Sam Gray can’t find middle ground with Port Adelaide, poised to leave as a delisted free agent
Sam Gray has almost certainly played his last game for Port Adelaide.
Barring a late, unexpected plot twist, the uncontracted small forward/midfielder will be set free by the Power and be claimed by a rival as a delisted free agent, possibly as soon as Friday.
Unable to reach agreement with Port on a new two-year deal, the 27-year-old Gray is likely to be released by the club that selected him in the 2014 rookie draft.
The deadline for the first list lodgement is 1.30pm on Thursday.
The first delisted free agency period begins on Friday and runs until November 11.
Gray, who has played 96 games and kicked 83 goals for the Power since debuting in 2014, has been seeking a new two-year contract with Port.
But the club so far hasn’t budged on its original offer of just a one-year deal – understood to be for less money than he earned this year.
Gray, who has kicked an impressive 69 goals in the past three years, was told late in the season that he could test the market but after being linked with several clubs in the exchange period no trade was struck.
Port spoke with Gray’s manager, Peter Rohde, after the trade period but the parties have been unable to strike a new deal.
“Unfortunately for Sam, who was the one who said that he wanted to look at what his options were, there wasn’t any interest in him throughout the trade period at all,’’ Power football operations manager Chris Davies said at the end of the trade period.
“It wasn’t the fact that we were holding out for a better deal or anything like that, it was just that unfortunately there wasn’t a home for him.
“He is going to have to have a think about that now.’’
While nothing has been made official, it is understood the two parties have reached an impasse, leading to Gray’s departure.
Gray, who also pinch-hits in the midfield, has played 62 of a possible 67 games in the past three seasons.
He is likely to get the two-year contract he is seeking at a rival club.
