Rival clubs' $6m bidding war for 'unproven' forward
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Essendon will attempt to splash as much as $6m to lure young Gold Coast forward Jed Walter to the club in 2027, according to Cal Twomey.
Walter, who has played 41 games for the Suns since being selected with pick three in the 2023 draft, has kicked 49 career goals and been in-and-out of the side.
Jed Walter of the Suns celebrates a goal. Getty
However, given his talent and draft pedigree, the Bombers are seemingly all-in on trying to secure the Queenslander.
“The Bombers have lifted their offer for him. Their first offer was five years at $800,000, then the Suns put forward five years at $900,000 and Essendon has come back with about $1.2m over five years,” Twomey told Nine’s Footy Classified.
Essendon has significant salary cap space to work with, particularly if Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridley depart in the trade period as expected.
Despite that, four-time premiership star for Hawthorn and Geelong Isaac Smith is not a fan of the move, calling it a huge risk for a player who is yet to show he can become a star at AFL level.
“It’s just a genuine risk because we haven’t seen Jed do it yet. I think he can be a super player, but we haven’t seen it and that’s a lot of money to throw out,” Smith said.
“Albeit, I’m sure Essendon has a fair bit of cash in their salary cap at the moment.”
Former Richmond star Nathan Brown agreed with Smith’s assessment.
“$1.2m for an unproven forward … I think he’s got talent, but gee it is a lot of money,” Brown said.
Walter has kicked 20 goals so far this season from 11 games, averaging 3.5 marks per game.
The Suns have struggled to settle on their best forward line mix alongside Ben King, given they invested heavy draft capital in both Walter and Ethan Read, but also brought in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan in the trade period.
King himself could be set to depart the club as well however, with Twomey reporting that Hawthorn is firming as the favourites to land the restricted free agent.
“Ben King, Walter’s teammate, is still weighing up his decision. I would nearly have Hawthorn as the favourite for him at this point,” Twomey said.
“Very few free agents who haven’t signed at round 18 stay at their football club, particularly one in demand like Ben King.
“He’s been taking his time, but this is dragging out. He’s comfortable with that and is aware that Hawthorn is willing to swoop. Hawthorn wants to get him and also Zach Merrett in the same off-season.”
Being a restricted free agent, Gold Coat can match any offer made to King and force Hawthorn to trade for him. That could become complicated for the Hawks if they are also attempting to negotiate a trade with Essendon for Merrett.
King leads the Coleman Medal after 17 rounds, one goal clear of Sydney’s Charlie Curnow.
