MAGPIES WON’T PART WITH TOP PICKS FOR MAY
COLLINGWOOD will not hand over a pair of firstround draft picks to secure Gold Coast captain Steven May a year before he qualifies for free agency.
The Magpies are keenly eyeing the gun defender in next month’s trade period to help add the prime stopper their back line is missing.
The Gold Coast Suns want a long-term commitment from May and could pass on the captaincy to midfielder David Swallow if May doesn’t extend his contract over the summer.
Sydney premiership coach Paul Roos said May would be an ideal addition to Collingwood’s back line to bolster its flag tilt in 2019.
But Roos suggested the 123-gamer would be worth in the vicinity of two firstround picks this year, roughly matching the price Melbourne paid for ace defender Jake Lever.
The difference is Lever was 21 when he was traded for pick No.10 and a future first-round pick, whereas May will be 27 by the start of next season.
Roos said May was an elite key defender who could anchor Collingwood’s back line and play on the opposition’s best forward.
“If you are Collingwood and you want Steven May this year you have to be expecting (to hand over) two first-round draft picks,” Roos said on Triple M.
But the Pies have ruled out forking over a pair of top picks for May, believing it would be an unfair asking price for a player entering his eighth season.
Collingwood can re-enter the race for May next year and jag him for nothing under free agency rules.
The Northern Territory product was ranked second for disposals and metres gained for a key defender this year and sixth for intercept marks.
Suns coach Stuart Dew said the club would have a player vote on the club’s captaincy in about February.
“Obviously discussions will be had around if he isn’t committed beyond that year, how does it look?” Dew said.
“May will be involved in those discussions as well and he is aware of that.”