Giants set sights on Bulldog Minson

[Hotdog60]

AFL newcomers Greater Western Sydney have turned a nation-wide search for an experienced ruckman to controversial Western Bulldog Will Minson.


Western Bulldog Will Minson (pictured) was in trouble for a sledge to Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce

Minson could be targeted with a lure of a two-year contract from next season as Giants management continue to nurture promising young ruck stars of the future Tom Downie and Andrew Phillips.

Downie, just 19 and Phillips, at 21, are expected to be gradually introduced into the AFL firing line under tutelage from an experienced big man like Minson.

Minson, 27, is out of contract with the Dogs at the end of this season.

It is believed early indications from Minson’s initial discussions that only a one-year deal is on offer to the Dogs big man and without any significant financial increase from what he is already earning.

Minson is believed to be in Giants recruiting crosshairs as other potential ruckmen such as Mark Jamar from Melbourne and ace Carlton young big man Matthew Kreuzer signed new agreements to extend commitments with their current clubs.

Emerging North Melbourne ruck star Todd Goldstein signed an extension to the end of 2014 with the Kangaroos back in January.

Classy Essendon utility Paddy Ryder is another big man to sign a new contract earlier this season as the Bombers moved to head off any prospect of him moving to western Sydney.

Another Blues big man Robbie Warnock and Fremantle back-up ruckman Jonathon Griffin, are two top ruck talents who, like Minson, are out of contract at the end of this season and have not settled new deals to stay where they are.

Minson could be lured to the Giants in a similar playing and mentoring strategy as Port Adelaide premiership veteran Dean Brogan was recruited to the new franchise at the end of last season.

Brogan, 33, has managed six games in his dual role of senior player and ruck coach with the Giants, but it is not expected the 180-gamer will play again next season.

Minson was in the news for all the wrong reasons last month when the Dogs big man was embroiled in a vilification action over disparaging comments he is alleged to have made to Port Adelaide on-baller Danyle Pearce.

Minson copped a club imposed one-game suspension and was made to publicly apologise to Pearce for comments made about the Port veteran’s mother during a match at Etihad Stadium on June 17.

Minson has played 127 senior games and appears to remain important to Bulldogs future planning as Dogs also manage the development pathways for young ruck hopeful Tom Campbell and Jordan Roughead.

Campbell, 20, made his Doggies senior debut a fortnight ago as fill-in for Minson when the senior ruck forced served his suspension for his vilification of Pearce.

Campbell was significantly more influential in his inaugural outing against Brisbane.

He gathered 11 possessions and made 28 hitouts against Lions big man Ben Hudson as the Dogs copped a hefty 58-point drubbing, before just seven touches and making 11 tapouts in the blow-away 14-goal thumping from Essendon last Saturday night.
LINK

[G-Mo77]

Better scenario for us if he goes there than any other club. We'll be compensated for the loss and if he goes somewhere else we won't.

He'll leave the club, I have no doubts about that.

[Eastdog]

Better scenario for us if he goes there than any other club. We'll be compensated for the loss and if he goes somewhere else we won't.

He'll leave the club, I have no doubts about that.

Do you reckon if we trade Minson to GWS that we can get a quality player. Who would be good to get if we trade Minson.

[chef]

Do you reckon if we trade Minson to GWS that we can get a quality player. Who would be good to get if we trade Minson.

Nah, we'll get a compo draft pick.

[Greystache]

Nah, we'll get a compo draft pick.

We could negotiate for a player, then a compo pick as a sweetener. They've already taken an uncontracted player from us, so if they want another we have to be prepared to play ball with them.

[Remi Moses]

Probably a seventh round pick.We'll cry blue murder then meekly surrender when we get shafted!!

[G-Mo77]

We could negotiate for a player, then a compo pick as a sweetener. They've already taken an uncontracted player from us, so if they want another we have to be prepared to play ball with them.

Well we'd have to give them the OK so we do have a bit of leverage I guess. I wouldn't want to scare them away though.

[Eastdog]

Nah, we'll get a compo draft pick.

What round of the draft would you think it will be.

[Hotdog60]

We could negotiate for a player, then a compo pick as a sweetener. They've already taken an uncontracted player from us, so if they want another we have to be prepared to play ball with them.

Our luck they'll give us Sam Reid

[anfo27]

package minson with some other players and we could get a pick in the mini draft.

wouldn't be a bad outcome for us.

[Eastdog]

package minson with some other players and we could get a pick in the mini draft.

wouldn't be a bad outcome for us.

Do you think Minson for us is a bit like Fraser and Collingwood or is it completely different.

[LongWait]

If Minson goes under free-agency we get an AFL-determined compo pick no matter what the scenario (unless we have de-listed the player already.) We would have to re-sign Will to trade him.

[bornadog]

I would not like to see Minson go, we will be left with a bunch of 21 year olds that are not up to it at this stage. I know its early days but how can they offer Minson 1 year when Addison is offered a two year

I am really concerned with our club and the way they manage players.

[anfo27]

Do you think Minson for us is a bit like Fraser and Collingwood or is it completely different.

Fraser was officially finished & GC did the pies a massive favour.

Will has been good this year but just think at his age and where we are at with our list it could be a good move for both parties. Will will get more years and money and we could get a valuable piece for our future as well as cap space. We have roughead, minson, campbell & cordy on the list and getting rid of one for a nice piece back is not a bad idea.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I would not like to see Minson go, we will be left with a bunch of 21 year olds that are not up to it at this stage. I know its early days but how can they offer Minson 1 year when Addison is offered a two year

I am really concerned with our club and the way they manage players.

It's absolute bizarro world stuff. This is rubbish from the Dogs, that we offer Will 1 year when he is playing the best football of his carer after finally getting the number 1 ruck role that he was always suited for. Yet Addison who whilst honest, is hardly the type of player we need to lock in on multi-year deals is given 2 years.

Without Minson our combined games experience in the ruck spread amongst Cordy, Campbell and Roughead equals less than 50 games, with Roughy having the lion share of that.
Our list management decisions of late are very confusing. if Will goes, we are going to have an even more woeful year next year guaranteed.