Jeremy Cameron will be the headline of the AFL trade period after Greater Western Sydney matched Geelong’s contract offered to the star forward.
This move made history, with the Giants becoming the first club to match an offer from a rival club on a restricted free agent, which also means that the Cats are forced into a trade scenario.
Geelong had offered the former Coleman Medalist a five-year deal worth $950,000 a year, with an option for a sixth if Cameron played 14 games in his fifth year on the contract. This trumped the GWS offer, which was $200,000 less per year for five years.
The Giants would have likely received a late first-round pick as compensation for losing the star, however the club looks to receive more for Cameron now that Geelong are forced to trade.
It is understood the Sydney club would want two first-round selections, along with potentially another player.
“We are disappointed by this news, having tabled what we believe to have been a suitable offer to retain Jeremy,” Giants head of football Jason McCartney said.
“With Jeremy being a restricted free agent, we have a number of avenues to now explore to get the best possible outcome for the Giants.”
The Giants had every intention of matching the offer sheet put forward by the Cats in an attempt to get the most compensation they could, with Geelong holding onto multiple high picks in the upcoming draft (13, 15 and 20).
With the Giants agreeing to a trade with Fremantle for Jesse Hogan, the team seems to believe that a deal will get done, despite Geelong not ruling out that they would abandon their bid if asked for too much.
Two first-round picks should get the deal done, a transaction that other clubs will keep an eye on in the future to determine whether they would try their luck in matching an offer for a player who wishes to walk. GWS’s matching of Cameron’s contract and the result will showcase to other clubs that they have more options than simply letting young stars walk out the door for a compensation pick.
If all goes to plan, the Giants will acquire more than what they would have by playing hardball. While Geelong do not have to let GWS walk all over them at the trade table, the Giants certainly hold the cards regarding Cameron’s future.
The outcome will potentially inspire other clubs to match offer sheets and force big clubs to make a trade if they want to acquire talent.
Geelong will now have to work out a deal that benefits both clubs, with the Cats set to give up young talent. Geelong already has one of the oldest lists in the AFL and trading away their draft picks is not ideal, however it creates an even playing field where the clubs who are losing established players are able to develop and gain something substantial in return.
This could be the beginning of clubs taking more control and allowing the competition to become more even, which will be beneficial to the AFL long term.
Shane
Guest
It doesn't make sense to suggest that GWS would be happy to pay 250k over their initial offer. With a reduced cap there is a reason they didn't go harder to offer him an acceptable contract that would keep him without these shenanigans. They are taking a risk that Geelong refuse the offer, and they are saddled with a player who wants to move but is being paid well over what they were originally prepared to offer, and zero picks to show for it. There is no way Geelong will be bent over in this deal. They will get it done, but two first rounders and a player is pie in the sky stuff.
Shane
Guest
I doubt they would risk taking the cap hit just to disadvantage Geelong. A lot can change over the space of the three or four years, and Geelong have a history of finding diamonds in the rough end of the draft order. So its more likely they really want to keep him, are sending a message to their own list of players, or trying to improve their trade position in the immediate future. Nothing to do with screwing Geelong over. An extra 250k per year is almost as much as carrying the average salary of an extra seasoned AFL player on the list, and picks are no guarantee of success. Its not all smiles and roses for GWS if Geelong refuses to trade. So I think they will work out a fair trade without screwing either side. Neither club is Essendon after all.
Shane
Guest
It is an assumption that Geelong will give up overs for Cameron. They have shown multiple times that they will move on if they don't think it is fair deal. The latest of which was the first Tim Kelly attempt by WCE and the Ablett deal only a couple of years ago. If Geelong have proven one thing it is that they believe they can remain competitive with their home grown talent. I don't think they would be unreasonable, but they should try to retain two first round picks whichever way it goes. Otherwise, walk away.
Shane
Guest
Does anyone know if he has to accept the full 5 years?
