PIES WILL NEED TO PAY UP FOR MIHOCEK
By Jon Ralph
COLLINGWOOD revelation Brody Mihocek will push for a two-year contract extension after his stunning rise to senior football.
The Magpies selected the 25-year-old former Port Melbourne defender at No.22 in last year’s rookie draft as defensive insurance.
But he kicked four goals in his first AFL game and has played the past eight games, kicking 15 goals and at least one major in every game so far.
His manager Anthony McConville said yesterday he was thrilled for his client after a career that went via Tasmania, Essendon reserves, Werribee and Port Melbourne.
As a 2018 rookie, Mihocek is on a set base of $75,000 plus $4000 per game and a maximum bonus of $12,000 for 11 or more senior games.
It means he has made $107,000 so far this year, good money compared to the average wage but much less than the AFL average wage around $370,000.
McConville is keen to provide some security for Mihocek after a seven-year journey towards the AFL.
“Rookie contracts are one year, so we are in conversations with Collingwood right now. How long that takes to progress I am not sure,’’ he said.
“But he has had a good year and played senior footy and we are hoping that can continue for the remainder of the year.
“We are looking to do a two-year contract extension.”
Mihocek is expected to take on Sydney on Saturday night despite an ankle sprain that hampered him against Richmond.
McConville lauded Collingwood’s foresight to rookie Mihocek then see his potential as a key forward.
“We had all the faith in Brody and his ability to play at the highest level and he just needed a club to back him in and take a chance with a mature-ager and we are very fortunate Collingwood gave him that opportunity.
“He was playing solid footy as a defender and we always knew he could play both ends of the ground, he had the flexibility to play forward and back and they didn’t pigeonhole him as a one-trick pony.
“So for a club to envisage he could play that role going forward was a really good thing.”
Mihocek’s elevation is one of a number of remarkable football stories this year that include this week’s debut for Nathan Freeman and Alex Johnson’s return to football.