As many as six clubs are interested in acquiring Fremantle’s Lloyd Meek, with the ruckman set to “double” his earnings if he departs.
The 24-year-old is contracted to the Dockers for 2023, but finds himself stuck behind Sean Darcy in the pecking order, an issue that will intensify with Luke Jackson’s pending arrival.
Kim Hagdorn believes GWS is the favourite to win the Meek sweepstakes.
“Lloyd Meek is in heavy demand,” Hagdorn told SEN WA’s Drive.
“He’s 24, he’s only played the 15 games for Fremantle, he will double his earnings by taking one of the many offers that are on the table for him to go elsewhere and leave Fremantle.
“I think Meek is most likely to head to GWS where he’s going to jump from about $300,000 a year to about $600,000 a year and get a three or four year deal.
“GWS is the most likely, but Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda and Geelong are all showing interest in Meek.
“He’s another one of the contracted players that is looking around and probably going to get a really good deal elsewhere.”
Hagdorn expects Fremantle to play hard ball with Meek and Rory Lobb in order to maximise the package they can put to Melbourne for Jackson.
“If Fremantle gets Luke Jackson as we think we will, I think that deal will be done eventually and part of the standoff with Rory Lobb is for Fremantle to get the best deal possible from the Bulldogs to help them put together a package to Melbourne,” he said.
“Meek would be another one they could trade and get a reasonable swap of picks to go with the package that Freo needs to put together for Luke Jackson.”
Meek played six games for the Dockers in 2022, averaging 20 hit-outs and 12 disposals per game.