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Scott Pendlebury's free agent move to Gold Coast may reduce the compensation the Suns receive for losing Ben King, complicating King's planned move to Hawthorn.
Scott Pendlebury's move to Gold Coast as a free agent could dilute the compensation the Suns would receive for losing Ben King, according to sources.
The Suns and Hawks were stunned to discover that if the AFL's games record holder and oldest player moved as a free agent to Gold Coast, it would potentially impact the compensation the club would receive for losing King. Hawthorn have been hoping the Suns would not match contract terms for restricted free agent Ben King and accept the expected compensation pick at selection seven in the draft.
However, if there was a risk of the compensation for King being pushed back to an end-of-first-round pick because of Pendlebury's arrival, the Suns would be likely to match the contract terms and force Hawthorn into a trade for King. King is yet to formally declare Hawthorn as his preferred destination, but the Hawks have been pursuing him. The 26-year-old King has been offered a long-term contract worth $1.3 million per year at the Hawks.
Free agency compensation is determined based on the net result of free agents entering and leaving the club. Clubs are not formally told in advance what compensation pick they would receive from free agents coming in and out, and the AFL formula for deciding compensation is deliberately kept confidential.
The Pendlebury position is academic for now, as no contract terms have been lodged with the AFL for either Pendlebury or King in order for the league to officially decide on compensation. However, clubs have been warned that the veteran's age is only one of three factors to consider in free agency. The amount and length of the contract are just as important.
Above the age of 31, it does not matter how old a player is as far as free agency compensation is concerned. To preserve their potential compensation for King, Pendlebury and the Suns could ask Collingwood to delist him. That way he could go to the Suns as a delisted free agent. Delisted free agents do not draw compensation.
Collingwood, however, have been reluctant to delist Pendlebury, being uncomfortable with the idea of delisting the club's greatest ever player. The Suns and Collingwood could also do a minor trade for the former captain and two-time premiership player. Pendlebury will be paid $700,000 per year for two years at the Suns. The situation is reminiscent of former Hawthorn premiership captain Sam Mitchell, who moved to West Coast at the end of his career.
Like Pendlebury's move to the Suns, it was part of a transition plan into coaching after a brief playing period. Hawthorn are also expected to again ask for a trade for Essendon's Zach Merrett this year. The AFL finals coverage continues as these stories develop.
theage
smh:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Ben King Gold Coast Suns Hawthorn Hawks AFL Free Agency Compensation AFL Free Agency
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