George Hewett and Jordan Clark have reportedly been offered four-year deals to join Carlton and Fremantle respectively.
Kane Cornes has questioned why the Blues and Dockers would table long-term contracts to “fringe players” like Hewett and Clark.
Sydney midfielder Hewett is a restricted free agent and looks set to join Carlton during the trade period, while Clark is weighing up a return home to Western Australia.
The 20-year-old speedster is contracted to Geelong for next year.
“Why would a club offer Jordan Clark four years?” Cornes told AFL Trade Radio’s The Early Trade.
“This is what gets me … why would you give George Hewett four years? That makes no sense.
“I read he hasn’t been offered a contract at Sydney, the contract will come but they’re not in a position to offer him it yet, why would Carlton give a player who is not getting a deal at another club four years?
“I don’t mind the move, it’s fine. Give him two years, why four?
“Four years for fringe players who can’t get a game, it absolutely blows my mind the long-term contracts that these players, particularly the fringe ones, are offered.”
AFL Media’s Mitch Cleary defended Carlton’s pursuit of Hewett.
“I’ll play devil’s advocate on the George Hewett one, maybe they’re giving him four years so that they know the Swans don’t match the offer,” Cleary said.
“If it was only a two-year deal on less money, maybe Carlton will think, ‘We might have to trade for this guy’. Given he’s a restricted free agent, the Swans have the rights to him right now.
“If they give him a little more as a four-year deal and a bit of extra money thrown in there, maybe they think the Swans won’t match the offer and force a trade.
“Four-year deal takes him to 30, I don’t mind it. I think it’s a player they need in that midfield as a defensive type of a two-way runner.
“I can see your thinking on the Jordan Clark one. But these are the things you need to do to get these players out of footy clubs.”
Hewett, 26, played 21 games in 2021 to take his career tally to 120 across six seasons with the Swans.
According to The Herald Sun, Geelong wants a draft pick somewhere in between Fremantle’s first and second-round selections before sanctioning a trade for Clark.