Trade analyst Chris Pelchen says Hawthorn should offer Stephen Coniglio over $1 million a season

Stephen Coniglio has never won a best and fairest at GWS. But combining his talents with Tom Scully, Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara would build such an exciting midfield that it’s time for the Hawks to pay up.

Stephen Coniglio is the biggest free agent in the game. Picture: Getty Images

Hawthorn should offer Stephen Coniglio over $1 million a season to build the complete midfield, according to one of the architects of their current list.

Trade analyst Chris Pelchen believes Coniglio would be the first million dollar Hawk but would perfectly complement Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Mitchell and Tom Scully in 2020.

The GWS midfielder is a fascinating case study of the new market because he is the ultimate midfield role player as a two-way runner who can tag and also kick goals.

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But he has never won a Brownlow Medal or even a best-and-fairest and has not often been counted as one of footy’s best 20 players.

As Pelchen says, clubs will have to pay a 25 per cent premium to pry him loose from GWS despite the AFL housing only six million-dollar players last year.

“He will get offers from outside GWS in excess of a million dollars a year which is extraordinary money because if you look at his numbers he is consistently in the top 20 to 25 players but not in the top ten,’’ he said.

“Clubs will chase him because he can come in and compliment their midfield. Imagine him at Hawthorn alongside Scully, O’Meara and Mitchell. It would be an exceptional group.

“They will have the million dollars to throw at him because of so many players leaving over the last three or four years, they have the need and they would be an attractive proposition to look at. Rationally he is only an $800,000 player but they will throw huge money which will be over $1 million a year.”

Pelchen believes restricted free agent Coniglio will eventually stay at GWS as a leader who sees the club is still in the premiership window.

Clubs now believe they can afford to play two players as much as $1 million in coming years as the salary cap expands under the collective bargaining agreement.

Stephen Coniglio celebrates with teammates after beating Sydney. Picture: AAP Images

The Hawks were desperately close to securing Tom Lynch on a deal of just under $1 million a season, believing at one point they were in the box seat to get him.

Only six players earned over $1 million last year, with 16 players earning above $900,000.

Coniglio this year is enjoying career-best marks in possessions, metres gained, clearances and goals.

Veteran list builder and former star Hawk Gary Buckenara said a player like Coniglio could expect a $100,000-$150,000 premium simply because of their free agency status.

“He will have suitors everywhere. I don’t think he will leave GWS given where he’s at but he might get a godfather offer from a Fremantle or West Coast,” he said.

“You would prefer (Josh) Kelly but I think you would pay him $800,000 to $900,000 and a million at a stretch. That’s what you pay for a good ball winner and grunt player who wins contests.

““The (free agency premium) is at least $100,000 to $150,000 or you might throw in an extra year of the contract.”