More than half of the AFL’s 2020 first-round draftees are yet to re-sign beyond their initial two-year contract, including prized Swans forward Logan McDonald.
A higher-than-normal 26 players were picked in the first round that year – headlined by No.1 choice Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – because of northern and Next Generation Academy bids and free agency compensation selections.
All national draftees receive a minimum two-year deal, meaning members of the 2020 crop are out of contract at the end of the upcoming season.
McDonald is the sole top-five pick yet to extend his contract but Essendon and Collingwood also haven’t locked away their respective trio of first-round choices from that year.
Sydney’s list management crew began informal contract negotiations last year with the Perth-raised budding star’s management but both Western Australian clubs are monitoring the situation.
McDonald trained in Perth pre-Christmas because of the Covid-19-related difficulties with the WA border and also dealt with sore shins that saw the Swans put him on modified training duties.
Coach John Longmire declined to discuss McDonald’s contract status but heaped praise on the teenage forward.
“We believe he’s got a great future,” Longmire told News Corp.
“From the moment he walked in the door; we were incredibly impressed with his drive and desire to be the best possible player he can be. Our challenge is to manage that.
“His own expectations are high and we need to make sure there’s still some time, in a physical sense, to come through and develop.”
Ugle-Hagan wasxjmtzyw one of five Academy products snapped up in the draft’s elite bracket, with the Western Bulldogs matching Adelaide’s bid with the top pick.
The 19-year-old, who has impressed with his conditioning and maturity in his second pre-season, inked a fresh two-year extension in August last year to remain at the Kennel until 2024.
The player the Crows chose at No.2, key forward Riley Thilthorpe, joined Swans Academy graduate and No.5 selection Braeden Campbell in re-committing at their clubs until 2025.
They are the only two footballers from that class to re-sign for three years.
Sweet-kicking Demon Jake Bowey, who played in Melbourne’s drought-busting premiership triumph, and untried Saint Matthew Allison both re-committed in December until 2024.
They join North Melbourne’s Will Phillips and Tom Powell, Hawk Denver Grainger-Barrass – whose new contract was revealed on Monday – Adelaide pair Luke Pedlar and Brayden Cook, Docker Heath Chapman and Giant Conor Stone.
Stone’s teammates Tanner Bruhn and Ryan Angwin, who is yet to make his senior debut, haven’t extended their draft contracts but both are tipped to re-sign by the early stages of the season.
Lion Blake Coleman, another Academy selection whose brother Keidean also plays at the club, showed some promising glimpses in match simulation on Friday but there is no rush to re-sign.
That is also the case for Essendon’s Nik Cox, Archie Perkins and Zach Reid – all taken in the top 10 – and Magpies Oliver Henry, Finlay Macrae and Reef McInnes, who are others out of contract this year.
2020 AFL Draft first round
