Rival clubs reportedly think they can pry Tyson Stengle out of Geelong on a big-money deal.
The Herald Sun’s Scott Gullan reports Stengle, a free agent at season’s end, could receive offers worth $800,000 plus from rival clubs, with St Kilda and Essendon touted as suitors.
The Cats meanwhile are believed to only be able to table a deal worth around $600,000 per season, meaning the 2022 All-Australian could potentially be leaving up to $200,000 on the table to remain at Geelong.
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“Rival clubs believe they can get him. There’s offers being floated as $800,000, maybe more, to get him out of the Cattery,” Gullan said on Fox Footy’s The Midweek Tackle.
“He’s 25 and looking for the big lifetime deal … he’s a bit restless down at Cat land.
“Essendon and St Kilda (are circling him) and there’s a few other clubs watching from a distance.
“The issue is Geelong isn’t going to be able to get near $800,000, they might get to $600,000, it might be $150,000 or $200,000 per year deal he could have to make a decision on.”
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Gullan believes comments last month from Stengle’s guardian, Annie Scullie, the wife of Eddie Betts and acting manager of the Cats small forward, that Geelong “is quite isolating” further signals he’s “a bit restless” in the regional city.
Scullie is representing Stengle in talks in a unique management setup, having negotiated a one-year extension for the 25-year old last year.
It’s believed the relaxed, country vibe of Geelong isn’t as appealing to Stengle, who despite only playing one season with Betts at Adelaide, spends several night’s a week at the family’s Melbourne home.
“Lifestyle concerns, maybe he wants to live closer to the city,” fellow Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark said on the Midweek Tackle.
“Remember he went from Richmond to Adelaide on rookie wages and had a low salary first up at Geelong.
“If he’s getting $800,000, that’s a lifetime deal. he’s got to take that money if it’s on the table from St Kilda and Essendon.”
$800K OFFERS FOR PERYMAN AS FOUR CLUBS CIRCLE
Giants utility Harry Perryman is reportedly drawing offers worth $800,000 per season amid links to four clubs.
The 25-year old is set to become a free agent at season’s end, with Hawthorn, Essendon, Adelaide and Port Adelaide all circling the NSW-born player.
“He’s the right place at the right time … ($800,000) is what the Giants are hearing is getting floated in front of his eyeballs from Hawthorn, Essendon and the two Adelaide clubs,” Gullan said on The Midweek Tackle.
“He’s played 118 games and is 25-year old. He’s looking for, like Stengle, the big contract.
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It’s believed he’d have to take a significant pay cut to stay at GWS, with Gullan saying “there’s no big payday coming from the Giants.”
Clark believes Hawthorn “jump out” as a “sexy club at the moment” amid the club’s resurgence under Sam Mitchell.
Fellow Herald Sun reporter Sam Landsberger meanwhile believes Perryman would be silly to turn down such an offer.
“I think Tyson Stengle owes Geelong a lot of loyalty. If Harry Perryman can get $800,000, good luck to him, that would be a great get.”
WINES COMMITTED TO POWER
Ollie Wines has no intention of leaving Port Adelaide amid reported interest from North Melbourne.
The 2021 Brownlow medallist, who’s contracted until 2026, was last month linked to the Kangaroos as the youthful club reportedly looks to add experience and leadership.
However speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Wines, 29, assured he was planning to finish his career at Alberton.
“I haven’t heard anything about it (being traded to North Melbourne),“ Wines said.
“So it could be all (gossip) in the media, but I’ve got two years left at Port Adelaide. I’m a Port Adelaide person through and through and as far as I see it, I’m here for the rest of my career and that’s that.
“So there’s always rumours going around like that, but nothing comes from me. I love this club, and hopefully I’ll retire here.”
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Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson said the draft would remain the main tool for the club to bolster its list, highlighting the challenges it faces with regards to attracting talent.
“Unfortunately for where we are positioned as a club, free agency doesn’t work for teams that are in the bottom 10 of the ladder, so we can’t secure talent that way,” Clarkson said on Channel 7’s Talking Footy.
“It’s difficult for us to secure talent by just trading because you’re competing against the big clubs like Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon.
“Yeah, (rival talent) can see we’ve got talent, but they want to see we’re starting to head in the right direction.”
Clarkson added that the Roos would target players not getting consistent opportunities or veteran players entering the twilight of their careers.
“Maybe at the tipping point of whether they stay in their current side that could be really value for us for three or four years in the twilights of their careers,” the North coach said.
“We’ll search for that as well because they’re guys that could be unbelievable mentors for our young men. That bracket of 26 to 29 year olds on our list is pretty skinny.
“But they’re hard to find — a ‘Hodey’ (Luke Hodge) and Grant Birchall type that went to Brisbane at the late stages of their careers were great mentors for those young Brisbane players. They weren’t there to play in a grand final last year, but they certainly helped get them on track.”