SEN’s Tom Morris has provided a fresh update on a number of players whose futures are somewhat up in the air right now.
Morris joined SEN Breakfast to fill us in on the latest at Adelaide, Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS, Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Richmond and St Kilda.
Read below:
ADELAIDE
Rory Sloane – This is where it sits: If he wants to play on, and understands he may not be assured a senior game, then Adelaide will offer him a contract.
Matt Crouch – Adelaide is not necessarily looking to get younger by tipping older guys out, which means there is still hope for Crouch to be offered a one-year deal. As of a couple of weeks ago, there was not a lot of rival interest in Crouch. I wouldn't rule out him staying just yet.
Tom Doedee – This is complex. He is unlikely to play much next year due to surgery on his ACL and foot. He’s only 26 and wants career certainty, and while the Crows want him to stay, I’m not sure they are willing to offer him the long-term security he ideally wants after two ACLs.
So this deal is a fair way apart as we speak. I question how legitimate Brisbane’s interest was. As for Sydney, they are looking for a defender in 2024 more than 2025 and beyond.
ESSENDON
Dyson Heppell – If he wants to go on, Essendon is highly likely to offer him a deal for 2024. They’ve loved the way he’s fitted in this season and there will be a spot for him on the list if he wants it.
Darcy Parish – Has a long-term deal to consider that would make him a Don for life. He wants to stay. Rival clubs believe he will stay, but there is clearly a hold up on contractual details. Essendon is supremely confident he’s not going anywhere. We will see if it plays out that way.
GOLD COAST
Sam Flanders – All parties expect him to stay though there isn’t a lot of movement, despite his strong form. A two-year deal takes him to free agency. I think the Suns would prefer to lock him in for at least four years.
What I also know is that had Stuart Dew stayed, I think Flanders would have requested a trade.
GWS
Nick Haynes – The Giants are looking for run and pace and will listen to offers for Haynes, who is due more than $1.2 million next year in the last season of a back-ended contract.
I think a Hunter Clark type or Hugo Ralphsmith would appeal to the Giants.
MELBOURNE
Brodie Grundy – All eyes are on Grundy, who is likely to request a trade if he’s stuck in the VFL at the end of the season.
Whether Melbourne grants this request is another matter. As we speak they are saying no. But clubs do that all the time then relent eventually. Fremantle released a statement squashing Rory Lobb's trade request last year then traded him a week later.
James Harmes – He has a back-ended deal. He’s on more than 500k next year but has played just nine senior games this year. He did have 30 touches in the VFL yesterday. Clubs are aware he could be available. I expect him to have a look again and the Demons to support that given his salary. I'm not sure if there are any obvious suitors though.
James Jordon – Jordon is a free agent because he was delisted at the end of 2020. He has an incredibly strong bargaining position because of that.
Clubs are lining up for him. Sydney, Essendon, and Gold Coast are three of many who have enquired. He’s played 17 games this year and 64 overall. The Demons would love to lock him in.
PORT ADELAIDE
Mitch Georgiades – Georgiades still hasn’t made a decision on his future but has been presented with a four-year deal, which will take him through to the end of 2027 and free agency. He's currently weighing it up.
Travis Boak – There will be a contract for him if he wants it. A bit like West Coast and Luke Shuey and Robbie Gray last year, the decision will be left to Boak to make.
Kane Cornes on Boak: "He wants to play on."
Tom Jonas – I don’t think the same offer will be afforded to captain Jonas as the club looks at luring at least one of Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Esava Ratugolea or Ben McKay. They are in the hunt for all three and would love to land one.
RICHMOND
Jack Riewoldt – And while I’m on veterans, it is looking less and less likely by the day that Jack Riewoldt will play on.
I don’t know whether this is his call or the club’s… but unless something changes I don’t expect him to be at the Tigers in 2024.
ST KILDA
St Kilda has a few unsigned players: Jade Gresham, Hunter Clark, Daniel McKenzie, Nick Coffield and Zak Jones.
That’s a fair bit of uncertainty for some established players for a team that is sixth. The Saints are leaving their options open here. They want to be very flexible in the trade period, attack the draft, and those five players are key to that.
But they also have players who are contracted which rival clubs perceive as available for the right offer. One of these is Tim Membrey.
The other is Jack Billings, who is on good cash for the next two seasons, I'm told more than $500,000 per season. he's finally fit and would be open to a move for regular senior opportunities. I am just unsure if there is a market for him at this stage.
List spots are tight. List managers expect as few as 45-50 players to be drafted in November.