Moneyball: Latest trade, contract news and whispers
Collingwood workhorse Tom Phillips is facing increasing pressure to keep his spot from rising youngsters like Josh Daicos. With big money needed for star teammates, he could be up for grabs — and he’s not the only one. See the latest trade whispers.
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Wingman Tom Phillips has emerged as a fascinating trade target at Collingwood.
The hard running link man has been spent time in a half-forward role this season in a shift from his customary wing position.
And with goalkicking ball-winner Josh Daicos on the rise, there is increased pressure on Phillips to keep his spot.
Phillips, 24, has been a permanent fixture in the Pies’ midfield in recent seasons and averaged 24 disposals a game last year coming off a career-best 2018.
But he has had less impact this season, averaging 15 possessions a game.
Geelong was interested last season but Phillips point-blank refused to entertain a trade.
Spearhead Mason Cox also has a fight on his hands to lock down a spot in the senior side and could look for a new home for more opportunities.
Brayden Sier has also struggled to break into the team since his impressive performance in the 2018 grand final.
Phillips was an excellent selection in the 2015 national draft with the Pies picking up one of the biggest bargains of the talent pool at pick No.58.
WHICH CLUBS WILL COME FOR CROUCH?
It is the left-field move which could shake up this year’s free agency market.
As Adelaide weighs up what to do with best and fairest winner Brad Crouch, it still remains unclear which clubs are most keen on the gun ballwinner.
At no stage has North Melbourne had any interest in signing Crouch.
St Kilda got the wallet out to electro-charge its engine room with great success last year.
But is it Geelong who has to be watched most closely in this space?
Crouch, 26, could slot straight into the Geelong engine room for next season alongside former teammate Paddy Dangerfield as the Cats plan for life after 32-year-old premiership warrior Joel Selwood.
The Cats lost Tim Kelly from their onball division last year and have stashed away three first-round draft picks to add some more exciting young talent in this year’s draft.
But Crouch would offer the instant midfield hit which would help keep the Cats’ premiership window open beyond 2020.
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Crouch enjoyed a career-best season last year, averaging 30 disposals a game. He led the Crows for inside 50s and was second for tackles and clearances.
He played all 22 games last year off the back of a serious groin injury and polled 14 Brownlow Medal votes, and was best on ground twice – against Melbourne (Round 11) and reigning premier Richmond (Round 13).
And as a free agent, the Cats could land him without giving up anything for him in a trade.
Clubs across the competition are still getting a handle on how highly they rate Ballarat product Crouch as part of an Adelaide midfield which has been soundly beaten this year.
The midfielder has averaged 20 possessions a game so far this season but injured his hamstring in the loss to Essendon last weekend, sidelining him for about the next three weeks.
Like Hawthorn, the Cats want to stay competitive rather than launch into full-on rebuild mode, and last year added Jack Steven who has been rested for Saturday’s clash against West Coast.
Crouch’s departure would deliver Adelaide a juicy reward, with the gun midfielder recently admitting a move might be the best outcome for the club.
Adelaide could get pick No. 2 as free agency compensation for Crouch if he lands a long-term deal worth more than $650,000 a season at a new club.
TIGER A DRAFT ‘STEAL’
Tim Kelly will long be remembered as the steal of the 2017 national draft but the kid that went behind him might rank a close second.
Kelly was taken as a mature-age pick by Geelong at No.24, with Richmond’s Noah Balta taken at the No.25 pick.
The draft itself is patchy - Cam Rayner, Andrew Brayshaw, Paddy Dow, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Adam Cerra were the first five picks - with Aaron Naughton at pick nine and Oscar Allen at pick 21.
Damien Hardwick again compared Balta to a young Alex Rance after his performance against the Bulldogs.
And his former Calder Cannons regional boss Ian Kyte said Balta only had upside.
“Richmond got a steal at pick 25. He was a supreme athlete and he just lacked confidence in his own ability at that stage. He had concerns about whether he was going to get drafted and we were able to convince him he was going to get drafted. He has all the attributes of a footballer you would want to put together. He kicks it well, he is a strong mark, his speed is good, his endurance is good. The thing that he has to get better at and you would have noticed it, is his decision-making when he kicks short. He was a good kid who wanted to achieve a lot and he just wasn’t sure if he was going to. He would play fantastic games but a couple weren’t real flash at all or he would have amazing quarters where people would say, “Who is this kid”.”
IS DEES PLAYER PURGE COMING?
Melbourne doesn’t have a first-round pick this year but it does have a heap of flexibility if its struggles continue to cut deep into its list.
Free agent Jack Viney isn’t going anywhere, while No.3 pick Luke Jackson will likely sign a two-year extension at the end of the year.
But the list has over 20 uncontracted players if it is the Demons want a player purge to free up space for a priority signing.
The list of out of contract players includes Charlie Spargo, Jayden Hunt, Josh Smith, Kade Chandler, Josh Wagner, Kyle Dunkley, Michael Hibberd, Marty Hore, Nathan Jones, Oscar McDonald, Kyle Dunkley, and Jay Lockhart.
Mitch Hannan and Bailey Fritsch will be players the Demons are keen to sign up but there ar are a heck of a lot of mid-tier players who will have their futures decided in coming months.
WILL WE SEE ANY NAB LEAUGE IN 2020?
The five-team NAB League that was supposed to start on August 22 is looking more doubtful by the day.
Amid escalating COVID numbers in regional Victoria it seems likely the NAB League could be delayed or just scrapped for the five teams that remain in contention to play games.
More meetings took place on Friday, with high-level talks about whether the competition can go ahead.
Geelong is now in semi-lockdown given the use of masks and increasing restrictions.
The Murray region is affected given some players live over the border, while Ballarat, Gippsland and Bendigo hoped to take part.
But as coronavirus spreads through Victoria, staff will have their return to clubs delayed from next week by seven days and there is general pessimism about the shortened competition going ahead.
Already the VFL has been scrapped, so many expect the NAB League to follow suit.
CLUBS PREPARE FOR DOOMSDAY SCENARIO
The AFL’s doomsday scenario is forcing AFL clubs to realise crowds won’t come flooding back next year.
While clubs are hoping to stem the financial bleeding - the Bulldogs said last week they won’t cop the financial hit they expected - others are making war-room plans.
One Melbourne club has worked on some 2021 budgets that don’t include any fans at games at all for the season.
Clearly the hope is a vaccine is found or the COVID outbreak is under control by then, but clubs need to crunch the numbers for the worst-case scenario.
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