Moneyball: All the latest trade and contract news from across the AFL
A mature-age Pie has attracted rival interest as he attempts to remain in the Collingwood line-up. Plus the latest on Changkuoth Jiath’s contract and more trade news here.
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Carlton will not be prepared to match massive South Australian offers for Sydney free agent Will Hayward but will offer a chance to compliment its star-studded forward line and a return home for girlfriend Victoria.
Hayward was raised in Adelaide but as this masthead revealed in March, has put off contract talks given the significant offers for the white-hot Swans forward.
He has kicked 19.6 in nine games so far this year - including consecutive bags of four goals - and is also averaging a score assist and five score involvements a game.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide are desperate for his services, and the Crows have so much cap space they are prepared to throw as much as $850,000 a season at the former St Peter’s College graduate.
But while Carlton has a six-year offer on the table, it is understood they would not go anywhere near the scope of rival offers.
Their offer would be in the high 600s but won’t start with a seven, let alone $800,000.
Their players have pledged to take less in coming seasons to keep the list together so they can hardly splash $850,000 on a free agent and ask their players to sacrifice.
Playing alongside Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay would give him the perfect chance to get excellent match-ups on inferior opponents as well as a long-term deal.
Hayward’s partner Victoria is a model represented by Chic Model Management so it will be a decision the couple makes together.
While Port Adelaide is also coming hard for Hayward he joked last month his dad wouldn’t have any of that.
“Who knows (what will happen). My manager looks after all that so if he has any news for me he will give me a buzz. I have got mum in my ear. Dad not so much. Especially from Port. Dad was a big Crows fan growing up so I don’t think he would like that.”
THIRD-STRING RUCK OUT DONS’ DOOR?
Todd Goldstein’s excellent form puts him on track to play on next season, which will trap Nick Bryan behind two ruckmen as he continues to post ridiculous numbers in the VFL.
Goldstein, 36 in July, has a straight one-season deal with the Dons and no games-based trigger so any talks would happen at year’s end.
Bryan signed on last year on a two-season deal despite having four suitors but the 22-year-old has not even got a look-in under Brad Scott even with Sam Draper injured.
Bryan’s season in the VFL has got better by the week as rivals assess his performances, with clubs keen to see whether he is a physical enough ruckman to be a No.1 ruck at AFL level.
After a slowish start he is averaging 119 ranking points, 37 hit-outs, 13.2 hit-outs to advantage and 3.7 clearances playing for the Dons’ VFL side.
In his last fortnight he has had 37 and 45 hit-outs, with 15 and 17 hit-outs to advantage.
The Dons are aware they are at risk of potentially losing him given the ruckmen ahead of him, but Goldstein is clearly ahead of him on form.
It means Bryan will need to bide his time, with the likely prospect that he finds a new home next year.
But with the Dons having signed him they can at least secure a trade for him if he does leave.
Matt Guelfi’s contract talks are likely in the back end of the season despite an excellent few weeks including taking down GWS half back Lachie Whifield in a defensive role.
Earlier in the year he played a similar role against James Sicily but will have to wait until after the bye before contract talks.
HAWK TALKS
Hawthorn is having positive ongoing contract discussions with Changkuoth Jiath about a new deal as the talented but injury-hit Hawk edges closer to making his long-awaited AFL return.
Jiath, 24, made his comeback through the VFL last week - his first game in almost a year - with a strong 22-disposal effort at 81% disposal efficiency after a frustrating run of soft tissue injuries.
He hasn’t played an AFL match since round 9 last year following a series of calf, Achilles, hamstring and quad injuries. Those issues even saw him travel to Qatar in the pre-season to spend time at the world-renowned sports medical facility Aspetar.
Jiath and the Hawks were both keen to see him gain some confidence back playing again before ramping up negotiations over a new deal.
He has an outside chance of returning to the senior side this week - potentially as the sub - with Box Hill Hawks having the bye, but the club could yet hold him back to get some more conditioning into him.
Jiath posted his relief at being able to return to football last week on social media: “I can’t even describe how much I’ve missed playing footy. Despite the adversity I’ve had over the last 2 years, I’ve managed to find plenty of positives from them.
“I’ve learnt so much about myself and how to handle it. More ups and downs I know but I’m prepared for it.”
A consistent run of matches in the coming weeks could expedite those contract talks in the medium term, with Jiath out of contract at season’s end.
Jack Scrimshaw is another whom the Hawks are in dialogue with in regard to a new deal, while Hawthorn is also preparing to sit down with midfielder Conor Nash’s management in coming weeks in an effort to secure his future beyond the 2024 season.
ROOS WON’T ASK FOR MORE
North Melbourne has categorically ruled out asking the AFL for any further draft assistance, despite being winless and anchored on the bottom.
Kangaroos footy boss Todd Viney closed the door on Tuesday on any talk they could be seeking extra help from AFL HQ, following on from last year’s package, which included three end of first round draft selections across two seasons.
“That won’t be on the cards,” Viney said on RSN Breakfast.
“We’ve received some help last year and we had five picks in the first-round last year, we believe we maximised the opportunity with the picks we got to help us.”
“Those guys are going to be good picks, but they’re going to take some time.”
RIVALS EYE MATURE-AGE PIE
Collingwood small forward Joe Richards has attracted interest as he attempts to remain in the Magpies’ senior side.
The mature-age pickup made a scintillating debut on Sunday gathering 18 touches and six tackles in the big win over West Coast.
But there is tough competition for spots in the small forward department as Collingwood is flush with star goal kickers including premiership trio Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery and Jamie Elliott.
Clubs are eyeing Richards to see if he remains part of the Pies’ plans beyond this season as he is out of contract this year.
The skillful playmaker will attempt to hold his spot against Adelaide on Saturday at the MCG.
Collingwood could also have a second spot in the midseason draft after Aiden Begg hurt his knee in the VFL on Saturday.
The club is assessing the damage to his medial and posterior ligaments and may sideline him for the rest of the season.
The club already has one vacancy after the medical retirement of Nathan Murphy due to concussion.
SALARY CAP SAVINGS
Clubs have proposed a major change to the league’s salary cap banking system in a bid to increase the amount of money they can save for their premiership window.
The league has been urged to consider dropping the minimum amount of salary cap spend from 95 per cent to 92.5 per cent, allowing clubs to save more cash for ensuing years when they can challenge for a top-four position.
Currently clubs can spend a minimum 95 per cent of the salary cap and bank anything less than 100 per cent of the cap for following years.
Clubs can then spend up to 105 per cent of the salary cap if they have previously saved money over the previous two years to help attract top-line recruits or retain key players in their prime.
If successful, reducing the underspend to 92.5 per cent could allow clubs to spend up to 107.5 per cent in following years when they are planning to peak.
It could see clubs make massive offers for superstar players from rival clubs in the vicinity of $2 million a season as the salary cap increases.
The flexibility in the salary cap gives clubs scope to pay players in-line with their position on the ladder, with young teams such as North Melbourne currently forced to front-end contracts to reach the minimum 95 per cent spend requirement.
The league has heard club officials on the matter as part of the competitive balance review which has included detailed meetings with clubs.
The league, led by respected administrator Geoff Walsh, will now consider potential changes to the draft, trade and state league system, and make recommendations to the executive and AFL Commission.
However, there are some in the industry who believe lowering the amount could increase the gap between the best and worst sides.
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Originally published as Moneyball: All the latest trade and contract news from across the AFL
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