AFL Media’s Cal Twomey has given an update on six out-of-contract AFL players who are set to weigh up contract calls in the near future.
Two of those players are restricted free agents in Essendon’s Andrew McGrath and Brisbane’s Jarrod Berry, two are unrestricted free agents in Sydney’s Ollie Florent and St Kilda’s Josh Battle, while the other two are out-of-contract former first-round picks Mattaes Phillipou from St Kilda and Bailey Smith from the Dogs.
Check out his update below.
Andrew McGrath (Essendon)
Restricted free agent
“My understanding is that there is a six-year offer put to him there (Essendon),” Twomey said on SEN Breakfast.
“He’s a restricted free agent, so he’s in their top 25 per cent of earners at the moment and a longer-term deal gives them some flexibility in their cap.
“(A six-year term) is in line with their other players who are at a similar level. That’s a pretty fresh offer there.”
Jarrod Berry (Brisbane)
Restricted free agent
“Jarrod Berry is another restricted free agent. There are only nine at the moment.
Brisbane has made an offer to keep him. Expect those talks to get moving a little more in the coming, maybe more in the mid-year.
“He’s obviously pretty settled in Queensland where his brother (Tom) is at Gold Coast as well as other family up there.
“Rivals are keeping an eye on it wondering if the promise of more midfield minutes and centre bounce time could sway him, but the Lions have an offer in front of him.
“He and obviously Hugh McCluggage are their big ones at the moment.”
Ollie Florent (Sydney)
Unrestricted free agent
“He's been one of their big priorities at the Swans as well.
“They've clearly tucked, kicked off Errol Gulden and James Rowbottom and Ollie Florent could be the next one, he's in negotiations on a longer-term deal.
“Expecting that one to be around the four-to-five-year mark, he’s an unrestricted free agent and has had interest from Victorian clubs but rivals are now expecting him to stay.
Josh Battle (St Kilda)
Unrestricted free agent
“I think he’s most likely to stay at the Saints, but there is interest in there (from rivals).
“I think they (St Kilda and Battle) are working through a contract at the moment.”
Mattaes Phillipou (St Kilda)
Out-of-contract
“I think that one will happen reasonably soon.
“He’s in talks on a two-year deal.”
Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs), and Collingwood’s interest in him
Out-of-contract
“They (Collingwood) have been interested all the way through, as has Geelong and Hawthorn.
“But that one's not going to be happening anytime soon.”
