Brisbane Lion Callum Ah Chee has called out online racial abuse in the wake of Carlton’s successful appeal of skipper Patrick Cripps’ two-week suspension and the club has referred it to the AFL Integrity Unit.
Cripps was cleared by the AFL appeals board on Thursday night, having been given a two-week ban for a big hit on Ah Chee in last week’s clash at the Gabba.
The AFL on Friday confirmed it would not appeal that decision and Cripps was free to play against Melbourne this weekend.
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But amid the fallout, Ah Chee, who was injured in the incident and will miss Brisbane’s match with St Kilda due to the AFL’s concussion protocols, was the target of racial abuse that he spoke out against on his personal Instagram account.
“Not something you want to wake up to in the morning,” I posted.
“How can this still keep happening. Why can’t my brothers and I just play the game we love without having to worry about s**t like this… If my son grows up playing the game – I hope he doesn’t have to deal with this hate.
“It hurts and I’m sick to death of seeing it.”
The Lions also condemned the comments calling the behavior “disgusting” and reported it to the AFL Integrity Unit.
“The Brisbane Lions celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the incredible contribution Indigenous players have made to our club and to our great game,” a clubs statement said.
“It’s disappointing to have to do so, but in moments like this we take the approach as a footy club to urge people to educate themselves about the harmful impacts of racially motivated comments and online abuse.
“At the Lions we are a family and when one hurts, we all hurt.
“If you know anyone who behaves in this way, call it out as completely unacceptable.”
Ah Chee was supported by Brisbane teammate Mitch Robinson, who said the abuse was “as weak as it ever gets”.
“Sick of having to see our Indigenous and multicultural players subject to racism over and over again,” he posted on Twitter.
“If you see it, even if you might know these uneducated trolls on social media keep calling it out and report them.”
The AFL confirmed it would not appeal against Cripps’ ban being overturned, noting the case “involved complexities”, but the reasons for the decision would be closely reviewed.
“The AFL acknowledges and accepts the decision of the AFL appeals board in overturning the tribunal’s decision to suspend Patrick Cripps from the Carlton Football Club,” a league statement said.
“As the appeal board chairman commented last night, the case involved complexities and the AFL will closely review the appeal board’s detailed reasons for the decision that will be received in due course.
“That said, the health and safety of our players at an elite and community level is of paramount importance and that priority will continue to inform the AFL’s ongoing work in taking action where health and safety is impacted or at risk.”
St Kilda had it all to play for on Friday night against the Brisbane Lions, but they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot.
A thrilling third quarter saw them come back to life and put the Lions to the sword. But when it mattered most, they fell apart.
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The Saints had ample opportunities in the final quarter to run away with the contest, but continually threw it away in front of goal.
Young star forward Max King was the prime culprit, finishing the night with five behinds to his name as his set shot routine abandoned him.
The yips seemed to have taken a hold as his routine changed on multiple occasions.
At the other end of the ground the Lions capitalized on their opportunities. The Lions’ last five scoring shots netted them four goals and one behind. The Saints’ last seven scoring shots were all behinds.
St Kilda fans in the stands were routinely spotted by the cameras with their head in their hands after each miss in front of goal.
“The set shots were relatively easy, they weren’t on tight angles. You just have to go back and suck up the pressure and put them through the big sticks,” Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy.
Former St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said King had zero confidence in his kicking by the end.
“He’s had four shots from directly in front and in the end he just looked completely devoid of confidence, his routine was broken,” he said.
“To the point that we watched him pretty closely the last five to 10 minutes and I don’t think he wanted the ball.”
Garry Lyon added: “That’s a horrible night. I agree that in the end he was saying I don’t want to go near it.”
Footy fans watching on were quick to lambaste King for his horror night out, when St Kilda were desperate for the win.
CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny wrote: “There is no more excruciating sight in football than watching Max King kicking for goal.”
St Kilda will now need a minor miracle to qualify for the finals after losing to the Cam Rayner-inspired Brisbane Lions by 15 points.
Brisbane opened up a 26-point buffer late in the second quarter, but for the third game in a row, they either gave up a sizeable lead, or had one eaten into significantly, as the Saints exploded in the third quarter to lead by five points, putting the Lions’ top-four ambitions in peril.
The Saints will likely drop to 10th this weekend, meaning they will have to not only beat the Swans in Sydney in the final round next week, but will also need a raft of other results to go their way to make the finals.
