Mark Stevens




THE management of Bulldog Will Minson has spoken of the delicate state of negotiations as free agency looms.
"Will's preference is to stay at the Bulldogs. He's very happy there,'' Dan Richardson of Elite Sports Properties said.

"I guess to some extent, it's a matter of that commitment being both ways.

"Hopefully that will be the case and we'll work that out over the coming weeks.''

Minson, who led the league for hitouts this season, has the option of walking away from Whitten Oval as an unrestricted free agent.

He remains unsigned beyond this year, with the length of any deal more than the financial component the key to talks.

Minson may get three years elsewhere, but there has been no offer of that length from the Dogs for the 27-year-old.

Western Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney declined to discuss the length of the offer on the table for Minson.

But McCartney said discussions were on-going and positive.

"The season's over now and that is something that will continue ... it (free agency) is something that is new for everyone,'' McCartney said.

"The one thing we know about Will is he's Bulldogs through and through and we'll keep discussions going.

"He (Minson) is still important to us.''