Host of SEN’s Time On Sam McClure believes the Western Bulldogs are quietly fuming at losing marquee forward Katie Brennan.
Brennan signed with AFLW expansion side Richmond yesterday, saying she wanted a fresh start, and McClure believes this hasn’t gone down well at the Whitten Oval.
“When Katie Brennan said she wanted to move for a fresh start, there were a few eyebrows raised down at the kennel as to what that could mean,” McClure told SEN Breakfast.
“The Bulldogs are not happy. They’re not happy at all. I think that there’s some elements of anger.
“She’s played 13 games there, she missed a lot of footy because of injury and she missed significant footy because of suspension.
“No one at the Bulldogs will publicly say this, but they believe that they were owed some loyalty.”
McClure has clarified that as far as the salary cap goes, Brennan isn’t earning any extra money from the Tigers.
“So she’s signed a two-year deal at the Tigers, she will get the same money as a playing contract, being a marquee contract, wherever she went,” he said.
However, he added AFLW clubs have a number of options outside of the cap to remunerate their marquee players.
“If you’re a marquee player, and they get two on every club list, there’s an uncapped ASA (additional services agreement) – which essentially means clubs can offer players from AFLW teams huge contracts away from football,” he said.
“I think Katie’s an ambassador with Swisse, they can give them a car deal or something like that. There’s no limit on that.”
The 26-year-old has shown glimpses of being one of the competition’s best players, but didn’t have a great 2019, kicking only six goals and averaging 13 disposals per game for the Bulldogs.
Brennan kicked nine goals across six games in the first two AFLW seasons and was the VFLW leading goal kicker in 2017 and runner up in 2016.