The win launches Brisbane into a second spot on the ladder currently and keeps their hopes alive of securing a final home.
North Melbourne are reportedly set to land the man they covet with the news to be announced next week.
The bottom of the ladder club have offered master coach Alastair Clarkson a monster five-year contract, according to The Age’s Jake Niall.
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Clarkson’s signature has been the hottest commodity around the league with multiple clubs said to be chasing his services.
Along with North Melbourne, the GWS Giants were in hot pursuit of the mastermind who led Hawthorn to four premiership victories.
The Giants have not yet offered Clarkson a contract and while Niall reports Clarkson has not yet responded to North’s offer – Triple M’s Tom Browne says otherwise.
“Coaching update, this is just dot joining according to sources you speak to. There’s not a lot of leaks coming from North Melbourne or the Giants coaching process,” Browne said on Triple M.
“It’s certainly the strong view of sources that I speak to that Alastair Clarkson will end up as soon as next Friday at North Melbourne.
“That remains to be seen but that’s the consistent view that I’m getting is that North Melbourne is very much in the box seat to land Alastair Clarkson for a whole host of reasons.
“The Giants are now looking closely, very closely, at Adem Yze and I think they will also sound out Ross Lyon at some point in their process as well.
“Yze Giants, Clarkson North is the jungle drums in terms of the sources that I speak to at the moment.”
Journalist Mark Robinson believes a Clarkson-North Melbourne deal is “past the post”.
“Everyone’s a little bit scared to declare it because Alastair Clarkson has got the ability to change his mind and say: ‘I’m not coaching’,” he said on 3AW.
“But the further this goes on, I find that can’t happen.”
North have been the reported front runner for Clarkson’s signature for multiple weeks. A report in late July indicated he was seeking an eye-watering contract of $1.6ma year. Clarkson rubbed those reports.
Clarkson and Gerard Whateley co-hosted a function where the Hawks mentor put rumors of his big payday to join North Melbourne to bed.
“How explicit do you want me to be?” Whateley said on SEN when asked about Clarkson’s response from her.
“(He says it’s) bulls**t.
“That was Alastair Clarkson’s reaction to what’s in the public domain about $1.6 million to join North Melbourne.”
The reason behind Jason Horne-Francis’ shock axing has been revealed with the young star failing to meet standards at the club.
North Melbourne’s decision to drop the number one draft pick ahead of his first AFL game back in South Australia, his home state, left fans around the league scratching their heads.
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On Friday night however the reasons behind the decision to ax him where detailed by Channel 7 journalist Mitch Cleary.
Cleary said the 18-year-old was left out of North Melbourne’s squad for “disobeying his coach” last weekend.
“The star teenager was called out by interim coach Leigh Adams and senior players on Sunday for failing to complete his proper ice baths and recovery in front of their very eyes,” Cleary reported.
“I have spent this morning with a dozen teammates training in Melbourne (instead of traveling with the squad).”
Horne-Francis will now run out in the VFL after failing to live up to the club’s “Monday to Friday” expectations.
Former North Melbourne great Brent Harvey opened up on the Horne-Francis axing.
“There’s some stuff that we call Monday to Friday, it’s preparation stuff – you need to tick the boxes,” Harvey said on RSN Radio.
“This is not just about Jason … (Caretaker coach) Leigh Adams has got very good standards, I’ve got to be a little bit careful … but we’ve got players not playing in our team and I’ll name one right now : Kayne Turner.
“He would run through brick walls for every single one of his teammates and every single one of his supporters – he does everything right.
“If he’s not playing, he’s playing in the reserves at the minute, you’d want to be doing everything right to make sure you’re holding up your end of the bargain. We call that Monday to Friday and if you haven’t got your Monday to Friday in order, that’s just not good enough right now.
“Was it good enough in Round 3, Round 4, Round 5? Maybe.
“But with Leigh Adams in charge, the standards have gone to another level and players have to play their part. Monday to Friday is just as important as performing on game day for us.
“There’s not just one incident where we’ve just said (to Horne-Francis): ‘Nah, you’re not playing because of this’. It’s not that at all, everything comes into calculations, the form side of it, what he’s doing after stoppage. There’s so much that comes into it.”
Horne-Francis immediately postponed contract extension negotiations after he was drafted by the club last year.
His two-year draft deal expires at the end of the 2023 season and both Adelaide and Port Adelaide are said to be heavily circling the teenage star.
