CARLTON, North Melbourne and St Kilda should resist the temptation to bid for older or second-tier midfielders if attempts to lure gun free agent Andrew Gaff are unsuccessful.
They should instead put their chequebooks away and turn their attention to next year’s crop of out-of-contract and free agent stars, which includes some of the biggest names in the game.
The Blues, Roos and Saints have been desperate to add class to their midfield groups for some time.
All three clubs tried in vain to lure Josh Kelly home from Greater Western Sydney last year, while the Kangaroos also unsuccessfully dangled a $10 million, seven-year free agency offer at Richmond star Dustin Martin.
This year all three were linked with Jordan De Goey – the Roos again leading the way with a $5 million, five-year offer and the Saints not far behind them – before the explosive forward/midfielder re-signed with Collingwood last Sunday for two years.
All three remain in the race for Gaff, but face stiff competition from Melbourne, which shapes as his most likely new home, and Essendon.
The hard-running Eagle is also every chance to resist a move home to Victoria given West Coast looks well placed to go deep into the finals in the next few seasons.
If the 26-year-old re-signs with the Eagles – or if he enters free agency and signs with the Demons – Carlton, North and St Kilda should resist the temptation to snare another midfielder in this year's market.
Andrew Gaff (centre) is a man in demand. Picture: AFL Photos
Adelaide free agent Rory Sloane is a legitimate star and would make all three clubs better instantaneously.
But the 2016 All Australian turns 29 before the start of next season, which means his best football will likely be behind him by the time the Blues, Roos and Saints assemble lists capable of contending for a premiership.
St Kilda, in particular, has been strongly linked with Sloane, but the fit is not ideal.
Bulldogs Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis are the next best midfielders still on 2018's free agency list, while Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lloyd, Jared Polec and Aaron Hall head the remaining group of uncontracted midfielders.
Each could prove a valuable acquisition for a rival club, but none of them – with the possible exception of Brayshaw – is the big fish Carlton, North and St Kilda are angling for.
St Kilda could opt to throw its spare salary cap riches at taller targets, with Eagles key defender Jeremy McGovern (a restricted free agent) and his younger brother, Crows forward Mitch (contracted until 2020), reportedly on its radar.
But if the Saints' No.1 priority is to land a star midfielder, they, along with North and Carlton, should turn their attention to next year's gilt-edged out-of-contract list.
Giants Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio headline the 2019 free agency group's midfield contingent, which also consists of Chad Wingard, David Swallow and Lachie Neale.
The on-ballers set to come out of contract next year – but not into free agency – include emerging superstars Kelly and Marcus Bontempelli, with Jacob Hopper, Jack Martin, Touk Miller, Lachie Hunter and Toby McLean among the other names sure to be on rival clubs' radar.
If Carlton, North and St Kilda are serious about building the sort of midfield that can power a premiership campaign, they have to set their sights high.
If Gaff goes off the market, they should re-set their sights and zero in on Shiel, Kelly and co.
