SHAUN Burgoyne will be in Melbourne in the next 48 hours to entertain pitches from a select group of Melbourne-based clubs who are expected to compete for his brilliance with offers as significant as $2million over four years.
The 26-year-old midfielder officially severed his ties with Port Adelaide yesterday, informing the club of his decision to leave and resume his 157-game career in Melbourne, preferably with a club where he has relationships with some of the players or staff.
This would seem to put Hawthorn, Melbourne and Richmond into consideration, with Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson an assistant at Port in 2004, Melbourne coach Dean Bailey also an assistant with the club for six seasons and
Damien Hardwick, Richmond's new senior coach, a premiership player with Burgoyne in 2004.
It is understood that Burgoyne's manager spoke with several Melbourne clubs to arrange meetings in the Victorian capital from tomorrow.
An early first-round draft pick and a good player could be required to settle the matter unless one of the bottom clubs is able to cut Port out of the equation by convincing Burgoyne to make his way out through the pre-season draft for nothing.
Melbourne has first pick in the national and pre-season drafts, Richmond pick three in the national and two in the pre-season.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26072778-5013406,00.htmlFREMANTLE yesterday remained adamant that fullback Chris Tarrant would not be traded back to a Melbourne-based club, despite continued speculation that he wants to return for family reasons.
The forward-turned-defender has just completed his best season in three years with the Dockers and is under contract until the end of 2010. Hawthorn, St Kilda and Carlton, three clubs in search of a key defender during next month's player-exchange period, said they had not factored in the possibility of recruiting Tarrant for next season.
Tarrant's high price tag, plus his age -- he turns 29 this week -- were reasons given by the Hawks, the Saints and the Blues for their lack of interest in the former Collingwood forward, who was an All-Australian in 2003.
Despite the realisation that Tarrant may want to return to Victoria after he completes his current contract with Fremantle, the Dockers yesterday returned a firm "no" about fielding any interest in him from rival clubs.
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