Moneyball AFL trade news: VFL clubs weigh up Tarryn Thomas risk, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s $1.2m price tag

The 2022 draft is shaping as one to sing about, yet one Saint isn’t as keen as his peers to lock away his future at the club that drafted him. Check out the latest trade news and whispers.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Mattaes Phillipou of the Saints marks the ball during the round one AFL match between Geelong Cats and St Kilda Saints at GMHBA Stadium, on March 16, 2024, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Budding St Kilda star Mattaes Phillipou is set to remain the only holdout from the 2022 AFL Draft top dozen, with the midfielder happy to hold off on contract talks until mid-year.

The youngest player in the draft two years ago, Phillipou played every game for the Saints in 2023 as Ross Lyon’s side made the top eight.

With Geelong’s Jhye Clark putting pen to paper on a two-year extension earlier this week, Phillipou - who was picked at No.10 - is the only player selected in the top 12 in 2022 that hasn’t signed an extension beyond his draftee deal.

Of those selected in the entire first round, just Western Bulldog Jedd Busslinger (pick 13) and Sydney’s Jacob Konstanty (20) have not re-upped their contract, as both hope to win a debut this season.

While St Kilda has kept talks open with Phillipou and were pleased with how the chat was tracking late in the pre-season, the teen is understood to be keen on worrying about football before considering a new deal.

Mattaes Phillipou has delayed contract talks. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Phillipou is renowned inside the Saints for his single-minded determination to be the best possible player he can given his workrate and professionalism.

His younger brother Jevan is making his way through the Woodville-West Torrens pathway and considered a strong South Australian prospect for the 2025 draft.

While Phillipou is in no rush on a new contract, it’s believed the Adelaide product has not considered playing elsewhere.

A sore hip saw Phillipou left out of St Kilda’s final pre-season match but he played in a round 1 loss to Geelong, kicking a goal from 12 disposals.

That appearance meant the 19-year-old has now featured in all of the 25 games the Saints have played since he was drafted.

VFL CLUBS WEIGH UP THOMAS RISK

VFL clubs will assess the progress of banned AFL star Tarryn Thomas before considering whether to throw the Kangaroos midfielder a lifeline in the last few games of the season.

Thomas has been banned from football until June 24 and will have to satisfy the league that he has satisfactorily completed education programs before being reinstated.

But he could play the final two months of the VFL season, with their wildcard round only starting on August 24-25. It would put him in the shop window of AFL clubs, even though the league is yet to rule on his official status as a delisted free agent or player who would need to go into one of the drafts.

AFL clubs are already monitoring his status, with Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley recently making an impassioned plea for him to return to the game at some stage in the future.

Tarryn Thomas playing in the VFL for North Melbourne. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Port Melbourne handed Harley Bennell a football lifeline last year, but it ended badly — with Bennell involved in legal trouble and then moving on from the club.

Port Melbourne and Williamstown, not affiliated with AFL clubs, are possible landing spots for Thomas, but the Borough would want much more information about his progress before considering the move.

Last month, when Thomas was sacked for inappropriate conduct towards women, Kangaroos list boss Todd Viney said he was hopeful the former top-10 pick could rehabilitate his reputation. “Every AFL club will make their own call,” Viney said. “We tried our best and couldn’t get it done, so we’ll leave it up to each club to make their own decision. It’d be a shame if he didn’t play football again.”

NEW DEAL WOULD PUT RECORD IN PENDLES’ SIGHTS

Collingwood is open to Scott Pendlebury signing an early one-year contract extension as the Magpies champion marches towards his 400th game — and potentially the AFL games record.

Pendlebury needs only 15 games to become the sixth AFL player to hit that remarkable milestone, following Brent Harvey (432 games), Michael Tuck (426), Shaun Burgoyne (403) and Dustin Fletcher (400).

And while Pendlebury is 36, there seems no doubt he will play on again next year.

Scott Pendlebury is destined to play on in 2025. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Pies list management work is mainly being done by Justin Leppitsch while football boss Graham Wright takes a sabbatical in Europe until September.

While Pendlebury’s on-field work remains exceptional despite a quiet first half in the GWS Giants game, his leadership is equally lauded at Collingwood. The Pies are happy to sit down with him to make a mutual decision well before season-end to give him some certainty.

Dustin Martin is only 10 games away from his 300th game, but his manager Ralph Carr said last week he would put off talks until season’s end and assess his future then as he does every year.

LIBBA CLOSES IN ON NEW CONTRACT

Western Bulldogs midfield bull Tom Liberatore is edging closer to a new one-year deal, but the soon-to-be 32-year-old is confident that his battle-scarred right knee can push on for a few more seasons.

Liberatore’s AFL career has come full circle, having rejoined the club’s leadership group this year after a long absence. He says he will largely take his AFL career on a year-to-year basis.

The Bulldogs’ vice-captain has rolled through a series of one-year deals in recent years and has often accepted slightly under market value, such is his love of the club.

Tom Liberatore is confident he has a few years left as a Bulldog. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Liberatore doesn’t expect that to change, despite four consecutive top-three finishes in the Dogs’ best and fairest, as he and his management look to tick off an extension into 2025.

