Club Focus GWS Giants 2023

[PMBangers]

Data from footywire. To check the draft order see the thread here.

Footywire says: "While we make every effort to keep up to date with player contracts, it is likely that our data may at times be out of date, incomplete or inaccurate. If you find any player contracts that need updating, please let us know using our brand new contract submission form."

 

[Giant Pete]

Yeah but we’re just keeping him warm for the tigers

Lol… yeah. Shame they blew their wad on Hopper and Taranto.

 

[The Kings Ransom]

Jack Buckley deserves a nice contracted. Playing pretty well considering the time he’s missed.

 

[Giant Pete]

Jack Buckley deserves a nice contracted. Playing pretty well considering the time he’s missed.

He has been fantastic. Should re-sign him cheap now!

 

[citizen-erased]

O'halloran having a tidy patch too.

 

[GWS Goose]

O'halloran having a tidy patch too.

definitely, finally playing a role suited to his skills with the others moving on.

 

[eth-dog]

definitely, finally playing a role suited to his skills with the others moving on.

More inside now I assume? Haven't really seen you guys so far

 

[GWS Goose]

More inside now I assume? Haven't really seen you guys so far

Yeah. Getting a run in the middle.

 

[Makeshift Park]

So the Herald Sun published a list of the highest paid AFL players for 2023 a few days ago.

It suggests that even after last year's trades, GWS still has 7 players taking up nearly half the salary cap.

Coniglio - 950k (contracted until 2026)
Greene - 950k (til 2026)
Whitfield - 950k (2027)
Haynes - 950k (2024)
Kelly - 900k (will exceed $1m in coming years until contract ends in 2029)
Himmelberg - 800k (2023)
Taylor - 800k (2025)

It boggles the mind how they'll be able to afford those deals, while also financing the likes of Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

, and offering competitive new deals to young high end talent like Ash (2023), Callaghan (2025), and Cadman (2024).

Given all that, and given that GWS are unlikely to be contending for finals, it suggests that the salary cap squeeze isn't over for the Giants just yet.

Even if HH leaves at the end of the year, that'd still be one of the most top-heavy lists in the comp from a salary perspective.

So how probable is it that we'll see a salary dump? And who would the Giants nominate? Is a first round pick, a la Bowes, the right price?

 

[eth-dog]

Whitfield, Haynes and Kelly would probably be the three most likely. If it's Whitfield I hope Essendon would be all over it.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Whitfield, Haynes and Kelly would probably be the three most likely. If it's Whitfield I hope Essendon would be all over it.

Contracted til he’s 34. But if there was a first rounder attached to Whitfield, I’d hope North are putting their hand up too!

 

[MisterMarcus]

Yeah they definitely should explore Bowes-like deals to get Whitfield and Hayes off their books.

 

[GWS Goose]

So the Herald Sun published a list of the highest paid AFL players for 2023 a few days ago.

It suggests that even after last year's trades, GWS still has 7 players taking up nearly half the salary cap.

Coniglio - 950k (contracted until 2026)
Greene - 950k (til 2026)
Whitfield - 950k (2027)
Haynes - 950k (2024)
Kelly - 900k (will exceed $1m in coming years until contract ends in 2029)
Himmelberg - 800k (2023)
Taylor - 800k (2025)

It boggles the mind how they'll be able to afford those deals, while also financing the likes of Tom Green, and offering competitive new deals to young high end talent like Ash (2023), Callaghan (2025), and Cadman (2024).

Given all that, and given that GWS are unlikely to be contending for finals, it suggests that the salary cap squeeze isn't over for the Giants just yet.

Even if HH leaves at the end of the year, that'd still be one of the most top-heavy lists in the comp from a salary perspective.

So how probable is it that we'll see a salary dump? And who would the Giants nominate? Is a first round pick, a la Bowes, the right price?

These things are notoriously inaccurate and the club has indicated they are comfortable with their cap at the moment (but like all clubs wont be able to keep everyone)
I suspect that if someone offers big cash for Himmelberg we wont be able to match. If we get pushed on Himmelberg but he stays, we'll probably miss out on someone else.
Haynes heavilly back ended deal will be on the books for next year, but will be finished before having to re-sign Green & Callaghan.

At the time of signing, Whitfield and Taylor were reported as significantly lower levels than those numbers, but you never really know either way. I'd be shocked if Himmelberg is on anything like $800K unless it was also heavily back ended (which Ive never heard previously)

 

[Giant Pete]

So the Herald Sun published a list of the highest paid AFL players for 2023 a few days ago.

It suggests that even after last year's trades, GWS still has 7 players taking up nearly half the salary cap.

Coniglio - 950k (contracted until 2026)
Greene - 950k (til 2026)
Whitfield - 950k (2027)
Haynes - 950k (2024)
Kelly - 900k (will exceed $1m in coming years until contract ends in 2029)
Himmelberg - 800k (2023)
Taylor - 800k (2025)

It boggles the mind how they'll be able to afford those deals, while also financing the likes of Tom Green, and offering competitive new deals to young high end talent like Ash (2023), Callaghan (2025), and Cadman (2024).

Given all that, and given that GWS are unlikely to be contending for finals, it suggests that the salary cap squeeze isn't over for the Giants just yet.

Even if HH leaves at the end of the year, that'd still be one of the most top-heavy lists in the comp from a salary perspective.

