Karl Amon shapes as one of Port Adelaide’s biggest contract concerns in the coming months due to his status as a free agent at the end of 2022.
The 26-year-old winger has become a key piece of the Power puzzle in recent years, averaging healthy numbers in disposals (22.8), tackles (6.8)and inside 50s (5.2) this season.
However, despite Amon’s contract status, club great Kane Cornes believes it would be the wrong move to sign him up now.
“I wouldn’t be rushing into signing Karl on a massive deal I don’t reckon just yet,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“I don’t think he’s been spectacular this year and he’s not one of your younger assets and he doesn’t appear to be capable of going inside on-ball.”
Amon would qualify as a restricted free agent at the end of the season, meaning the Power can only force a trade if they match an offer from another club.
However, due to the length of the deal Amon would attract, Cornes speculated whether the compensation enough would be alone.
George Hewett joined Carlton from Sydney last trade period on a four-year deal worth around $500,000 per season, with the Swans awarded an end of second-round compensation pick in exchange.
Amon would be likely to attract a similar deal from a Melbourne club, and contract “alarm bells” aren’t far away if the Power mid holds off on putting pen to paper.
“If there was a Victorian club that’s willing to give him a big deal and you could get a nice compensation for him free agency wise, he’s about to tun 27, Karl Amon,” Cornes continued.
“He absolutely would get a four-year deal (somewhere else) and I think there was interest in him last time, but he chose to stay at Port Adelaide.
“When it gets to the halfway point of the year, not that we’re there yet, and the player hasn’t signed and they’re a free agent, alarm bells usually start to ring.
“I don’t think it would be a disaster if Port Adelaide lost Karl Amon, as handy a player as he has been for the club.”
AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey told SEN in March that Melbourne clubs would be interested in Amon.