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West Coast has launched an “all-out” assault for one of the game’s hottest young rucks, according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph, who also reports the club has a back-up plan in case its bid for Tim English falls through.
But four-time Power best and fairest winner Kane Cornes believes the Eagles “cannot responsibly” consider trading for Melbourne’s Luke Jackson given its list predicament.
The Eagles on Friday night slumped to 1-6 after copping a 109-point defeat at the hands of Richmond – the club’s fourth loss by over 55 points so far this season – prompting pundits and fans to look towards what the Eagles will do in the off-season.
Speaking on Fox Footy on Friday night — and expanding on his Herald Sun story — Ralph said the Eagles had strong interest in both 24-year-old English and 20-year-old Jackson, who are both out of contract at season’s end after being drafted out of Western Australia.
“The Eagles have launched an all-out assault on Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English – and they have a Plan B as well,” Ralph reported on Fox Footy.
“They believe English is a successor to Nic Naitanui – he’s 32 next Wednesday, he’s out of contract. (But) my understanding is he’ll sign a one-year deal at the end of the season
“They (the Eagles) have gone to Melbourne to watch English, they think at times he’s going to say yes to them. Here’s the problem: He will meet his management stable next Monday. He’s happy, he’s playing pure ruck and doing it well
“I think the strong indication now after he postponed talks is he’ll stay at the Western Bulldogs. That would mean those talks will start soon.
“So what that happens then? They will put all their eggs in the Luke Jackson basket – the Melbourne third-year ruckman.
“They have the cap space if the deal is back-ended, they can offer all the opportunity he wants as early as 2024, he is extremely close to his family.
“He hasn’t made a decision to go, but he certainly hasn’t made a decision to stay either.
“Jackson would get massive money anyway, but how would he even get to West Coast? He’s not going to get there through the pre-season draft, but that could potentially be used as leverage – that’s a long way down the track.
“But he hasn’t made a decision, he’s in no hurry, he certainly has committed to staying yet.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd last month declared Jackson, 20, could be the “hottest property” in the game by mid-season.
But Cornes said it would be irresponsible if West Coast offered Jackson a multimillion-dollar contract at, what now appears to be, the start of a rebuild.
“Do you (target) Luke Jackson now considering he’s not a free agent, he’s going to cost you … two top-10 picks (at least) … and he’s going to cost you $1 million a year for a player who isn’t playing like a $1 million dollars?” Cornes asked on SEN’s Crunch Time on Saturday.
“You cannot responsibly do that deal, I don’t think, if you’re West Coast if you’re rebuilding.
“I wouldn’t be doing (the) Luke Jackson (deal) — no way.”
Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said the Demons were “very confident” Jackson would stay – at least in the short-term.
“At some stage he may be going back to Western Australia,” Lyon told Fox Footy on Friday night. “But if you’re that young man now in this situation, playing behind Max Gawn who’ll be transitioning out over the next two years so Luke Jackson becomes the 60-40 (ruckman), a team in a window … my great hope is he would stay, maybe pinch one or two premierships.
“If he’s going to be offered the sort of money he’s being offered now, another two years down the track under Max in this very good footy side – if it’s about money, he’s only going to be offered more.”
West Coast has launched an “all-out” assault for one of the game’s hottest young rucks, according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph, who also reports the club has a back-up plan in case its bid for Tim English falls through.
But four-time Power best and fairest winner Kane Cornes believes the Eagles “cannot responsibly” consider trading for Melbourne’s Luke Jackson given its list predicament.
The Eagles on Friday night slumped to 1-6 after copping a 109-point defeat at the hands of Richmond – the club’s fourth loss by over 55 points so far this season – prompting pundits and fans to look towards what the Eagles will do in the off-season.
Speaking on Fox Footy on Friday night — and expanding on his Herald Sun story — Ralph said the Eagles had strong interest in both 24-year-old English and 20-year-old Jackson, who are both out of contract at season’s end after being drafted out of Western Australia.
“The Eagles have launched an all-out assault on Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English – and they have a Plan B as well,” Ralph reported on Fox Footy.
“They believe English is a successor to Nic Naitanui – he’s 32 next Wednesday, he’s out of contract. (But) my understanding is he’ll sign a one-year deal at the end of the season
“They (the Eagles) have gone to Melbourne to watch English, they think at times he’s going to say yes to them. Here’s the problem: He will meet his management stable next Monday. He’s happy, he’s playing pure ruck and doing it well
“I think the strong indication now after he postponed talks is he’ll stay at the Western Bulldogs. That would mean those talks will start soon.
“So what that happens then? They will put all their eggs in the Luke Jackson basket – the Melbourne third-year ruckman.
“They have the cap space if the deal is back-ended, they can offer all the opportunity he wants as early as 2024, he is extremely close to his family.
“He hasn’t made a decision to go, but he certainly hasn’t made a decision to stay either.
“Jackson would get massive money anyway, but how would he even get to West Coast? He’s not going to get there through the pre-season draft, but that could potentially be used as leverage – that’s a long way down the track.
“But he hasn’t made a decision, he’s in no hurry, he certainly has committed to staying yet.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd last month declared Jackson, 20, could be the “hottest property” in the game by mid-season.
But Cornes said it would be irresponsible if West Coast offered Jackson a multimillion-dollar contract at, what now appears to be, the start of a rebuild.
“Do you (target) Luke Jackson now considering he’s not a free agent, he’s going to cost you … two top-10 picks (at least) … and he’s going to cost you $1 million a year for a player who isn’t playing like a $1 million dollars?” Cornes asked on SEN’s Crunch Time on Saturday.
“You cannot responsibly do that deal, I don’t think, if you’re West Coast if you’re rebuilding.
“I wouldn’t be doing (the) Luke Jackson (deal) — no way.”
Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said the Demons were “very confident” Jackson would stay – at least in the short-term.
“At some stage he may be going back to Western Australia,” Lyon told Fox Footy on Friday night. “But if you’re that young man now in this situation, playing behind Max Gawn who’ll be transitioning out over the next two years so Luke Jackson becomes the 60-40 (ruckman), a team in a window … my great hope is he would stay, maybe pinch one or two premierships.
“If he’s going to be offered the sort of money he’s being offered now, another two years down the track under Max in this very good footy side – if it’s about money, he’s only going to be offered more.”
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