Collingwood will ask about the possibility of removing itself from Brodie Grundy’s salary.
Plus Geelong’s coach doubles down as Esava Ratugolea trade impasse looms.
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‘DON’T SEE A DEAL GETTING DONE’: CATS COACH DOUBLES DOWN
Geelong coach Chris Scott has doubled down on his firm stance about wantaway defender Esava Ratugolea’s value as a trade stand-off looms between the Cats and Power.
Ratugolea earlier this month informed Geelong of his wish to be traded to Port Adelaide – 12 months after he was denied the same move.
Scott last week told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 the Cats had “invested a hell of a lot in Esava” and letting the defender go was “not something I’m comfortable with, especially in the current environment where key-position defenders just seem to be, one, hard to get and, two very, very expensive”.
Scott reiterated his thoughts on Wednesday when interviewed by reporters in Adelaide ahead of a Grand Final function.
Scott ‘uncomfortable’ on possible trade | 02:17
“I’ve been on record in saying I’m really invested in Esava and my preference is to keep him, so I don’t see a deal getting done at all at the moment,” he said.
“We try to treat every situation on its own merits. There’s obviously comparisons with other situations, but we understand the market for key defenders is really, really strong at the moment, and we’re included in that, so that’s largely why we’d like to keep him.
“Aside from the investment we’ve made in him, players are getting huge offers at the moment and we understand why that (a move to Port) would be attractive (for Ratugolea).”
Ratugolea has played 75 games since being selected with Pick 43 in the 2016 national draft. He’s played just 20 AFL games across the past two seasons for the Cats, despite reinventing himself as a player by shifting into defence.
He’s one of three players that are keen to move to the Power, with Essendon defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Bulldogs ruck Jordon Sweet also requesting trades.
PIES KEEN TO MOVE GRUNDY SALARY OFF BOOKS
Collingwood will politely inquire about the possibility of removing Brodie Grundy’s salary from its own books as star ruck prepares to move to Sydney, reports The Age.
Grundy is poised to join the Swans during next month’s exchange period – 12 months after his sensational move from Collingwood to Melbourne, despite having five years left on his Magpies mega deal – after falling out of favour at the Demons’ selection table in recent months.
The 29-year-old has reportedly already met with Swans officials and could be one of the first players to officially move clubs when the trade period opens on September 9.
When Grundy moved to Melbourne 12 months ago, Collingwood agreed to continue to pay a portion of his contract – around $350,000 per year until his deal expires in 2027 – to give the club some salary cap relief.
‘You can’t captain from the sidelines’ | 00:41
But The Age reported on Wednesday night the Magpies would ask the AFL if they could remove themselves from the Grundy contract, which would help them free up significant future cap space. The report suggested Collingwood would argue that it’d struck a deal with Melbourne — not Sydney — for Grundy
Sydney and Port Adelaide were initially seen as the two main contenders for Grundy’s services, but the Power earlier this month pulled out of the race. The Herald Sun reported Sydney’s pitch to Grundy – which focused on lifestyle and opportunities outside the game – appealed more than Port’s football-orientated pitch, while the Swans’ stronger draft hand (Picks 11, 22, 30, 41 and 49) appealed more to Melbourne than Port Adelaide’s (Picks 37, 43 and 70).
A dual All-Australian and best and fairest winner, Grundy has played 194 games in 11 seasons.
