HEWETT EYES FIFTH YEAR

CARLTON’S healthy free agency offer for Sydney midfielder George Hewett includes a fifth-year trigger clause that could keep him at the Blues until he is 30.

Sydney never considered retaining Hewett or matching the Blues free agency bid, which is understood to have averaged out at about $450,000 a season.

It represents a fair salary for a player of his calibre but it is understood he can also secure a fifth season if he hits a games-based clause, which he is every chance to do given his durability. Hewett played 20 or more games in five of his six seasons at the Swans as a defensive midfielder tagger and running half back.

Hewett turns 26 in December so should be able to play his peak years as the Blues are entering a finals window.

The Swans secured an endof-second-round compensation pick for Hewett.