Essendon has entered the race for Jordan De Goey.
Plus Josh Dunkley’s future hangs in the balance, with a possibility the Dogs gun has played his last game for the club.
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BOMBERS MAKE DE GOEY PLAY
Essendon has made a play for Collingwood free agent Jordan De Goey in a bold pitch that included senior players, reports the Herald Sun.
The Magpies pulled a four-year offer worth up $3.2 million to the 26-year old after his Bali exploits and put off contract talks until the end of the year as St Kilda circles with a lucrative rival offer.
And Essendon has now also entered the race despite currently being without a senior coach, CEO and several board members after a major off-season shake up.
It was revealed this week the Bombers were armed with an unprecedented $3 million war chest and have plans to be aggressive in the trade and free agency market.
It comes after the Bombers have missed out on another target in Roos forward Cam Zurhaar, who Channel 7 reports is close to signing a two-year extension.
As De Goey is a restricted free agent, Collingwood could match any offer for the star midfielder/forward.
DOGS ‘DESPERATE’ TO KEEP DUNKLEY
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club is “desperate” for Josh Dunkley to stay at Whitten Oval amid uncertainty around the out-of-contract midfielder’s future.
It’s possible Dunkley has played his last game for the Dogs in their elimination final loss to Fremantle as rival clubs including Port Adelaide and Brisbane circle.
As Dunkley doesn’t qualify free agency, he’d need to be acquired via trade.
Speaking post-match, Beveridge says he’d understand if the 25-year old departed the club for a more lucrative offer, but ultimately wanted to see him remain in the red, white and blue.
“We‘re desperate; we hope Josh is going to stay. But I can’t tell you whether he is or whether he isn’t,” Beveridge told reporters after the 13-point loss to Fremantle.
“I can tell you absolutely that the relationships are really strong. If there is a reason to leave the club, it might be for opportunity and the short lifespan of an AFL footy, you have to make hay financially as much as you can, and we understand that.
“That‘s the reality that is difficult to deal with or process culturally. But it is going to be more and more normalised. We have to get used to it.”
Dunkley has put off contract talks until the end of the season, with reports the Power have tabled him a long-term offer worth around $650,000 per season — a deal similar to the Dogs.
But dual All-Australian Kane Cornes questioned whether other on-ballers like Dunkley would seek out such offers as Tim Taranto’s reported seven-year, $5 million deal to cross to Richmond.
“If you’re Josh Dunkley, you’re looking at what the other midfielders are getting,” Cornes said on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show.
“He’s a better player than Tim Taranto, who’s got seven years at $750,000 (a season).
“That’s the sort of money you’ve got to pay to get a player out of their club, it’s going to cost them a lot.
“I wouldn’t be paying any midfielder that’s not Dustin Martin or the absolute top echelon $750,000 a year for seven years.”
SUNS TABLE OFFER TO JJ
The Gold Coast Suns have tabled Jason Johannisen a three-year deal in their bid to pry him away from the Western Bulldogs, reports Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary.
Johannisen is eligible for unrestricted free agency after an indifferent eight-game season also hampered by injury, averaging 11.2 disposals and one goal in a variety of roles.
Cleary told Channel 7 after the Dogs’ elimination final loss to Fremantle that the Suns are looking to bolster their half back stocks by adding the 2016 Norm Smith medallist.
“Jason Johannisen is being courted by Gold Coast. I understand a three-year deal has been put on the table from the Suns for Jason Johannisen,” Cleary said.
“They’ve got a few players out off at back, Connor Budarick and Lachie Weller has done an ACL as well.
“Watch this space on Johannisen as well.”
Johannisen has played 176 games for the Dogs since making his debut in 2012.
