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Giant, Docker, Crows trio ramp up new deal discussions

The quintet look set to stay put at their respective clubs.

Published by
Ed Carmine

Each of the GWS Giants, Fremantle Dockers and Adelaide Crows can expect to see their rosters reconsolidated in the near future following reports that Tim Taranto, Hayden Young, Billy Frampton, Elliott Himmelberg and Lachlan Gollant are in line to ink extensions beyond this season.

While each member of this quintet is either in the penultimate or final year of their current agreements, none have met the markers to be considered either a restricted or unrestricted free agent as of yet.

According to reports from AFL Media, the Giants are said to have tabled Taranto a pair of contractual options to keep him in orange and charcoal beyond the cessation of their 2022 campaign.

While both a two-year deal that would allow the Victorian to be taken into free agency in 2024, and a four-year contract aimed at keeping him in the Harbour City long-term are said to have been offered to Taranto's management, the hybrid threat claimed earlier this year that his mind is still yet to be made up.

"I'm just not going to think about it until the first five or six rounds and see what happens after that," the 24-year-old told Callum Twomey in March.

"I love this club so much; I love everyone here and I love Sydney; I prefer it to Melbourne. Hopefully, it works out that I can be a one-club player and stay up in Sydney for the rest of my life."

The out-of-contract prospect has played 107 games under the stewardship of ex-coach Leon Cameron since being selected with the second pick of the 2016 National Draft.

It is not yet known how much of an impact Cameron's departure will have on the Sandringham Dragons product's choice to opt-in or opt-out of Tom Wills Oval.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 27: Hayden Young of the Dockers kicks during the round 4 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Across the Nullarbor, the Dockers are said to be close to locking in fellow Victorian export Hayden Young to a lengthy deal to stay on at Cockburn.

Unlike Taranto and the trifecta of aforementioned Crows, the man-banned defender still has a season to run on his current deal.

Yet, with the 21-year-old's form spiking sharply across the 2022 campaign, Fremantle is reportedly content to re-jig a deal designed to keep Young on their books for years to come.

As stated by Twomey, the third-year Docker looks set to be offered a deal that would keep him in purple until the completion of 2027 - the period in which Young would become a free agent.

So far this season, Young has managed to lace the boots on seven occasions - a healthy boost already from his outputs of eight and five across the course of his 2020 and 2021 campaigns which were cruelled by injury concerns.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 16: Elliott Himmelberg of the Crows celebrates a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on August 16, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Over at West Lakes, tall Adelaide trio Frampton, Himmelberg and Gollant are all likely to sign on and continue their career rises under Matthew Nicks.

Each of the trifecta has managed to see spikes in performance so far this season, with the Wagga Wagga-born Himmelberg slotting 11 majors in 2022 - already his largest seasonal haul since debuting in 2018.

Each is also in the final year of their respective deal with the rebuilding side from the City of Churches.

While Frampton and Gollant were made casualties of the Crows' collective dropoff in performance since their last victory against the Bulldogs in Round 6, the pair, along with Himmelberg, are set to be offered extensions during the club's bye week according to AFL Media's Riley Beveridge.

Adelaide is scheduled to face St Kilda, Geelong and West Coast in succession before earning the week off in Round 13.

Published by
Ed Carmine