Greater Western Sydney general manager of football Jason McCartney has suggested to the AFL they reform the contracts handed to first year players as the Giants look to hold onto a number of young guns.
Newly drafted rookies are handed two-year deals, with the likes of Jye Caldwell, Jackson Hately and Xavier O'Halloran all having their contracts come to an end this year after being taken in the first round of the 2018 draft.
McCartney has called for the league to allow clubs to extend the initial contracts for first rounds picks by an extra year or two, as the Giants struggle to keep hold of their prized trio.
โFor those first-round draft picks, there needs to be considerations for a mandated three or even four-year contracts rather than just the standard two at the moment,โ McCartney said on SEN Breakfast.
โThatโs something that needs to be looked at.โ
Hately is set to leave the Giants after requesting a move to Adelaide, while Caldwell is reportedly being heavily chased by St Kilda and Essendon.
Speaking on Caldwell's future, McCartney said the club were doing everything they can to retain the midfielder.
โWeโve actually got a meeting this morning with Jyeโs manager. Jyeโs manager is actually up in Sydney, so itโs good to be able to have some face-to-face (conversations) with managers,โ he said on Tuesday.
โJye hasnโt made a decision yet and hopefully we will know more on that over the next couple of days.
โHeโs from Victoria and I suppose this is the one. Itโs not Jye, but probably something as an industry weโd love some consideration in the negotiations between the AFL and the AFLPA, when youโve got a second-year player coming out of contract, they shouldnโt be exposed to the offers that are getting put in front of the players.
โItโs just not right, it confuses the players. Jye loves being in Sydney, heโs really enjoying the football club.
โHe got some good opportunities this year, Iโm sure heโd like more opportunities as an inside mid, but I just donโt think itโs fair on the player after two years to have to go through something like this to be honest.โ
