AFL trade and contract news: Nick and Josh Daicos re-sign, Max Holmes to stay at Geelong, Esava Ratugolea more likely to leave
Nick and Josh Daicos have committed to the Magpies until 2029, giving Collingwood a double coup.
Nick and Josh Daicos, two of Collingwood's star players, have recommitted to the Magpies for the next six seasons, a move they called "a no-brainer"
The two most talked-about brothers in AFL football are now locked away until the conclusion of the 2029 season, providing a huge boost for the Magpies a month before the AFL finals.
The Magpies have been working hard to extend the contracts of Brownlow Medal favorite Nick until the end of 2025 and Josh until the end of next year.
This came to fruition on Wednesday afternoon when the siblings participated in an impromptu online question-and-answer session with supporters to share their excitement at extending their contract with the club for another decade.
To quote Nick Daicos, "I'm really excited... really excited with where the team is headed. I enjoy coming to work every day because of the wonderful atmosphere we have created.
"It was pretty obvious that we should do this"
Furthermore, Josh said, "We are pumped for the journey ahead, we are obviously loving our time at the club and can't wait to spend another six years wearing the black and white stripes."
The sons of Collingwood star Peter Daicos are eager to follow in their father's footsteps by playing in a Magpies' champion side, and they may both make the AFL's team of the season this year.
Graham Wright, the general manager of football at Collingwood, who helped broker the deals, expressed his joy at the club's long-term success after signing the Daicos brothers.
He thought it was a great vote of confidence in Collingwood's AFL program, which has led to the club's dominant performance this season.
Wright remarked that he was looking forwards to seeing Josh and Nick in the black and white stripes for many years to come since "they are both quality young men and talented footballers."
Josh's performance over the last two years has been consistently excellent. His dedication to perfecting his football skills and his drive to constantly improve merit praise.
Nick, who is just in his second season, has already played 44 games at the highest level of football, and he is continuing to develop as a player.
Nick, like his brother Josh, is always extremely well-prepared and meticulous, and these are traits that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.
Both of these young men are terrific representatives of our club. We're looking forwards to helping them grow as people and football players, and they've shown us that they're upbeat, kind, and eager to learn here at Collingwood.
RUMOUR THAT SENT CAT’S SUITORS INTO FRENZY
Despite intense interest from other teams, Max Holmes has decided to stay with Geelong and lead the club's rebuilding efforts in the middle of the field.
While Cats midfielder Brandon Parfitt mulls over his future, three rival teams have expressed interest in Esava Ratugolea.
Despite clearing all of his fitness tests during Grand Final week, coach Chris Scott made the "brutal" decision to leave Holmes out of the 2022 premiership because of a hamstring injury.
As rumors persisted that he was unhappy at Geelong due to the club's decision to neglect him, practically all of the Cats' 17 rivals began inquiring about his contract.
Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield said of Holmes before the season started, "I believe he could be the best player in the competition at some stage."
However, Holmes' manager Tom Seccull of Hemisphere Management said in an interview with the Herald Sun on Monday that his client had no plans to entertain offers at the season's end.
Holmes, who will turn 21 next month, signed his initial contract extension in July of the 2022 contract year, so he will likely wait until next year to sign a new deal past the 2024 contract year.
On Monday, though, Seccull made it plain that the laid-back midfielder was committed to Geelong by buying a home in the nearby town of Belmont.
"He is really happy, invested in the future of the club, and settled," he stated.
He has a contract for next year, and at the appropriate moment, we will discuss his future with the club.
Despite rumors to the contrary, the Power is hopeful but not certain that Ratugolea will choose them as a trading destination next year.
The Herald Sun reported late last month that he has delayed contract discussions until the end of the year, with Hawthorn and Essendon among the clubs keeping tabs on his situation.
Ben McKay, a free agent for the Roos, has a lot of interest from Essendon, and his manager, Adam Ramanauskas, has said that McKay won't make a choice until the end of the year.
Although Parfitt has been doing well in the VFL, he has only played in five games for Geelong since returning to the premiership.
The 25-year-old had played 112 games in his first five seasons and was solely focused on regaining his starting position in this season's first half.
However, considering his clearance strengths, rival suitors will be eyeing him despite his lack of AFL involvement since round 11.
Chris Scott has also mentioned playing Ratugolea against Port Adelaide, his strongest AFL suitor, as the Cats try to revive their finals prospects following a concerning loss to Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.