A free agency offer has finally been matched. Does this change everything?

[GC2015]

For the first time since free agency was implemented in 2012, an offer for a restricted free agent has been matched. GWS have matched Geelong's offer for Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

31

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

.

Cameron now has three options:

• He can accept the matched contract and remain at GWS.
• He can ask to be traded.
• He can nominate for the draft.

We all assume Cameron will ask to be traded to Geelong and this will eventually get done but does this now set a new precedent for clubs to force trades instead of just accepting FA compensation from the AFL? For example if this situation had played out in 2013 and Hawthorn elected to match Sydney's offer for Buddy, it would be fair to assume the Hawks would receive more than pick 19 in a trade. The only way around this for the team looking to poach the player for free is to offer an exorbitant contract that would seriously hurt them later down the track ala Buddy's contract with the Swans.

So, does this move change everything when it comes to free agency? GWS could very well run into this exact same situation again next year when Josh Kelly becomes a restricted free agent.

 

[11kgm]

Doesn't change much everyone knew Geelong was going to trade for him

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Doesn't change much everyone knew Geelong was going to trade for him

Geelongs 1st 3 picks and maybe a player. GWS hold most of the aces. Remember Kelly last year.

 

[Starburns_]

For the first time since free agency was implemented in 2012, an offer for a restricted free agent has been matched. GWS have matched Geelong's offer for Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

31

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

.

Cameron now has three options:

• He can accept the matched contract and remain at GWS.
• He can ask to be traded.
• He can nominate for the draft.

We all assume Cameron will ask to be traded to Geelong and this will eventually get done but does this now set a new precedent for clubs to force trades instead of just accepting FA compensation from the AFL? For example if this situation had played out in 2013 and Hawthorn elected to match Sydney's offer for Buddy, it would be fair to assume the Hawks would receive more than pick 19 in a trade. The only way around this for the team looking to poach the player for free is to offer an exorbitant contract that would seriously hurt them later down the track ala Buddy's contract with the Swans.

So, does this move change everything when it comes to free agency? GWS could very well run into this exact same situation again next year when Josh Kelly becomes a restricted free agent.

Sydney's offer was far too irresponsible for Hawthorn to match so that hypothetical wouldn't have played out.

Clubs have always had this power (as the Crows did with Danger), but there's times to force a trade and there's times not to. Both the Suns and Essendon with Lynch and Daniher knew they'd not get anything better through a trade than the compo picks they got, so being nowhere near a flag chose to cut their losses.
GWS on the other hand (whether rightly or wrongly) believe they're still in the window and that Cameron leaving puts a massive dent in that so they're going to play hard ball. They probably also feel he will stay rather than hit the draft.

 

[11kgm]

Geelongs 1st 3 picks and maybe a player. GWS hold most of the aces. Remember Kelly last year.

At most it will be probably two first

If not Geelong walks away and he can stay

 

[Eagleboy2011]

At most it will be probably two first

If not Geelong walks away and he can stay

GWS have just turned down pick 10 compo. You think at the most they should accept Geelongs say 13 or 15 that could blow out. Not worth the effort.
If he goes in the draft he will get picked up before Geelong. GWS have just received 10. In the PSD GWS are in front.

GWS have a massive bargaining tool. Williams has released some cap space.
Might end up a cluster* deal for Geelong.

 

[living_in_syd]

Gws have balls and i like it

 

[Ozguy]

Geelongs 1st 3 picks and maybe a player. GWS hold most of the aces. Remember Kelly last year.

Or Geelong walks away, keeps 3 1sts and GWS gets squat.

Not sure how many aces GWS hold.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Or Geelong walks away, keeps 3 1sts and GWS gets squat.

Not sure how many aces GWS hold.

More than Geelong. Jezz just might end up at another club. GWS can still trade him if he nominates the draft and a deal comes forward.

 

[romeohwho]

More than Geelong. Jezz just might end up at another club. GWS can still trade him if he nominates the draft and a deal comes forward.

So be it then.

 

[living_in_syd]

Love how geelong fans are acting like that they dont want him and walk away. Let the games begin. Massive melts if this falls through

 

[Wojcinski]

Geelongs 1st 3 picks and maybe a player. GWS hold most of the aces. Remember Kelly last year.

lol why not making it our 3 firsts, 2nd rounder as well as next years 1st and 2nd. We'll throw in Parfitt, Guthrie, Danger & Stewart too

 

[Eagleboy2011]

lol why not making it our 3 firsts, 2nd rounder as well as next years 1st and 2nd. We'll throw in Parfitt, Guthrie, Danger & Stewart too

They may accept that. Email you management/
BTW the Eagles and Tim Kelly

11

Tim Kelly

Age

29

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.6

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

19.9

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.6

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.7

5star

CL

3.6

4star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.8

5star

say hello.

