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Melbourne’s director of sports performance Neil Craig says he can understand why senior Demons such as Brent Moloney and Mark Jamar might want to use free agency to join a more successful AFL club.
But Craig said there had been no hint from the key pair that they were disgruntled with first-year coach Mark Neeld or wanted to leave.
Reigning best and fairest Moloney and 2010 All Australian Jamar, both 28, will both be eligible for free agency when it comes into the AFL for the first time at the end of this season, with both having put off contract talks.
Craig said the winless Demons wanted both to stay, but understood their right to consider their options.
“Free agency, that’s exactly what it’s all about,” Craig told SEN radio on Friday night, before Melbourne’s MCG clash with Hawthorn.
“Some guys will see an opportunity to go to another environment from a financial point of view, which will be very attractive to some players.
“Some players will see an opportunity to go to a different environment – the argument would be for Melbourne at the moment, for a Jamar or Moloney to go to a club that’s going to play finals footy and give them some success.
“That could be a huge motivation for players.
“… We would like both those guys to stay at our footy club, but in the end that will be worked out as the season goes on.”
Craig said Moloney and Jamar had demonstrated with their actions at training, in matches and at team meetings that they were highly supportive of Neeld.
He said Jamar had responded well to criticism of his form early in the season and bounced back well over the past three rounds.
He said Moloney was trying hard to act on Neeld’s urging to improve the defensive side of his game.
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