An Eagles veteran is closing in on a new deal, but an Essendon great isn’t convinced it’s the right move for the club.
Plus Collingwood is getting its ducks in a row to consolidate a strong start to the season.
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Fyfe shaping to return against Hawks? | 00:33
PENDING MCGOVERN DEAL IRKS DONS GREAT
West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern has agreed to terms on a new two-year deal, the Herald Sun reports.
McGovern is in line for a pay cut as part of the new deal, the report says, while he already gave up over $100,000 in each of the final two seasons of his former deal in 2021 and 2022 amid covid cuts.
The 31-year-old is currently recovering from a significant hamstring injury and is still listed as seven-to-eight weeks away by the club.
Despite being a four-time All Australian, the decision to re-sign McGovern for two years has irked Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd.
“I think West Coast lost their ruthless edge that they once had. How they gave Jeremy McGovern two years is beyond me,” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“They might say to themselves ‘Well ok, he was on a million bucks, we’re dropping him right down’, but still, I’d be giving all these guys one-year deals or none and move past them.
“I’d be offering one-year deals to these guys and say ‘you’ve got to show us what you’re made of and then we’ll give you another one if you perform.’”
Fellow veterans Andrew Gaff, Jack Darling and Elliot Yeo are all set to come out of contract at the end of next season, while captain Luke Shuey’s contract expires at year’s end, as he continues to battle injury.
Saints eyeing Round 9 for King’s return | 00:37
KEY PIES COG IN LINE FOR EXTENSION
Collingwood defender John Noble is reportedly in line for a multi-year contract extension in the back half of the 2023 season.
Noble has played 76 games for the Pies since being taken in the 2019 mid-season draft and become a staple of the side’s back six.
The Herald Sun reports that, while yet to start talks on a new deal, the Pies and Noble’s management are happy with where things sit, with a deal likely to eventuate in the backend of the season.
Another out of contract Pie is Ash Johnson, who has shown promising signs since joining the club via the 2021 mid-season draft.
The Herald Sun reports rival clubs are monitoring Johnson’s progress this season.
The 25-year-old has played the last five games this season after starting the season outside the senior side.
Meanwhile, the Herald Sun also reports Collingwood young gun Nick Daicos has signed a lucrative long-term deal with Nike, with the father-son star on track to rival the likes of Dustin Martin and Bailey Smith in off-field endorsements.
SAINTS SMALL IN TALKS FOR NEW DEAL
St Kilda small forward Jack Higgins is in discussions with the club on a contract extension, AFL Media reports.
Higgins, 24, has kicked a club-leading 14 goals for the season so far and is in the final year of the three-year deal he joined St Kilda on after departing Richmond at the end of 2020.
The report says Higgins is in talks on a multi-year deal as he flourishes under new coach Ross Lyon.
Higgins kicked 29 goals in 43 games for Richmond after the side drafted him with pick No.17 in 2017.
