After turning down $17 million to remain at the GWS Giants for an additional four seasons, Finn Callaghan has urged his off-contract teammates to remain at the club.
One of the early favourites to win the 2025 AFL Premiership, the Giants boast an impeccable roster that includes several of the best young up-and-coming players in the competition and superstars like Toby Greene and Sam Taylor.
Yet to win their maiden flag, their success has seen the departures of several players in recent seasons and they are likely to lose even more in the next few years.
Despite the Giants announcing the retention of Finn Callaghan and Connor Idun over the past week, the club still has multiple stars off-contract at the end of the season.
These players include the likes of Toby Bedford, Callum Brown, Josh Fahey, Xavier O'Halloran and Leek Aleer.
Aiming to keep all these players at the club, Callaghan has urged his teammates to remain at the club for the foreseeable future, especially close friend Leek Aleer.
"I would love all the boys to stay. Leek is one of my best mates," Callaghan said.
"If he wants to stay that's brilliant but at the end of the day it's up to him to make the decision. Of course, I want him to stay."
Although he has only featured in 12 matches for the Giants during his three seasons in the AFL, it was heavily reported during the back end of last season that multiple clubs were showing a keen interest in his services.
Set to explore his options, he would slot into any team's backline with ease, but due to the Giants' incredible defence, he has had a hard time cementing a regular position on the team.
Aleer looked like a superstar key back in the making at times last season, most notably in the Giants' stunning win over Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, where his courageous mark of the year contender halted the Cats' finals surge.
"We're building really good momentum with a young group of players coming through," Callaghan added.
"It's sort of a known thing that you want to stay together and really take the club where it can get to.
"I don't think anyone wants to miss out. I think everyone can see the vision and I think everyone wants to be part of that (and that's) credit to all the boys. I can't control what they do but I think they'll want to stay."
