Brayden Maynard’s future is in the spotlight. Plus how much does North Melbourne’s inspired win over Melbourne help it retain a star free agent?
In and Under delves into footy’s hottest topics, with insights from behind the scenes.
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RIVALS EXPCT MAYNARD TO STAY A PIE
Clubs expect heart-and-soul Magpie Brayden Maynard to remain at Collingwood despite reports of a lucrative bid from North Melbourne.
Chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark first reported over the weekend the Kangaroos could table Maynard a head-turning five or six-year deal worth as much as $1 million per season.
However rival list managers spoken to by foxfooty.com.au would be surprised if Maynard left Collingwood.
The 28-year old said last month he was expecting to sign a new deal with the Pies instead of entering unrestricted free agency, but more recently suggested he’s keeping his options open.
It comes as Dan Houston and Harry Perryman arrived at Collingwood last off-season on $900,000 deals, while Maynard’s current contract is estimated to be worth up to $700,000 ahead of intriguing talks between the premiership backman and the club.
While a big-money Roos offer could blow the Pies out of the water, list bosses highlighted it’s rare for a player to leave a club purely for money, if they’re happy at the club they’re at.
Of course, things could change throughout the season.
Maynard’s departure could net the Pies a first-round pick — which they don’t currently have — as free agency compensation.
But Collingwood wouldn’t want to lose Maynard with several veterans in the twilight of their careers including fellow back six stalwart Jeremy Howe, plus Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom.
The Pies are also linked to father-son gun Tom McGuane, who’s expected to go in the first round of a compromised draft with academy prospects, though the club could always use a combination of later picks as points to match a McGuane bid.
Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly earlier this month said the club was taking a realistic approach to contract dealings with Maynard.
“He’s one of the most loved and important players for our club,” Kelly said on SEN radio.
“We do our very best and whatever we can do to get in front of (his manager) Tommy Petroro and ‘Bruzzy’ too, to show him our love and what we can do financially while managing our TPP (total player payments).
“But if someone desperately wants him and wants to pay him a heap more for a longer period of time, everyone should be going, ‘Good luck mate, if that opportunity is there, even though we’d love you to be here, we want you to be here’.”
DOES DEES WIN CONVINCE LDU TO STAY AT NORTH?
With Luke Davies-Uniacke’s future hanging in the balance, how much does North Melbourne’s inspired win over Melbourne help secure the star midfielder’s signature?
Davies-Uniacke wants to stay at Arden Street but has been keen to see improvement from the Kangaroos after just three, three, two, four and three wins respectively over the last five seasons.
Rival list managers spoken to by foxfooty.com.au expect Davies-Uniacke will re-sign with the Roos and suggested the win over Melbourne doesn’t change that.
One list boss suggested Davies-Uniacke would be “$1.01 odds” to remain at North Melbourne.
It’s understood the Dees win has helped in North’s bid to retain the free agent, however there’s been no movement as such this week.
Still, all signs point to Davies-Uniacke signing an extension with a Kangaroos side he’s helped lifted from a particularly tough period.
“He’s going nowhere, he’s invested, I’ve got no doubt about that,” Kangaroos great David King suggested on Fox Footy’s The First Crack.
It comes amid a particularly crucial first several weeks of the season for the Roos to prove they’re making inroads while Davies-Uniacke is weighing up his decision.
A 0-3 or 0-4 would’ve been alarming, so North’s upcoming clashes against Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast and Carlton could be important.
St Kilda is the rival club seen as the biggest suitor for Davies-Uniacke, so his other main option isn’t overly enticing despite the Saints having cash to splash.
Meanwhile, last weekend was the best North has looked in some time, perhaps ever under Alastair Clarkson, behind the club’s emerging midfield group including Davies-Uniacke, Tom Powell and Harry Sheezel.
“This group has the potential to be the best midfield in the competition, but at some point, you’ve got to put it in front of the fans and say ‘here it is’. I feel like (Sunday) was that day,” King added on The First Crack.
“No more rear-view mirror — it’s (now about) charging forward, competing week in, week out, and putting your talents on show with an anger that the Kangaroos fans demand, because they’ve been an angry bunch for a while.
“But (on Sunday) they say ‘woah, maybe this is why we got Alastair Clarkson to the club’.”
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