Scott Lycett to use final weeks of season to weigh up future as rivals circle free agent ruckman
SCOTT Lycett will balance West Coast’s desperation to re-sign him with a desire to be the long-term lead ruckman at an AFL club as he prepares to become the Eagles’ No.1 big man.
West Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from West Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SCOTT Lycett will balance West Coast’s desperation to re-sign him with a desire to be the long-term lead ruckman at an AFL club.
The out-of-contract Eagles ruckman has now become the hottest target in football given Nic Naitanui’s ACL reconstruction.
West Coast confirmed Naitanui, 28, would have a traditional ACL reconstruction surgery and immediately begin rehab.
RECO: NIC NAT’S ACL CONFIRMED, CLUB BACKS STAFFER
REPORT: CAN EAGLES WIN FLAG WITHOUT NIC NAT?
It will hand Lycett 25, the chance to take up the Eagles rucking role until Naitanui returns late next year or for Round 1, 2020.
His management will sit down with Eagles management in coming weeks, with no offer yet lodged for Lycett.
But before Naitanui’s injury his strong preference had been to assess all options given the array of clubs keen for a ruckman.
He felt strongly about being the No.1 ruckman at a club after years of injury and playing behind other Eagles ruck options.
A rival club would likely hand him a long-term deal on excellent money given his free agency status and the lack of ruck options on the market.
He has played only 66 games in his eight years at West Coast - including just one last year - but now through circumstances has massive leverage.
West Coast simply must re-sign him given the uncertainty over Naitanui, who took 18 months to recover from his last ACL reconstruction.
TAKE THE FOOTY FANS SURVEY FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN GRAND FINAL TICKETS
St Kilda, Geelong, Carlton and Port Adelaide are all clubs who could look to bolster their ruck departments this off-season.
Apart from Lycett, Hawthorn’s in-contract ruckman John Ceglar is another ruckman clubs will assess while he fills in for injured Ben McEvoy.
He has shown no inclination to leave the Hawks but there are very few back-up ruckmen clubs believe could be poached as Richmond did with Toby Nankervis.
Geelong’s Rhys Stanley, in reasonable form in the past month, is in contract talks with the Cats.
The Cats have been open about their desire to look at other options but Esava Ratugolea also shapes as a long-term ruck option.
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Barrass concedes Eagles pledge ‘aged poorly’
In June, Tom Barrass said he was only leaving West Coast if the rug was pulled from under him. Now, he’s opened up on what changed for him to arrive at Hawthorn a few months later.
Reid’s Ransom: Eagles rejected Vic club’s ‘best offer ever’ for Harley
A year on, the picture is clearer on what could have been if West Coast gave up the rights to Harley Reid, with one trade offer likely the best pitch ever made. See what it looks like now.