A young superstar has reportedly refused what would’ve been the biggest contract in AFL history.
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And the club he rejected will have to fight off offers of up to 10 years for one of their brightest young stars.
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YOUNG GUN REJECTS ‘BIGGEST DEAL IN AFL HISTORY’
Finn Callaghan has reportedly rejected a verbal offer that would’ve made the young Giant the owner of the AFL’s biggest ever contract.
St Kilda offered the 21-year-old a deal running “at least 10 years” and “more than $17 million” according to Nine’s Tom Morris.
It was part of the Saints’ plan to target top talent from bayside Melbourne while using their hefty salary cap space to bolster a list already featuring numerous talented youngsters.
The contract would’ve been both the equal-longest and richest in AFL history with the highest annual salary – though by the time it ended, the projected $1.7 million a year would’ve likely been surpassed due to a rising cap.
Callaghan is instead expected to sign a four-year extension at the Giants, according to Morris, running at around $1 million a season.
That would take him towards free agency where he could sign a more lucrative short-term deal if all goes to plan.
The Saints are desperate to accelerate their rebuild by luring a big fish, with Zach Merrett confirming a huge offer was discussed for him to leave Essendon. It was believed to be well over $1 million a season – if not quite at the level of the Callaghan bid – and played out similarly to the Callaghan talks with no formal offers but discussions held between the two parties.
The Saints are also chasing the likes of Andrew Brayshaw, Tom De Koning and Luke Davies-Uniacke.
10-YEAR OFFERS TIPPED FOR SAINT
St Kilda also has to worry about keeping its own young guns, with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera tipped to be offered long-term deals of up to 10 years to leave.
The halfback is out of contract heading into 2025, though not a free agent, having more than lived up to the billing of Pick 11 in the 2021 draft.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide, as they have repeatedly attempted (and often succeeded) with South Australian players, will heavily target the 21-year-old according to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.
Given the Saints’ cap space they will be able to match offers expected to reach close to $1 million a year, lasting at least six seasons.
Wanganeen-Milera is the nephew of Power great Gavin Wanganeen, and he is close with the likes of Jase Burgoyne and Jason Horne-Francis.
However Port Adelaide also needs to keep its own exciting halfback in Miles Bergman, with Victorian clubs believed to be confident in luring the 23-year-old home.
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