- Sydney Swans player floated as potential replacement if Brody Mihocek departs Collingwood
An out-of-contract Sydney star has emerged as a potential replacement for the Pies premiership star.
Swans Swans key forward Jack Buller has emerged as a potential replacement for Collingwood veteran Brody Mihocek after reportedly informing the AFL club that he wants a trade to the Pies. It’s understood Collingwood have offered Mihocek a new two-year deal, but the 32-year-old is also weighing up a more lucrative three-year offer from the Melbourne Demons.
AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich cast doubts over Mihocek’s future at Collingwood earlier this week after explaining that the Pies ‘can’t match the money’ that the Demons are prepared to offer the premiership star, who was battling with a dislocated toe in the preliminary final defeat to Brisbane. “They haven’t offered a great deal,” Gabelich told SEN radio about Mihocek situation at the Magpies.
“He is 32, turning 33 next year. Melbourne is at the front of the queue. They’ve got a great offer on the table for him, and I don’t think you could begrudge him (leaving). This is a guy that started his AFL career at 24. He’s been a warrior, a premiership player for Collingwood, but they just can’t match the money.
If Mihocek does move to the Demons, then Collingwood could have a replacement lined up in the form of Buller – the 199cm Swans key forward. AFL trade journalist Callum Twomey reported that Collingwood have offered the out-of-contract Sydney player a two-year deal. And he revealed on AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday that Buller ‘has told the Swans he wants a trade to the Pies’.
Swan Jack Buller could replace Brody Mihocek at Magpies
The fresh development comes after Twomey explained the link between Buller and Collingwood earlier in the week, and suggested the Magpies could be preparing for Mihocek’s exit. Twomey pointed out that the Sydney tall’s pre-existing relationship with Collingwood footy boss Charlie Gardiner could hold the key to the move, after the pair worked together previously at the Swans.
“He has a two-year offer on the table there (from Collingwood) and he’s met with them in recent days,” the AFL trade journalist said. “Charlie Gardiner is the link there, having been at the Swans (and) now at the Pies. I think it also points to Brody Mihocek. Is he (Mihocek) out the door, and is he (Buller) the replacement?”
Questions around Mihocek’s future come as Collingwood’s list management also attempts to tie down teammates Jamie Elliott and Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill. Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph revealed on Monday night’s On the Coach program that ‘there are suitors’ for all three premiership Pies.
“Big decisions ahead for a lot of senior Pies. The Collingwood footy club can’t guarantee it’ll keep any, or all of Jamie Elliott, Brody Mihocek and Bobby Hill – there are suitors for all of them,” Ralph said. “Elliott has a two-year offer at the Pies right now, he has not signed that. It’s around $1 million (collectively) if he can hit some incentives. Gold Coast is very keen. It has not offered him a deal in any way yet.
“They’re saying to him: ‘You come to us, tell us you want to be a Gold Coast player, and we will offer you a deal’. That is likely to be three years, and again, likely to be $500,000 a year. He would love to finish his career as a one-club player, he has huge loyalty there (at Collingwood), but he certainly has family connections (in Queensland).”
He added: “Mihocek has a three-year offer at the Demons, two years at Collingwood. He was in tears post-match after that loss (in the prelim), and some of his teammates interpret that as potentially a signal that is his last game at Collingwood, but he has not yet made that decision.
“Bobby Hill wants to stay, he’s contracted. Gold Coast are interested but he’s not keen to move north. He has (though) told confidants that if his partner and children did move back to Perth, he’d have to consider following them at some stage.”
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