Former GWS Giants list manager Stephen Silvgani is urging the club to match Geelong’s free agency offer for Jeremy Cameron, in order to avoid a potential “embarrassing” contract situation.
The Cats confirmed their intention on Friday to lodge an offer for Cameron, who walked out on the Giants earlier this month.
Silvagni said GWS had to try and obtain both a pick and a player in the deal, as well as try avoid the situation where he’s leaving the club to play on less money at Geelong.
“Depending on what the amount is, they probably will match whatever the figure is,” he said on AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade.
“Unless it’s over a million dollars – I think what will be embarrassing for the Giants is if he leaves for less money than they offered for him.
“A first round compensation pick might be a $800,000 (contract), but it might be less money than the Giants offers and have been paying.
“In that situation, the Giants will have to match as they can’t walk away for an end of first round compensation pick for Jeremy Cameron.
“I have no doubt (GWS) need to match the offer and I’m pretty sure whatever way, they’d be able to fit him in their total player payments and get a better deal out of it.”
Silvgani expressed his concern over taking multiple high picks into the upcoming National Draft, considering all Victorian-based players haven’t been able to play this season due to COVID-19.
“The thing that I worry about – draft picks can be everything," he said.
“But this is a very unique period because we don’t know how good this draft is and how deep it goes (because of the lack of exposed form).”