Dockers Sign Tigers mid Reece Conca (afl site) official

[The Machine]

Freo into Conca. Many would like to wave him goodbye but he must stay as he is best 22 and can play anywhere on the ground - important player for us

[one-eyed]

Dockers circling out-of-contract Tigers mid

Mitch Cleary and Nick Bowen
afl.com.au
Sep 17, 2018 4:33PM

FREMANTLE has set its sights on Richmond's Reece Conca as it attempts to lure more home-grown talent across the Nullarbor.

AFL.com.au understands the Dockers are offering Conca a multi-year proposal to become a starting midfielder as uncertainty continues over Lachie Neale's future in the west.

While Neale is contemplating a long-term deal from Brisbane despite being signed to the Dockers for 2019, Conca is out of contract at Punt Road come season's end.

As the Tigers announced the signatures of Shaun Grigg, Bachar Houli and Oleg Markov on Friday, Conca's name remained on the club's to-do list. 

Conca's tilt at a maiden premiership will go on the line on Friday night when the Tigers face Collingwood for a berth in the 2018 Toyota AFL Grand Final.

Having dislocated his ankle in his 100th game in round 15, Conca forced his way back into the team for round 23, playing the last three matches including the qualifying final win over Hawthorn.

The 26-year-old missed last year's breakthrough flag, restricted to the VFL after a foot injury earlier in the season.

Conca looked set to depart the club at the end of 2016 before re-signing in October on a two-year extension. Drafted from WAFL club Perth, Conca was taken at pick No.6 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.

The Dockers have made no secret of their pursuit of players raised in Perth, having targeted a large number in recent years with varying success.

Come round one 2019, all seven players on the Dockers' list to have started at opposition clubs played junior football in Western Australia.

They include Brandon Matera, Harley Bennell, Bradley Hill, Joel Hamling, Nathan Wilson, Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten.

WA products including Jeremy McGovern, Jesse Hogan, Rory Lobb, Cale Hooker, Mitch Clark have been chased by the Dockers before opting to play elsewhere.

Lobb and Hogan remain on the Dockers' radar when their contracts expire at the end of 2019.

Conca is one of a number of uncontracted Tigers for ahead of next season.

Nathan Broad, Shai Bolton, Connor Menadue, Jacob Townsend, Anthony Miles, Callum Moore, Sam Lloyd and Corey Ellis are among others without deals.

While Miles has met with Gold Coast about a potential trade, teammate Ellis has also attracted interest from the Suns as Stuart Dew seeks more midfield options.

Ellis, 22, has played 27 games in four seasons after being taken as a first-round draft selection in 2014.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-17/dockers-circling-outofcontract-tiger-reece-conca

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Freo into Conca. Many would like to wave him goodbye but he must stay as he is best 22 and can play anywhere on the ground - important player for us

Er, riiight.
Injuries prone, good honest trier who at best makes ordinary decisions with the ball, at worst is a momentum killer

[The Machine]

Freo into Conca. Many would like to wave him goodbye but he must stay as he is best 22 and can play anywhere on the ground - important player for us

Er, riiight.
Injuries prone, good honest trier who at best makes ordinary decisions with the ball, at worst is a momentum killer

Yet still managers to play in the best 22 as selected by the match committee for the best team in the comp.......er correct

[big tone]

Been a massive disappointment since he was drafted at pick 6.
I don’t think people can argue with that.

IMO, heart and soul type player with massive limitations on his footy. His kicking is just not AFL standard.

I’d be more than happy to see him take his chances at Freeo.

Still prefer him to Bellis though. 

[Diocletian]

Freo way to go 👍

[Francois Jackson]

If Conca helps us go B2B he can stay here for another 5 years for all I care

[Gracie]

Neale to Brisbane, Conca (premiership player) to Freo, pick 5 to Richmond

[Slipper]

Neale to Brisbane, Conca (premiership player) to Freo, pick 5 to Richmond

Pick 5 is probably a little too steep.

We'll take Hipwood instead.

[Eat_em_Alive]

The real question that no one has asked is, how does Reece feel about this?

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

The real question that no one has asked is, how does Reece feel about this?

He's never indicated any desire to move back at any point. So if he does, it'll be solely for career preservation/coin imo.

[one-eyed]

REECE CONCA

Has turned down Fremantle before, but will he do so again with a three-year offer and regular senior football on the table from the Dockers?

Lachie Neale’s departure to Brisbane would leave big shoes to fill, but as a 26-year-old West Australian, wouldn’t you back yourself in?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/get-the-latest-afl-trade-news-on-dylan-shiel-chad-wingard-steven-may-and-plenty-more/news-story/e92d3a1bf95ce39478116848021d8ca7

[mightytiges]

Reece has played regular senior football this year and he'll be in the GF side if we make it. Dimma's a fan of his. He only missed games this year due to that dislocated ankle and was brought back in as soon as he was given the all clear by the medicos. Unless Freo offer some ridiculous deal, I don't see Reece leaving by choice. You wouldn't be going to the Dockers to play finals anytime soon.

[Tiger Khosh]

Reece has played regular senior football this year and he'll be in the GF side if we make it. Dimma's a fan of his. He only missed games this year due to that dislocated ankle and was brought back in as soon as he was given the all clear by the medicos. Unless Freo offer some ridiculous deal, I don't see Reece leaving by choice. You wouldn't be going to the Dockers to play finals anytime soon.

Yes but a 3 year deal with more money than what will likely be a 1 or at best 2 year deal from us is something to consider.

[mightytiges]

Reece has played regular senior football this year and he'll be in the GF side if we make it. Dimma's a fan of his. He only missed games this year due to that dislocated ankle and was brought back in as soon as he was given the all clear by the medicos. Unless Freo offer some ridiculous deal, I don't see Reece leaving by choice. You wouldn't be going to the Dockers to play finals anytime soon.

Yes but a 3 year deal with more money than what will likely be a 1 or at best 2 year deal from us is something to consider.

Sure, he'll consider it. 

However, IMHO both us and Reece have been pretty loyal to each other. The Club has stood by and rated Reece through his many injury-interrupted seasons and he has rejected moves in the past back to WA when it seemed more likely he could/would leave. As a current best-22 player who is in his prime years (he's 26), I don't see us offering him only a year. He would get two years.

The other issue is what would get in return as a compo pick given he's an unrestricted free agent? Based on the rules we'll probably be lucky to get a 3rd rounder in return as he isn't in our top money earners. I don't see him wanting to screw us over either.

Thirdly, if gun players like Lachie Neale are bailing out of Freo then that says something about the current environment over there. Unless you're a footballer who only cares about $$$, it won't pay to be miserable for 3 years. Plenty of our guns are playing for unders of their free market worth to stick together at a successful happy Richmond.