MOTLOP MAKING TRADE WAVES
GEELONG livewire Steven Motlop toured the home of the Gold Coast Suns yesterday but won’t be a bargaining chip for the Cats in their bid to bring Gary Ablett home
GOLD Coast is interested in Geelong’s Steven Motlop but not as part of a trade for Gary Ablett.
Motlop is out of contract and a restricted free agent, which means the Suns do not have to offer the Cats anything in return if he chooses to head to the Gold Coast.
The speedy forward visited the Suns’ Metricon Stadium base yesterday.
The Suns say the visit was initiated by Motlop and is not related to any deal for Ablett.
The Suns were prepared to add Aaron Hall to the Ablett deal in exchange for Mitch Duncan and a draft pick but the Cats are so far refusing to budge. Hall is under contract but the Suns are open to trading him independent of the Ablett deal.
Motlop was accompanied by manager Alex McDonald and Suns list manager Scott Clayton on a two-hour tour of the facility yesterday. He met CEO Mark Evans.
The 26-year-old is close friends with Suns’ captain Steven May. There is also reported interest from West Coast and both South Australian clubs.
Motlop is due to meet both the Crows and Port Adelaide later this week. The Suns were unable to tell Motlop yesterday who would be coaching the club next year. The announcement is expected tomorrow.
Despite the public support of coach Chris Scott, Motlop appears highly unlikely to remain at the club as the Cats clear up to $2 million in salary cap space, starting with Motlop’s estimated $600,000 salary.
Geelong would receive compensation from the AFL for Motlop in the form of a draft pick.
Motlop said his look around the Suns’ set-up was “really good”.
Geelong premiership skipper Cameron Ling has warned the Cats not to jeopardise their future in pursuit of Ablett.
“It’s all part of the process. I’ve got a lot to work out in my future,” Motlop told Channel 7 last night.
Asked if there was any way he would be at Geelong next year, Motlop said: “I’ve still got a lot to work out, I can’t really comment.”
Darcy Lang, out of contract, has been sounded out by several clubs, including the Suns. The Cats are yet to offer the 2013 first-round draft pick a contract for next season.
For the second time in two years, Ablett has asked Gold Coast to trade him back to Geelong.
Ling hopes a suitable deal is worked out.
“(Geelong) would like to get Gaz and you’ve got to give something for him . . . but just don’t give away the future for a bloke who is there for maybe two years,” Ling said.
“If they can strike that balance perfectly (they’ll) not give up too much, get Gary in to get some short-term benefit but also keep their long-term future strong — that’s obviously the best result.
“I think Geelong have to be careful given they’ve given up draft picks in trading over the last few years,” Ling said.
“To then trade out any of that young talent that they’ve got — Darcy Lang’s name has been mentioned, even Wylie Buzza’s . . . I think they’ve got to hold on to that youth and develop them.
“That could be the missing link of taking the next step.
“It’s not just, ‘You get Gaz and you’re going to win a premiership.’ It’s not as simple as that.”