Training 2024 Preseason training reports and discussion

[Mr Ripper]

Regarding this, is this at Yeronga or Springfield?

S-Town.

 

[Section 5]

he is already one of the highest paid at the club and the existence of the salary floor makes it hard for other clubs with ostensibly worse lists to field an offer significantly better than the one we are likely to put in front of him if they do not want to jeopardise the rest of their list build

He may decide on a 1-year extension on increased money.
Play with the Lions that still should be in a premiership window and with the players he knows.

Then The Gabba issue and where the Lions play season 2026 would be a known factor.

He would still an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2025 and big money would still be on offer.

I am not up with how AFL contracts work.
My thinking is if he can sign a new deal for increased money for season 2023 and again with increased money for 2025.
However, i don't know if there is a deadline to register contracts with the AFL for the current season.

I would think we have cap space this year with the players leaving and only Doedee coming in on big money.

 

[Groo2]

When does Tassie team come in? Does he sign until then and keep that option open. If Fagan was to go as say a footy mgr to finish his career, that might get Hugh across.

 

[rye]

He may decide on a 1-year extension on increased money.
Play with the Lions that still should be in a premiership window and with the players he knows.

Then The Gabba issue and where the Lions play season 2026 would be a known factor.

He would still be an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2025 and big money would still be on offer.

I am not up with how AFL contracts work.
My thinking is if he can sign a new deal for increased money for season 2023 and again with increased money for 2025.
However, i don't know if there is a deadline to register contracts with the AFL for the current season.

I would think we have cap space this year with the players leaving and only Doedee coming in on big money.

i think most likely is something like 5 years / 5m for mccluggage

nice jump in salary and carries him through his prime until where he may want to reassess where he wants to settle down at the tail end of his career

not sure where the gabba demolition plays into player thinking. dont think any of them have said anything, but if i had to guess it will be more of a factor against luring new talent in and retaining draftees rather than something that causes established guys like mccluggage to leave

 

[T Rick]

he is already one of the highest paid at the club and the existence of the salary floor makes it hard for other clubs with ostensibly worse lists to field an offer significantly better than the one we are likely to put in front of him if they do not want to jeopardise the rest of their list build

Interesting point - what is the gap between the salary ceiling and floor?

 

[rye]

Interesting point - what is the gap between the salary ceiling and floor?

from my understanding the floor is 95% of the cap

putting a hard dollar figure to it, in 2022 the floor was $12863000, whilst the cap was $13540000. gap between the two is $677000

not sure how that has changed with the new player salary agreement commencing this year

 

[BuntonRules]

Should we be nervous about Mccluggage? Anyone got inside goss or anything

Watch Kiddie Coleman's interview. The off season training was run by the leaders - Lachie, Harris and Macca. He ain't going no where. Too invested. Too loyal.

 

[Warwick]

Geelong would be the main threat you’d think.

Country Vic lad and Geelong should be able to open up their salary cap with Hawkins, Tuohy, Danger, Stewart, etc, nearing the end.

 

[Jackywats]

Geelong would be the main threat you’d think.

Country Vic lad and Geelong should be able to open up their salary cap with Hawkins, Tuohy, Danger, Stewart, etc, nearing the end.

From what I hear Geelong have been into him every year since he was drafted

 

[Section 5]

I have not gone into how to interpret the figures below from the new CBA.
Looks like total player payments jump a fair bit in year 2025.
However, i would not want the club to sell the farm so to speak to keep McCluggage.
I am sure the club will do the best they can to retain Hugh.

Lots of players up for contracts in the next 2 years.
Below the ones that may require solid contracts to retain their services.
Year 2024: McCluggage
Year 2025: Andrews, Cameron, Daniher, McKenna & Rayner
Year 2026: In my opinion too far away to judge a players salary. Will Ashcroft, Bailey, Fletcher, McInerney & Neale.

 

[irel]

Geelong would be the main threat you’d think.

Country Vic lad and Geelong should be able to open up their salary cap Real Estate investment portfolio for Mrs McCluggage with Hawkins, Tuohy, Danger, Stewart, etc, nearing the end.

EFA

 

[Tom14]

EFA

Need to add in the cotton on franchise.

 

[Squizz89]

If he hasn’t re-signed by the start of the season, then I’ll admit I’d be slightly more concerned.

His signing however, strikes me as one that would be announced at a season launch and/or just prior to round 1 to really ramp it up, as opposed to being hidden away in mid January. I guess they announced Kiddy today though, so who knows?

He has to be re-signed though! Just somehow get it done!

 

[Pns_blister]

I rate Mccluggage, but I don’t think he’s worth paying 1 mil or more for. Hasn’t found the consistency that warrants that kind of coin. If he wants to chase the big contract then so be it. Get what we can and move on.

 

[dlanod]

However, i would not want the club to sell the farm so to speak to keep McCluggage.

How much is your farm? They don't go cheap these days.

 

[dlanod]

If he hasn’t re-signed by the start of the season, then I’ll admit I’d be slightly more concerned.

