A Victorian club has reportedly tabled a $12 million deal to Carlton defender Jacob Weitering.
Weitering is contracted this year but is eligible for free agency next year and will fall under the unrestricted band, likely leading to high levels of rival interest should he remain unsigned beyond 2025.
The two-time Blue Best and Fairest winner enjoyed a career-best campaign last year and has only strengthened his case as one of the competition's best tall defenders so far this season.
The Blues have the likes of Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow and Patrick Cripps tied to long-term deals, and Weitering could be next as Carlton are likely keen to have the 26-year-old recommit.
The Princes Park club may have to pay a premium for Weitering's services however, with St Kilda revealed to have offered a mammoth eight-year deal worth close to $1.5 million per season.
Reporter Sam McClure told theย Tradies Podcastย that the Saints have made a play to make Weitering one of the best-paid players in the competition.
It is understood that Weitering has notified the Blues he wants to remain in the navy blue despite the gargantuan contract offering.
The Saints are seen as having the salary cap to make audacious moves over the next 18 months, with Weitering among those in their sights.
"Jacob Weitering is set to turn down one of the biggest offers in football history to stay at Carlton," McClure told the podcast.
"That offer, that I am told reliably, is worth $12 million over eight years. It's from [St Kilda].ย It's an amazing play.
"He's out of contract at the end of next year, he's an unrestricted free agent. Which is exactly the type of player St Kilda are going after.
"They're adamant that they're holding onto their first-round pick this year because they know what's going to happen in future drafts with Tassie coming in. So they want to keep topping up on their top-end young talent.
"They're making offers. Hugh McCluggage, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Andrew Brayshaw... they're all aware. Jacob Weitering's the latest one to become aware of this mammoth offer.
"He has told Carlton that he wants to stay. Carlton are of the belief that they will have a large contract extension in front of him and agreed to before the end of the season. They don't want this going into next year."
St Kilda list manager Stephen Silvagni was the man to draft Weitering to Carlton with the first overall pick in the 2015 National Draft, with the defender headlining a draft haul that also included McKay and Curnow.
A four-time All-Australian squad member, Weitering will likely join both tall forwards in signing on for the long term. The Blues have key quartet Curnow (2029), McKay (2030),ย Sam Walsh (2026) andย Cripps (2027) locked away for the long haul.
