Essendon champion Tim Watson believes there would be “no way known” Carlton captain Marc Murphy will sign a contract for $450,000 dollars a year.
The Herald Sun has suggested Geelong could be in the running for Murphy’s services for just $450,000 a season, with the Blues “probably” not going to offer anything more than $600,000 a season.
The 30-year-old admitted to Channel 7 last night “there is a bit of thinking to do” about his future, but Watson would be shocked if Murphy signed for the lower figure.
SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson can be heard Monday-Friday 6-9am, and you can subscribe to the podcast here.
“I would have thought there is no way known he would be playing for $450,000 dollars a year,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He is like a top grade midfield player.”
The three-time premiership player thinks Murphy’s quotes about his contract could be a ploy to gain some leverage in negotiations.
“You got to position yourself in a negotiating sense,” Watson said.
“You can’t really tactically go there and negotiate a strong deal if the other party just believes it’s absolute.”
Melbourne team of the century member Garry Lyon is of the notion Murphy’s answer leaves the door open for him departing Carlton, while questioning the Cats’ chase for him.
“There was enough in the pause for me to go, he is thinking about whether he stays or goes,” he said.
“Why would they (Geelong) need another midfielder whose defence is not the priority?”
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