Money Talks: Where this Eagle lands could unlock future trades

A 37-game defender could be the unlikely key to unlocking some of the blockbuster deals in this year’s trade period.

West Coast’s Harry Edwards, whose two-year deal expires at season’s end, is attracting opposition interest, including from Melbourne, and whether the Eagles re-sign him may be the decisive factor in whether contracted star Tom Barrass gets to Hawthorn.

The 23-year-old key backman is nowhere near as established as Barrass, who is five years older, but is developing well, and his age better fits rebuilding West Coast’s timeline to on-field relevance.

There is also a possibility that the future of Richmond’s Liam Baker, out of contract at season’s end and being hunted by both Western Australian clubs, could be tied in once the Edwards and Barrass dominoes land. The Eagles’ new list boss, Matt Clarke, used to be the Tigers’ head recruiter.

The Hawks, with senior coach and ex-West Coast assistant and player Sam Mitchell performing a lead role, along with list boss Mark McKenzie, hope to deliver a stunning recruiting coup to cap a promising season.

They missed out last year on Ben McKay and Esava Ratugolea, who instead joined Essendon and Port Adelaide, respectively, but are still trying to upgrade their key defensive stocks.

Hawthorn are aiming to lure St Kilda’s unrestricted free agent Josh Battle, on top of trading for fellow tall defender Barrass, who previously came close to requesting a move to Sydney, but is contracted until the end of 2027.

Battle, who has a strong relationship with Saints’ coach Ross Lyon, remains an even-money prospect to stay at St Kilda, with the club upping their original offer during the season in a clear indication they would prefer to retain him.

Western Bulldogs are also chasing Barrass, but two sources familiar with the situation told this masthead Hawthorn are viewed as the frontrunners if he leaves. The Swans are not interested in Barrass this time around, a separate source told this masthead.

Barrass, who sat out West Coast’s 10-point win over Gold Coast with concussion symptoms after playing his 150th game a week earlier, would earn more money at the Hawks and Bulldogs, while his sister is relocating to Melbourne from Sydney.

Hawthorn have also expressed a level of interest in Giant Harry Perryman, but the unrestricted free agent is considered more likely to re-sign, or cross to Port Adelaide, where he could replace Dan Houston if he departs, and they are in a tug-of-war with Geelong for uncontracted Bulldog Bailey Smith. The Cats are considered favourites in that race.

Baker has a big decision to make, too, after seven seasons as a Tiger, including placing sixth in the club’s best-and-fairest award last year.

The former rookie-lister, a dual premiership player at Richmond, is averaging more than 20 disposals and almost a goal a match this season, as well as career-highs in clearances (3.2), contested possessions (8.5) and tackles (3.9) in a midfield-forward role.

Fremantle hold three first-round picks in this year’s draft, while West Coast will pick no later than No. 3 but could move higher if North Melbourne and/or Richmond overtake them in the final three rounds.

However, the Eagles would not put that selection on the table for Baker despite leading the race for him, where he could join premiership teammate Jack Graham, who appears destined to join the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent.

Enter Barrass, who would fetch a first-round pick that could be flipped to the Tigers – but West Coast would need to know Edwards was staying.

Essendon’s midfield questions

Jye Caldwell remains on track to land a four-year deal after his best-on-ground performance against the Dockers that earned him 10 coaches’ votes, however the contract is not tied down.

Dylan Shiel played his best game for Essendon since returning in round 18 and has a year remaining on his contract.

Other clubs, including St Kilda, have shown interest, in Shiel, but Brad Scott views him as an important cog in their midfield if he can remain fit.

While he is playing, Shiel looks more likely to be staying in the red and black, but he reminded opposition list managers with his performance on Sunday against the Dockers that he could still add value if they wanted to try to prise him from the building Bombers.

Veterans in limbo

Decisions on potential new deals for high-profile key forwards Taylor Walker and Jake Stringer are still to be made despite both continuing to perform well for their respective clubs.

Walker’s situation is more complicated, given, at 34, he is four years older than Essendon star Stringer, and Adelaide have emerging tall forwards Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe showing great promise.

His management and the Crows are set to discuss the matter at season’s end, with Matthew Nicks’ team out of finals contention and having only three matches to play. Walker, who has kicked 26 goals in 16 matches this season, re-signed in July last year during a maiden All-Australian campaign.

It is unclear whether “Tex” might have options elsewhere at forward-needy clubs in flag contention if he parted ways with Adelaide, or if he would retire if the Crows did not offer him a new contract.

Stringer booted four goals in Essendon’s come-from-behind win over Fremantle on Sunday, giving him 38 for the season and on track for his second-best haul behind his 56-goal All-Australian season from 2015.

He, too, is in a wait-and-see situation.

Race for No.1 heats up

Richmond firmed not only for the wooden spoon but the No.1 draft pick when they fell 13 points short of North Melbourne at the weekend.

The Tigers’ general manager of football talent, Blair Hartley, was at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve on Saturday to watch Larke medallist Harvey Langford amass 26 disposals and 10 score involvements in a 57-point Dandenong Stingrays win over Murray Bushrangers.

Recruiters believe it is a wide-open race to be the dux of this year’s draft class, with this masthead placing Jagga Smith at No.1, about three months out from when the call will be made.

Richmond will audition Smith and fellow No.1 contender Finn O’Sullivan in their VFL side against Sandringham at Punt Road Oval on Sunday, in a match that is sure to attract a swarm of talent scouts.

Ball magnet Smith, who had a 50-disposal game in the under-18 Talent League this season, has already played twice for the Tigers’ reserves team, averaging 29 touches, 16 contested possessions and six clearances.

Richmond’s VFL coach Steve Morris raves about Smith the footballer and person.

“I just love the fact he’s, first and foremost, a wonderful human being,” Morris said. “He was really grateful for the opportunity to be here … I think we’ve got him for another couple of games and, hopefully, he continues that great form that he started in.”

Talent agencies fined

Two leading player agencies have copped fines for breaching strict regulations related to approaching underage prospects.

TGI Sport, which previously operated as TLA Worldwide (Australia), and Mac’s Sports Promotions are the agencies in question.

The Agent Accreditation Board (AAB) warned TGI for a breach in August last year, where they spoke to the parents of a talent pathway player before the date of approach eligibility, which is October 1 of the year the footballer turns 16 years old.

TGI also involved prospective clients in an organised training session in January this year, before they were old enough to enter into a standard player agent agreement. Players must already be 17 and eligible for the next AFL draft to enter such an agreement, meaning TGI breached rules around inducement.

They received a $10,000 fine, $2500 of which was suspended.

Mac’s Sports copped a lesser $2500 fine for one of its player agents contacting a player on social media, without first submitting a written letter of introduction via the AFL Players’ Association’s agent portal, then waiting the required timeframe before contacting a player or their parents.

These were the first talent agency penalties dished out since the AAB handed out the maximum $10,000 fine to Hemisphere Sports Management two years ago.

Hemisphere broke rules on organised training sessions, similarly to TGI, but was also under investigation at the time for approaching underage players, one of which was potential No.1 pick Jagga Smith.

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