North Melbourne has reportedly tabled a “lengthy offer” to mastercoach Alastair Clarkson for 2023 and beyond.
The Age reports a contract of at least five years has been put to Clarkson to join the Roos and take over from caretaker Leigh Adams.
Fox Footy’s Mark Robinson said he believes the Clarkson-Kangaroos deal is “past the post.”
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“Everyone’s a little bit scared to declare it because Alastair Clarkson has got the ability to change his mind and say: ‘I’m not coaching’,” he said on 3AW.
“But the further this goes on, I find that can’t happen.”
Commentator Tim Lane said a deal between Clarkson and North Melbourne would be “exciting”.
“North Melbourne people will be ecstatic by this,” he said on 3AW.
“For them to get Clarkson back to the club, where he began his career, he also won a premiership in 2008 with a team that won before its time and that should never be forgotten.
McRae reiterates hope to re-sign De Goey | 00:36
“Clarkson’s won four flags – no ones won more since Norm Smith.
“To have him in the firing line and back at that battling club is brilliant.”
North Melbourne and GWS are both vying for four-time premiership coach’s services after he finished up at Hawthorn at the end of 2021.
Both clubs have met with Clarkson in recent weeks, with the Hawks’ mentor set to make a final call before the end of the home and away season.
It is understood the Giants are yet to officially present Clarkson with an offer.
They are reportedly still speaking with other candidates like Adem Yze (Melbourne), Adam Kingsley (Richmond) and their current caretaker Mark McVeigh.
Robinson said he believes Yze is the frontrunner to take the reins at the Giants, while Leigh Matthews said he didn’t think GWS were going as hard as the Roos for Clarkson.
Hinkley set to remain Port coach | 01:01
“North are head hunting Alastair Clarkson,” he said on 3AW.
“I don’t think the Giants are doing that.”
Clarkson has previously said he’d make a call on his future in August, which has just over a fortnight to run.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said the Roos had gone “all in” trying to sign Clarkson earlier this month, and said the club was a “real chance” of landing his signature.
Clarkson’s manager James Henderson told McGuire that the meeting went “very well” and that it was “a worthwhile experience”.
“There is no Plan B (for North) at the moment,” McGuire said at the time.
North parted ways with former coach David Noble a month ago after just 38 games in charge and Leigh Adams has been caretaker in Noble’s absence.
Just last month reports emerged Clarkson was demanding a whopping $1.6 million a season to return to coaching, but he responded to that by calling the figure “bulls**t”.
Jason Horne-Francis’ failure to complete his “proper ice bath and recovery” is what led to his shock axing from the side to face Adelaide, 7NEWS has revealed.
Horne-Francis was left out of the Kangaroos’ line up for what would have been his first homecoming to play in front of family and friends since being snapped up with North’s first number one draft pick.
7NEWS journalist Mitch Cleary said the prized draft pick was omitted for “disobeying his coach” last weekend.
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“The star teenager was called out by interim coach Leigh Adams and senior players on Sunday for failing to complete his proper ice baths and recovery in front of their very eyes,” Cleary reported.
“I have spent this morning with a dozen teammates training in Melbourne (instead of traveling with the squad).”
He’ll now play in the VFL after failing to live up to the club’s “Monday to Friday” expectations.
With Horne-Francis putting off contract extension talks earlier this year, there’s fears the 18-year-old could be preparing to depart the ‘Roos at the end of 2023 – when his initial two-year draft deal expires.
But North Melbourne great Brent Harvey says the club will not be “held to ransom” by Horne-Francis’ uncertain future.
“I think there’s always a risk (when dropping him),” Harvey said on RSN on Friday.
“He’s going to have the spotlight on him because he’s the number one draft pick… (but) he hasn’t gone out and robbed a bank, he hasn’t done anything bad; teammates love him, staff love him, the coaches love him – he hasn’t done anything bad. This is just part of the development of a young boy to get his preparation right and everybody else. Not just Jason.
“The risk is there (that he departs)… we know the risk, everybody knows the right. Not just Jason. It could be draft pick number five, not number one and they’re from Adelaide or Perth – the going home factor is always going to be there. Same as a Perth club that drafts a Melbourne boy – it’s always going to be there.
“But you can’t get held to ransom for these little things. You’ve got to make sure your culture is number one and that’s what our coach is doing right now and I absolutely love it.”
