surprise packet this season, helping shut down opposition forwards to keep the club in the finals race in Kingsley’s first year in charge.
The Giants are tied with Adelaide on 32 points in ninth spot, and remain within striking distance of a remarkable top-eight berth with seven games remaining.
But Haynes’ future will be a discussion point as the club assesses its list and manages its always-under-pressure salary cap in the lead-up to the exchange period.
Haynes is on almost $1 million for the final year of his back-ended contract in 2024 and is expected to come up in trade talks at season’s end.
But whether there will be much interest remains unclear. GWS may have to contribute some of his salary as part of any move back home to Victoria.
Kingsley said the club wanted to have a look at Haynes in the midfield.
“You are probably not going to play eight defenders, so anyone who can be more versatile and play in other positions with a little bit of experience and certainly execute their roles is going to be of more value to us,” Kingsley said.
“I see ‘Haynesy’ being able to play either wing or half-back moving forward.”
But the Dandenong product has been suspended for one match, which will sideline him for the clash against Adelaide in Adelaide next weekend.
Haynes dumped Hawk Josh Ward in a tackle on Saturday afternoon, pinning an arm as Haynes whipped the young midfielder into the ground.
Ward’s head hit the ground in an incident which was graded careless conduct, high contact and medium impact.
It was a straightforward rough conduct charge for match review officer Michael Christian, who has clamped down on head contact this year amid the concussion crisis.
But a suspension would have surprised coach Adam Kingsley, who said after the match “I have watched the Haynes one (tackle) I think it is fine.”
The Giants could take the fight to the tribunal this week on the basis Ward appeared to slip slightly in the tackle, meaning Haynes lost some control of his opponent.
But any debate would focus on whether Haynes should have released Ward’s arm, in-line with AFL guidelines to players and clubs on tackling in 2023.
Haynes, who had seven possessions as the starting sub on Saturday, missed out on a top-10 best and fairest finish last year from 17 games last season.
Richmond co-captain Toby Nankervis will front the tribunal this week for his heavy bump which laid out Sydney defender Jake Lloyd on Thursday night.
Nankervis faces three matches on the sidelines for the high bump.
Free trade tracker: Every player linked with your club
Trade requests, the latest rumours and every player linked with your club. Stay across every big AFL trade story and see who could be on the move in our Trade Tracker.
AFL club rocked as coach collapses at training
Geelong’s final training session has been hit with ‘confronting scenes’ as a coach collapsed before being rushed to hospital.