- Joined
- Oct 7, 2003
- Posts
- 16,483
- Reaction score
- 17
- Location
- melbourne
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- "Yellow & Black"
This is not a troll. Just interested to know how it will all work out. I don't think Luke ball will be too happy with $200k pa when he could get $500k elsewhere. A lot of money to knock back from a young guy's point of view.
Saints face cap squeeze
By Jake Niall The AGE
September 22, 2004
The rapid rise of St Kilda and its emerging superstar Nick Riewoldt has forced it into a salary-cap squeeze, with both Riewoldt and the club's next most feted young star, Luke Ball, facing contract renegotiations.
Having risen to within a kick of a grand final, the Saints are confronting the type of salary-cap pressures that bedevilled the Brisbane Lions and Essendon before them. The club will meet the management of its two most prized youngsters this week, keen to follow the Lions' lead in emphasising team success over personal financial gain.
The Saints are facing a crucial next few days when they determine the shape of their list for 2005 - including the futures of veterans Andrew Thompson and Justin Peckett - and meet the management of Riewoldt and Ball to discuss new contracts. Robert Harvey is considered certain to play on in 2005.
The future of Heath Black, who sought to be traded to Fremantle last year for family reasons, is also likely to be determined at a meeting between his manager and St Kilda coach Grant Thomas.
Black, too, is out of contract, having been well remunerated since he crossed from Fremantle as an uncontracted signing in 2001.
While Riewoldt is contracted for 2005, he has a clause in his contract that allows him torenegotiate a new deal if he finishes in the top four in the club's best and fairest - placing greater pressure on the club's total player payments. As the AFL's leading mark-taker in 2004, Riewoldt is considered a probable best-and-fairest winner.
While the Saints believe they can retain their talented list without a significant loss, Thomas said yesterday they would have to be "very, very prudent" in contracting players.
"We don't have to push anyone out, as such, but we need to manage it very, very prudently," said Thomas, who is handling contract negotiations.
Ball, whom rival clubs are willing to pay in excess of $500,000 in the unlikely event that he left St Kilda, is understood to have been offered little more than $200,000 over the next two seasons - well below his market worth.
The renegotiations with Riewoldt and Ball could establish benchmarks for the remainder of the St Kilda list, especially the talented younger players.
Thomas confirmed that Riewoldt had the option of a renegotiation in his contract, but added that it was sensible for the club to look at extending his contract, regardless of the clause.
"It's always going to be difficult. You hope the players understand the balance between personal financial gain and team success," Thomas said, pointing out that Essendon and then Brisbane had been under pressure to retain players under the salary cap because of market forces. "I don't expect us to be any different," he said.
Thomas said players would be able to command more dollars at another club. "If they want to go for the best price, they'll get it at another club."
Thomas said he would be speaking to Black's manager, Ron Joseph, to "see if we can sort something out for next year".
The pressure on St Kilda to retain its list has been exacerbated by the substantial contracts to century goalkicker Fraser Gehrig, who came to the club on a long-term deal worth about $500,000 a season, and forward Aaron Hamill, whose enormous contract forced the club to give him an additional four years at the end of this year to lessen the burden.
The Saints managed to re-sign the 2002 No. 1 draft pick Brendon Goddard during the season.
Saints face cap squeeze
By Jake Niall The AGE
September 22, 2004
The rapid rise of St Kilda and its emerging superstar Nick Riewoldt has forced it into a salary-cap squeeze, with both Riewoldt and the club's next most feted young star, Luke Ball, facing contract renegotiations.
Having risen to within a kick of a grand final, the Saints are confronting the type of salary-cap pressures that bedevilled the Brisbane Lions and Essendon before them. The club will meet the management of its two most prized youngsters this week, keen to follow the Lions' lead in emphasising team success over personal financial gain.
The Saints are facing a crucial next few days when they determine the shape of their list for 2005 - including the futures of veterans Andrew Thompson and Justin Peckett - and meet the management of Riewoldt and Ball to discuss new contracts. Robert Harvey is considered certain to play on in 2005.
The future of Heath Black, who sought to be traded to Fremantle last year for family reasons, is also likely to be determined at a meeting between his manager and St Kilda coach Grant Thomas.
Black, too, is out of contract, having been well remunerated since he crossed from Fremantle as an uncontracted signing in 2001.
While Riewoldt is contracted for 2005, he has a clause in his contract that allows him torenegotiate a new deal if he finishes in the top four in the club's best and fairest - placing greater pressure on the club's total player payments. As the AFL's leading mark-taker in 2004, Riewoldt is considered a probable best-and-fairest winner.
While the Saints believe they can retain their talented list without a significant loss, Thomas said yesterday they would have to be "very, very prudent" in contracting players.
"We don't have to push anyone out, as such, but we need to manage it very, very prudently," said Thomas, who is handling contract negotiations.
Ball, whom rival clubs are willing to pay in excess of $500,000 in the unlikely event that he left St Kilda, is understood to have been offered little more than $200,000 over the next two seasons - well below his market worth.
The renegotiations with Riewoldt and Ball could establish benchmarks for the remainder of the St Kilda list, especially the talented younger players.
Thomas confirmed that Riewoldt had the option of a renegotiation in his contract, but added that it was sensible for the club to look at extending his contract, regardless of the clause.
"It's always going to be difficult. You hope the players understand the balance between personal financial gain and team success," Thomas said, pointing out that Essendon and then Brisbane had been under pressure to retain players under the salary cap because of market forces. "I don't expect us to be any different," he said.
Thomas said players would be able to command more dollars at another club. "If they want to go for the best price, they'll get it at another club."
Thomas said he would be speaking to Black's manager, Ron Joseph, to "see if we can sort something out for next year".
The pressure on St Kilda to retain its list has been exacerbated by the substantial contracts to century goalkicker Fraser Gehrig, who came to the club on a long-term deal worth about $500,000 a season, and forward Aaron Hamill, whose enormous contract forced the club to give him an additional four years at the end of this year to lessen the burden.
The Saints managed to re-sign the 2002 No. 1 draft pick Brendon Goddard during the season.
