Confirmed Maddy Prespakis [signed with Essendon]

[RedmanWasHere]

Prespakis and Gee declare wish to explore expansion move

Madison Prespakis and Georgia Gee have today informed the Club of their decision to explore a move to the Essendon Football Club.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[Lore]

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

www.womens.afl

FORMER AFLW best and fairest Maddy Prespakis has opened up about her intentions to leave Carlton for Essendon, saying the lure of her childhood club was too strong.

Prespakis was at the MCG to help launch the new season of Auskick, describing running around in a Bombers jumper at Gisborne.

"It's very exciting, it's still all in the works, but I've openly committed to making the move to Essendon. It's been an exciting week, and it's the team I've barracked for all my life, so to be able to help build the new AFLW team is really exciting," Prespakis said.

"To be part of the inaugural team is really special. I've loved my time at Carlton, and I'll forever be grateful. I've achieved some great things there and been part of a special group of girls.

"My (footy pathway) was no different to the boys at the time, I started Auskick when I was four years old. I went down for pie night and get a free pie after training, and I was just a little girl who wanted to play footy.

"I never looked back and here I am today playing AFLW – I haven't stopped playing footy since that moment."

...

Prespakis has been an integral part of Carlton since joining the Blues with pick No.3 in the 2018 NAB AFLW Draft, winning the 2020 AFLW best and fairest and three consecutive club counts.

"At the end of the day, it comes down to yourself, and I had to put myself first. It was a tough decision, and it was quite daunting, and those who are really close to me knew exactly how I felt, especially when I did announce the move," the 21-year-old said.

"It was quite an emotional time, but also I felt very relieved and happy with what I've made for myself. Carlton have helped me in my four years in the AFLW, and three B&Fs, I wouldn't have done it without that club. I'm very grateful, but I'm also very grateful to start a new chapter of the next five to 10 years of my football career.

"Once I went to the club, they said I couldn't barrack for Essendon because it is a rival club. I'm sure when that time comes, like with any player who moves, you do expect a few boos, I've already received that on social media, so I expect that in person. But at the end of the day, it's football, and I love football and that's why I play."

 

[Lore]

Another version of the article published on the 7news website suggests it’s 2 years, 6 figures and Carlton couldn’t match the offer

 

[Teen Wolf]

Something tells me Carlton, if they really wanted to, would've been able to scrape together a few extra pennies outside the salary cap to match the offer. And that's not (just) a cheap shot. Multiple clubs, including the Blues, were reported to have tabled six-figure deals to top players by 2018 at the latest.

The highest figure I've seen bandied about for Prespakis' contract is $170k, from this article by Scott Gullan, which I take with a grain of salt because some of his other AFLW takes aren't exactly finger-on-the-pulse stuff.* The overlooked question is what would've happened if Carlton did match or beat the offer? Or what if she didn't support any particular team growing up? I believe she still would have left.

*For instance, he laments "How are the girls slogging it out on $25k going to feel?" even though his own publication had reported 4 days earlier that the AFLPA's proposal is for the minimum salary to be $46k and $59k in the next two seasons.

 

[Lore]

confirmed

AFLW Latest News - AFL.com.au/aflw

Latest breaking AFLW news from the official website of the Australian Football League.

www.womens.afl