Moneyball: Latest AFL trade and contract news
St Kilda could launch another trade raid but first it has to deal with its own uncontracted stars. Where do the Saints stand on Jack Steele, Josh Battle and Jake Carlisle? Plus trade news from the Demons, Blues and Port.
Carlton
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St Kilda might have a war-chest for another player raid, but before they do that they are making solid progress on their No.1 priority — signing Jack Steele.
Fresh from podium finishes in the past two St Kilda best-and-fairests, the former GWS midfielder is in the middle of a season that could see him claim his first Trevor Barker Award.
The Saints have begun talks with his management and while no deal is imminent both parties are making progress on a deal which will reward Steele’s slashing form.
He is not only winning his tagging battles with big-bodied midfielder stars including Patrick Cripps, he is fourth in the AFL coaches votes behind only Lachie Neale, Christian Petracca and Travis Boak.
Steele, 24, is in a group of priority signings for the Saints that also includes swingman Josh Battle, who continues to impress with his goalkicking power and versatility.
The Saints are in talks with his manager on a deal after he was left out of the side early in the season.
And while Jake Carlisle was rumoured to be shopped around last year before Josh Bruce eventually left for the Bulldogs, he too will be offered a fresh contract before the season is out.
His emotional embrace with Paddy Ryder pre-match with his former Essendon teammate showed how invested in the club he has become.
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While Carlton considers how it secures Tom Papley this year considering his incredible form, St Kilda is also basking in the knowledge that ex-Richmond forward Dan Butler is secured for a second season.
He was taken by the Saints as the steak knives in last year’s trade period after they lured their priority targets, with Richmond accepting pick 56 in the draft, which it never used.
Butler won another match for the Saints on Thursday with four spectacular goals, confirming his status as not only footy’s best recruit this year but the best bang-for-buck recruit in recent years.
DEMONS FREE AGENT HAS WHIP HAND
Jack Viney is about to ramp up negotiations on a new contract, with the free agent having put himself in a position of power after a rampaging season for the Demons.
Viney lost the captaincy this year and was coming off another season with foot issues that seemed to have dulled his effectiveness.
But while the Demons’ season is teetering at 4-5, Viney peeled off a 34-possession Round 1 and was exceptional in the victory over Adelaide that saved the club’s season.
There have been claims the Demons need to trade one of their inside mids to get a better balance, but Viney is holding up his end of the bargain.
It has been a massive year for the Vineys, with Jack and partner Charlotte welcoming daughter Mila Grace into the world as well.
The Demons have 20-odd players out of contract and could make some tough calls on mid-tier players.
But while great mate Ollie Wines has a decision to make on his contract, everything is tracking for Viney to get paid handsomely.
PLAYERS RESIST CLUB LIST CUTS
The AFL Players Association will not relent on current list sizes of 38 plus rookies unless the AFL can find a compelling argument about its finances.
AFL player union boss Paul Marsh’s firm belief is that the players have an agreement with the league for two more years of the collective bargaining agreement with a set list size and pay structure.
Nothing the league has presented so far indicates the player union will be accepting a pay cut for 2021 or agreeing to cut list sizes.
Already the AFL’s decision to cut the football department salary cap is having a savage impact on women’s football, with clubs forced to cut trailblazing female staff who have worked so hard to build the AFLW.
PORT’S $660k MAN FIGHTING FOR HIS SPOT
Peter Ladhams’ excellent form at Port Adelaide has put fellow Port big man Scott Lycett in an interesting predicament.
Lycett moved to Port at the end of 2018 on the back of premiership at West Coast on a five-year deal worth more than $600,000 a season.
But Ladhams’ form has been so good the back-up big man is threatening to leapfrog Lycett, 27, as the club’s No.1 ruckman.
Port coach Ken Hinkley will play both big men against Richmond to have a look at whether the ruck duo can successfully operate as a tandem combination.
Rival clubs last year made inquiries about Ladhams, but Port was already excited about his potential and made clear it would not release him.
Instead, Paddy Ryder got the flick to St Kilda and Billy Frampton moved to the Crows, leaving Ladhams and Lycett in a two-way fight for the lead ruck role.
It will be interesting to watch how this pans out towards the end of the season as rival clubs may target Lycett, even though he is happy at Port.
Port also likes emerging 203cm big man Sam Hayes.
DON’T PANIC ABOUT FOOTY SHORTAGE
Sherrin has moved to assure AFL fans the 2020 season won’t be compromised by a six-week manufacturing shutdown of its famous footballs.
Chris Lambert, who oversees the Sherrin brand as managing director of Russell Corp, spoke with the AFL in recent days to guarantee there was a ready supply of surplus footballs if they are required.
The AFL told Sherrin it believes it has enough balls to get through to the end of this shortened season, with all remaining matches to be played outside Victoria.
Lambert told the Herald Sun: “We’ve spoken to the team at the AFL and we are both on the same page.”
“It is only a six-week closure at the moment, but we always carry plenty of stock to cover many, many months. So we are in fine shape.
“They (the AFL) have got heaps (of footballs) up there and we have got some back-up here if needed.”
Sherrin will continue to sell its footballs online throughout the shutdown period.
‘INVIGORATED’ BETTS WANTS TO GO AGAIN
Eddie Betts is determined to play on into a 17th season in his return to Carlton with all indications the Blues will back him in for 2021.
Betts’ manager Garry Winter told the Herald Sun that Betts was invigorated by his return to Carlton after a strong season that has mixed spectacular moments with some quieter games.
Betts helped Carlton win its first game at GMHBA Stadium since 1996 with a magical last minute that included a game-sealing tackle on Jack Henry, and kicked four goals against the Western Bulldogs.
He returned to the club where he played the first nine seasons of his career on a one-year deal that Adelaide has also helped top up financially.
Winter said a player who will turn 34 in November was determined to play on given his enjoyment in a season where quick turnarounds have hampered recoveries.
“He was keen to sign a two-year deal but Carlton said they had a policy where players over 30 sign one-year deals and they wouldn’t breach that,” he said.
“The intention is that he will play on and it still feels like he is adding value on the field but he doesn’t want to force anyone to keep him on the books.
“At this stage it’s been a disrupted season and it’s hard for players to get a crack at it, but he’s won a couple of games off his own boot and while he’s had a few quiet games, he has a high standard and with his seniority and the help he is providing to young guys the feedback we are getting from Carlton is they are ecstatic.
“The reason he came back was family matters but I think he’s been invigorated. He feels like it’s a new lease on life.”
Carlton is set to sign swingman Levi Casboult up after an excellent season while Lachie Plowman and Caleb Marchbank are priority signings.
Carlton chief executive Cain Liddle would not discuss the club’s chase for Tom Papley this week in an interview, but there is no doubt the Blues will again try to drag him free from Sydney.
Kade Simpson, 36, has won less possessions with the return of the prolific Sam Docherty to the halfback line but has remained his usual consistent self and would have claims to play on into 2021.
Marc Murphy and Matthew Kreuzer are also expected to play on, with Liddle saying the club was keen to see if high picks Paddy Dow, Liam Stocker and Lochie O’Brien could turn into the top-liners the Blues hoped.
Carlton lost to Hawthorn to drop to 4-5 and takes on premiership contenders West Coast on Sunday in a huge test of their finals credentials in an Optus Stadium clash.
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