Greater Western Sydney list manager Jason McCartney has confirmed a deal for Bobby Hill will be quickly done with Collingwood, but says Tanner Bruhn’s bid to join Geelong is “really disappointing”.
As clubs now turn their attention to the trade period, officially beginning next Monday, the Giants have much to work through, having had four prominent players seek new homes.
On his way: After a failed bid to get to Essendon last year, Bobby Hill will soon land at Collingwood.Credit:AFL Photos
This includes Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto, who each want to head to Richmond on seven-year deals. Hopper, who had also been wooed by Geelong, is still under contract, making his bid more difficult to facilitate.
The Magpies, keen to build on a stunning season under rookie coach Craig McRae, have had their eye on Hill, 22, for some time, the latter failing in his bid last year to secure a trade to Essendon. Hill is known for his manic forward pressure, playing in the first 11 games this season, before his campaign was interrupted by a shock testicular cancer diagnosis in May, requiring surgery and an extended break from the game.
“Most importantly, he’s in a really good space. His health and wellbeing is the priority, and it has been a challenging year for him,” McCartney said.
Tanner Bruhn wants to head to the Cats, having rejected a two-year deal to remain a Giant.Credit:AFL Photos
“I’ve been talking to [Magpies football department boss] Graham Wright for a week and a half, that’s something we’ll be able to facilitate and that will be something that would be done pretty early in the trade period, and he will make his way to Collingwood.”
Hill has played 41 matches with the Giants since debuting in 2019.
Speaking on Trade Radio, McCartney said there was work to be done with the Tigers before robust midfielders Taranto and Hopper are cleared to land at Punt Road.
“It’s an interesting one to have two players of quality request to go to the same club,” McCartney said. “Tim’s a bit different to Jacob because Jacob is in contract. Richmond bowed out that first week of finals, and they’ve identified a need in their midfield and, obviously, there’s two quality players there.
“Chatting with Blair Hartley and the Richmond guys, they understand the quality of these players, and they understand it’s going to take a little bit of work with one still in contract. We’ll keep working through that.”
Bruhn, who had also been sought by North Melbourne, has requested a trade to the Cats, having been a local product of the Geelong Falcons before he was pick No.12 in the 2020 national draft. He rejected a two-year extension from the Giants.
His decision to leave has frustrated the Giants, for they believe the two-year contracts draftees sign are too short and hinder a club’s ability to retain players.
Some clubs have had little choice but to re-sign key picks for more than $350,000 per season in a bid to retain them ahead of their third season and beyond, despite some yet to consistently win senior selection. This has been a topic of discussion in the latest round of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing. Tanner is a wonderful young man and invested really heavily in our football club. He’s played 30 games in two years and there’s probably not many from that compromised COVID draft that have played that many games,” McCartney said.
“It is disappointing. It’s a reality. It looks like it is leaning that way with Geelong, and we’ll sit down with Andrew Mackie and thrash out what we can get done there.
“Two years, that is really disappointing. No doubt there has been conversations had for a while and the AFLPA is involved, but our conversations with the AFLPA are around that fact. Those first-year draftees, the two-year standard contract needs to be longer, that’s for sure.
“What we’re getting also is there’s an explosion in player salaries third year when they become open market. You look at ourselves and Gold Coast – what happens is you do have to pay a premium in that third year to retain the player. That’s fine when the player is performing, and you’re paying for production, but players develop at different rates.
“The challenge is you’re in a position where you’re having to pay top dollar just to retain the players. Ultimately, that puts pressure on your salary cap as well.”
Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann has also been a strong proponent of longer contracts for draftees.
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