The Collingwood Magpies have signed Daniel Wells on a three-year contract believed to be worth $600,000 a year.
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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.
Gecko
Guest
Josh nailed it when he wrote, 'may tie into Nathan Buckley’s previous statement that he believes he’ll need to make finals in 2017 to retain his job.' It's a last ditch effort by Bucks and Eddie. To be worth 600,000 per year, Wells will need to play every game in the next 3 years, which is highly unlikely so everybody knows this was about preserving Eddie and Bucks, not about value for money. The players know that too. Unless Wells gets off to a flying start, many Collingwood players are likely to feel deflated by this deal.
Pete
Guest
Just doesn't seem to make much sense for a club who only won 9 games this year to recruit an injury prone 32 year old.
Peter wolf
Guest
Being a Pies fan and his age and record at North was quite good, I would imagine he would have 2 years. Although it"s difficult to judge obviously his best years were with the Northerners and most teams are looking at youth to rebuild at 32, would like to get thoughts from North Melbourne supporters and Pies fans too will it be a good sign or a quick fix that may or may not work?
Swannies
Guest
Wells leaves a huge hole at North. He was one of the main reasons North won 9 in a row last year. This only reinforces the general view that North will be spending the next 3 years rebuilding near the bottom of the ladder. Scott faces a tough couple of years...don't see him sticking it out past 2018 when losses are the norm.
Jack
Guest
Insanity unless they win a flag next year
Cat
Roar Guru
3 years + big money for a 31 year old with injury clouds ... desperation showing by Eddie and Buckley