McRae reiterates hope to re-sign De Goey | 00:36
The decision to ax Horne-Francis shocked the AFL community, with Fox Footy’s Nick Riewoldt labeling the move “strange”, while David King questioned the call given the teen would have motivation to perform in front of his support network.
Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy even told 3AW’s sports day that Horne-Francis’ non-selection for the Crows game was “a bookend to a pretty disappointing season”.
But Harvey opened up on the decision to ax Horne-Francis, who was also left in the VFL for a week after returning from suspension earlier this season.
“There’s some stuff that we call Monday to Friday, it’s preparation stuff – you need to tick the boxes,” he said.
“This is not just about Jason … (Caretaker coach) Leigh Adams has got very good standards, I’ve got to be a little bit careful … but we’ve got players not playing in our team and I’ll name one right now : Kayne Turner.
“He would run through brick walls for every single one of his teammates and every single one of his supporters – he does everything right.
“If he’s not playing, he’s playing in the reserves at the minute, you’d want to be doing everything right to make sure you’re holding up your end of the bargain. We call that Monday to Friday and if you haven’t got your Monday to Friday in order, that’s just not good enough right now.
Koch keeps Hinkley for 2023! | 02:49
“Was it good enough in Round 3, Round 4, Round 5? Maybe.
“But with Leigh Adams in charge, the standards have gone to another level and players have to play their part. Monday to Friday is just as important as performing on game day for us.
“There’s not just one incident where we’ve just said (to Horne-Francis): ‘Nah, you’re not playing because of this’. It’s not that at all, everything comes into calculations, the form side of it, what he’s doing after stoppage. There’s so much that comes into it.”
Harvey, who played 432 games for the Roos and was a premiership winner in 1999, said the club needed to instill the best culture possible in Horne-Francis and the Kangaroos squad moving forward.
“The end of the day, we’ll always come back to what’s best for the football club and what’s best for the culture,” Harvey said.
Cripps free to play, ban overturned! | 00:35
“He’s 18 years old, there are going to be little mistakes along the way.
“Any draftee that comes is not perfect, they are never perfect… he’s come over from interstate, straight into an elite environment.
“Our job is to teach them. Then they’ve got to learn themselves.
“I think he’s done fantastic in his first year away from mum and dad.
“(But) if you compromise on your culture, things go pear shaped real quickly.”
It’s the message that should be conveyed (and clearly is behind closed doors) despite Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes scrutinizing Collingwood for over celebrating its epic seven-point win over Melbourne last Friday night.
Cornes this week said the Pies went “over the top” and called for them to “keep a lid on it” given it’s only Round 21.
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“I haven’t seen stuff like this for a long time — we’ve all loved what they’ve done but they haven’t achieved anything yet,” the dual All-Australian said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“You don’t see Geelong doing this — it’s like a WWE wrestler. Fremantle has qualified for finals, have you seen them doing that? Have you seen Sydney doing that?
“If I was advising them, I’d say ‘keep a lid on it’, narrow your focus and we’ll judge you when you win in September, not in Round 20. We’ll see how it goes on for the finals — I’ve still got some question marks on them.”
It came after probably the game of the season between Collingwood and Melbourne that went right down to the wire in front of a rowdy packed house of over 70,000 fans at the MCG.
With it the Magpies had knocked over the reigning premiers for a second time in 2022, extended their remarkable winning streak to 11 games and moved into second place—of course continuing their stunning rise from last year’s 17th place finish.
Ash Johnson celebrates after the win (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
Factoring in all of the above, wins don’t come much bigger than that.
It set up for the euphoric atmosphere for the black and white post-match. Players, just as they’ve done in several of their previous close wins, immediately huddled in celebration before hugging and high-fiving.
Even coach Craig McRae was sighted on the bench going nuts with players and staff.
The Pies then got around their fans, who were as vocal as you’ll ever hear them throughout the night and jumping for joy on the final siren, embracing with the black and white faithful all around the ground and taking selfies with smiles beaming across their faces.
How could you possibly not live at the moment!?
It was scenes of pure passion and jubilation, and frankly, simple human instinct to react in such a way after yet another epic win — scenes of emotion that make footy what it is. After all, the game isn’t life and death.
You can’t even imagine how players would’ve felt. Going from the feeling of being so hyper focused on the game and questioning, ‘can we do this?’ To then the relief and bliss of, ‘we’ve won our 11th straight, and we’re second.’
And for that one hour after the match they can celebrate and soak up the victory as the pressure valve is momentarily released.
