GOLD COAST – Melbourne is considering a proposal that would see Nathan Jones play a player-coach role in 2021.
Jones is keen to keep playing, even if he wasn’t guaranteed a position in Simon Goodwin’s top 22. A pared-down soft cap makes the demons ponder whether the veteran could move on under a special agreement no different from Shaun Burgoyne’s role on Hawthorn.
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If Melbourne gives Jones the green light, his chances of hitting the magical 300 game milestone remain alive.
David Neitz is the only demon in the history of the VFL / AFL to have played 300 games for the club. Jones currently sits on 294 games.
The managing director Gary Pert is currently reviewing the football department and foxfooty.com.au It is clear that further personnel changes will be made in the next month. Football boss Josh Mahoney is under pressure as Adelaide chases down fitness guru Darren Burgess, who signed a one-year deal when he arrived last summer.
In the meantime, Geelong was not officially notified, but felt Jack Viney will sign a long-term contract in Melbourne.
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Demons insiders are now extremely confident that the die-hard midfielder will remain as negotiations between his agent Tom Petroro and the club continue.
Viney is believed to prefer to stay, and Melbourne has increased its offerings since the cats sniffed around in initial conversations.
Coach Goodwin is a huge believer in Viney, who came third in the club’s last two best and fairest awards.
Clubs circling Star Don
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Tom McDonald has fallen out of favor with Goodwin and the gaming committee, and the Demons will scrutinize any reasonable offer, though McDonald would have to agree as he has two seasons left on a contract signed when he was at the peak of his powers in 2018.
The big stumbling block is McDonald’s salary, which is difficult for competing clubs to pay.
In Hawthorn, Isaac Smith is considering a two-year contract offer that includes a simple trigger for a third season.
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Sources believe the long-lived 31-year-old is about to get the deal down on paper. If he did, it would force the demons to look elsewhere for another outside ball winner.
Rival clubs believe the unrestricted free agent Smith is more likely to stay.
Teammate Jack Gunstonwho piqued the interest of Collingwood despite having two years to complete his contract, would cost the Magpies a lot more after his best and fairest win on Wednesday night.
Foxfooty.com.au reported last week that Collingwood, who is looking for a key striker, has expressed an interest in Gunston.
Hawthorn is determined to keep the 28 year old who Champion data Gunston is happy to stay too. He is considered the third best striker after Charlie Dixon and Tom Hawkins in 2020.
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