Moneyball AFL trade news: Ash Johnson attracting interest, Nick Daicos signs Nike deal, Dustin Martin future, contract news
One of Collingwood’s breakout stars is being monitored by rival clubs who could look to prise him out of the Magpies. Plus, the latest on Nick Daicos, Dustin Martin and a Geelong gun.
Trade HQ
Don't miss out on the headlines from Trade HQ. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Consistent Collingwood defender John Noble is on track to win a multi-year contract extension off the back of his strong form so far in 2023.
Noble, 26, has played 76 of Collingwood’s 82 games since he was picked up in the 2019 mid-season draft, establishing himself as a reliable halfback capable of launching attacks from defence.
He kicked the final goal in last Sunday’s come-from-behind victory over Adelaide, launching a long bomb to draw the Magpies to within a point.
It is understood the Pies and Noble’s management are yet to officially kickstart talks on a new deal with his current two-year contract running out at season’s end.
But both the player and the club are happy with the situation, with a deal likely to be agreed to in the second half of the season.
Noble was chosen as pick 14 in the 2019 mid-season draft.
He was taken by the Magpies one pick behind Richmond’s Marlion Pickett, another player who has shown the importance of getting it right in the mid-season draft.
Collingwood is also keen to lock away another of its mid-season draft selections in Ash Johnson, who comes out of contract this year.
The pick 3 in the 2021 mid-season draft, Johnson started this season out of the AFL side but has fought his way back, kicking at least one goal in each of his past five games.
Opposition clubs are keeping their eyes on Johnson’s progress this season, given his athleticism and raw talent.
SPONSORS LINE UP TO BE PART OF DAICOS RISE
Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos is set to cash-in on his extraordinary off-field earning potential as one of the most marketable figures in the game.
Sponsors have queued up to partner with the 20-year-old who has surged to Brownlow Medal favouritism ($2.50 TAB) in only his second season.
The Herald Sun can reveal footwear giant Nike has recently locked away Daicos to one of the most lucrative long-term boot deals in the competition.
The new five-figure contract underlines Daicos’ path to become one of the top earners in the game off the field with the Collingwood father-son jet on track to rival and potentially eclipse Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Smith, Richmond’s Dustin Martin, Sydney Swans’ champion Lance Franklin, Carlton’s Charlie Curnow and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca.
Smith has surged up the charts over the past 12 months after signing a blockbuster deal with clothing manufacturer Cotton On worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Brownlow Medallist Martin has a similar deal with Bonds.
But Daicos’ popularity has soared in quick time with Nike moving fast to lock away the brilliant playmaker after taking out the Rising Star award last year with an exceptional debut season.
On Monday, Daicos’ ANZAC DAY jumper sold for an astronomical $16,010 in an official online club auction after winning the ANZAC day medal with a superb 40-disposal performance in the win over Essendon.
Daicos’ jumper sold for twice the value of his nearest teammate midfield superstar Jordan de Goey ($8010) and nearly triple captain Darcy Moore ($6585).
Daicos’ next contract at Collingwood will be worth $1 million a season, making him one of the highest-paid players in the game when his contract expires in 2025.
But it is his exploding marketability off the field which has also turned heads this season and is set to significantly enhance his earnings through high-powered endorsement deals.
Manager Robbie D’Orazio signed Daicos to a bumper four-year deal at Collingwood after he was drafted and has helped position the superstar to capitalise on his rising popularity, commercial worth and standing as one of the best young players to come through the pathway system in recent times.
Several corporate giants have expressed strong interest in securing Daicos as an ambassador in-line with AFL rules, with talks expected to develop on lucrative new deals by season’s end.
D’Orazio also handles some of the biggest names in the game including Petracca, Smith, new Demon Brodie Grundy, Curnow and Max and Ben King, as well as in-demand Blue Tom De Koning.
MCGOVERN LOCKED IN ON NEW DEAL
West Coast’s star defender Jeremy McGovern has agreed to terms on a new two year-deal that will give the Eagles significant cap space to be aggressive in the trade window.
McGovern is yet to sign his new deal but it is understood a player who already handed back money on a deal set to secure him $1.2 million a season has taken another hefty cut in his new deal.
McGovern sacrificed well over $100,000 in each of the final two seasons of his long-term deal in 2021 and 2022.
And his new deal gives the Eagles room to recruit players, which McGovern would be keen for them to do so he can enjoy some late-career success.
The Eagles have almost zero trade currency given Andrew Gaff, Elliot Yeo and Jack Darling have given diminishing returns in recent years and have committed to retaining that trio.