Lukey Miller
Guest
Every club, except Geelong, should be happy with this move. Geelong play harder than most when trading or negotiating, but Cameron might just be staying with GWS - I suspect that GWS would be happy if that happened. Giving up early picks or trading quality developing players would not have been part of the Geelong plan when this all started. Now it will be very hard for The Cats to get Cameron without selling some key parts of the farm and they will not be happy with that.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
Have there been any or many players standing down for the season? I’m a late comer to AFL so my knowledge of history is poor.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
I totally agree with your last paragraph. The crowd runs around either cheering or bagging players without deep thought.
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
That is exactly right, they win both ways by getting more compensation for Cameron and making Geelong actually give up something to get their guy
Lee
Guest
Maybe the point is to ensure that Geelong actually have to pay something for Cameron rather than getting him for free?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Until this season, GWS arrogantly boasted that they were never forced to trade anybody they wanted to keep. Then, in 2020 when they've already watched Aiden Corr and Zac Williams walk out, their ego won't allow them to accept compensation like every other club losing a restricted free agent has before. Geelong are hardly innocent lambs being dragged to slaughter. They had West Coast over a barrel in the Tim Kelly trade, forcing the Eagles to hand over their draft capital for 2 seasons. This is why GWS want Geelong's picks, but 2 first rounders plus a player is just plain greedy. I think Geelong will hand over 15 and 20, keeping 13 for themselves where they'll hope to pick up Oliver Henry. If Nakia Cockatoo goes to Brisbane, the Cats will only be picking 2 players at the National Draft and only have 1 spot on their rookie list left at this stage. I don't understand how Cameron could have been worth only a late first rounder unless there are even more caveats and triggers in Geelong's offer that weren't reported. That's how St Kilda's massive offer to Crouch only got mid 2nd round compo. It's funny how Treloar and Crouch have gone from genuine A-Graders in the eyes of pundits to suddenly quite flawed and inconsistent with questionable character, yet after Cameron's most inconsistent season of his career he's worth Buddy money in a depressed economy?!
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
As a well run club should!
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
It is not ideal, but its better to get what ever they can if Cameron wants to leave and head to Geelong. GWS need to have a crack at luring in some more established players though instead of just utilising the draft. Problem is I do not believe they are a high destination club.
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
I feel as though in that scenario that he would potentially end up with Geelong anyway. I am not clear on all the rules with the draft, but I feel as though there would be precautions around that. But as I said, I do not think it will get to that stage and that Geelong will get a deal done. It is not like Cameron has bad blood with GWS either, worse case scenario he stays with the team for a year and they try to shop him again next season. But GWS know that Geelong want their man and are just trying to milk a bit more out of them
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
Cameron wins either way basically, he still gets paid.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Liam, what happens to a player if they go back to the main draft? Can a player place a unrealistic price on his contract if he doesn't want to go to Adelaide? What happens in that situation?
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
The big winner here obviously Cameron. His worst result is staying at GWS on a 5 year deal on really big coin. It's not his fault that GWS are willing to write the cheque.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Players can’t pick and choose if they go to the draft — otherwise it is not a draft. The AFL should come down hard on any player who tries to manipulate the draft. If Cameron went to the draft and nominated $4.75m over 5 years I would have thought that Geelong would still have a fair chance of getting him. Anyway, if Geelong say no then GWS have to take Cameron, and if he doesn’t like it he would have to stand down.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
The Giants can’t just keep getting high draft picks and using them at the draft. Doing this only creates future salary cap problems. They need to ensure they have enough of their salary cap to keep and recruit good support players. If they keep taking high picks in the draft then of course other clubs will attempt to raid them after a couple of years of development.
Boo
Guest
If what is reported is true that being GWS offer Cameron 700 K only to match Geelongs 950 K a few weeks later and that becomes the norm player moving clubs will become very congested .What happens if Geelong say too much and Cameron goes into the pre season draft where I assume Adelaide select him and he refuses to go there .No point having a mechanism of compensation picks if clubs reject the concept.Both Brown and Cameron are 28 ish coming off average seasons so if Ben Brown is worth one pick why is Jeremy Cameron worth three picks ?
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
Most definitely Peter, I am finally happy to see a club stand up to the bigger clubs and not allow them to just poach the players they have put so much development into. It is interesting to see how many players the Giants have developed and seen how many have left. And you are right, Geelong will be the team who gets Cameron with the team looking to make a push to the Grand Final once again