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By Kim Hagdorn
THE future of Callan Ward as a Western Bulldog could finally be decided next week with late season discussions on his contract.
Ward, 21, continues to weigh up whether to stay with the Dogs or accept a reported small fortune to head to new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney Giants as a boutique first-up signing among as many as five uncontracted young stars.
Dogs management is also expected to move to the brink of new contracts for captain Matthew Boyd and big possession-winning midfielder Daniel Cross.
And it has emerged that appointment of a new Bulldogs senior coach could influence Ward’s decision to stay or go.
The Dogs and coach Rodney Eade parted ways heading into Round 22 with Ward now believed to be anxious for an indication on just who the new appointment will be, despite former assistant Leon Cameron being clear favourite for the job.
Eade revealed in a forthright interview on the AFL’s popular Footy Show a day after his controversial departure that he thought Ward would “probably go” to GWS.
Ward and his manager Paul Connors are expected to hold discussions with Bulldogs management after Round 23 and just days before the end of a disastrous season for the Dogs.
The Bulldogs last commitment for a season that opened with high hopes of another long finals campaign is against Fremantle in Melbourne on Saturday September 3.
It is understood the exciting Ward wants to be closer to a firm decision on his future before the Dogs complete their home-and-away commitments that has yielded only eight wins for a unit that played in the past three preliminary finals.
Boyd, 29, is understood to be in conflict with Dogs officials over his request for a new three-year deal.
Such late season negotiation between club management and the Dogs’ skipper has baffled many industry insiders.
It is believed Boyd has only been offered two more seasons despite an outstanding 2011 as Dogs skipper and a front-end contender to possibly win the Brownlow Medal.
The 183-game on-baller leads the competition on possessions with a staggering 631 at an average of 31 a game, with 11 outings among his 20 games this season stacking up more than 30 disposals.
Cross, 28, is also in dispute on demands for two more seasons and club authorities only offering one more year to the important midfield play-maker.
The Dogs have as many as eight players coming out of contract at the end of this season.
Rapidly improving defender Easton Wood, 21, is understood to have agreed to terms of what is expected to be a new deal.
Veteran utility Robert Murphy agreed in principle to a two-year extension of his colourful career at around the same time Dogs officials were deciding not to continue with Eade before Round 22.
Murphy, 29, wins his contract extension after a stirring season winning 397 possessions at an average of 21 touches a game through 19 outings mostly as a running-back defender.
He will vie with Boyd for the Dogs 2011 fairest-and-best award.
THE future of Callan Ward as a Western Bulldog could finally be decided next week with late season discussions on his contract.
Ward, 21, continues to weigh up whether to stay with the Dogs or accept a reported small fortune to head to new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney Giants as a boutique first-up signing among as many as five uncontracted young stars.
Dogs management is also expected to move to the brink of new contracts for captain Matthew Boyd and big possession-winning midfielder Daniel Cross.
And it has emerged that appointment of a new Bulldogs senior coach could influence Ward’s decision to stay or go.
The Dogs and coach Rodney Eade parted ways heading into Round 22 with Ward now believed to be anxious for an indication on just who the new appointment will be, despite former assistant Leon Cameron being clear favourite for the job.
Eade revealed in a forthright interview on the AFL’s popular Footy Show a day after his controversial departure that he thought Ward would “probably go” to GWS.
Ward and his manager Paul Connors are expected to hold discussions with Bulldogs management after Round 23 and just days before the end of a disastrous season for the Dogs.
The Bulldogs last commitment for a season that opened with high hopes of another long finals campaign is against Fremantle in Melbourne on Saturday September 3.
It is understood the exciting Ward wants to be closer to a firm decision on his future before the Dogs complete their home-and-away commitments that has yielded only eight wins for a unit that played in the past three preliminary finals.
Boyd, 29, is understood to be in conflict with Dogs officials over his request for a new three-year deal.
Such late season negotiation between club management and the Dogs’ skipper has baffled many industry insiders.
It is believed Boyd has only been offered two more seasons despite an outstanding 2011 as Dogs skipper and a front-end contender to possibly win the Brownlow Medal.
The 183-game on-baller leads the competition on possessions with a staggering 631 at an average of 31 a game, with 11 outings among his 20 games this season stacking up more than 30 disposals.
Cross, 28, is also in dispute on demands for two more seasons and club authorities only offering one more year to the important midfield play-maker.
The Dogs have as many as eight players coming out of contract at the end of this season.
Rapidly improving defender Easton Wood, 21, is understood to have agreed to terms of what is expected to be a new deal.
Veteran utility Robert Murphy agreed in principle to a two-year extension of his colourful career at around the same time Dogs officials were deciding not to continue with Eade before Round 22.
Murphy, 29, wins his contract extension after a stirring season winning 397 possessions at an average of 21 touches a game through 19 outings mostly as a running-back defender.
He will vie with Boyd for the Dogs 2011 fairest-and-best award.
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