Smokin_Joe
13 Oct 2003, 15:12
Dons confident on Solomon
12:59:00 PM Mon 13 October, 2003
Barry Levinson
afl.com.au
Related Content:
Gentlemen, commence your bidding...
The likelihood of disgruntled Essendon strong man Dean Solomon remaining at Windy Hill is increasing, with the Bombers putting a revised three-year deal on the table.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy spoke to Solomon – who is visiting his girlfriend in London - on the telephone this morning and believes the door is ajar for the utility to return to the fold.
Sheedy refused to acknowledge that Solomon had even quit the club.
“I spoke to Dean this morning and we’re pretty keen to keep him,” Sheedy said as he arrived at Optus Oval on Monday for the commencement of trade week discussions.
“He’s never said he doesn’t want to play at Essendon. I can’t remember him saying he’s quit.
“We’ve put three years on the table at approximately $300,000 (a season), so that’s not a bad deal.”
Sheedy’s confidence in the Bombers’ ability to retain Solomon differs to the view of Richmond football director Greg Miller, who had just returned from a speedy visit to London to speak with Solomon.
With an offer of a four-year contract worth $1.6 million on the table, Miller said he left the United Kingdom believing that a move to Punt Road was Solomon’s preferred option.
“It is certainly his preference,” Miller said. “I felt pretty confident about that… but I’m not counting chickens.”
Miller also strongly disputed a claim that the Tigers’ offer to Solomon was ‘over the odds’ for a player of his ability and size.
“I don’t agree they’re getting paid over the odds. That’s a ridiculous thing to say. The offer has been quite reasonable.”
But with reports of Richmond players possibly needing to take pay cuts in order to accommodate Solomon and Bulldog Nathan Brown – another Tiger target - Sheedy said Solomon would have to consider the pressure that would accompany his high price tag.
“I think you’d be under the pump,” the Essendon coach said.
“I’m not sure whether Dean realises that from London, at the moment. I’d say there’d be a fair few faxes getting sent over for him to have a read and think about, because it’s a situation where he probably wouldn’t feel comfortable with that either. He’s a pretty genuine young man.”
However, Sheedy did not deny that Richmond’s offer was very tempting for a 23-year-old with 99 games of experience.
“When I came out of the army, I was 23 years of age. If somebody put $400,000 a year on the table for four years - $1.6 million – it’s a hell of a lot of money for four years.
“At 23 years of age, you’d be thinking it smells good, doesn’t it?”
Sheedy did not rule out of the possibility of key talls Mark Bolton and Danny Jacobs being traded, saying their futures at Windy Hill ‘depends on how much they want’.
Published reports have Bolton linked to Hawthorn as part of a three-way deal that would see Jade Rawlings reach his preferred destination, the Kangaroos.
Miller said Richmond players would ‘not necessarily’ have to take pay cuts in order to accommodate Solomon and Brown, but said the Tigers could ‘definitely’ fit both players under the salary cap, provided new homes could be found for at least two other Tigers.
“It depends on the trade week,” Miller said. “Things can change in a hurry. There’s certainly a couple of players that are leaving. There may be a few more, we’ll see what happens in the next few days.”
Melbourne has already expressed an interest in Ben Holland, who has been told by Richmond he will not be offered a new contract when his existing deal expires at the end of 2004.
12:59:00 PM Mon 13 October, 2003
Barry Levinson
afl.com.au
Related Content:
Gentlemen, commence your bidding...
The likelihood of disgruntled Essendon strong man Dean Solomon remaining at Windy Hill is increasing, with the Bombers putting a revised three-year deal on the table.
Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy spoke to Solomon – who is visiting his girlfriend in London - on the telephone this morning and believes the door is ajar for the utility to return to the fold.
Sheedy refused to acknowledge that Solomon had even quit the club.
“I spoke to Dean this morning and we’re pretty keen to keep him,” Sheedy said as he arrived at Optus Oval on Monday for the commencement of trade week discussions.
“He’s never said he doesn’t want to play at Essendon. I can’t remember him saying he’s quit.
“We’ve put three years on the table at approximately $300,000 (a season), so that’s not a bad deal.”
Sheedy’s confidence in the Bombers’ ability to retain Solomon differs to the view of Richmond football director Greg Miller, who had just returned from a speedy visit to London to speak with Solomon.
With an offer of a four-year contract worth $1.6 million on the table, Miller said he left the United Kingdom believing that a move to Punt Road was Solomon’s preferred option.
“It is certainly his preference,” Miller said. “I felt pretty confident about that… but I’m not counting chickens.”
Miller also strongly disputed a claim that the Tigers’ offer to Solomon was ‘over the odds’ for a player of his ability and size.
“I don’t agree they’re getting paid over the odds. That’s a ridiculous thing to say. The offer has been quite reasonable.”
But with reports of Richmond players possibly needing to take pay cuts in order to accommodate Solomon and Bulldog Nathan Brown – another Tiger target - Sheedy said Solomon would have to consider the pressure that would accompany his high price tag.
“I think you’d be under the pump,” the Essendon coach said.
“I’m not sure whether Dean realises that from London, at the moment. I’d say there’d be a fair few faxes getting sent over for him to have a read and think about, because it’s a situation where he probably wouldn’t feel comfortable with that either. He’s a pretty genuine young man.”
However, Sheedy did not deny that Richmond’s offer was very tempting for a 23-year-old with 99 games of experience.
“When I came out of the army, I was 23 years of age. If somebody put $400,000 a year on the table for four years - $1.6 million – it’s a hell of a lot of money for four years.
“At 23 years of age, you’d be thinking it smells good, doesn’t it?”
Sheedy did not rule out of the possibility of key talls Mark Bolton and Danny Jacobs being traded, saying their futures at Windy Hill ‘depends on how much they want’.
Published reports have Bolton linked to Hawthorn as part of a three-way deal that would see Jade Rawlings reach his preferred destination, the Kangaroos.
Miller said Richmond players would ‘not necessarily’ have to take pay cuts in order to accommodate Solomon and Brown, but said the Tigers could ‘definitely’ fit both players under the salary cap, provided new homes could be found for at least two other Tigers.
“It depends on the trade week,” Miller said. “Things can change in a hurry. There’s certainly a couple of players that are leaving. There may be a few more, we’ll see what happens in the next few days.”
Melbourne has already expressed an interest in Ben Holland, who has been told by Richmond he will not be offered a new contract when his existing deal expires at the end of 2004.