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http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25321402-5005401,00.html
Palmer dangled multi-million dollar Gold Coast contract
Kim Hagdorn, football writer
April 11, 2009 06:30pm
FREMANTLE rover Rhys Palmer is a priority recruiting target for new AFL club Gold Coast and will be tempted with a multimillion-dollar offer.
The classy left-footer plays only the third game of his second AFL season on Sunday and will be an instant millionaire if he is lured to the Gold Coast next year.
Palmer, 20, was the competition's most outstanding first-year player last season and will be hit with an astronomical offer, said to be a staggering $700,000 a season, to leave the Dockers as an inaugural Gold Coast boutique player.
He has stormed into calculations as a recruiting option as the new franchise ambitiously scours the nation for out-of-contract stars to launch into the AFL in 2011.
Palmer's priority ranking on Gold Coast hit lists soared last week after indications from Geelong champion Gary Ablett and Hawthorn's Lance Franklin that they will reject lucrative offers.
The pair look certain to sign new deals before the end of next year to stay with their current clubs.
Western Bulldogs on-baller and reigning Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney and Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge are also in Gold Coast's sights, but are more likely to resist offers to leave their current clubs.
Palmer is on a standard AFL contract for drafted players, earning up to $150,000 for each of his first two seasons, but will jump to a base of about $250,000 next year.
He is a rising star and the core midfielder around which the Dockers plan to rebuild their playing list after mass retirements last season and an influx of 14 new youngsters.
Under AFL rules Palmer is forbidden from engaging in discussions with Gold Coast officials.
But his Perth-based manager, Colin Young from Corporate Sports Australia, is allowed to act on his client's behalf.
Young has already held two lengthy meetings with Gold Coast recruiting manager Scott Clayton.
He said all of his players will consider any offers in the course of new contract negotiations.
Young has not ruled out the talented Palmer leaving the Dockers at the end of next season.
"I haven't yet discussed future contracts with Rhys because right now he wants to concentrate solely on his playing and training commitments with Fremantle," Young said yesterday.
"But I wouldn't be doing my job for my players if I didn't speak with clubs 24/7 about contracts that they might be offered."
Young confirmed he is in discussions with Clayton and ongoing negotiations are expected.
However Young baulked at confirming that the talented Palmer is a priority choice for the new club.
"I've spoken with Scottie Clayton several times regarding all of the Corporate Sports players and I'll continue to do so," Young said.
"No figures have been discussed between Scott and myself as yet for any of my players."
Young is expected to meet with Clayton and Gold Coast officials again within a fortnight.
Gold Coast has the option to sign at least one uncontracted player from all existing 16 AFL clubs.
Young acts for as many as 25 Fremantle and West Coast players.
The new club will have an extra $1million to help attract boutique players in its initial salary cap of $9.21million.
Other high profile targets from WA include giant Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands and his teammate Garrick Ibbotson, as well as Eagles big man Quinten Lynch and Chris Masten.
Masten was taken in the same 2007 national draft as Palmer and is also out of contract at the end of next season.
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Oh yay...
Great timing....
and in other news, the eagles today were flogged by 97 points...
Palmer dangled multi-million dollar Gold Coast contract
Kim Hagdorn, football writer
April 11, 2009 06:30pm
FREMANTLE rover Rhys Palmer is a priority recruiting target for new AFL club Gold Coast and will be tempted with a multimillion-dollar offer.
The classy left-footer plays only the third game of his second AFL season on Sunday and will be an instant millionaire if he is lured to the Gold Coast next year.
Palmer, 20, was the competition's most outstanding first-year player last season and will be hit with an astronomical offer, said to be a staggering $700,000 a season, to leave the Dockers as an inaugural Gold Coast boutique player.
He has stormed into calculations as a recruiting option as the new franchise ambitiously scours the nation for out-of-contract stars to launch into the AFL in 2011.
Palmer's priority ranking on Gold Coast hit lists soared last week after indications from Geelong champion Gary Ablett and Hawthorn's Lance Franklin that they will reject lucrative offers.
The pair look certain to sign new deals before the end of next year to stay with their current clubs.
Western Bulldogs on-baller and reigning Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney and Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge are also in Gold Coast's sights, but are more likely to resist offers to leave their current clubs.
Palmer is on a standard AFL contract for drafted players, earning up to $150,000 for each of his first two seasons, but will jump to a base of about $250,000 next year.
He is a rising star and the core midfielder around which the Dockers plan to rebuild their playing list after mass retirements last season and an influx of 14 new youngsters.
Under AFL rules Palmer is forbidden from engaging in discussions with Gold Coast officials.
But his Perth-based manager, Colin Young from Corporate Sports Australia, is allowed to act on his client's behalf.
Young has already held two lengthy meetings with Gold Coast recruiting manager Scott Clayton.
He said all of his players will consider any offers in the course of new contract negotiations.
Young has not ruled out the talented Palmer leaving the Dockers at the end of next season.
"I haven't yet discussed future contracts with Rhys because right now he wants to concentrate solely on his playing and training commitments with Fremantle," Young said yesterday.
"But I wouldn't be doing my job for my players if I didn't speak with clubs 24/7 about contracts that they might be offered."
Young confirmed he is in discussions with Clayton and ongoing negotiations are expected.
However Young baulked at confirming that the talented Palmer is a priority choice for the new club.
"I've spoken with Scottie Clayton several times regarding all of the Corporate Sports players and I'll continue to do so," Young said.
"No figures have been discussed between Scott and myself as yet for any of my players."
Young is expected to meet with Clayton and Gold Coast officials again within a fortnight.
Gold Coast has the option to sign at least one uncontracted player from all existing 16 AFL clubs.
Young acts for as many as 25 Fremantle and West Coast players.
The new club will have an extra $1million to help attract boutique players in its initial salary cap of $9.21million.
Other high profile targets from WA include giant Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands and his teammate Garrick Ibbotson, as well as Eagles big man Quinten Lynch and Chris Masten.
Masten was taken in the same 2007 national draft as Palmer and is also out of contract at the end of next season.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh yay...
Great timing....
and in other news, the eagles today were flogged by 97 points...
