Trade Winds Gain Momentum Over Kerr

The Age

Monday August 25, 2008

Mark Duffield, Perth

DANIEL Kerr is expected to tell West Coast within a fortnight that he wants a four to five-year deal or an early release from his contract.

Although Kerr has consistently denied the rumour that he is contemplating leaving, it is understood that he spoke publicly about his willingness to be traded about seven weeks ago at a sportsman's night in Collie, Western Australia.

Kerr, whose contract expires in 2009, admitted he wanted a four or five-year deal. He went on to say he would happily be traded to one of the powerful Melbourne clubs if such a deal was not on offer. Kerr indicated that night that the Eagles had told him they would only be willing to consider such a deal if he was able to keep a clean slate in terms of off-field behaviour for at least 12 months. Rumours swept Perth yesterday that Kerr was on the verge of telling the Eagles he wanted to go.

An angry Kerr is understood to have contacted a radio station that aired the rumour to stress his decision would not be made until the end of the season, which is set to postpone any announcement until at least after next weekend's clash with Geelong.

West Coast has publicly refused to canvass the possibility of a trade for Kerr, pointing out that he still had a year of his contract to run. Coach John Worsfold questioned the tactic of clubs courting players who were still contracted and sarcastically placed a high price tag on a trade for Kerr.

He said the prospect of a club following Melbourne's lead (with Fremantle's Robbie Warnock) and targeting players from other clubs before the end of the season was out of his control. "Personally, I wouldn't do that to other clubs," Worsfold said.

"My make-up is I wouldn't approach players that are still contracted at other clubs. It's up to other clubs. It's got nothing to do with me," he said. "Give us Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Chris Judd and I would maybe consider it. And (Matt) Kreuzer. And they're not getting Josh Kennedy back either. We're keeping him."

He quipped he would "consider" a deal like that. "They'd still be getting a better deal," he said. But club sources remain doubtful that Kerr would be offered a deal that would satisfy him because of concerns over his past off-field behaviour with AFL sanctions still pending, and the state of his body after 155 games of collision football packed into his 178 centimetres, 80 kilogram frame.

If Kerr wants to leave, the Eagles must weigh the value of controlling a trade while he is contracted, for picks in the last uncompromised draft before concessions for new Gold Coast and Sydney teams come into effect, or delaying the issue for 12 months in the hope of changing his mind.

Several Melbourne clubs believe that Kerr's name will be on the table at trade time.

At least one club had started to develop a "get Kerr" trade strategy and power clubs Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond are all possible bidders if he is available.

© 2008 The Age

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