But Gaff, Darling and Yeo are all out of contract at the end of next year, so the Eagles could consider free agency if they could secure players in the right window.
Captain Luke Shuey’s continued horror run with injuries means he might consider retirement even though his form is still strong when he can get onto the park.
The Eagles currently have the No. 1 overall pick and Port Adelaide’s second and third-rounders, so will likely have five draft picks within 50.
SUNS NOT KEEN ON DUSTY DESPITE PRIOR INTEREST
Gold Coast will not be a contender for Dustin Martin’s services even if the Tigers or the triple Norm Smith Medallist explore his options later this year.
Former Suns captain Wayne Campbell, now the Gold Coast footy boss, was in contact with Martin last year as he finished a season that saw him battling grief and recovering from an internal injury as he then battled repeat hamstring sprains.
Martin has only one year on his contract left – although at $1.2 million – which in theory makes it easier for a club to offer him a multi-year deal that would absorb the 2024 salary.
Martin turns 32 in June and has always been keen to play well into his 30s but has not had his usual game-altering affect on games this year despite high possession tallies as a forward.
But the Suns have worked so hard to fix their cap picture they will instead focus on retention of established stars despite their interest 12 months ago.
HAWKINS TO WAIT ON FUTURE CALL
Geelong champion Tom Hawkins will put off making a decision on his future until later in the season.
The brilliant spearhead booted a career-high eight goals to bury Essendon on Sunday despite missing the bulk of the pre-season with a foot injury.
His excellent form shows clearly the full-forward is capable of playing on beyond this season when his contract expires.
But the Cats and Hawkins are in no hurry to make a decision as Geelong chase back to back premierships.
The 34-year-old, who is one of the game’s greatest goal kickers with 754 majors across 334 matches, will consider his future in July-August.
Joel Selwood finished up his career last year with a fairytale flag but Hawkins may push on beyond this year regardless of the outcome.
As reported by Moneyball earlier this year, Cats utility Mark Blicavs has signed a two-year extension while young gun Mitch Knevitt has also been locked away for a further two years.
PIES’ SLIDING DOORS MOMENT
It was the sliding doors moment that almost cost Collingwood a dynasty.
Forty-five years ago, long before Nick and Josh Daicos began wearing black and white, their father Peter was a talented young player who hadn’t yet played a senior VFL game.
Daicos’ father Stan had passed on his love of South Melbourne to his son Peter, and for a time the family had considered moving into the Swans’ zone. But that hope vanished when the family moved from Clifton Hill to Preston – fertile Magpie territory – which saw Peter recruited to Collingwood.
Peter was only 16 at the time in 1978 and playing with the under 19s and reserves when he asked the Magpies for a clearance to South Melbourne. The club considered it briefly — and thankfully said no! They knew his talent was too good to let him go.
Given what happened next, and what is still happening now, that decision to reject Peter’s clearance request must rank as one of the club’s greatest list management decisions.
Collectively, Peter and his sons Josh and Nick have played 366 games with Collingwood and kicked 607 goals.
Peter kicked 549 goals from his 250 games from 1979 (he debuted the year after his clearance was rejected), including 97 goals in the club’s drought-breaking 1990 flag year.
Josh has played 84 games and kicked 45 goals; Nick has played 32 games for 13 goals.
The Daicos name will remain at Collingwood for years to come, given Josh is 24 and Nick is only 20. Fans should be forever grateful that Peter’s trade request to South was knocked on the head.
TIGERS LIST SET FOR CHANGE
Richmond’s list could be unrecognisable to the team that won the 2017 premiership with only seven of those flag heroes guaranteed to be at Punt Road next year.
The significant list turnover is expected to see Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt retire at year’s end after going on for one more season on significant pay cuts.
Of that 2017 team, Alex Rance, Bachar Houli, David Astbury, Jacob Townsend, Kane Lambert, Josh Caddy, Shaun Grigg, Shane Edwards and Jason Castagna have retired.
Dan Butler and Brandon Ellis are at rival clubs, while Kamdyn McIntosh and Nathan Broad are out of contract.
The latter pair will have suitors but the Tigers are still working through how much cap space they have before offering the free agents new deals.
The Herald Sun reported on Monday the Tigers had met with GWS free agent Harry Himmelberg.
Darling formally requests move to Arden Street
Jack Darling has officially requested a move to North Melbourne in 2025 and beyond. How will a deal get done? JON RALPH has more.
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.