The departure of a top free agent has been exacerbated by the fact that Essendon’s current wage offer is unlikely to trigger top-band AFL compensation.
Plus, the Bombers’ unexpected request for a young defender and Collingwood’s perplexing post-flag calls.
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THE ’20K SHORT’ DEAL MAY BLOW UP THE FREE AGENT’S MOVE
According to Jon Ralph of the Herald Sun, Essendon’s current offer for free agent Ben McKay may not be enough to trigger the first-round compensation that will see North Melbourne accept his departure.
While the exact herbs and spices of the AFL’s remuneration formula are undisclosed and constantly changing, Ralph reports that the Bombers are now providing McKay a salary of “$780,000 plus some incentives and triggers.”
North Melbourne is willing to match an offer for the restricted free agent if it is clear that they will not receive Pick 3 (first-band compensation after their natural pick of 2), because the alternative is accepting a pick in the 20s (an end-of-first-round pick that would fall backwards due to bid matching).
It puts the McKay situation on the verge of collapse.
My understanding is the guaranteed element of this contract is under $800,000. The Hawks offered more and longer, so it’s something like $780,000 plus some incentives and triggers – but that is not normally enough to trigger first-round compensation,” Ralph said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“Essendon said we’ll pay you what you’re worth, not what triggers the first-round compo. So unless the AFL comes to the party or massages the deal, the Roos and Alastair Clarkson might have a big decision to make on matching that one.
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You had to get to $790,000 two years ago. Now we’ve just had 10 per cent pay rises this year and 5 per cent next year.
“Clubs will ask the AFL’s salary boss Ned Guy this week, what’s the price point? Right now I don’t think the price point is right for Ben McKay.
“Clarkson has said we will (match), we haven’t got any defenders, it’d be pick 19 not 20 which would get pushed back to around 26.
“So if I was Essendon I’d be smart, just drag it up another $20,000 or $30,000 (or) $40,000, get Pick 3 for the Roos.”
However former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley praised Essendon’s stance, saying “they’re not there to make life easy for North.”
ASK DONS FOR A HUGE DEAL
In exchange for teenage defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Essendon has asked Port Adelaide for a first-round pick.
After 51 career games, including 22 with the Bombers this season, the 25-year-old is eager to return to South Australia.
However, because of their highly busy 2022 trading period, which saw them trade out future selections, the Power don’t have many picks to work with when attempting to capture their current objectives of Zerk-Thatcher, Geelong tall Esava Ratugolea, and Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet.
They own picks 38, 44 and 71, plus their 2024 future first-round pick which seems likely to be dealt, or at least split, and the Bombers’ surprisingly large ask will make things more difficult.
“The Essendon demand right now is a first-rounder from Port Adelaide … they’re saying the best pick you have right now is pick 38 in a really poor draft, gets pushed back to 45,” Jon Ralph said on On the Couch.
“So right now Port Adelaide is trying to satisfy the Cats on Esava Ratugolea, the Dogs on Jordon Sweet. It’s not gonna be a bumper trade period but the fights are gonna be spectacular.”
The Bombers’ price stunned Melbourne great Garry Lyon, who responded: “Did he change his name to Brandon Zerk-Fletcher? Turn it up!”
MAGPIES’ TOUGH CALLS AFTER FLAG WIN
Having talked up their squad mentality that powered them to a premiership, Collingwood must now make some tough decisions on the futures of some out-of-contract players.
The Magpies have eight players still out of contract though Seven reports Josh Carmichael is likely to get a fresh deal after a strong season at VFL level.
That leaves Trent Bianco, Trey Ruscoe, Tom Wilson, Cooper Murley, Arlo Draper, Aiden Begg plus Will Kelly – the son of Magpies CEO Craig.
The group combined for five AFL games in 2023.
“This club has to move on so quickly. They’ve got exit meetings in the next couple of days – you’d imagine Trent Bianco and Trey Ruscoe are in trouble,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“Will Kelly, his (Craig Kelly’s) son, has played five games in five years – it’s just so tough, football.”
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