Johnson and McRae embrace (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
“I would like to know what the levels of celebrations actually are. How much are you allowed to celebrate after another win like that?” Dual premiership Kangaroo David King awning foxfooty.com.au.
“The excitement should be shared with the fans, which was how it was done. It wasn’t disrespectful, it wasn’t demeaning in any way.
“They are taking their own on a ride that is so special, why wouldn’t you celebrate like that? Why wouldn’t you embrace what’s happening, as ridiculous as it is.
“And the bottom line is—who cares what people think.”
Footy has changed. Ten years ago there was a vibe in the rooms after wins of players trying to cover up smiles and stay in this overly professional, serious mood and act as if they weren’t happy.
This shift to a more jovial, lighthearted approach was widely said to be key to the Tigers’ resurgence in 2017 (where McRae was an assistant), and the exact same can be said for Collingwood in 2022.
While winning clearly helps, the Magpies simply look like a much happier club — you only need to attend or watch a game or be in the rooms post-match to really feel it — and it’s bizarrely made even Collingwood’s biggest haters warm to it (perhaps some more than others).
McRae’s message all season has been for his troops to stay in the moment week to week and celebrate the good times when they come — and this message has clearly resonated with the group in a breath of fresh air for the competition.
Maynard BUZZING after big hit and win | 00:47
Whenever the Magpies coach after a win has been quizzed about upcoming clashes, his reply has been consistently along the lines of: ‘We’re enjoying this one for now and we’ll worry about that later.’
“He’s really light hearted and has a lot of fun,” Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury said of McRae on Triple M over the weekend.
“Even (against Melbourne) before the game he said, ‘make sure we go out and enjoy the occasion. Take a look around, take the crowd in. I want you boys to play with freedom and fun, smile, enjoy this.’
“You just feel so comfortable and confident. You can see it with how we play, we’ve got energy and enjoying ourselves — and that’s all off the back of our coaching group and ‘Fly’ (McRae) driving that message home.”
What may be perceived as over celebrating is this very positive energy Pendlebury speaks of and aura galvanizing the group and driving one of the most unprecedented runs in league history. The players are simply living McRae’s mantra and riding the tidal wave of emotion.
No matter how far they go, Pies fans will always remember this winning streak and McRae’s first season at large as a truly special period.
This idea that clubs can only celebrate after finals (or grand finals) is mad. Does that mean of the 400 plus games that are played across the season, only one match is worthwhile celebrating because it ends in silverware? Or players who don’t play in flags shouldn’t cherish special victories along the way? That’s too shallow.
Jamie Elliot signs with Feet until 2025 | 00:37
The same can be said for scrutiny towards North Melbourne after it recorded its second win for the season against Richmond in Round 18. The club had just seen its coach depart amid a particularly tumultuous stretch of its horror season, and against all odds, knocked off one of the league’s powerhouses. Bloody lap it up.
There’s too many lows in footy to not enjoy the highs, and for Collingwood, last Friday night might well be the peak of its season. The odds are that the Pies probably won’t go all the way (not that you’d confidently bet against them right now!) But what may or may not happen in September shouldn’t matter.
Of course, context is everything and there’s a line. Not every win should prompt such a reaction, although it’s fair to say the Pies have played in an unrivaled amount of games that have probably warranted it in 2022.
But after having no crowds for the best part of the last two years and the club enduring a particularly rocky period over that span including the infamous 2020 trade exodus and departures of long-time president Eddie McGuire and coach Nathan Buckley, the players should be allowed to enjoy their unforeseen bounce back.
Although winning a flag is ultimately every club’s goal, there’s no rule that they can’t have fun along the journey.
Hawthorn has responded to his potential pursuit of Brodie Grundy.
Plus a gun Docker has revealed he reached out to Luke Jackson amid intense speculation around the Demon’s future.
Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!
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HAWKS ANSWER GRUNDY QUESTION
Hawthorn has remained tight lipped on his potential pursuit of star Brodie Grundy amid uncertain around the star ruckman’s future at the Magpies.
The Hawks have been touted as a potential landing spot for Grundy following skipper Ben McEvoy’s retirement announcement this week.
Collingwood is reportedly shopping the 28-year old to rivals and willing to chip in $300,000 of his annual salary worth around $1 million until 2025 at another club, with the Demons and Giants reportedly already meeting with the big man.
