‘Astonishing’: 21yo turns back on richest deal in AFL history to stay loyal to GWS

Rising star Finn Callaghan has knocked back the richest deal in AFL history to stay loyal to the GWS Giants.

GWS young gun Finn Callaghan has turned his back on the richest deal in AFL history to pen a four-year deal to stay at the Giants.

According to reports, the rising star rejected a verbal offer from St Kilda worth $17 million over 10 years in favour of staying loyal to GWS.

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The 21-year-old’s previous contract was up at the end of 2025 and therefore St Kilda attempted to capitalise on the situation, and were willing to pay him close to $2 million a season to make it happen.

But it still wasn’t enough.

It was a decision Channel 9’s Tom Morris called “astonishing”, while Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes called it a “panic move” from St Kilda officials.

“I don’t think they know where they are at,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast on Monday morning.

“What’s $1.7 million for Finn Callaghan or $1.7 million a year for Tom De Koning? Where are they at?

“I’m confused. I don’t need to see $17 million for Finn Callaghan. I know he’s 21, but that’s just a panic move.”

And just hours later on Monday, the Giants confirmed Callaghan had signed a four-year deal to stay at the club, which according to Morris is worth around $1 million a season.

Finn Callaghan. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

“Finn has shown over his first three seasons that he’s an immense young talent in this competition and we are rapt to sign him to a new four-year deal,” Giants football boss Jason McCartney said in a club statement on Monday.

“A player of Finn’s talent and age meant there was always going to be huge immense interest from other clubs and it’s fantastic that he’s re-committed to the club as we see him as a huge piece of our future.

“Finn can see the bright future of the club under Adam Kingsley and wants to be part of the success that we strongly believe is on the horizon.”

Callaghan last season averaged 23 disposals, 3.8 inside 50s, 3.6 tackles, and 3.4 clearances per game playing both inside and outside midfield.

But his decision to stay in Sydney is another brutal blow for the Saints with the club missing out on several big-name targets in recent months.

The club is reported to have offered rich deals to Essendon co-captain Zach Merrett and Melbourne’s Andrew Brayshaw before they were turned down.

Finn Callaghan signed a new deal with the Giants on Monday, worth around $1million a season. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The club’s pursuit of North Melbourne’s Luke Davis Uniacke also appears to have fallen short with the Roos widely tipped to lock him down.

It emerged last month the Saints were also preparing a “godfather” offer to Carlton’s Tom de Koning.

According to an SEN report, the Saints have prepared a whopping seven-year, $12 million offer.

That equated to a staggering $1.7 million per year.

The Saints are still reported to be loaded up with salary cap space and are still able to pursue other elite free agent targets.

With changes to salary cap projections in future years, AFL clubs have cash to burn and some of the biggest stars in the game are in the crosshairs of rival clubs.

The Swans are facing the daunting task of trying to retain star midfielder Chad Warner while West Coast and Fremantle hover.

Gold Coast star Matt Rowell is also out of contract and reportedly met with Geelong officials at the end of 2024.

West Coast superstar Harley Reid’s contract is also expected to be a major storyline this year despite the No. 1 draft pick remaining under contract with the Eagles until the end of the 2026 season.

The look on his manager’s face when the offer was turned down. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Eagles are desperate to extend Reid’s contract before rival clubs can have a crack at him.

Callaghan’s extension, meanwhile, is a major win for the Giants.

The former No. 3 draft pick is not a free agent and rival clubs would have needed to offer the Giants a trade if able to entice Callaghan away from western Sydney.

Giants coach Adam Kingsley told AFL.com.au in January: “The reality is, he’ll make a decision based on what’s best for him and for his family. That will either be with us or it won’t be,” Kingsley said.

“What we’ll do is afford him as many opportunities as the salary cap allows, we’ll pay him as well as we can for as long as we can in a way that fits within our strategy and with everyone else.

“The problem is, if you overpay on certain players, it means a compromise on keeping the next and keeping the next and keeping the next. If we were to overpay all three of those players who left – and I’ll say overpay, but it’s just paying them more – does it mean we don’t keep Finn Callaghan? Or don’t keep Sam Taylor? Or Brent Daniels? Or any of the others that are upcoming? It’s a big jigsaw.

“Ultimately, back to Finn, he’ll make a decision based on what’s best for him and his family. We’ll try and provide an environment that’s fun to be around and a team that wins, so he’s constantly playing in finals. Other than that, what else do you want as a player?”