Channel Nine football reporter Tom Morris has given a news update on several big names that have made headlines this season about their playing futures.
He joined Kane Cornes on SEN Breakfast where he discussed the futures of Rowan Marshall, Josh Battle and Jake Stringer.
Morris’ update included Marshall’s dinner with Saints coach Ross Lyon after trade rumours emerged last week, Battle’s free agency call and Hawthorn’s interest as well as what Stringer can expect his new deal to look like.
On Rowan Marshall’s dinner with Ross Lyon
“Last week I spoke about Rowan Marshall, and this is how it played out last week,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“On Monday morning, I told you (Kane Cornes) and Nathan Buckley he was a player to watch in the trade period. Nothing more than that.
“Several clubs told me he was unsettled despite having a long-term deal to the end of 2027.
“On Wednesday night, Marshall had dinner with Ross Lyon at Grill Americano in the city, they had a meal together.
“Marshall told Ross at this meeting he’s happy and he won’t be requesting a trade. So, you need to take Marshall at his word.
“But what I can tell you this morning is that this won’t stop clubs asking the question.”
On Josh Battle’s unrestricted free agency call and Hawthorn interest
Morris: “Another one of those (players of interest) is Josh Battle.
“Hawthorn have offered six years and St Kilda also have six years in front of him.
“He’s an unrestricted free agent, so my question to you is, what should he do for his career?”
Cornes: “It’s impossible to answer that question because I don’t know.
“I was a player who wanted to play at one club for the whole of my career. That was important to me. For others, it is not.
“It’s a big decision for him to make, clearly. Otherwise, he would have accepted the six that’s on offer from the Saints. So clearly there is a level of ‘I don’t know’.
“If you were going to go to a club, I would love to go to Hawthorn. They are now a destination club. I can see where he fits in and amongst this back six … it’s pretty enticing if Sam Mitchell is ringing.”
Morris: “I think Josh Battle is seriously considering leaving.
“Sammy Edmund reported that he (Battle) took a call from Sam Mitchell, multiple calls. That means you’re considering your options as he has every right to do so.”
On Jake Stringer’s next deal and Essendon’s stance on what they’re prepared to offer
Cornes: “I’ve got a degree in players who need to be motivated by their contract status and the number one is Jake Stringer who is out of contract.
“What’s the latest on his situation?”
Morris: “Both sides have said they’re happy to wait until later in the season, if not the end of the season, to sort this out.
“As it stands right now, my understanding is that the Bombers don’t really want to offer much more than $600,000 a year.
“Now a good last seven or eight weeks that might bump it up to two years, it might bump it up to $650,000-$750,000.
“But there’s no way that Jake Stringer is going to be commanding big money at Essendon.”
Cornes: “My thoughts are that Essendon are playing this absolutely perfectly and they have made some errors in the past.
“Jake Stringer will be 31 basically by Round 1 next year or in April next year. He’s a player who needs to be motivated by that contract status.”