Free Agency Zac Williams [joins Carlton as an RFA for a 1st round compensation pick]

[PMBangers]

This isn't a 'my club is better than yours' contest, keep discussion relevant to Zac Williams please

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

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noted.

 

[Grimesy87]

Come to Melbourne thanks. I've seen him kick 2 drop punts in a row, which automatically makes him our best mid.

We will even throw brayshaw and change in if you match the bid and make us trade.

Unfortunately I don't think we would chase him. Most likely destination if he leaves are Sydney or the doggies.

 

[Orange Agent]

He's in the Whitfield, Coniglio and co. off-field group, very close to Lachie. No Melb connection hailing from Narrendera, IIRC raised by a single mum who pushed him to stay in Sydney after he wanted to come home in the first year. Much like Lachie, he won't be chasing the biggest $$$ offer. Unless the club stupidly lowballs him, the Sheedy connection is the only factor that could perhaps sway him. One of the most popular team mates in the playing group.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

He is the type of player North Melbourne and Pord Adelaide are crying out for..

Reckon he stays though, strikes me as the loyal typ happy to stay for less to try win a flag.

 

[Tenny]

Richmond bound.

 

[Giant Pete]

One of my favourite players. Should already have an AA. Star. Really hope he stays.

 

[Arr0w]

Would love to get him, especially being a free hit

I think he will stay

 

[Peel67skin]

Would love to get him, especially being a free hit

I think he will stay

Where you get the money to throw at Zac William? Isn't it Jack Martin 1 million a year for 2020 and 2021.

 

[Arr0w]

Where you get the money to throw at Zac William? Isn't it Jack Martin 1 million a year for 2020 and 2021.

Surely you are not still salty about that

 

[Giant Pete]

As much as I want him to stay... perhaps that’s the reason we went for Ash.

 

[Mofra]

Unfortunately I don't think we would chase him. Most likely destination if he leaves are Sydney or the doggies.

Would love him but I don't think he leaves. Giants will prioritise his signing over someone like a Findlayson. He's a NSW lad too so no go-home factor.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Would love him but I don't think he leaves. Giants will prioritise his signing over someone like a Findlayson. He's a NSW lad too so no go-home factor.

Given what he showed when he got a run in the midfield last year he'd have to take massive unders to stay surely.

When they get Cameron to stay, they'll have 4 guys on close to or over a million a year wont they? That doesnt leave a lot for the other 40 guys - and there are some quality young players who are going to need paying soon (Taylor, Taranto, Hopper).

Given the RFA status I'd be more than happy for Freo to give him 850k a year if we were confident he could replicate what he showed through the middle last year (not that we are any chance).

You'd have to imagine he'd be turning down close to 250k a year if he stays - would be a massive coup to get him to stay.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

When they get Cameron to stay, they'll have 4 guys on close to or over a million a year wont they?

I heard it was 11.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I heard it was 11.

So you dont think there will be 4 on close to or over a million given everything reported?

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

We will ask the question with the rance cash but we will do that to most quality players who will be available doubt he leaves but he’d be a great pick up for any side

 

[lionshine]

You could make a case for every club in the league going hard for him. Several examples below-

Port, Freo, GC and Carlton are in a similar boat in that they have accumulated a lot of quality young talent and could use a star recruit to come in and help fast track the rebuild.

North go hard at big name free agents and Zac Williams would add a point of difference to their midfield that they've been looking for.

Geelong need a star player to replace Tim Kelly and they'll offer the money for it in the hopes of keeping a contending side around Dangerfield's final years. Plus Williams as a midfielder offers similar tangibles to Kelly e.g. pace/run and carry.

Hawthorn have gone hard at FA/Trade targets in order to replenish their list for another flag tilt. If they land Zac Williams I think that'd tip them over the edge again in terms of being a flag contender. They have quite a few A graders on their list now with Mitchell, JOM, Wingard, Gunston, Siciliy, Breust and Worpel. If they added Williams to their midfield mix they'd be a very dangerous side.

