Adelaide midfielder Sam Berry has put his contract talks to the side despite his current deal ending at the end of the 2024 season.
The tough on-baller has endured an up-and-down run at the Crows since being taken with pick No. 28 in the 2020 Draft as he played 17 and 18 games respectively in his first two seasons before appearing just four times in 2023.
This year, he’s managed to play 11 games, although five of those have come as the activated substitute.
While the 22-year-old said he loves Adelaide, his focus is purely on his footy and not his next deal, which is why he’s put contract negotiations on the afterburner.
“I try to keep (the business side of football) separate and not make it a stress,” Berry told reporters.
“All I’ve been thinking about is trying to play good footy. That’s my No.1 focus.
“Whatever happens will come off the back of that.
“I love Adelaide, love the club, love the people and have really enjoyed my time here so far.”
With a new deal at Adelaide not in his immediate thoughts, SEN SA The Run Home duo Michelangelo Rucci and Kym Dillon discussed what Berry’s next move could be.
One listener of the show – who Dillon said is often on the money – linked Berry to Collingwood and the SEN host felt the midfielder would be a perfect fit at the Magpies.
Rucci: “How’s he (Berry) looking at the end of the year?
“If you were managing him now, how would you walk into those discussions with Adelaide at the end of the year?
“Or are you hoping the phone rings from elsewhere?”
Dillon: “He’ll be offered a contract from Adelaide, there’s no question of that.
“Whether he’s looking for a better one or whether he wants to go home, I don’t know. I think he’s just looking for regular game time.
“He’s got a lot of upside. He’s as tough as a cat’s head and he’s looking pretty good. He just needs to win a little bit more of it.
“He can certainly play … when players put their talks off there’s normally a reason.
“He’d be a perfect fit for them (Collingwood) at the moment. It would be sad to lose him from Adelaide if he does go.”
Berry, who originally hails from Maffra in Victoria’s Gippsland region, has started for Adelaide in their last two games and is averaging 20 disposals and five clearances across the last fortnight.