James Frawley’s modest season could mean Melbourne might miss first-round compensation pick

JAMES Frawley’s decidedly modest season at Melbourne means a first-round compensation pick for the Demons could be a line-ball call. HAVE YOUR SAY

Round 21: Melbourne v GWS

THE prospect of Melbourne receiving pick three as compensation when free agent James Frawley leaves is the last small positive from a season turning into Groundhog Day.

Except what if Melbourne misses not only a priority pick, but that first round pick for Frawley?

It might send chills down the spine of Paul Roos and co, but Frawley’s decidedly modest season means a first round compensation pick could be a line-ball call.

Frawley is expected to postpone a decision on his future until late next month, as suitors fall out of the finals.

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The only factors that matter in deciding compensation are age and salary. Frawley will be 26 next month and wants about $700,000 a year.

But assess his season as a key forward and you begin to wonder if the ardour of his suitors has cooled?

Would Frawley be in the top 10 in Melbourne’s best-and-fairest after a selfless season of just 15 goals from 19 games — 14 of those games as a key forward?

Above him in the Bluey Truscott Medal would be Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Tom McDonald, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta, Jack Watts, Jack Grimes, Jeremy Howe and maybe Daniel Cross, Mark Jamar and Colin Garland.

Leigh Matthews believes Frawley is not in the league’s top 100 players, saying this month: “If he wasn’t a free agent, no one would be thinking about recruiting him. He’s an OK player.”

If a rival like Geelong or Fremantle offers him only $500,000 a year or less, Melbourne might be left with unders — a second-round pick for Frawley instead of the free agency gift. The stats show the 2010 All-Australian defender has played only five games in the back line this year, giving up four goals to Josh Kennedy and well-beaten by Tom Hawkins.

Champion Data ranks him the 12th best key forward of a pack of about 50 but surely a rival would lock him in as a stay-at-home defender.

Geelong wants him, but within a pay band he deserves.

“I reckon he’s going to have to get around $600,000 to get that first round (compensation),’’ former Melbourne star David Schwarz said on Wednesday.

“He can play both ends and he would appeal to a team in the top four, but is he going to win you games? Maybe not.

“Is he going to bring more people through the gates? Definitely not. “What he brings is competently covering off a position.”

Schwarz said if Frawley decided to leave the Demons should not try to retain him.

“I reckon if James wants to go it’s a win-win,” he said.

“He gets an opportunity to play finals footy and Melbourne gets a pick.

“If we only get a second-round pick, so be it. If I was Melbourne I wouldn’t bank on pick three, but good clubs are good at developing all players, not just high picks.”

Originally published as James Frawley’s modest season could mean Melbourne might miss first-round compensation pick