Feet rebound from cap scandal | 02:10
Asked about the potential for Hawthorn to recruit Grundy, club CEO Justin Reeves told SEN: “That’s one for Mark McKenzie (list manager). I know that’s a cop out but the reality is there are so many variables in that.
“He’s probably got plenty of footy left in him, I don’t know the figures of his contract but what we should say is you look at every opportunity that you think would make your football club better.”
Grundy, who hasn’t played an AFL game since Anzac Day due to a PCL setback, had been nearing a return to the senior level before suffering a stress fracture in his ankle in a VFL match, ruling him out for the rest of the regular season.
The ruckman signed his current lucrative deal, estimated to be worth $7 million in total, at the end of 2019.
DARCY CHECKS IN ON JACKSON
Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy has revealed he reached out to Luke Jackson to check in on the Demons star amid intense speculation around his future.
Jackson, who’s out of contract at the end of the season and weighing up his future, has been heavily linked with a move to the Dockers on a lucrative, long-term deal that would see him return to his home state.
Speaking on Triple M, Darcy said he at large contacted Jackson to see how he was traveling mentally with all the external noise.
“I’ve spoken to him about how he’s going. It’s a pretty tough decision for him,” Darcy told Triple M.
“Flattest” feeling after Pies loss | 02:25
“I just checked on him mentally, with everything going around. It’s pretty tough on him. His name of him ‘s in the newspaper every day.
“I had a little bit last year when (reports said) I was desperate to leave. But that never came from me, that was more media making it up.”
As Jackson doesn’t yet qualify or free agency, he’d need to move clubs via trade.
The former Pick 3 has played 48 AFL games for Melbourne including in its drought-breaking premiership win last year.
Kangaroos great David King believes Buddy Franklin will eventually decide to remain at Sydney as his contract saga with the Swans drags on.
The star forward’s deal with the Swans expires at the end of the season and he has put contract talks on hold.
“At this stage conversations have been paused around my contract so I can put all my focus on playing footy,” Franklin said through his management last weekend.
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“No further comment will be made until the season is done and I have decided about my future.
“I am still undecided and need time after the season to make a family decision about whether I continue to play next year.”
The 35-year-old has been linked with a move north to the Brisbane Lions, while retirement is not out of the question either.
But King believes Franklin will agree to stay at the Swans once the contractual “arm wrestle” is finalized.
“I don’t see Buddy really desiring to go to another football club and having to prove himself over again regarding training standards, having to gather a group, getting to know a whole new club again,” the Fox Footy commentator told news.com .au.
“I don’t see him doing that all over again.
“I think he’s got a pretty good set-up in Sydney for what will probably be the last 1-2 years of his football journey.
“He’s been an outstanding person and player for our code so whatever he decides, I think we all just give him the grace that he’ll make the right decision.”
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said last month the Swans should be prepared to “let Buddy walk” to hold onto promising young players in a salary cap squeeze.
King agreed, saying the Swans are simply doing their due diligence and ensuring Franklin’s new contract doesn’t hurt them in the long-term.
“It is a business at the end of the day,” the dual premiership-winner said.
“Each player needs to run their contractual arrangements as a business. That’s just where we’re at.
“I don’t begrudge Buddy doing what he’s doing, I don’t begrudge Sydney doing what they’re doing. They’ve got to justify what they’re doing in building that next premiership opportunity. “They’ve got to look at life after Franklin even though he’s still there. It would be counter productive for them to set up a salary cap that would cost them a player somewhere down the track.
“We all understand what’s happening. It’s a contractual arm-wrestle, I’m sure it’ll sort itself out.”
Another out of contract player is Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey, who is in good form but has had several off-field indiscretions including a Bali nightclub video scandal which saw him issues a suspended $25,000 fine.
King believes the Magpies will be desperate to re-sign De Goey but any new deal will be “on Collingwood’s terms”.
“I think (Collingwood coach) Craig McRae’s handled it perfectly,” he said.
“They love Jordan De Goey the player and we see what he does with his ability to influence games, keep that scoreboard ticking over. Whether you like him or not personally, he’s a star of our competition.
“Do Collingwood want to keep him? I’m sure they do, 100 per cent. We’ve heard Craig McRae say that countless times.
“But at the end of the day it’s on Collingwood’s terms. The off-field has outweighed the on-field over the last 24 months. That’s become a concern for him. It will impact the contract tensions no doubt, but they clearly need Jordan De Goey to stay at Collingwood.”
