Luke Davies-Uniacke could be offered an eye-watering amount of money to leave Arden Street in a shock for North Melbourne fans.Meanwhile, two-time premiership Tiger Liam Baker looks a near certainty to exit the club he has called home for nearly seven years.
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Saints set to throw everything at North star
As reported on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle by Jay Clark, St Kilda look set to launch into mature-aged players in the free agency market at the end of the year, with North Melbourne midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke at the forefront of their minds.
The sum of money reported by the Herald Sun journalist to be offered is a sum not yet seen in the AFL modern era.
Up to $1.3 million per season has already been floated for Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage in free agency, thanks to upcoming jumps in the salary cap, and teams looking to secure long-term security could offer historic figures.
“For Luke Davies-Uniacke – who’s at North Melbourne, he’s a free agent next year, he’s out of contract – it seriously could be a $13-15 million offer,” Clark stated.
“It could be a genuine a ten-year contract; we’ve already seen it pitched to Errol Gulden, I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs are having a crack at Jed Walter with a similar sort of deal.”
Needless to say, the Saints’ vision is large, and would set to create history if the early season murmurs become reality.
“With the salary cap increasing, there’s going to be some bigger offers – bigger than Buddy, bigger than the Dusty deal,” Clark added.
“The question is, who’s closer to a premiership – North Melbourne (or) St Kilda?”
Since being taken by the Kangaroos’ with the fourth pick of the 2017 AFL Draft, Davies-Uniacke has played 92 games at the club.Injury has prevented the 24-year-old from playing more in his time at the club, but he has undoubtedly shown his game-breaking abilities when on the park.
Premiership star set to walk west
In a dagger to the heart for many Richmond fans, gun utility Liam Baker looks “almost certain” to play on the western side of the Nullarbor in 2025.
Also speaking onMidweek Tackle, fellow Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph revealed Baker is far closer to leaving Punt Road than many first thought.
“I think Richmond fans should get their head around life without Liam Baker; I think it’s very likely now that he will move on,” Ralph begun by saying.
“I think West Coast would be the likely favourite right now.”
Given rival Fremantle’s slightly more appealing home-and-away record of late, panellist Jay Clark was perplexed at the thought of a one-man race for the Tiger.
“That surprises me … I would’ve thought Fremantle Ralphy, with the three first-round draft picks,” Clark exclaimed.
“They’ve lodged an offer, I don’t think West Coast has actually lodged an offer yet,” Ralph replied.
“He’s a kid who grew up loving West Coast, he grew up loving Ben Cousins, he loved Chris Judd – Daniel Kerr was his favourite.”
Baker won premierships under now-Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick in 2019 and 2020 at Richmond, and came second in their best-and-fairest in 2021 behind defender Dylan Grimes.
Given his value and history at the club, there is a sense the defender – naturally – feels uncomfortable leaving the club without good reason.
“He will feel better about leaving if he has a reasonable deal,” added Ralph.
