Sydney and a marquee free agent are “a fair way off” on a new deal. Plus another Bombers star who considered a rival move has happened up on the saga. MORE IN TRADE WHISPERS.
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AMARTEY, SWANS ‘FAIR WAY OFF’ ON NEW DEAL
Swans free agent Joel Amartey and the club are reportedly “a fair way off” on a new contract as the two parties haggle in negotiations.
Amartey is one of the top key forwards set to enter free agency and sure to draw interest from rival clubs.
SEN’s Sam Edmund reports while other clubs are yet to table offers to Amartey, but the 26-year old would be able to get more to leave the cash-strapped Swans.
“Joel Amartey comes as an unrestricted free agent and he does remain a fair way off a new deal at Sydney … nothing close to being done,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“The Swans haven’t yet offered Amartey a contract and we know the cap there is very much on the tight end. Bottom line is that there will be a gap between the Swans’ best offer and what rivals are prepared to pay.
“Amartey knows that too, but it’s about how much less he’s willing to take in his desire to stay that makes it interesting.”
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Edmund added that Amartey “doesn’t want to entertain any rival offer” yet.
“He wants to see what Sydney’s offer looks like but this is a forward line that has Curnow and (Logan) McDonald, (Hayden) McLean’s below those two and on the periphery, but he’s there at the moment as well,” Edmund added.
“There’s a school of thought he was (ex-list boss) Kinnear Beatson’s project of sorts as a 2018 rookie pick, but it’s a relatively new list team there now headed by Chris Keane.”
RIDLEY OPENS UP ON POTENTIAL BRISBANE MOVE
Zach Merrett wasn’t the only Bombers star that wanted out last off-season.
Jordan Ridley also considered a move to Brisbane after a “frustrating,” injury-crippled run at Essendon.
But Ridley is now “really glad” he stayed at the Bombers, following “the hardest (year) of my career)” that was “grim” given the repeated setbacks.
The 27-year old just returned to the senior team last weekend in his first AFL appearance since Round 20 last year after a calf injury delayed his start to the season.
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He said the appointment of good mate Andy McGrath and an overhaul of Essendon’s fitness staff made it a “no-brainer” to stick around.
“It was probably up in the air for a little while there,” Ridley told Code Sports.
“I am a very loyal person so it would have been a very difficult move for me. My best mates are here and our captain (Andrew McGrath) is one of my closest mates in the world. It would have been hard to leave them.
“When I saw the direction of the club, especially the moves they were making in the high performance department, it was a no-brainer. I had to give it another shot. And I am really glad I have.”
“Inness had a different approach to what we had previously. Rightly or wrongly. I am not a sports scientist but he gave me all the evidence. He showed me some case studies of Jeremy McGovern back in the day who had some hammies and had an All Australian year after Matty got there. We aren’t super like-for-like but a key back is a key back.
“With his presence, he’s so level and calm about the way he does it, because footy can be so high and so low.”
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