St. Kilda have just had a big off season headlined by signing Brad Hill after landing Hannebery the year before. This mix of experienced recruits is set to compliment the likes of young stars, Billings, Gresham, Clark and King nicely. Word is they're still on the hunt for another big name to join them, however, and Williams would provide them with another A grader to add to their midfield stocks. Hill and Williams would give the Saints so much run and carry.


It'll be interesting to see what happens with Williams. I have a feeling his ideal preference would be to remain at GWS. He appears to really love the club. I just think he'll be turning down a lot of money in order to do so.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Should be norths number 1 target

 

[tiger_tough]

Would love him to replace Houli after this season. Gun.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

So you dont think there will be 4 on close to or over a million given everything reported?

No.

 

[briztoon]

You could make a case for every club in the league going hard for him. Several examples below-

Port, Freo, GC and Carlton are in a similar boat in that they have accumulated a lot of quality young talent and could use a star recruit to come in and help fast track the rebuild.

North go hard at big name free agents and Zac Williams would add a point of difference to their midfield that they've been looking for.

Geelong need a star player to replace Tim Kelly and they'll offer the money for it in the hopes of keeping a contending side around Dangerfield's final years. Plus Williams as a midfielder offers similar tangibles to Kelly e.g. pace/run and carry.

Hawthorn have gone hard at FA/Trade targets in order to replenish their list for another flag tilt. If they land Zac Williams I think that'd tip them over the edge again in terms of being a flag contender. They have quite a few A graders on their list now with Mitchell, JOM, Wingard, Gunston, Siciliy, Breust and Worpel. If they added Williams to their midfield mix they'd be a very dangerous side.

St. Kilda have just had a big off season headlined by signing Brad Hill after landing Hannebery the year before. This mix of experienced recruits is set to compliment the likes of young stars, Billings, Gresham, Clark and King nicely. Word is they're still on the hunt for another big name to join them, however, and Williams would provide them with another A grader to add to their midfield stocks. Hill and Williams would give the Saints so much run and carry.


It'll be interesting to see what happens with Williams. I have a feeling his ideal preference would be to remain at GWS. He appears to really love the club. I just think he'll be turning down a lot of money in order to do so.

You would imagine he would be the perfect replacement for MRobbo on the wing opposite to McCluggage.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

No.

Genuine question, do you have inside knowledge on this or just what you think?

Coniglio seems to have definitely signed on for about a mill

Coniglio signs seven-year deal with GWS, rejects rival offers

Stephen Coniglio has spurned massive offers from Carlton and Hawthorn to sign a monster seven-year deal to remain with Greater Western Sydney.

www.theage.com.au

Cameron was on a million a year- you would think he's not lost value since he last signed

Million-dollar men: Nine AFL players topped $1 million mark last year

The number of million-dollar players in the AFL is back up to nine with two players earning in excess of $1.2 million in 2019.

www.theage.com.au

The next two seem less certain

Kelly was reportedly offered 1.1 mill a year from North

AFL 2019: Josh Kelly set to ignore rival club offers and re-sign with GWS Giants

Giant blow looms for Victorian clubs with Kelly set to stay

www.foxsports.com.au

Assuming he really likes the club and takes a 20% discount on what he could get, that's 888k a year

Whitfield I admittantly cant find anything so it is entirely subjective opinion but I would be staggered if the biggest contract of his career is less than 850k a year given he knows he could get 1.1m a year elsewhere.

I am not saying the above reports (or my opinion are correct), only asking if you have evidence to the contrary.