His signing however, strikes me as one that would be announced at a season launch and/or just prior to round 1 to really ramp it up, as opposed to being hidden away in mid January. I guess they announced Kiddy today though, so who knows?

He has to be re-signed though! Just somehow get it done!

I remember a lot of these posts last time around, he ended up being announced in Feb in the lead-up to the preseason games. it should be done before the season.

 

[dlanod]

I rate Mccluggage, but I don’t think he’s worth paying 1 mil or more for. Hasn’t found the consistency that warrants that kind of coin. If he wants to chase the big contract then so be it. Get what we can and move on.

$1m isn't what it used to be. The new CBA sees the cap increase $1.3m this year, $750k next year, and $2m (!) between 2024 and 2025.

We've got a lot of players signed to 2025 already, and some of our bigger earners locked up even longer. We've got a lot of leeway to spend cap space in coming years, and while McCluggage is just one option I can't see a big list of players becoming available that will provide as much value to the team as him.

(And I know the media and people like to talk about contracts pegged to the cap, so that increase gets eaten up - I don't believe that is nearly as common practice as it's made out to be.)

 

[Dalions]

I rate Mccluggage, but I don’t think he’s worth paying 1 mil or more for. Hasn’t found the consistency that warrants that kind of coin. If he wants to chase the big contract then so be it. Get what we can and move on.

Other clubs will offer $1m per season but hopefully we can keep him for 900k?

 

[POBT]

I doubt we'll ever truly know what a player is actually paid unless the system changes and there is mandatory release of that info. Player managers have a vested interest in inflating the figure (makes them look good to current and prospective clients). Clubs have a vested interest in deflating the figure (helps manage the demands of other players). When they leak info to the media, they aren't being driven by a desire for transparency - they've both got an ulterior motive.

I reckon you could conservatively factor in a 10% error rate on what the media announces as a player's agreed contract. If the announced figure is $1M a year, it could easily be +/-$100K.

I also think it is rare that top clubs end up overpaying the fair market value for an elite player - even moreso when you are trying to retain rather than attract talent.

 

[Section 5]

How much is your farm? They don't go cheap these days.

I know​

sell the farm​

To risk all of one's assents on a venture that one thinks will be hugely successful or rewarding.

 

[Elixuh]

Give the Clug what he is worth, which is $1m+.
By 2027 the average afl salary will be 600k won’t it.

 

[lionshine]

Must retain Clug. Crucial to our success both short term and over the next 5 or so years. Next year we have many quality players coming out of contract including, Daniher, Charlie, Andrews, Rayner, Starcevich plus guys like McKenna, Ah Chee, Gardiner and Lohmann/Dev again.

 

[Section 5]

$1m isn't what it used to be. The new CBA sees the cap increase $1.3m this year, $750k next year, and $2m (!) between 2024 and 2025.

We've got a lot of players signed to 2025 already, and some of our bigger earners locked up even longer. We've got a lot of leeway to spend cap space in coming years, and while McCluggage is just one option I can't see a big list of players becoming available that will provide as much value to the team as him.

(And I know the media and people like to talk about contracts pegged to the cap, so that increase gets eaten up - I don't believe that is nearly as common practice as it's made out to be.)

dlanod it is January 2024, maybe you are mixing up the years. Year 2022 to 2023 was that increase of around $1.3 million.

This year (1.3M) has already passed and that money for season 2023 spent. At least up to the minimum spend.
Clubs only have an extra $750k to spend in the upcoming season of 2024.
This increased figure would have been allowed for on present contracts for season 2024. So, that money basically spent too.

Then the big jump of $2m for the following year being for season 2025.
That gives all clubs room to retain players or bring in another good player or players.
Then only $530K increase for seasons 2026 & 2027.

That $1m part is becoming true but clubs could get carried away with retaining players for too much money.
Player managers will also get money hungry starting with new contracts being signed during season 2024.
Our club hopefully will be diligent in this area.

Having money to retain players is great but the club may wish to add another top player to the list in the years ahead.
No matter what the cap is clubs spend the minimum.
It is always horrible to know that the bottom two clubs (Lions have been there) spend as much as the ones just inside/outside the 8.

You mentioned that Hugh usually signs in February?
I posed a question in another post about deadline for contracts in the current season.
Do you or anyone else know if Hugh could sign in February and include an increase for this year being 2024?
If we can do this by increasing his salary this year (2024) and by a fair bit more again in 2025 when that big increase is due.
Hugh might be happy with that deal.
Signing him for longer would be great.

In my opinion, The Gabba rebuild and future playing venue questions come into play. I don't think more years should be a priority for Hugh at this stage. Once that is settled each party at least knows where the playing ground will be for the years ahead.

The main thing about Hugh McCluggage is he is playing for the Lions in 2024

 

[Section 5]

Give the Clug what he is worth, which is $1m+.
By 2027 the average afl salary will be 600k won’t it.

The thing is if you give everyone the average Hugh will only be on $600k

 

[Elixuh]

The thing is if you give everyone the average Hugh will only be on $600k

Sign BRAB to a token $1p/a contract and give Clug the 600k for that list spot + the 600k for his list spot. Simples.