Port Adelaide lodges free agency offer for West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett

LESS than a week after lifting the premiership cup Eagles ruckman Scott Lycett is set to defect to Port Adelaide after the Power today lodged a $3 million offer for the free agent.

Scott Lycett of the Eagles and Patrick Ryder of the Power contest the ruck.

LESS than a week after lifting the premiership cup Eagles ruckman Scott Lycett is set to defect to Port Adelaide.

The Power today lodged a free agency offer for the out-of-contract ruckman. West Coast has three days to decide whether to match Port’s offer but the Eagles are not expected to stand in his way.

Port champion Kane Cornes said on Twitter Port’s offer is worth $3 million over five years.

GOING HOME? CATS PREPARE FOR KELLY TRADE WAR

JOHN CAHILL MEDAL: HOFF TAKES HOME PORT TOP HONOUR

Lycett will partner with Paddy Ryder to create a powerful ruck-forward combination for Port next season.

Lycett, who stands 203cm, played every game this season, averaging 12.5 disposals, 20 hitouts and booting 10 goals. He has played 75 games in his eight seasons at the Eagles.

The Ceduna product played six SANFL league games for Port Adelaide before being drafted by West Coast with pick 29 in the 2010 AFL National Draft.

No club has previously matched a restricted free agent’s from another club, making the move now seem close to certain.

Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder will be on the same team next season.

Scott Lycett played a key role in blunting Brodie Grundy in the Grand Final.

His departure will increase the load on Nathan Vardy at the Eagles next season with Nic Naitanui expected to miss all of next season with a knee injury.

Last night Eagles best-and-fairest winner Elliot Yeo said there would be “no hard feelings” towards Lycett or fellow free agent Andrew Gaff if they decided to leave.

“The boys don’t really talk about contracts and whether or not they’re staying or going,” he said.

“You’d love to have them at your football club, but it’s one of those things where sometimes players get offered some really good offers and sometimes they’re too good to not take up.

“There’s no hard feelings. Sometimes you’ve got to make the most of your opportunities if they present themselves, so be it.”

The Lycett development comes as Ken Hinkley on Friday night gave Jared Polec his blessing to be traded to his club of choice, North Melbourne.

Both Lycett’s free agency move and Polec’s trade request are expected to net the clubs losing a player a first-round draft pick.

Hinkley thanked Polec for his services at the John Cahill Medal count, which crowned the club’s oldest player, Justin Westhoff, club champion.

“We think we’re going to lose Jared Polec,” Hinkley said. “Don’t we Polly? You’ve made a decision to move.

“I’m not a person who begrudges anyone an opportunity and I think Jared Polec has done some amazing things for our football club … and I think we should wish him all the best.”

MORE AFL TRADE NEWS

Originally published as Port Adelaide lodges free agency offer for West Coast ruckman Scott Lycett