I also love what you guys are doing list management wise and re-iterate that it would be a massive tick of approval to you guys if you get Williams to stay given what he did last year in the middle

 

[Scotland]

GWS in 2012/13 had Ward, Scully, Davis, Palmer, Cornes, Power, Brogan, Folau (LOL), McDonald, Reid and a bunch of kids. Half of those were gone within a season or two. From 2014 onward they could pay their drafted players more, so you'd expect that guys like Cameron, Treloar, Greene, Shiel etc. who were quick out of the blocks were well paid from an early point in their careers. If Coniglio signed for $1m in 2019 it's possible he wasn't paid as highly early on because his first 4 years while solid weren't at the level of his last 4. Lower profile players like Tomlinson, Zac Williams etc. might never have been paid a fat cheque and that this point in their careers have to look at their financial futures.

The AFL isn't the NBA where someone like Steph Curry gets a mandated 4 year rookie deal, then an OK deal for 4 years and then having played at MVP level gets a 5 year monster contract starting form his 9th year in the system. If GWS tried to do that they'd have been paying $5m a year for 4-5 years and then trying to pay $20m. Not possible.

If you look at the players in and out over the years it's not hard to work out how their cap pieces together. Dylan Shiel was traded after 7 years and was contracted for 8. Highly possible Shiel got overs in 2014-2017 and then re-signed for 2018/19 for market value/unders knowing the club was a flag shot, then decided to explore his options knowing there was a cap squeeze and beyond 2019 he would've been paid as the 8th-10th player for example whereas with a move he could get more money and security.

Plus since little is actually confirmed by the AFL the media have free rein to report whatever they like. There are only 9 players who earned $1m or more in 2019. I doubt GWS have 4 or 5 of them.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

GWS in 2012/13 had Ward, Scully, Davis, Palmer, Cornes, Power, Brogan, Folau (LOL), McDonald, Reid and a bunch of kids. Half of those were gone within a season or two. From 2014 onward they could pay their drafted players more, so you'd expect that guys like Cameron, Treloar, Greene, Shiel etc. who were quick out of the blocks were well paid from an early point in their careers. If Coniglio signed for $1m in 2019 it's possible he wasn't paid as highly early on because his first 4 years while solid weren't at the level of his last 4. Lower profile players like Tomlinson, Zac Williams etc. might never have been paid a fat cheque and that this point in their careers have to look at their financial futures.

The AFL isn't the NBA where someone like Steph Curry gets a mandated 4 year rookie deal, then an OK deal for 4 years and then having played at MVP level gets a 5 year monster contract starting form his 9th year in the system. If GWS tried to do that they'd have been paying $5m a year for 4-5 years and then trying to pay $20m. Not possible.

If you look at the players in and out over the years it's not hard to work out how their cap pieces together. Dylan Shiel was traded after 7 years and was contracted for 8. Highly possible Shiel got overs in 2014-2017 and then re-signed for 2018/19 for market value/unders knowing the club was a flag shot, then decided to explore his options knowing there was a cap squeeze and beyond 2019 he would've been paid as the 8th-10th player for example whereas with a move he could get more money and security.

Plus since little is actually confirmed by the AFL the media have free rein to report whatever they like. There are only 9 players who earned $1m or more in 2019. I doubt GWS have 4 or 5 of them.

No they didn’t have one because
A) they had bitten off more of Cameron’s salary earlier - he was averaging a mill a year
B) the Whitfield and Coniglio deals were agreed at the end of the year

I also said at or around 1m, they could all be on 950k and not be in that group. Even assuming the media are ‘lying liars’ simple logic dictates is hard to believe these guys are on much less than 900k a year knowing any club with cap space is offering each of the big 4 over a mill a year.

You hit the nail on the head with Shiel, it’s a perfect example of why I think it will be hard to keep him. He’s the type of player they replace with top end draft talent (cough ash cough) for 600k a year less

Edit: Re-reading you post I can’t tell if you agreeing or disagreeing sorry haha

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

If he is a NSW lad, The Swans should throw the kitchen sink at him, exactly the type of player they need, given their retirements over the past 2 years.

 

[Donakebab]

If he is a NSW lad, The Swans should throw the kitchen sink at him, exactly the type of player they need, given their retirements over the past 2 years.

From Narrandera in NSW, which is actually closer to Melbourne. Riverina heartland.