Hawk wants to be traded to the Tigers; AFL mid-season trading; Roos star ready to leave
Hawk demands a trade with Richmond.
Peter Ryan and Michael Gleeson
Jacob Koschitzke, a key forward for Hawthorn, has requested a transfer to Richmond.
Two people familiar with the matter confirmed that Koschitzke, who had been offered a new contract by the Hawks, informed club officials of his choice on Wednesday.
Since being picked with pick 52 in the 2018 national draft, the 23-year-old has appeared in 48 games for the Hawks. The 196-centimetre forward was expected to forge a long-term key forward tandem with Mitch Lewis, but after a promising debut season, he has battled to maintain consistency.
Koschitzke’s plea may pique the Hawks’ interest in Gold Coast forward and second ruck Mabior Chol.
Chol, who is tied to the Gold Coast for two more seasons after signing a four-year deal when he arrived from Richmond at the end of 2021, has been a peripheral player this year, playing only nine games for the Suns.
“Mabior is focused on the VFL finals and, hopefully, a premiership with the Suns.” We are aware of and have been approached by a number of clubs interested in Mabior owing to his high-end skill to see where everything stands,” Ashley Blair of Pacific Sports Management said in a statement a fortnight ago.
Adelaide has also showed interest in Chol, given the uncertainty surrounding Elliott Himmelberg’s future, whom the Giants are pursuing to play alongside his brother Harry. The 25-year-old has played 41 games for the Crows this season and is under contract for next year.
Tom Doedee, a Crows free agent who is recovering from a knee reconstruction after ripping his ACL, has yet to decide on his future after receiving offers from Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions. The Crows intercept marking defender is seeking a long-term contract.
Brisbane has been interested in the defender for some time, and the Magpies consider him as a long-term successor for Jeremy Howe.
Shane McAdam, a dynamic Crows medium tall forward, has sought a move to Melbourne.
Hawthorn is still awaiting a decision from out-of-contract North Melbourne free agent Ben McKay, who is leaving the Roos and has restricted his options to Hawthorn and Essendon.
Koschitzke has 54 goals in 48 games this season, including nine goals in 12 games. His finest season was in 2021, when he scored 27 goals in 20 games. He was subbed off twice and was an unused sub once.
Roos ruck fantastic to leave
McGowan, Marc
Todd Goldstein, the North Melbourne champion, has informed the Kangaroos that he will use his free agency rights to join a rival club for next season.
The 35-year-old leaves North after 315 appearances, including 20 this year, although he is no longer the club’s first-choice ruckman, with Tristan Xerri taking over.
Since before the end of the home and away season, Goldstein has been linked with a move to Essendon. The Bombers are considering Sam Draper and Nick Bryan, but Andrew Phillips retired, so Goldstein may serve as a seasoned back-up while Bryan develops. The Bombers are interested, and Collingwood is also interested, according to two sources, but Essendon is the more likely destination for the ruckman.
However, there are a number of ruck-needy clubs in the competition, including Melbourne (who are bracing for Brodie Grundy to request a transfer to Sydney), the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Geelong, and Port Adelaide. Bulldog Jordon Sweet has already been signed by the Power.
Goldstein has turned down offers from other clubs, most notably the Cats, in order to remain loyal to the Roos.
“It’s been a really tough decision,” Goldstein added.
“I’ve talked to my manager [Tom Petroro] and my family about what’s best for us going ahead… and I believe that is to explore for new opportunities.
“It’s probably time for the club to make a fresh start and give Tristan a chance to shine in the No. 1 ruck role.” I am grateful for everything the North Melbourne Football Club and its supporters have done for me. They’ve been the most devoted supporters I could have hoped for.
“I hope for nothing but the best for this footy club and for this group going forward.”
AFL pay package includes a mid-season draft, extra games, and greater money for all players.
Mr. Peter Ryan
The AFL men’s competition will gain lengthier standard contracts for top-20 draft picks, a mid-season trading period, and additional Thursday-night matches, while the women’s season will get extra games thanks to a new labor agreement signed on Thursday.
As a result of the league’s first collective bargaining agreement for both competitions, the average pay for AFLW players will immediately increase from $46,000 to $60,000, then up to $82,000 by 2027, by which time the average men’s salary is expected to be $519,000.
The five-year agreement is valued at $2.2 billion.
Its intention to expand the AFLW season to 14 games with finals is contingent on generating average crowds of 6000 each game and a broadcast audience of 100,000 viewers.
Melbourne AFLW captain Kate Hore said the arrangement gave women a realistic chance to play professional football. “When a young girl is asked what her dream job is, it is now a reality.” “They can be full-time football players, which is incredible,” Hore remarked.
AFL chief executive officer Gill McLachlan said the women’s season would ideally eventually run parallel to the men’s season, but the AFL’s priority was to ensure the investment in AFLW and targets were appropriate to manage growth sustainably. AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh admitted the players pushed hard for a 17-game AFLW season.
“We have got growth in games and we need to increase the number of people that are watching and coming to games,” Marsh said. “We do think the metrics are achievable. We have been there before.”
The first joint CBA will also result in three-year contracts becoming the standard offering for first round draft picks from 1-20 in the men’s competition, while mid-season trading will also be implemented after consultation between the AFL, clubs and players.
Thursday night football could occur across the season, with players agreeing to three five-day breaks per year while players will need to provide greater media access.
“There is certainly a chance that we could have [mid-season trading] next year,” said AFL-CEO elect Andrew Dillon. “[We just want] to make sure there are no unintended consequences.”
The three-year standard contracts for new draft picks will only apply to those men selected between picks 1-20 in the national draft, who will find their earning capacity in their third year determined by any awards they receive and the number of games they play, with more detail to follow.
“The payments will be based on performance,” said Marsh. “It’s not restraining them to a base level, it’s rewarding performance.”
Marsh said the majority of players stayed at the club that drafted them beyond three years, and he was confident the welfare of players would not be affected, with nothing to stop the player and club agreeing to trade them before the three years elapsed.
The total player payments for the men’s competition will immediately rise by 10 per cent, with players back paid for 2023.
After an historic 94 per cent pay increase in 2022, all AFLW players will now receive an additional 29 per cent for the current 2023 season. It is estimated that more than 90 of the top AFLW players will be paid more than $100,000 in 2023 – up from 40 players last season and 12 players the season prior.
The agreement also includes a 12-month pregnancy policy, starting from six weeks before a player’s due date, which will be introduced immediately.
The five-year deal will result in a total AFLW player payment rise of 77 per cent by 2027 across all 540 players – touted as the largest total investment in women’s sport of any domestic league. All up, the combined AFL and AFLW agreement will deliver 31.7 per cent of assessable football revenue to the players.
AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield described the deal as a healthy one for players.
The past players injury and hardship fund will receive a $40 million boost, with $60 million invested in the fund over five years – up from $20 million in the last CBA – to ensure that more players, including those suffering long-term impacts of concussion, can access funding to support them post-career.
The league and AFLPA will manage the fund jointly, with Dillon saying it will effectively work as a no-fault compensation scheme that “will look to compensate players who have a need and have a financial need”, with players eligible to make concussion claims.
