2014 free agent period

[Remi Moses]

Re: 2014 free agent period

Reid as a F/A and one of the "unable to get a game but heaps of potential" GWS tall forwards would do us nicely for next year. That would round us out I think!

There recruiting gives an indication that someone might fall out.
Patton, Cameron , Boyd and Mccarthey .
One to many key forwards ?

[chef]

Re: 2014 free agent period

There recruiting gives an indication that someone might fall out.
Patton, Cameron , Boyd and Mccarthey .
One to many key forwards ?

Don't forget Tomlinson and Jaksch

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2014 free agent period

We should treat GWS with the respect they showed us with Ward and the rules against poaching.

Happy to take any of their talls.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2014 free agent period

We should treat GWS with the respect they showed us with Ward and the rules against poaching.

Happy to take any of their talls.

Think it might work in our favour the other way. The Cameron connection might help us if we keep good relations going with them. Hope the Sam "chips" Darley trade is an indication of good relations between the two clubs.

Don't forget also that the Sam "stable pony" Reid trade netted us Prudden who has shown some good signs so the actual trading history is pretty positive.

Did we get bent over when GWS took their single best midfielder and certainly strongest Captain from us? Hell yeah. But never forget it was the AFL that slipped our pants down.

[ratsmac]

Re: 2014 free agent period

I think every club would love Reid, including Collingwood. It would take a decent offer to get him. It would be nice though!

[Bornadog]

Re: 2014 free agent period

link

HAWTHORN is set to turn the tables in the free agency market next year with a large war chest to poach a superstar midfielder.

The Hawks seem likely to have a third crack at Fremantle's David Mundy, the man who threatened to wrest the Grand Final from their clutches.

After losing free agent Lance Franklin to Sydney last month, sources estimate the Hawks will have almost $1 million in their salary cap to chase a big name in next year's exchange period.

Mundy is one of an array of stars in next year's batch of free agency talent.

Carlton pair Bryce Gibbs and Marc Murphy will both be free agents, as will Melbourne key defender James Frawley, North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein and Collingwood duo Dane Swan and Ben Reid.

The smooth-moving Mundy underlined his status as an A-grade midfielder this year, hauling the Dockers off the canvas in a brilliant Grand Final performance.

David Mundy was superb in Fremantle's Grand Final loss. He had 28 touches, seven clearances and eight tackles and finished third in Norm Smith Medal voting.

Hawthorn and Essendon have long been admirers of Mundy, who will demand up to $700,000 a season over about four years on his next deal at Fremantle and even more to head home to Victoria.

The Hawks tried to lure Mundy in 2008 and in 2010 when the clearance specialist admitted the temptation to be closer to family in Victoria was strong.

As he has with his past two deals, the 28-year-old is likely to wait until well into the year to decide his future, but it would be a huge call to leave the Dockers.

He is a priority signing for list chief Brad Lloyd, who has transformed an ageing squad in 2007 into a premiership contender.

James Frawley could look to get out of Melbourne as the club continues to rebuild.
Dockers teammate Nat Fyfe, 22, is also out of contract next year and would command in excess of $800,000 over three seasons.

Also coming out of contract at Fremantle are Michael Barlow, Jonathan Griffin, Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich.

Other clubs are likely to have salary cap room, making for an active trade market.

Collingwood has cleared as much as $1.5 million of salary cap space with the departures of Dale Thomas, Heath Shaw, Alan Didak, Ben Johnson and Darren Jolly.

Hawthorn has similar space after the departures of Franklin (offered $1.1 million a year), Shane Savage, Brent Guerra and Max Bailey.

Harry O'Brien may want to leave Collingwood after a toug...
Harry O’Brien may want to leave Collingwood after a tough 2013. Source: News Limited
St Kilda is preparing for a huge free agency bid. It lost Nick Dal Santo (on more than $600,000 a season) to North Melbourne and Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne and Jason Blake retired, after well-paid midfielder Brendon Goddard left for Essendon the previous year.

Brisbane Lions have the cash to replace Jonathan Brown with a top forward for the 2015 season. Simon Black has retired, and many emerging players left and were replaced by draftees.

Fyfe and West Coast's Nic Naitanui are not free agents but, with their star power, will write their own contracts.

Naitanui will be offered $1.5 million a season by Greater Western Sydney, which sees him as the perfect role model for the club.

Gold Coast trio David Swallow, Harley Bennell and Brandon Matera also have multiple suitors, showing why the Suns preferred to save their money this year to retain their stars.

North Melbourne would go hard at the brother of Roos captain Andrew, as would Perth clubs keen for him to return home.

Shannon Hurn will be hotly pursued but Matthew Pavlich is going nowhere.

AUSTRALIA'S MOST WANTED

The free agents most exercising the minds of AFL recruiters

David Mundy (Frem) 28

The midfielder topping every Victorian club's wish list. Superstar. RISK: Medium

James Frawley (Melb) 25

Surely couldn't suffer another season at the bottom. Wants finals. RISK: High

Ben Reid (Coll) 24

Value sky-rocketing now that he can do it at both ends but won't leave. RISK: Low

Dane Swan (Coll) 29

Says he is a Pie for life but list turnover throws up question. RISK: Low

Bryce Gibbs (Carl) 24

Only three Brownlow votes in each of the past two seasons. RISK: Low

Shaun Higgins (WB) 25

Career savaged by injuries. No shock if he wanted fresh start. RISK: Medium

Todd Goldstein (NM) 25

No reason to leave but big pay day looms for consistent ruck. RISK: Low

Lachie Hansen (NM) 25

No.3 draft pick hit straps last year, but is his spot safe? RISK: Medium

Harry O'Brien (Coll) 27

After the circus last year, who knows what will happen. RISK: Medium

Shannon Hurn (WCE) 26

Adelaide clubs always interested but a leader at West Coast. RISK: Low

No chance to leave:

Marc Murphy (Carl), Travis Boak (Port), Sam Mitchell (Haw), Luke Hodge (Haw), Steve Johnson (Geel), James Kelly (Geel), Andrew Walker (Carl), Kade Simpson (Carl), Jarrad Waite (Carl), Adam Goodes (Syd), Matthew Boyd (WB), Will Minson (WB), Robert Murphy (WB), Matthew Pavlich (Frem), Aaron Sandilands (Frem), Matt Priddis (WCE).

Bump

When should we lock in Higgins? or should we?

[chef]

Re: 2014 free agent period

I'd like to wait and see if he fits into Macca's system first.

[G-Mo77]

Re: 2014 free agent period

Bump

When should we lock in Higgins? or should we?

It's a tough call, he's talented enough and I know Macca loves him but he has constantly struggled with health as far back as I can remember. Personally I'd wait until end of year and see how he holds up.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2014 free agent period

It's a tough call, he's talented enough and I know Macca loves him but he has constantly struggled with health as far back as I can remember. Personally I'd wait until end of year and see how he holds up.

X 2

At this point in time I'd bet on the clubs part that a 3 year $1.1 million offer wouldn't be offered by anyone, so time should be on our side. And like with Cooney seasons last, if he does well it's just reward.