By Marc McGowan
Money talksCredit: The Age
Ruck merry-go-round on the move
Essendon journeyman Andrew Phillips’ retirement on Tuesday – after 78 games for three clubs, across 13 seasons – could have ramifications for this year’s ruck merry-go-round.
At age 32, Phillips has already played his most matches in any season (17) while shouldering the load for the Bombers in No.1 ruckman Sam Draper’s injury absence. Draper told Nova FM’s breakfast program he expects to miss just one more match before returning from his hip injury.
But Essendon also have promising out-of-contract big man Nick Bryan on their list. His six senior appearances this year take his career total to 12 since the Bombers used the No.38 pick on him in the 2019 draft.
Andrew Phillips has been a strong contributor for Essendon when called upon.Credit: AFL Photos
Bryan, 21, rejected rival interest, primarily from St Kilda, to re-sign for two years in 2021, and Phillips’ retirement may pave the way for him to be Draper’s ruck deputy, but he remains without a deal beyond this season. The 203-centimetre ruckman’s competitiveness has been questioned at times, but he has admirers.
The Saints, Port Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney, North Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney and West Coast are all in the ruck market, while Essendon are also on the lookout, according to list management sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Phillips news follows Carlton pair Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning and Brisbane Lions back-up Darcy Fort committing to their clubs despite having interest elsewhere.
That leaves the likes of Bryan, Western Bulldogs’ Jordon Sweet, Power trio Scott Lycett, Brynn Teakle and Sam Hayes, and Giants duo Matt Flynn and Braydon Preuss, who have fallen behind emerging big man Kieren Briggs.
The Blues were one club monitoring Flynn’s situation until De Koning re-signed. GWS also have category B ruckman Nick Madden, so there is a good chance one of Flynn or Preuss is playing elsewhere in 2024.
Rhys Stanley, seen here competing with Luke Jackson, remains out of contract at Geelong.Credit: Getty Images
Geelong’s Rhys Stanley and Jon Ceglar, both 32, are also out of contract, while the future is undecided for North Melbourne great Todd Goldstein, Swan Tom Hickey and St Kilda’s Tom Campbell.
Tiger Ivan Soldo is contracted until the end of next season, but list-management sources who spoke to Money Talks suggested he was gettable in this year’s trade period. There is also ongoing interest in Brodie Grundy’s situation as his stint outside Melbourne’s senior side reaches four games.
Gold Coast’s Ned Moyle is another ruckman who attracted interest, but the Suns have no intention of trading him, especially with Jarrod Witts turning 31 in September.
Going long
Brisbane defender Jack Payne’s five-year contract extension last week continued the industry-wide trend of clubs offering contracts well into the future, even for players not necessarily in the elite bracket.
Payne, who turns 24 in October, is highly rated at the Lions and enjoying a breakout season, where he has played 19 of his 46 career games, after putting a wretched injury run behind him. He is now guaranteed to be cashing AFL cheques through the 2029 season, alongside teammate Eric Hipwood.
Essendon star Mason Redman is among the AFL players who inked a long-term deal this year.Credit: AFL Photos
Free agency is most often credited for the explosion of long-term deals, but Tasmania’s impending introduction as the league’s 19th licence, for the 2027 or 2028 season, is viewed by some well-placed list management sources as another reason for clubs’ generosity.
Geelong are the sole club without a player signed beyond 2026, with Fremantle, Hawthorn, St Kilda, West Coast and Western Bulldogs the only others not with at least one footballer committed until 2028 or longer.
Essendon’s Mason Redman (2028), Giant Harry Himmelberg (2029), Adelaide’s Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo (2029), Sun Bailey Humphrey (2028), North Melbourne’s Nick Larkey (2029) and Swan Nick Blakey (2031) also signed long-term contracts this year.
Another fascination will be how quickly the clubs that draft top Tasmanian talents Colby McKercher, Ryley Sanders, James Leake and Arie Schoenmaker this year try to extend their contracts.
Talent shortage?
Some AFL recruiters and list bosses think as few as 50 players could be drafted this year as list sizes and a shallower group of prospects combine to put the squeeze on.
A total of 59 players were selected in last year’s national draft, and 65 the year before that, so it would be a significant drop if that scenario played out.
There are even clubs that think this year’s draft class is barely 40 players deep once academy and father-son prospects are removed from the equation, although others expect about 60 new footballers to enter the system.
Gold Coast are set to match bids on top-10-calibre academy talents Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Jake Rogers, while another internal product, Will Graham, is tipped to be off the board before pick 30.
Father-son prospects Jordan Croft (Western Bulldogs) and Will McCabe (Hawthorn) could also attract first-round bids, while the Dogs are crossing their fingers that Next Generation Academy prospect Luamon Lual falls outside the first 40 picks, so they can grab him, too, although that is considered unlikely.
Under-18 All-Australian Caiden Cleary is linked to Sydney via the club’s academy, which they tip about $1.5 million into annually.
There is also the spectre of North Melbourne potentially gaining pre-draft access to Ryley Sanders, who would otherwise be a certain top-10 selection, while potential free agency compensation for Ben McKay could benefit the Kangaroos as well.
The AFL reduced list sizes for the 2021 season after COVID-19 hit the industry hard, a decision that has seen clubs double down on delisting, then recycling players as rookies.
Dees prospect among those set to shine
Potential Melbourne father-son draftee Kynan Brown returned to the Coates Talent League with a bang on Saturday after making his VFL debut the previous week for the Casey Demons.
The 18-year-old midfielder averaged 23 disposals in the AFL under-18 championships and racked up another 30 touches at the weekend for the Oakleigh Chargers, as well as kicking a goal and laying 10 tackles.
But Brown, the son of ex-Demon Nathan, was not the only prospective draftee to enhance his stocks, with top-five contender Zane Duursma – the brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier and Yasmin – booting six goals for Gippsland Power.
He was not the only Duursma in the Power line-up, with his 16-year-old sibling Willem playing for the second straight week and gathering 16 disposals. Willem earned All-Australian honours at last month’s under-16 carnival.
Meanwhile, Nate Caddy, the nephew of dual premiership-winning ex-Tiger Josh, kicked four goals for Northern Knights as he tries to cement himself as a top-10 pick.
Murray Bushrangers dasher Darcy Wilson is in a similar draft range to Caddy and did his hopes no harm with a season-high 35 disposals and a goal. Eastern Ranges wingman Caleb Windsor also maintained his form with 23 touches and seven tackles.
Likely No.1 draft pick Harley Reid played for Essendon’s VFL team and did not miss a beat, compiling 24 disposals, six clearances and 12 contested possessions.
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