 

[KnaveyBlue]

This is surely the end of the FA system in its current state.

The AFL just gave Essendon Pick 7 for a guy who has literally played 15 games in 3 years just because they didn't want Brisbane to have to pay.

It's absolutely shameless and must spell the end of the compo system.

 

[Wojcinski]

They may accept that. Email you management/
BTW the Eagles and Tim Kelly

11

Tim Kelly

Age

29

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.6

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

19.9

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.6

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.7

5star

CL

3.6

4star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.8

5star

say hello.

TK trade is irellevent here. TK was a 2 year player, Cameron is an RFA. If anything the precedent was set in the Dangerfield trade so GWS will get one first round pick, one second round and a player that is willing to go there.

 

[carnthedons]

TK trade is irellevent here. TK was a 2 year player, Cameron is an RFA. If anything the precedent was set in the Dangerfield trade so GWS will get one first round pick, one second round and a player that is willing to go there.

Agree that’s the precedent but Danger was before future pick trading IIRC and Adelaide had only 1 FRP to trade, Geelong have multiple so GWS will be trying for more than one you’d imagine, especially as the compo would’ve been better than any of Geelong’s firsts.

 

[Plugger35]

This is surely the end of the FA system i its current state.

The AFL just gave Essendon Pick 7 for a guy who has played 15 games in 3 years just because they didn't want Brisbane to have to pay.

It's absolutely shameless and must spell the end of the compo system.

Like the rules of the game and the MRP system there are a lot of grey areas which allows the AFL to manipulate outcomes whichever way they want to.

The AFL don't like clear cut, hard and fast rules that gives them no wriggle room.

 

[Wojcinski]

Agree that’s the precedent but Danger was before future pick trading IIRC and Adelaide had only 1 FRP to trade, Geelong have multiple so GWS will be trying for more than one you’d imagine, especially as the compo would’ve been better than any of Geelong’s firsts.

Nah he wasn't, Geelong used their future 1st in the same year for Lachie Henderson

 

[Priddis Is Done]

At most it will be probably two first

If not Geelong walks away and he can stay

The 2 x 1st rounders are a late 1st round. Unders.

Geelong will have ro wrap another of picks to get a mid 1st round and give a late 1st round as well.

Geelong will have to pony up.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

lol why not making it our 3 firsts, 2nd rounder as well as next years 1st and 2nd. We'll throw in Parfitt, Guthrie, Danger & Stewart too

Now you are being stupid

 

[Coach_Required]

Geelong fans earlier : We are getting Cameron last year's Coleman medalist for basically nothing just wages and we still have 3 picks in the 1st round !!!

GWS match the bid

Geelong fans now: No way should we give up any picks or players for him, he can go to the draft we don't want him.

 

[PhatBoy]

Love how geelong fans are acting like that they dont want him and walk away. Let the games begin. Massive melts if this falls through

We don’t want him if it costs too much.

You’d want him too even though you don’t need him. Any club would want him, he’s a good player. I want him.

But if we don’t get him, we go to the draft and pick up 3 players and stick with having the reigning Coleman medalist and all Australian full forward rather than the one before him.

 

[Wojcinski]

Geelong fans earlier : We are getting Cameron last year's Coleman medalist for basically nothing just wages and we still have 3 picks in the 1st round !!!

GWS match the bid

Geelong fans now: No way should we give up any picks or players for him, he can go to the draft we don't want him.

Why don't you quote the person that said that instead of making it up?

 

[sr36]

Could get interesting. If I was the Cats, I would have factored free as a free agent into the contract offer. Now that he costs a lot in trade, he's less valuable, thus I'd offer him a lower contract than the one that GWS have agreed to pay.

 

[Coach_Required]

Why don't you quote the person that said that instead of making it up?

Yeah sure mate, you obviously don't read many social media comments, internet is flooded with blue and white sooks.

I really dont understand why you are all sooking though, you will get Cameron in the end, luckily for Geelong the fans don't control what happens within the club. You will end up paying for him instead of trying to get him for a steal like you were hoping.