The Collingwood Magpies have signed Daniel Wells on a three-year contract believed to be worth $600,000 a year.
» All the trade rumours
» List of free agents
» Every trade and free agency move
After 243 games with the Kangaroos and two best-and-fairest awards, the silky midfielder opted for the security of a big offer from the Magpies over a smaller deal put forward by North Melbourne.
North Melbourne confirmed early on Monday morning that Wells had made the decision to leave the club, releasing a short statement online.
North can confirm Daniel Wells has advised he will be leaving the club under Free Agency rules.
The 31-year-old played 243 games over 14 seasons with the Kangaroos.
“We’re obviously disappointed to be losing someone of Daniel’s calibre but we respect his decision,” North GM Football Cameron Joyce said.
“Daniel has been an outstanding player and person and we wish him all the best.
“We have benefitted from Free Agency over the past few seasons and fully respect the system.”
North had tabled a two-year deal for the midfielder.
It’s a bold move from Collingwood and may tie into Nathan Buckley’s previous statement that he believes he’ll need to make finals in 2017 to retain his job.
While there’s no doubt that Wells has elite skills and can play A-grade football, the fact that he has played just 31 of a possible 72 games in the last three years would have to be a concern.
If he returns that same kind of numbers over the length of his three-year deal with the Magpies, it would be hard to consider it a success.
On the other hand, only four of those missed games came in 2017, and if Collingwood believe they can get 16+ games out of Wells each year, then he could potentially be an enormously valuable asset for him.
North Melbourne received a second-round draft pick as compensation for Wells’ departure, currently pick No.32 overall. The Roos were reportedly expecting an end-of-first-round pick given the size of Wells’ contract, but his age likely figured into the AFL’s decision as well.
It's official! Daniel Wells is a Pie. Exclusive words with the 243-gamer coming soon on #TradeDaily. #sidebyside pic.twitter.com/nSQVsKMYiT
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 11, 2016
OFFICIAL: We will receive pick 32 as compensation for Wells' departure.
The selection was based on the Collingwood offer + Wells' age.
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) October 11, 2016
Eddie McGuire's latest bold idea has dropped - for North Melbourne to take over the outskirts of Melbourne and use it to rejuvenate the…
Pendles wasn't expecting that!
Diplomatically answered, Darcy!
For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the now-traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG, there has been one thing conspicuously lacking over…
