Kane Cornes has questioned St Kilda’s long-term contract extension for forward Max King, after the Saints spearhead signed a whopping six-year contract extension.
Already tied to the Saints until the end of 2026, King’s new deal locks him in until the end of 2032, making him one of the longest-contracted players in the AFL.
It comes despite the 24-year old having managed just 23 games across the last two years, with a career-low 19 goals in 2024 as he dealt with a series of shoulder problems as well as a torn posterior cruciate ligament that wiped out the start of his year.
“I love playing for this club – I love the coaches, I love the boys, and I have a lot of faith in the direction we’re going,” King said in a statement.
“I really appreciate the club showing faith in me and I’m conscious it’s a long-term deal – all I want to do is repay that faith through action.
“I feel so connected to the club and I’m really excited for the opportunity we have to make history – it’s something that is front of mind all the time.
“The playing group, particularly as a few of us have gotten older, you look around and think that this is our chance. We don’t want to waste years or a single opportunity to take this club forward.”
However, noted long-term contract critic Kane Cornes isn’t impressed with the Saints’ call to lock in King, describing the monster extension as ‘one of the more risky moves I’ve seen’ given his injury history.
“He had two years to go – I don’t understand the rush,” Cornes said on Nine’s Footy Furnace.
“Let’s just see if Max can get his body right and be the player they think he is going to be. And conversely for Max, is this the game style under Ross Lyon that he wants to be a part of, which has been unsuccessful for him.
“I don’t get it… it’s one of the more risky moves I’ve seen.”
Cornes later doubled down on AFL Trade Radio.
“They’ve just rushed into it,” he added.
“There was no need for a six-year contract extension for someone whose body is made of chalk.”
Clayton Oliver looks set to remain at Melbourne in 2024, with both Geelong and Melbourne emphatically putting any trade talk to bed on the opening day of the AFL Trade Period.
Amid reports Demons CEO Gary Pert approached rivals to discuss a potential trade for Oliver, the Cats emerged as the star midfielder’s preferred destination, having met with players Tom Stewart and Rhys Stanley.
However, with Oliver contracted until the end of 2030 and the Cats expected to use their first-round pick in a trade for wantaway Western Bulldog Bailey Smith, the two clubs confirmed on Monday that a deal will almost certainly not be forthcoming.
“He [Oliver] will be at the club next year, 100 per cent,” Demons list manager Tim Lamb told AFL Trade Radio.
“He has never been offered for trade. If a player has a meeting it doesn’t mean they want to leave.
“He is happy to be with us next year.”
Mackie was of a similar view when interviewed earlier.
“Clayton’s management were aware it might be in his best interests to have a conversation, but it was pretty brief, to be honest,” he said.
“We met with him last Tuesday, it’s always time well spent, but as far as we are concerned… from our end it was fleeting.
“We are really respectful of Melbourne and their stance. He’s a Melbourne player.
“When he was up for a catch-up, of course we would oblige and meet Clayton, so we did that.
“We will just put it to bed.”
Clayton Oliver. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Collingwood youngster Joe Richards looms as a key to unlocking the Magpies’ bid for Port Adelaide star Dan Houston, after requesting a trade to the Power.
Richards, who impressed in nine games for the Pies after making his AFL debut mid-season, has long been a target for the Power, who have reportedly tabled a three-year contract, though the Pies have a similar offer on the table.
“Joe Richards has informed us of his decision to request a trade to Port Adelaide,” a Magpies statement reads.
“We will discuss the request with the Power as the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period opens at 11am today.”
The looming move is set to play a key role in negotiations over wantaway dual All-Australian defender Houston, who has a number of Victorian clubs clamouring for his services.
Carlton have long been his ideal destination, but talks with the Power hit an impasse after the Blues’ initial offer was deemed ‘delusional’.
With the Magpies also requesting picks 13, 23 and 29 from Gold Coast in exchange for John Noble and a future first-rounder, the Pies loom as having the draft capital necessary to convince Port to part with the contracted Houston.
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