“The right knee was playing-up for a couple of years, but it’s all good … I’ve been able to manage it quite well,” Liberatore said.

“It’s a big jump once you turn 32 (which he does in May), but I’m still loving it (playing AFL football). I couldn’t be happier with where (I) am at and where the club is headed.”

Moneyball revealed last year Liberatore was still well-paid, but had been prepared to accept slightly less to stick with the Bulldogs.

He played that down this week, saying: “I’m not going to sit here and proclaim I am some sort of hero. It’s just the elements of (past) injury and age (as the reasons for the one-year deals). I probably deserve what I get.”

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is set to command a huge deal. Picture: Michael Klein

JAMARRA’S $1.2M ASKING PRICE FOR RIVALS

Rival offers for Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will have to start at $1.2 million as his price continues to rise in a market with so few key forwards available.

Ugle-Hagan has said he wants to stay at Whitten Oval and it would still be a huge surprise if he left the Bulldogs given his key role and strong friendship with captain Marcus Bontempelli.

But in any contract negotiation it would be irresponsible not to get a price indication of what rivals will offer. Those clubs – which include Richmond and Hawthorn – are aware the deal would need to be well over a $1m per season to even get in the conversation.

A four-year deal would take Ugle-Hagan to free agency, while a three-year deal would see him come out of contract as Tasmania comes into the competition.

FLORENT KEEN TO STAY WITH SWANS

Sydney dasher Ollie Florent wants to remain at the club, but is no closer to a new deal as the Swans sort through a long list of priority signings.

Florent, Will Hayward, Robbie Fox and Lewis Melican are free agents, while Errol Gulden and Logan McDonald are out of contract and both likely to attract million-dollar offers.

McDonald was again non-committal on his future when asked on Fox Footy on Friday, saying his manager would take care of his contract.

Swans head coach John Longmire talks to Ollie Florent. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Sydney football boss Leon Cameron and Melbourne-based Charlie Gardiner are working through those deals and believe all players want to stay. All will have rival interest and, with Sydney making such a hot start to the season, it can only drive the price of those players up.

Fremantle stands to benefit if Collingwood finishes lower on the ladder. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

WHY RIVALS ARE CHEERING FOR PIES’ DEMISE

Clubs who swapped draft picks with Collingwood through 2023 trades are cheering for the Pies slump to continue, even though we are only two rounds into the season.

Collingwood gave up its first-round pick to Fremantle in the Lachie Schultz trade and its second-rounder to Hawthorn in the Jack Ginnivan trade, but got the Hawks’ second- and third-rounders back.

The Pies’ last big pick swap saw them hand over the pick that helped the Giants secure Finn Callaghan (pick 3 in the 2021 national draft), but Collingwood have plenty of time to right the ship.

The Dockers also have Port Adelaide’s first-round pick (as well as their own first-rounder); while the Suns have the Dogs’ first-round pick. Sydney and Gold Coast both have North Melbourne draft assistance picks at picks 19 and 20 in the 2024 draft.

ROOS’ NO.3 PICK STUCK ON THE OUTER

Fringe North Melbourne onballer Will Phillips could be on the hunt for a new home at season’s end as he fights to win a spot in the Roos’ burgeoning midfield.

The man taken with pick three in the 2020 national draft was overlooked for selection in the first-round loss to GWS Giants as part of the Kangas’ midfield logjam.

He is out of contract at season’s end and is expected to attract interest from clubs on the hunt for a midfielder in a similar manner to way the St Kilda nabbed ex-Carlton onballer Paddy Dow last year.

Dow was traded as part of a four-club deal with Carlton, St Kilda, Essendon and Western Bulldogs and Phillips is also set to weigh up his options this year for more opportunity.

North Melbourne drafted Phillips as part of coach David Noble’s plans to build the Roos’ side from the midfield-out in 2020, but other midfield guns have since shot past him.

And the draft call allowed Sydney Swans to nab gun key forward Logan McDonald with the next selection.

West Australian McDonald booted four goals in the win over Collingwood in round 1 and is being sought by Fremantle to help bolster its forward setup for next year.

Matt Cottrell has landed a new deal at Carlton. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

BLUE CASHES IN ON DELISTING

Carlton free agent Matthew Cottrell has actually benefited from being delisted by the Blues several years ago as he signed a three-year contract on Tuesday.

The Herald Sun reported last week he was closing in on a new deal and as a player previously delisted through the covid list crunch he was an unrestricted free agent.

The Blues always knew how valuable he was given his pace as a midfielder so they have given him the security of three seasons.

The grandson of former Carlton 12-gamer Len Cottrell is locked in as the Blues make a decent fist of winning early-season games without Sam Walsh.

“Matthew is the definition of ‘team first’, which is why he has the respect of everyone at our football club,” list boss Nick Austin said.

“We continue to be impressed by his work ethic, the role he plays in the side is valued highly and we know whatever challenge we throw at Matthew, he just takes it in his stride and does whatever he can to help his teammates.

Originally published as Moneyball AFL trade news: VFL clubs weigh up Tarryn Thomas risk, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s $1.2m price tag