AFL commerce information 2023: Oleg Markov, Collingwood, Free brokers Ben McKay, Harry Himmelberg information

Markov had been courted by Carlton this week as a possible substitute for injured defender Zac Williams.

However Markov was absent from Carlton coaching on Friday and is believed to be able to signal with the Magpies.

Markov, a dashing half again, has skilled at Collingwood over the preseason earlier than Carlton’s late curiosity.

Carlton VFL defender Alex Cincotta is in line to be the Blues’ SPP signing to assist add to the again line’s working shares.

Key free company targets wait to check contract waters

-Jon Ralph

Excessive-profile free brokers Ben McKay and Harry Himmelberg will wait till the season is underway earlier than assessing their futures in a free company pool desperately wanting key-position expertise.

The free company listing has already misplaced a lot of its high quality with Carlton forwards Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow among the many key-position gamers to relinquish free company standing in alternate for long-term contract extensions.

McKay and Himmelberg are joined on the 2023 listing by gamers together with Essendon’s Darcy Parish, Western Bulldogs extractor Tom Liberatore, Richmond flanker Nathan Broad and Eagles star Jeremy McGovern.

The free company standing of Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore and Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Gardner helped them each signal three-year offers to 2026 in current days.

North Melbourne defender McKay is not going to flip his thoughts to a contract extension till after the season is underway given the numerous modifications at Arden St.

McKay has a brand new coach in Alastair Clarkson and a new-look backline that features ex-Fremantle defender Griffin Logue, who ought to launch him to dominate in 2023.

McKay’s free company is completely timed given the anticipated rise in complete participant funds, with AFL pay talks beneath approach and the pattern in direction of paying intercept defenders huge sums.

Collingwood’s Darcy Moore signed a six-year free company deal final yr that took into consideration his elite intercept means and rebounding capability.

McKay is simply 25 and might count on to signal the same deal on the Roos or elsewhere if he can put collectively a whole season after solely 15 video games in 2022.

GWS swingman Harry Himmelberg may even wait till through the season earlier than contemplating his future.

Repurposed as an intercept defender by interim coach Mark McVeigh final season, he carried out strongly and nonetheless kicked 22 targets for the season taking part in in a number of positions.

In his previous 5 seasons he has aim tallies of 38, 36 and 29, all increased than the 28-goal career-best tally of Dan McStay, who secured a five-year, $3 million deal at Collingwood this yr.

Himmelberg is within the high 10 for goalkicking accuracy amongst lively gamers throughout his profession, kicking 22.6 final yr and 38.12 in 2019.

McGovern finishes his long-term contract this season, having taken a major pay lower previously two years on a deal that’s nonetheless value round $1 million a season.

He declared just lately he was in career-best form and whereas he turns 31 in April, he nonetheless has a number of years forward of him.

If West Coast felt the necessity to rebuild on the finish of 2023 there can be a number of suitors who would imagine he may spherical out their groups, so his progress via the season will likely be intriguing.

Parish is one other free agent with a brand new coach in Brad Scott who could have his contract well-scrutinised given his sensible greatest is of All-Australian calibre.

He received his All-Australian blazer in 2021, however after an injury-hampered season with solely 16 video games final yr completed ninth within the best-and-fairest received by Peter Wright.

Parish is known to imagine Essendon has already taken important steps ahead beneath Scott.

When he signed his most up-to-date contract extension in 2021 he mentioned it was a simple choice to remain and that the membership was constructing one thing particular on the Hangar.

Initially revealed as AFL contract information: Oleg Markov indicators as Collingwood rookie after Blues prediction