So how probable is it that we'll see a salary dump? And who would the Giants nominate? Is a first round pick, a la Bowes, the right price?

Lol… HH on 800000… we are lowering our free agency deal for him then?
And this was the same crew that had the Giants paying Kelly, Whitfield, Greene and Cogs well over a million each.
They throw an extra $100000 on all the numbers for the clicks.
Re the throwing in a first round click with Whitfield… we are not Gold Coast.
Also, Whitfield is not Jack Bowes.

 

[Giant Pete]

Lol… HH on 800000… we are lowering our free agency deal for him then?
And this was the same crew that had the Giants paying Kelly, Whitfield, Greene and Cogs well over a million each.
They throw an extra $100000 on all the numbers for the clicks.
Re the throwing in a first round click with Whitfield… we are not Gold Coast.
Also, Whitfield is not Jack Bowes.

And Taylor on $800? We extended him in 2021… before he was AA and B&F. He’s always loved the club and been keen to stay.
These articles are utter nonsense.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

And Taylor on $800? We extended him in 2021… before he was AA and B&F. He’s always loved the club and been keen to stay.
These articles are utter nonsense.

They always are, honestly get used to it every non Vic club is under salary cap pressure apparently all the time. GWS are fine, not saying you won't trade for Reid but it won't be salary dump trades. Cogs and Whitfield have also been having their best seasons in years why on earth would you get rid of them.

 

[GWS Goose]

They always are, honestly get used to it every non Vic club is under salary cap pressure apparently all the time. GWS are fine, not saying you won't trade for Reid but it won't be salary dump trades. Cogs and Whitfield have also been having their best seasons in years why on earth would you get rid of them.

Agree.
We may still get priced out of Himmelberg if someone offers big money, but overall we are fine.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Agree.
We may still get priced out of Himmelberg if someone offers big money, but overall we are fine.

Pretty much, everyone thinks the Giants are like they were 2 years ago still.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Granted, its not a super easy document to fact check from publicly available sources.

But if you look at the previous iterations of the rich list the same authors have made, and compare them against the AFL's own summary of salaries, it does appear to be at the very least ballpark accurate.

I should qualify that all those figures I listed were the top of 100k bands, because as the authors note:

Given we are just beyond the halfway mark of the 2023 season, we don’t yet know what incentives clauses the players will reach, so it is impossible to know precisely what each player earns.

So these figures are based on what we expect players to earn without incentives attached.

That’s the reason for the Rich 100 List being presented in $100,000 bands, which reflects the fact that almost all of the players’ end-of-year salaries are dependent on performance bonuses.

So for instance, Taylor and Himmelberg are listed as 700-800k. But for the purposes of working out if there is a salary cap squeeze or not, it makes less sense to pick the bottom figure, because you wouldn't budget your salaries around the lowest possible amount you will be paying your players.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Granted, its not a super easy document to fact check from publicly available sources.

But if you look at the previous iterations of the rich list the same authors have made, and compare them against the AFL's own summary of salaries, it does appear to be at the very least ballpark accurate.

I should qualify that all those figures I listed were the top of 100k bands, because as the authors note:



So for instance, Taylor and Himmelberg are listed as 700-800k. But for the purposes of working out if there is a salary cap squeeze or not, it makes less sense to pick the bottom figure, because you wouldn't budget your salaries around the lowest possible amount you will be paying your players.

also gws like to back end contracts to fit players in, mentioned somewhere that haynes is on the bulk of his contract next year (near a mil)

 

[Giant Strides]

If you believe those figures, I have a bridge to sell you. Just $850-950,000.

 

[rye]

think a lot of people itt forget how good whitfield can be on his day

gws arent going to fork out a first round pick to get someone to take him off their hands

 

[Makeshift Park]

If you believe those figures, I have a bridge to sell you. Just $850-950,000.

How about one of these?



Slightly longer driving time to Giants stadium, but you can avoid Parramatta road.

 

[Giant Pete]

think a lot of people itt forget how good whitfield can be on his day

gws arent going to fork out a first round pick to get someone to take him off their hands

“But Gold Coast did it for Jack Bowes!!”

 

[rye]

“But Gold Coast did it for Jack Bowes!!”

comparisons to bowes are especially laughable

bowes is a flaky player who struggled to be best 22 at a fairly average side and was expected to be on $800k+ for the last 2 years of his contract. currently struggling to be best 22 at the side he was traded to

whitfield has been best 22 since he walked into the door in a team that has been strong for most of his time there, reached all australian status and has 2x B&F's to his name. hampered a bit by injury as of late but looked to be getting back to his best this year. likely on similar coin to bowes

any deal for whitfield even in a salary dump would have the other club giving something up for him like the grundy deal rather than gws throwing a pick on top

i dont think he or the club would be considering such a move anyway

 

[Giant Pete]

comparisons to bowes are especially laughable

bowes is a flaky player who struggled to be best 22 at a fairly average side and was expected to be on $800k+ for the last 2 years of his contract. currently struggling to be best 22 at the side he was traded to

whitfield has been best 22 since he walked into the door in a team that has been strong for most of his time there, reached all australian status and has 2x B&F's to his name. hampered a bit by injury as of late but looked to be getting back to his best this year. likely on similar coin to bowes

any deal for whitfield even in a salary dump would have the other club giving something up for him like the grundy deal rather than gws throwing a pick on top

i dont think he or the club would be considering such a move anyway

Spot on.